Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1) (27 page)

“Yes. I only have a few minutes. The chief assigned me to work on the Meter Feeder case.”

“I heard something was up. Chelsea Hines called. Her husband is trying to reach you. Are you still on Lisa’s investigation?”

“I plan to take care of the teenagers, right away, and I’ll be free to concentrate solely on finding Lisa. I wanted you to know. Keep the faith.”

“The pictures caused trouble, didn’t they?” Guilt began to whisper in her ear.
You slept with him when you should have been working on saving Lisa.

He sighed. “The chief wasn’t happy to see his lead detective splashed on the front page instead of news of an arrest.”

She had to fix her mistake. “I’ll speak to him.”

“You talk to my boss?” He let out an utterance she’d swear was a chuckle. “I’m a big boy, Teagan. Sit tight and concentrate positive thoughts on bringing Lisa home.”

From the mantle, Aunt Sophia seemed to be frowning at her again. Yes, she’d be lecturing Teagan on public displays of affection and asking why a detective involved in finding Lisa was wasting investigation time with Teagan when every minute counted.  A pit of guilt opened in her stomach.

Maybe Matt was right. A few days apart would be good for them until she could sort out how to repair her slipups. “Noah, I was thinking. We should take a break, starting now. A short one until life is normal again.”

“Break?”

“Teagan,” Matt said as he walked into the room. “Your tea is getting cold. Is everything okay?”

“The priest is there?” Noah asked.

His accusing tone increased the awkwardness of the moment. She nodded to Matt but waited until he’d returned to the kitchen to answer Noah. “He is, but—”

“I got to go. Stay safe.”

“Wait, Noah.” He’d hung up. Her hands shook with an overflow of hurt and irritation. He was blaming Matt for her decision. He acted like she didn’t have a thought in her head. Yes, Matt had expressed his opinion, but she reached her own conclusion. She resisted the temptation to stamp her foot, and walked back into the other room.

Her hands shook with an overflow of hurt and irritation. She wiped a hand over her hair and walked back into the other room.

“Any news?”

“Nothing.” She microwaved her mug of tea again to avoid Matt’s gaze.

“We searched for Travis on the hiking trails today,” Matt said. “We didn’t find him, of course. Seth was disappointed, but he’s vowed to continue looking for the boy. I was impressed with his concern. The volunteers will walk the tougher paths on the west side tomorrow. The planning meeting is in an hour. If you made an appearance before they left, it would boost the searchers’ morale, especially with the bad news on Kara Linn.”

“Has Seth formally reported Travis missing?”

Matt folded his hands on the placemat. “If he hasn’t, I will encourage him to do it today.”

“Thanks, Matt. Have you spoken to Kara’s mother?”

“She’s not speaking to anyone. I’ll try again in a day. Come to the planning meeting. You’d get the bonus of not sitting idle in your house.”

“You just want to make sure I’m not alone. Besides, I’m not Seth’s favorite.”

“He’ll behave, and you understand me too well. Coming?”

“I’m not up to it, Matt.”

“I saw the picture of you and Detective Cassidy in the paper.”

She flinched even though she expected the news. Her throat tightened with guilt. “It’s not…quite what it seemed.” The heat crept up from her neck and across her cheeks.

“Teagan, you’re getting involved with a man when your emotions are all over the place. Slow down. Be certain.”

“Noah didn’t hit him. Vic Taylor wrote the piece to sound like he did, but Noah never raised a hand to him. I was there.”

 “How do you explain the picture with the detective’s arms around you printed on the front page?”

“He was consoling me about Lucy and Lisa.” Teagan hoped her cheeks didn’t flush scarlet.

Matt sat with his lips pressed together, censoring himself.

Why did she have such a bad case of the guilts? Because the picture didn’t show a person being reassured, but more, and now Noah was in trouble. “I won’t be seeing much of the detective in the future.”

He didn’t comment on that. Instead, he put his hand over hers lying on the table. “Just remember, I’m always near when you’re ready to talk.”

“I know, Matt.” If only she felt a tiny measure of relief. Instead, once her mind got over the shock of ending her relationship with Noah, if that’s what they had, she’d have a long cry. She should have taken a deep breath when he asked about Matt instead of blurting out the first thought in her head.

Matt brought his mug to the sink. “Will you be okay?  Stacey can stay with you.”

