Lovely Shadows (21 page)

The motel was eerily silent as he drifted down the empty corridors and through the lobby. Outside, the early morning sky was still dark and devoid of stars. Thick gray clouds shielded the moon. Aidan shivered though he wasn't cold. Something didn't feel right. He hoped it wasn't a premonition of things to come.

He planned to look for Darren and pretty much haunt the guy. If he went anywhere near Laura, Aidan had no problem making himself known. The first place he stopped was Amber's. He checked on little Joey, who slept quietly. He reached over the crib rail and lightly touched the baby's cheek. Joey didn't flinch or seem aware of his presence. Cute kid, Aidan thought, thank God he isn't mine. He didn't need anymore ties to the Fosters. Amber slept on her side, a pillow tucked between her legs. Her fiery red hair was pulled back with a scrunchie, her mouth slightly parted. A purple bruise marred her cheek. Aidan leaned over and investigated the mark. The wound was fresh, maybe a few hours old. She didn't have the bruise when he saw her a few days ago.

Who hit her? Andy? Darren? Whoever did it, Aidan vowed to haunt them—movie-ghost style—before he crossed over. He didn't love Amber anymore, but no woman deserved to be hit. He kissed her cheek, right above the bruise, and whispered, “I forgive you.” Her eyes fluttered but didn't open. As he walked away, he shook his head. He'd already said so many goodbyes. The worst one was yet to come.

He checked the other rooms in the house for Andy but he found nothing. The kitchen was trashed. Broken dishes covered the floor; a hole had been punched into the wall; the phone was ripped from the jack. What the hell had Amber gotten herself into? She left him for this? Was it because Darren found out she met with Jessa? Or was this disaster the result of something else?

The questions were unending as he left. Too many loose threads needed tied up. He had no idea where to begin. Jessa and Billie tried calling Laura, to no avail. The police weren't concerned either. Now what? Finding Darren was the last option. Aidan felt like he was losing the battle before it even started.

After a quick check at Darren's regular hangouts, Aidan went home. The house was dark and silent. He slipped through the front door and went up the stairs to Laura's room. Her bed, neatly made and wrinkle-free, was empty. Panicked, Aidan ran to Mary's room. His younger sister slept peacefully. He began checking the other rooms for any signs of Laura. He found none. Where could she be? She wasn't due back at school for another couple of weeks, right? He didn't know for sure, but he couldn't seem to quash his rising panic.

Unfortunately, he needed Jessa's help. He loathed to ask anything more from her but he couldn't do this alone. If everything went according to plan, he wouldn't need much help from her. Hopefully, reinforcements would be here soon. However, he didn't have a lot of time to wait. Laura could be—and if he had to guess, was—in danger. Wherever Laura was, Darren might be there too. And if he was...Aidan couldn't contemplate the possibilities.

He arrived back at the motel to find Jessa awake and nervous..

“Where have you been?”

“Out,” he said. “I tried to find Darren. I didn't find him or Laura.”

“She's not at home.” Obviously, Jessa had tried to call.

“No. It looks like she hasn't been home for days. I don't know where to look.”

“We should start with her friends.” She glanced at her phone wearily.

“How much trouble are you in?”

“Loads. Apparently Grandpa called Mom and Dad, who've both called me twice. Levi's called twice, Billie's called once, and Luke hasn't called at all. I guess he's not worried about me,” she laughed.

“Or he figures you're a big girl and can take care of yourself.”

“It's more likely that with me out of the way, he and Billie can do their thing without interference from me.”

“That might be the case.” Aidan sat down next to her. “So, do you have a plan? I'm out of ideas at the moment.”

She shook her head. “I don't know what to do, either. We've tried everything. We've called Laura, we've called the police. There's nothing else we can do.”

Sighing, she kissed his cheek. “I need a shower.” She gathered her things and went into the bathroom. Aidan laid down and closed his eyes. Jessa was right: they were out of options. However, they were not out of time—yet. They could stalk Laura if necessary.

