Mindfield (Sideways Eight Book 1) (11 page)

Mrs. Ingram released her embrace, squeezed his shoulders, and shook him as if he was a fretful child. “Piece of advice, marry for love, not security. I realize Olivia is a product of infidelity. I didn’t know he was married until I told him I was pregnant.”

“Good advice. Thank you.”

Mrs. Ingram lowered her head and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.

After Murphy recuperated, he took her hand. “Mrs. Ingram, you aren’t at fault for their behavior.” He released her hand, stood, and joined Charley at her seat. “Agent Faraday, you ready to go upstairs?”

Charmed by Murphy’s behavior, the pupils of Charley’s eyes enlarged as she stood. “Yes.”

Murphy and Charley took the stairs to the small interior foyer. They discovered a sizable master bedroom to the right and a modest guest room. On the left, the door to Olivia’s room, and a full bath.

Once inside the child’s bedroom, Charley and Murphy placed vinyl gloves over their hands.

A typical young girl’s room, decorated in shades of red and pink. Across from the door, the closed mini-blinds covered a double window with a desk extended along the wall to the corner. Stacked on the desktop, next to an easel, were small, multicolored, plastic storage bins containing art supplies. An unfinished piece of art stood neglected.

Beyond the desk on the dresser, Olivia’s crumpled teal shirt. Charley held it to her nose. “She uses peach bath wash.”

With a tight grip on the shirt, Charley stepped over to the full-sized bed pushed against the wall. She sat on the edge, eyeing the space above. “Oh, wow, the ceiling has glow stars. I love those. I wish it were dark.”

Murphy sat next to her, absorbing her smile. “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying for a sense of Olivia. There’s so little here.”

“We’ve gone from one extreme to the next in little girls’ bedrooms.”

“Olivia was here last night. What did she do? Read? Draw?” She rose from the bed, placed the shirt on the dresser and headed for the closet door. “I’ll take a look in the closet.” Charley opened the door, everything was in its place and color coordinated. “Is Olivia OCD, or her mother?”

“Both?”

“Possible.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Say goodbye to Mrs. Ingram.”

Murphy gazed across the room. “Wait a second, her painting, it’s sad.”

Charley turned, faced the artwork, and swiped the edge with her fingertip. “She painted this last night. Good job with the lightening streaks.” Her finger hovered over the canvas and stopped. “Across the water, there’s a light. Not sure from what.”

“The trees are bare, it’s eerie.”

“Yeah, it does. Too bad it’s unfinished, or maybe not.”

“What do you mean?”

“Olivia’s last piece of artwork.” Charley’s dismal expression captured his eyes. “I hope she comes home to finish the painting.”

Murphy dropped his head. “Let’s hope.”

∞ ∞ ∞

Mrs. Ingram waited for them in the den. “Did you find anything helpful?”

“No,” Charley said. “Your daughter is tidy.”

Mrs. Ingram lowered her head. “Like me, always in control.”

“Olivia’s bracelet, she wore it on which wrist?” Murphy said.

Mrs. Ingram looked at her arms, moving them back and forth. “Uh, the left one.”

Murphy scratched the divot under his nose. “The painting on the easel in Olivia’s room… is it a place your daughter has visited or is familiar?”

Charley slid her approving hand on the back of Murphy’s arm, stopping to squeeze his elbow.

Lines formed between Ms. Ingram’s eyebrows. “No. She paints ocean views more than anything. Olivia has never been to a lake.” She bowed her head, covering her face as tears trickled from the corner of her eyes. “I would know. Right?”

Charley touched the woman’s arm. “Mrs. Ingram, it’s okay to let loose, scream, yell, or whatever it takes to relieve stress and trauma. What you’re going through is unimaginable.”

“Will losing control bring my Olivia home? Or change my husband’s mind and he’ll love me again?”

“I don’t have the answer, but this much emotional trauma held in can manifest into so many problems. It can affect your physical health.”

“It’s who I am. The reason Roger left me… because I’m not spontaneous, or excitable. Dull and boring. I didn’t make him happy.”

“Is there anything we can do? I noticed you’re alone.”