“I’ll be fine. There’s an officer outside my house.”

“Is it the same patrolman who was on duty when the homeless man broke in?”

“He’s been replaced.” She’d no idea if he had, but it sounded like a reasonable reply.

“I can cancel if you want company.”

“No, I’m exhausted. I’m going to lie down upstairs.”

He searched her face. “I’ll come back. I should have news on the Travis search later.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll be sleeping. I’m turning in early.” She needed to be alone to get rid of the gnawing sense she’d made a huge mistake with Noah, one he wouldn’t forgive.

I’m not the forgive and forget type.

Matt laid a hand on her shoulder. He looked doubtful. “Please answer your phone, or I’ll worry about you.”

She started to rise, but he gestured for her to stay seated.

“I’ll see myself out. You rest.”

The sound of his footsteps faded away, and she let the tears run down her face. No, she’d had enough of crying and whining. She swiped her eyes and nose with a tissue, wandered into the living room, and sank onto the sofa.

“Please, St. Jude, help me find Lisa and watch over Noah.” If she had her St. Jude’s medal, she’d feel better.

Teagan picked up Aunt Sophia’s phone and glanced at the number of messages for her aunt. The woman had been a leader, a doer. Why was she sitting around looking at ancient texts? She needed to be involved. Maybe she’d find a clue and help Noah. She’d shower, change, and attend the search meeting.

Paul followed Teagan to the door of the church office where she told him she’d be at least an hour at the meeting. He reassured her he’d be gone only a few minutes to pick up coffee at the drive through next door. After, he’d wait for her in the parking lot.

“Thanks, I’ll find you.” Teagan walked up to the desk where Stacey slid her a glance and continued talking on the phone. Teagan watched the minutes slip by on the digital desk while the secretary ignored her. It was hard to justify Stacey’s action since she was discussing the sale at Hawick Falls Fashions.

She might as well interrupt. “Stacey, where’s the search meeting? I didn’t see any cars outside for it.”

“Hold on,” Stacey said into the phone. She pushed the mute button. “Matt had an emergency. The meeting’s rescheduled for tomorrow at eight p.m. I contacted everyone who volunteered about the schedule change. Your name wasn’t on my list. Next time, make sure you’re on the sign-up if you want to be updated.”

Teagan’s patience dropped a level at the reprimanding tone. “Is the church open?”

“Until Matt returns and locks it.”

Teagan whirled around and left, her patience frayed over wasted time. Outside, the damp air and fog refused to budge. The church bells pealed out the hour. Teagan stopped in the middle of the parking lot. While she was here, she’d light a candle and seek a moment of peace. Halfway across the lot, the idea of looking for her medal floated into her mind. She’d need her flashlight in the glove compartment for the closet since the bulb probably hadn’t been replaced. Reversing direction, she caught sight of Vic Taylor’s compact car sailing past. Where was he going?

What gave him the right to cause grief in Noah’s life? Her anger flooded back. She jumped into the driver’s seat and met the patrol car pulling into the entrance. Teagan didn’t have a minute to spare if she was to catch Taylor. She signaled Officer Paul to follow and set off.

She tailed Vic through the village before the truth struck her. He was driving toward Pretty Park, but wasn’t the park still closed? His sister lived near there. Maybe he was going to her house.

Taylor’s car came into the view near the park entrance. The fire had destroyed at least half of the trees in the wooded section. The odor of charred wood permeated the air vents. Teagan slowed. Taylor was driving between the sawhorses used to block the road with barely an inch to spare.

By the time Teagan banged a U-ey, and waved at Paul to do the same, Taylor had disappeared inside and around a curve in the park. She prayed she could locate him before he detected she was shadowing him.

She entered the park, rounded the bend, and braked. Paul flashed his blue light. He must have a few questions about their chase, but where had Taylor gone? She’d drive a few more feet. The paved road had turned to dirt before she pulled over and cut the engine. Paul parked behind her, hopped out, and strode to her.

She opened the window and leaned out. “I was trying to figure out what Taylor was up to and where he went.”

“Vic Taylor?” Paul said.

“Yes, but he’s disappeared.” She blew out a breath of disappointment.

“Why would he come here?” Paul scanned the deserted area.

“Maybe he wanted to write a piece that blamed the firefighters for the woods burning.” She shook her head and stared across the old athletic field to the boarded up snack shack that budget cuts had forced the rec department to close.