Jessa took an extraordinary amount of time in the bathroom. Aidan began to worry that something was wrong when she finally emerged.

“Everything okay?”

She nodded. “Just assuaging fears. I reassured my parents I wasn't having a nervous breakdown. Grandpa yelled for a few minutes then hung up on me. That was actually amusing.”

“And Levi?”

“I didn't talk to him.” She tucked her bag into the closet then smiled brightly. Aidan wasn't fooled for a second. Something was bothering her but if she wasn't inclined to talk then he wasn't going to push her.

They left the room and Jessa began driving everywhere he could think of. Laura wasn't at any of her friends' houses, nor was she at her familiar hangouts or even relatives houses. He didn't have a clue where to start looking for Darren. He was nervous about Jessa being so exposed in Blue Rapids. Darren told her to drop it because he didn't want to see her get hurt. Not for one second did Aidan believe Darren wouldn't hurt her.

Jess didn't want Aidan to choose between her and his sister. he didn't want to be faced with that choice. Mostly, because he knew when it came down to it, he'd choose Jessa every time.

They stopped for lunch at the cafe where Margie worked. They took the corner booth far from the door, much to Aidan's chagrin. He didn't like being so far from a route of escape. His paranoia grew with each passing minute. He forced Jessa to sit with her back to the dining room so he could sit on the side facing the door. He kept track of every person that enter or exited. Nearly everyone who came through he immediately recognized. His former neighbor Shank Parker; Tom Hiller, who owned the pharmacy; Phil David, the car salesman; Brenda Hough, the proprietor of the Weave In Piece hair salon. All people he knew, all people he respect, none of whom he missed. He didn't belong here anymore, dead or alive. He belonged in Browton with Jessa, which meant this mission needed to be completed. He needed to move on.

She ordered a turkey sandwich on whole wheat, hold the tomato. They didn't speak, as they didn't want the locals to think Jessa was talking to herself, and therefore draw the conclusion she was crazy. She peeled the crust off her bread then cut the sandwich into quarters. Fascinated by her meticulous eating habits, he chuckled. She looked at him sharply with a questioning look. He shook his head and pointed at her plate. She grinned as if she understood what he found humorous. This was what he'd miss the most about her: all words they never had to say, because they were so in tune with each other words weren't necessary.

She finished her lunch, shoving her plate to the side.

“Tell me about the first time you saw me,” she said, propping her elbows on the table and resting her chin on her hands.

He smiled. “Now? You're not worried people will think you're talking to yourself?”

“Nope. So, tell me about the first time you saw me.”

Tilting his head to the side, he reminisced, “I was standing outside Browton city limits when you drove by. I hoped you were going to California or some place like that so I hitched a ride. You were crying, though, and I didn't know why. I just remember your pain being so deep that I felt it, too. I kept hoping you'd say why you were upset. You never did.

“I followed you home and up to your room. I still don't know why you were crying.”

She closed her eyes, apparently in deep thought.

“Have you ever had one of those days where you just felt lost?”

“Sure,” he replied.

“That was me that day—I just felt lost. All my life I've always known how things would be: I'd graduate high school and college, become a teacher, settle down in Browton on the farm with Levi and our two kids. Everything is so planned and set in stone. I've always been the good girl who has followed the beaten path. Sometimes, the beaten path is the loneliest one.”

“But what you're describing doesn't sound horrible.”

“No, it's not, but where's the adventure? Where's the risk? Sometimes the right path isn't the best path.”

“Sometimes deviating from the beaten path isn't the best option,” he pointed out.

“True.” She reached across the table and took his hand. “But having you has been worth it.”

He kissed her hand. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She paid the bill then drove back to the motel. With a sigh of resignation, she greeted the receptionist. Aidan felt her heaviness on his shoulders. He wished he hadn't burdened her with this mess.