“My friends and neighbors were here, but I asked them to leave. I needed time for myself.”

“You need to talk, to release tension and stress.”

“I have my ways.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Ingram. We’ll let ourselves out.”

“Thank you, Agent Faraday and Murphy.”

They shook hands with the worried mother and left the Ingram home.

“That was interesting,” Charley said.

Murphy sighed. “Yep.”

“Let’s find Doobie.”

“I agree, also we need to speak to Erin Stokes.”

“Right beside you,” Charley said as they walked to the bus stop.

Chapter 11

Erin Geaux Bragh

Great Falls, VA – Heritage Hall Estates -Legacy Drive

Erin Stokes’ Residence

Wednesday, 13 April - 7:12 PM

Murphy and Charley waited in Stokes’ living room for Erin to finish her evening bath. The Stokes agreed to allow them to question their daughter regarding Olivia, provided they were present.

“Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, do you mind if we use a voice recorder during the interview?” Murphy said.

Mr. Stokes leg bounced, glancing at his wife as she sat beside him on the river stone fireplace hearth. She clenched her hands. “Sure, go ahead.”

Charley removed the recorder from her pocket and placed it on the cushion. Footsteps behind her, she peered over her shoulder. Erin eased down the stairs, wearing pink pajamas with dancing puppies and matching pink bunny slippers. With both of her hands grasping the banister, she sucked in her lower lip. Erin glanced at her parents, then jumped over the last two steps and ran into her father arms.

Amazed by Charley’s warm smile, Murphy wondered if her declaration of not wanting children was more of a defense than a declaration.
Maybe she’s not as she seems.

Erin cozied between her parents. Her wide, blue eyes blinked repeatedly, while she folded her arms against her chest. She peeked at Charley and Murphy before glancing at her father. He gave her a toothy grin and held her hand. Reassured, Erin turned back to Charley and Murphy seated on the sofa. In a diminutive voice, Erin said, “Yes?”

Charley grinned, showing the dimple in her right cheek before picking up the voice recorder. “Hello, Erin.” She placed her palm on her chest. “I’m Charley and the man beside me is Sean. We’re here to speak to you about Olivia.”

“Okay.”

“You understand Olivia is missing.”

“Yes.”

“Tell us about Olivia.”

The girl clasped her hands in her lap. “Olivia is my best friend. She hasn’t lived here long. Everyone likes her, and she makes good grades. She likes to paint and draw.”

“Good.”

Erin picked at her fingers, glancing back and forth between her hands and Charley. “Am I in trouble?”

Charley shook her head. “No. Why would you say that?”

Erin shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s all kinda scary.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Could we sit on the floor?”

“Sure.” Charley and Murphy left the sofa and sat on floor facing Erin. The girl settled in front of them, crossed her legs, and pressed her back against her mother’s shins. “I told the policeman everything I remember.”

“Our questions may not be the same.” Charley smiled. “Are you comfortable?”

“Yes,” Erin said.

Start with known facts, then move to emotional attachment. “You and Olivia rode together on the bus home today?”

“Yes. We sat a couple seats behind the driver.”

“What did the two of you talk about on the bus?”

“If it’s pretty outside this weekend we want to play at the park.”

“Did she mention a visitor, a man? She may have mentioned he was her real dad?”

“No.” Erin scrunched her nose. “Isn’t what’s-his-face her dad.”

“Roger?” Murphy said.

She frowned. “Yeah, him.”

“You don’t like him?”

Erin crossed her arms and sneered. “He’s mean.”

“How so?”

“He doesn’t talk nice to Olivia, like he’s mad at her a lot. He makes her cry.”

“You’ve seen this?” Charley said.

“He’s a bully, nothing like my daddy.” She peeked at her father and smiled. “I haven’t seen Olivia’s daddy in a long time.”

Charley’s brows drew inward, contemplating Murphy. She nodded with a gentle smile and in a mellow tone, she said, “Go. You’re good at this.”

Murphy smiled and gave Erin his attention. To ease her fears, he softened his voice. “Erin, did Olivia mention anything about her father leaving?”

The little girl twisted her locked fingers. “No.”