The tail end of a vehicle was visible behind the end of the building. “Is that Vic’s car?” She pointed to it.

Paul moved closer and strained to see.

“He told me he hung out at the park investigating his niece’s disappearance. I bet he’s inside the old snack bar spying on us with binoculars.” A new thought hit her. “Paul, he might have held Kara and now Lisa in there.”

Paul’s eyes widened. “You should go home. I’ll call in a trespasser at the park and join you later.”

Nerves fluttered in Teagan’s stomach. “But the searchers went through the park.”

“Doesn’t mean someone can’t squat here after we went through the area.” Paul’s lips tightened. “We should head to the entrance. I’ll call in.” He walked back to his cruiser.

Her hand hovered over the ignition. Was Taylor inside the abandoned refreshment stand with Lisa? If only Teagan could look.

Movement at the edge of the woods snared her attention. A form emerged. The man’s side-to-side sway gave away his identity. Travis.

Goose bumps popped up on her arms. Paul was already in his car and probably waiting for her to turn hers around.

The teen paused, and his gaze focused on her. At any moment he’d run and her one chance to question him about Lisa would be gone. She jumped out, leaving her door open, and the car beeped its warning that she’d left her key inside.

“Travis, wait.” She ran toward him. “Where’s Lisa?”

He turned to her. “Teagan?”

She stopped a few feet from him.

Travis’ stare held a glazed, glassy look that made her want to run away. “What are you doing here?” 

A musty, foul smell rolled off him. His jeans and T-shirt were mud-splattered and slept in. His uncombed hair stuck up on his head in odd places, and in his hand he clutched a knife.

Whoa! She retreated two steps. “I’m looking for Lisa. Where is she?”

“I haven’t seen Lisa since we fought.” He inched closer.

Could she escape if he chased her? “What are you doing at the park?”

“My uncle told me I had to get out of his house. I was causing too much trouble with the cops. I tried to sleep down by the lake on the beach. It was too cold. I moved to the snack hut after my uncle told me they’d searched the park.”

“I saw you at
my
house after Lisa disappeared. Did you come to steal another of my aunt's dishware?”

“I didn’t steal it. Lisa gave it to me. She said Mrs. Raynes was dead so it was up for grabs. I promised to split the money with her.” 

“Why did you come at night after she disappeared?”

“We used to meet last at your house.” His mouth pinched together. “I kept thinking about her. I had a weird thought she might be playing a joke on us and be hiding at home. You know, she’s like that.”

“You thought she wasn’t missing?”

“I thought she might surprise me and come out. We used to stay in the cellar and pretend it was our place. I know it was dumb. I loved her. I miss her.” He lowered his weapon and collapsed on the ground.  “Why did she leave me? Everyone thinks I hurt her. I never would. I wanted to marry her.” Drawing his legs up to his chest, he rested his head on his knees and cried.

Fear and sadness jumbled in Teagan’s mind. Travis’ sobs and his crumpled form tugged at her heart, but the knife in his hand warned her to stay away.

“Travis Bodell, I’m making a citizen’s arrest.”

She spun around to Vic Taylor, but standing behind him was Paul with his gun leveled on Taylor.

“Taylor, drop your weapon and kick it to me,” Paul said.

Taylor turned around. “Are you arresting me? I didn’t hurt anyone. Take the kid.”

“Drop it, Taylor.”

Vic released his gun to the ground with a thud and booted it toward Paul. “I’ve been searching for this boy. He’s the one who killed my Kara and probably Lisa Grant.”

“Miss Raynes,” Paul said, “come stand behind me.”

Teagan joined him while keeping her eye on Taylor and Travis. Had they finally found the key to Lisa? Her heart pounded in her head.

Paul scooped up Taylor’s weapon and kept watch on everyone. “The patrol is already on the way. When they arrive, we’re all going to the station to talk. Travis Bodell, drop your weapon.”

Travis raised his dirty face streaked with tears. “It’s just a knife.” He tossed it on the ground near the officer.

“He probably stabbed my Kara with that knife,” Vic yelled.

“I don’t know any Kara,” Travis said. He burst into louder bawling. His cries filled the air until the wail of a siren drowned them out. Relief rolled through Teagan. She whispered a prayer that Travis would change his denials and lead them to Lisa.