“I don't know what else to do,” she said as they trudged up the stairs. “What if I could get Laura to meet me? Do you think she might listen?”

“I don't know. Laura is stubborn. She does things on her own terms. We might be better off finding Darren or Andy...”

“Andy?”

“I went to Amber's last night. The place was trashed, and she had a nice bruise on her face. Trust me, Andy has a few things to answer for.”

“Wow.”

He studied Jessa's face, saw the uncertainty in her eyes. She didn't trust that he loved her wholeheartedly, which he found unfair. She had Levi; why would it matter if he loved someone else, too? He knew the thought wasn't fair, either. She had Levi before he came into her life. He knew she couldn't commit to someone who couldn't commit to her. Like she'd pointed out before, when he left she still had her life to live.

Time had not made things easier. Each day that passed meant he was one day closer to leaving. Strangely, he felt stronger than ever, and he guessed it was an end-of-life quirk. Now that he could touch her as much as he wanted, he was afraid—afraid that he'd lose the nerve to leave. Jessa was his drug; if he started the withdrawals now, maybe it wouldn't be so bad later. He kidded himself but he couldn't face the alternative.

“Jess, what are you thinking about?” The sadness on her face pulled at his heart.

“I was thinking we're so close to solving this, which means we're close to you leaving. I'm not ready for that, Aidan.”

“I'm sorry,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “You shouldn't be in this mess.”

“Oh, you misconstrued what I meant. I don't regret anything. My life is better because of you. I wouldn't change a thing.”

He opened his arms and she sat in his lap. She touched his face as she gazed into his eyes. Entranced by her perfection, he dared not look away. From somewhere deep inside, he felt a stirring, a feeling of desperation...A feeling that he never needed anyone as much as he needed her now. He didn't need her to solve his murder. He didn't need her words of adoration. He didn't need her total devotion and trust. What he needed more than anything was to love her, to show her how deep his love went, to make her feel his love.

He shoved down his desires. That day would come before he crossed over. If it was the last thing he did on this Earth.

“You looked pained,” she observed, still stroking his face.

“I'm fine,” he replied, shifting uncomfortably.

“Don't worry, Aidan. We'll get to the bottom of this whole mess. Then we'll live happily ever after,” she joked without humor. Her voice seemed strangled.

“Oh Jessa, I...”

She placed one finger over his lips. “Aidan, don't apologize. Please, if you value my sanity. I know this relationship isn't...ideal, but regardless, I would've loved you anyways.”

“You're so weird,” he said, breaking the tension.

“I know. I've adapted to the unusual well.”

“Yes, you have.” He brushed her hair from her face. “I love you, Jess. Beyond time, beyond space, beyond life, beyond death.”

“Good.” She grinned. “So, what now Sherlock? We done sleuthing for the day or should we try something different?”

“Different how?”

“Like tracking down more people that know either Laura or Darren. Should I try calling her again?”

“No on both accounts. I think we've hit enough dead ends for one day. I don't like that so many people have seen you. You kind of stand out, you know? Not too many black-haired, green-eyed girls in Kansas. All it takes is one person mentioning they saw you, then word somehow gets back to Darren.”

“Do you think he'll remember me?”

“I don't think you're easy to forget. So, let's lay low for tonight, okay? We'll pound the pavement again tomorrow.”

She sighed. “Fine, but you better have big plans for tonight, mister. I demand to be entertained.”

“I think that can be arranged.” He laid her back on the bed and held himself over her. “I have the perfect idea.”

“Really? Care to tell me?”

“I'd rather show you.” He lowered himself and kissed the hollow of her throat. “I'll show you until you beg me to stop.”

She didn't have to beg. In fact, they barely kissed when her phone began ringing. With a sigh, she pushed him off her and grabbed it.

“Great,” she muttered, heaving herself off the bed. “Levi.”

“Don't answer,” Aidan said, pulling her back to him.