“Did Olivia tell you she may go away somewhere?”

“No.” She locked her fingers and put them behind her head.

“Erin, was Olivia different today?”

“She was okay.”

“You and Olivia must have secrets? I had secrets with my friends.”

“Secrets? Well, we have a secret hiding place.”

“I lived in San Diego growing up. Lots of places to hide out.”

“That’s in California.”

“Yes it is.”

“What was your secret place like?”

“There was a wooded area behind Brent’s house. We used wood and lumber no longer wanted and built a treehouse.” Murphy laughed.

“Why is that funny?”

“The first time the four of us went inside, it broke and we tumbled to the ground. We were lucky. Bumps and bruises but no broken bones.”

“So, you didn’t have it long.”

“Well, no.” Murphy gazed at the oak flooring. “Our dad’s chipped in and helped us build a better treehouse. When I moved away a few years later it was still there.”

“Olivia and I don’t have a treehouse. But it sound more fun.”

“Tell me about your secret hideout.”

Erin lowered her head. “I’ll get into trouble.”

“Olivia,” Mr. Stokes said stern.

“Yes, Daddy?”

Mr. Stokes knelt next to Erin. “Honey, Olivia is missing and the police are trying to find her.”

She nodded.

“Maybe she went to your secret place,” Mr. Stokes said. “You don’t want Celeste to worry, do you?”

“Uh, no, Daddy. I like Celeste.”

“Sweetheart, you need to tell them about the secret place.”

“But Olivia will be mad at me.” Erin’s face drooped.

“Not when she learns we’re concerned for her safety. You and Olivia can find a new secret place. Wouldn’t that be exciting?”

“Erin, what if Olivia is at the secret place, and she’s hurt but no one can hear her calling for help?” Murphy’s eyes saddened.

Erin’s face contorted. Her eyes watered, she blinked, and a tear trickled down her cheek. “She didn’t go there.”

“How do you know?”

“Because.” Erin huffed. “She turned the corner to her house, and she didn’t go straight to the secret place.”

“But she could have walked from a different direction.” Murphy softened his tone. “She could’ve changed her mind.”

“She won’t go without me.” Erin crossed her arms and shook her head. “It’s our secret place.”

“Have you been there without her?”

Her mouth tightened and drooped. “Yes.”

“It’s possible Olivia did the same.”

She leaned forward. “But she didn’t go straight.”

“Maybe she didn’t want you to know.”

The girl shrugged.

“Erin,” Murphy said in the gentlest voice possible. “Please, help me find Olivia. Her mom wants her to come home where she’s safe. She could be hurt.”

Erin’s lower lip quivered. “It’s Miss Rosie’s house.”

“Who’s Miss Rosie?”

“She died and her house is empty,” Erin said. “Olivia and I broke the glass in the door so we could get in and play.”

Mrs. Stokes gasped, placing her hand on her chest. “Erin, I can’t believe you did that.”

“Miss Rosie told us we could come to her house anytime we wanted. We didn’t mean to start the fire.”

“Fire?” Mr. Stokes asserted. “What fire?”

“We tried to make soup, and the stove caught on fire.” Erin’s shoulders trembled as her eyelashes dampened. “We tried to clean it, but it won’t come up.”

“When was this?” Mrs. Stokes said.

“I dunno, a week ago.”

“That explains the missing paper towels and cleanser,” Mrs. Stokes said, shaking her head.

“Daddy, Momma.” Erin’s eyes flooded, droplets channeled over her face, dripping onto her pajamas. “I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to.”

“What’s the house address?” Charley said to Mrs. Stokes.

“I’ll write it for you.” Mrs. Stokes stood and trotted to the kitchen. She wrote on a notepad, returned, and handed the paper to Charley. “Miss Rosie lived a few houses down the street. Sweetest woman on Earth.”

“Excuse me.” Charley removed her phone from her pocket to call Doobie. She gave him the address to send a team to investigate.

Erin’s tears didn’t stop. “I’m sorry. I’ll never do it again.”

Murphy took her hand. “It’s okay.”

“I hope Olivia is there.” Erin buried her face into her hands.

Charley tapped her phone on her palm. “We’ll find out in about five minutes.”

The girl turned to her parents. “Please, don’t be mad at me.”

Mr. Stokes rubbed his daughter’s head. “We’ll talk about it later.”

With tears in her eyes, Erin peeped at her mother. “Momma?”

Mrs. Stokes caressed her daughter’s hair. “Erin, don’t worry, it’s important you answer their questions.”

Charley’s cell phone buzzed. “This is Charley.” She listened. “Thanks, Doobie.” She acknowledged everyone in the room. “Olivia isn’t there.”

“I said she wasn’t there,” Erin squealed.

“Erin, go to your room, now.”

She rose to her feet and ran to the stairs.

“I’m sorry,” Mr. Stokes said.

“Erin’s traumatized,” Murphy said. “Children aren’t stupid. She understands what’s going on is serious. She knows Olivia well enough to understand she didn’t go to Miss Rosie’s house.”

“Thanks for being patient with her,” Mrs. Stokes said.

“Not a problem,” Murphy said. “We’ll be on our way. Thank you for your time.”

Mr. Stokes slicked his hand over his hair. “I hope you find her. Olivia is a sweet little girl.”

Murphy’s eyes trailed the stairs to the landing. Erin peeped around the corner. Suspicious, the little girl had more secrets than a house fire. Erin’s eyes revealed her deceit. In a tone loud enough for the child to hear, Murphy said, “We will find out what happened. It’s a matter of time.”

A whimper bleated from upstairs, snaring their attention. Teary eyed, Erin stood above them on the landing and regarded her parents, Murphy and Charley. She descended the steps and stood before them. Her mouth quivered as she wiped her runny nose with the sleeve of her pajamas. She pointed at Murphy and Charley. “I need to tell them something.”

“Go ahead, sweetie,” Mr. Stokes said.

Erin shivered, her little mouth twisted. “The reason Olivia didn’t go to Miss Rosie’s, is because we had a fight.”

“Why were you arguing?” Murphy said.

Erin dropped her head and picked at her fingernails. “She told me she had a new friend, and I wasn’t her best friend anymore.”

“I bet that hurt your feelings.” Charley frowned.

“It did. I’m her best friend. Not that other person.”

“Other person?” Murphy said. “A grown up? Was it a man or a woman?”

“I dunno, but she said they lived far away and everything had to stay a secret.” Erin’s fists clenched against her jaw as her shoulders trembled. “Olivia laughed at me. She said they would live in a castle.”

“What happened next?” Murphy said.

Erin’s body tensed, she brought her fists in front of her chest, shaking. Her eyes shifted between the adults as she wailed, “I hit Olivia. I was so mad at her. She cried, and she ran towards home.” Erin shook as she blinked away the lake in her eyes. “She ran away because I hit her, hard. Now she’s missing and I don’t know where she is.” Erin’s throat cracked as she tried to breathe. “I grabbed her arm to throw her onto the ground and her bracelet broke. I’m so sorry. I love Olivia. She’s my best friend.”

Murphy and Charley stared at each other. He dropped to one knee, reaching his arms out to her.

Erin accepted his concern and fell into his arms. “I’m so sorry.”

Murphy rocked her shaking body. “It’s okay Erin. Thank you, for your honesty.”

Charley rubbed Erin’s back. “Olivia is lucky to have such a caring friend.”

“Thank you.” Erin darted towards the stairs and scampered to her bedroom.

Silenced hovered between them until they heard Erin’s bedroom door close.

“It took a lot for Erin to come forward,” Murphy said. “Don’t be too tough on her.”

“She’s upset. I understand,” Mrs. Stokes said.

“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, we’ll be on our way,” Murphy said.

Outside the Stokes’ home, Charley and Murphy stood on the sidewalk facing each other. In unison, they echoed. “Matthew Gunderson.”

“But the castle?” Murphy said.

“That threw me,” Charley said. “This person lives far away.”

“Kids… well… far away to them, is down the street. Their depth perception hasn’t developed.”

“True. Castle. Are there any castles around here?”

“It’s not a proverbial castle. It’s a metaphor.”