Mindfield (Sideways Eight Book 1) (18 page)

Charley and Murphy guarded their reactions. Charley cleared her throat. “Over the last two months has Natalie mentioned anyone new?”

“I don’t recall, except for children her age. But adults, no. I don’t believe so.” Teresa looked at Allen. “Do you?”

“No, criticize us if you wish, but we’re protective of Natalie. In fact, it’s unusual for us to allow her to attend anything without one of us around, until today.” Allen’s voice cracked.

“What was different about today?” Murphy said.

“We’re both teachers. We had to work this afternoon. The school’s portal system crashed, where grades are loaded, which enables parents to view their child’s current academic status, activities, and class assignments online.”

“Hmm, did other teachers experience this?”

“Many. We had to load all the grades since January. Some teachers couldn’t. Those papers are long gone and there’s no paper trail. A few students are gonna jump for joy.” Allen pointed to himself and his wife. “We keep student’s marks the old-fashioned way. In a grade book.”

Charley’s eyes wavered as a faint smile formed. “My mom taught third grade.” She rubbed her eyes. “I remember her working on her grade book.”

Moments such as this, Murphy wanted to console her. Charley felt cheated out of something everyone else took for granted. Over time, he had learned when her parents are on her mind the corner of mouth twitched. He gazed at her profile, the exceptional nature of her character, contoured line of her face.

“Would either of you object to us visiting Natalie’s room?” Charley said. “It could give us a little insight.”

Allen snatched a napkin from the dispenser on the table and wiped his eyes. He nodded and blew his nose.

“If Natalie’s whereabouts isn’t located, would it be okay for us to come around nine this evening?” Murphy said.

Teresa lowered her head, trying to hold back her tears. “We’ll be there.”

Charley removed the voice recorder from the table and put it in her cargo pocket. “Thank you for speaking with us.”

“You’re welcome,” Allen said.

The two of them excused themselves. Charley took Murphy’s arm, pulling him aside. “I’m telling you, school related. What happened with the school’s portal was no accident.”

“I had a hunch you would say that. To Mrs. Ingram’s?”

“Yes.”

Chapter 21

Backtracking

Great Falls, VA - Heritage Hall Estates

Ingram Residence

Saturday, 14 May - 8:10 PM

The tip of Murphy’s finger touched the doorbell of the Ingram home. Charley withdrew his hand and held it tight. She rubbed her eyes with her other hand, dropping her head. Concerned, he placed his other hand under her jaw and tilted her head up with his thumb.

“You okay?”

Charley blinked her eyes. “Tired. Not sure.” She plopped her forehead on his chest.

Murphy wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We haven’t eaten breakfast. How about, after this, we stop somewhere and grab a bite?”

Her face buried into him. “I would love a foot long hotdog.”

“I was thinking, maybe vichyssoise and chateaubriand with béarnaise sauce.”

She tilted her back and rested her chin on his chest. “Into starvation?”

He grinned. “Let me guess, a strawberry shake.”

“You know me so well.”

“Wish I did.”

Charley stepped back, rolled her shoulders, and sighed. “I’m ready.” She forced a professional expression onto her face as he rang the doorbell.

The door opened. “Hello, come in.” Mrs. Ingram waved them into the house. “Take a seat in the den.”

“Mrs. Ingram, thank you for seeing us again,” Charley said.

“We won’t be long,” Murphy said.

“I have nothing but time, now that my baby is gone.” Mrs. Ingram’s eyes watered as she sat on the sofa.

“Do you mind if we record our conversation?”

She wiped her eyes. “I don’t mind.”

Murphy and Charley sat together on the loveseat.

Charley removed a voice-activated recorder and placed the device next to her leg on the cushion. “You’re an administrative assistant at a trucking company, correct?”

Mrs. Ingram looked away. “I’m no longer working.”

“Why?” Murphy said.

“Roger is why.” She sniffed away her tears. “Olivia and I moved here from Florida last December.”

“And Roger?” Charley said.

“The Navy transferred his whore here from Jacksonville. She’s enlisted Navy and now works at the Washington Navy Yard. He worked at the naval base in Jacksonville, a civilian. That’s how they met.”

Murphy pointed at the floor. “Your husband followed her here, went to the expense of buying a home and three months later, he leaves? That makes little sense.”

“You have it half right.”

“How so?” Charley said.

Her tone disheartened, Mrs. Ingram lowered her head. “Roger moved here first, before Halloween. Around the middle of November, he called and said he bought a house. He told me how much he liked the area and it was a good move for Olivia. I’d hoped his attitude towards her had changed. I was wrong. Anyway, the slut-chaser lied. Roger rented the house. He didn’t buy it. I can’t pay the rent. I’m being evicted.” Tears filled her eyes.

Murphy’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. I’m returning to Florida in two weeks.”

“Mrs. Ingram, I’m not trying to be cruel, but why did you stay with a man who didn’t care about your daughter?” Charley said.

“It wasn’t always like that. We married when Olivia was six. He was good to her until about three months before the move. I thought things would improve. But his attitude towards us deteriorated soon after Olivia and I arrived.”

“Why did he bring you here? After he left Florida why didn’t he call you and ask for a divorce?” Charley said.

Mrs. Ingram shook her head. “I don’t know. Ask him, but please tell me why because I’ve asked him and he refuses to answer.”

“Money,” Murphy said.

“What do you mean?” Charley said.

“If the whole family came with him, he receives more money for the transfer.”

“That makes sense. I assume three times as much.”

“Yes.”

“He didn’t attend Olivia’s funeral back home in Florida.” Mrs. Ingram’s jaw clenched. “He used the excuse he couldn’t leave work. How cold and callous is that? He couldn’t attend his daughter’s funeral because he had to get laid by his skank. You didn’t come here to hear this. What do you need?”

“Mrs. Ingram, we’re not trying to hurt you. I understand how painful it is to lose someone so close,” Charley said, reaching out to her.

Mrs. Ingram gritted her teeth. “How could you understand what I’m going through?”

“My parents and both sets of my grandparents died in a plane crash when I was twelve. I understand your agony. It’s deep, it twists your heart, claws your mind, and no one understands the emptiness or the daily struggle of missing the most important people in your life. Losing a child is incomprehensible.”

“I’m sorry. It had to be awful for you.”

“It was and still is. Nothing can take it away. It’s there, and it doesn’t leave.” Charley dropped her head and swallowed to regain composure to continue the interview. “Olivia disappeared on your day off?”

“No, half day. I had a mid-afternoon appointment with my optometrist.”

“Did Olivia attend daycare after school?” Murphy said.

“No, she rode the bus to where I worked.”

“But that day she rode the bus home.”

“Before Olivia left for the bus that morning, she asked if we could go for ice cream together after school. I agreed; expecting to be home by the time the bus arrived.”

“It was rare for her to ride the bus home?” Charley said.

“That was the only time since we moved here.”

“When did you realize your daughter was late?” Murphy said.

“It took little to distract Olivia, so I went to the bus stop.” Tears crept from Ms. Ingram’s eyes. “The bus had made its stop, and Olivia was nowhere. I spoke with Erin. She told me Olivia had walked towards home. I called the police on my cell.”

“The day Olivia disappeared was the only time she had taken the bus home. I didn’t know that. Did you tell the investigators?”

Mrs. Ingram’s eyebrows crinkled. “I think I did. Is it important?”

“Very much,” Murphy said. “If the person who did this was watching her, he knew Olivia’s routine of riding the bus to your work place every day. How did he know she rode a different bus?”

“Did you notice anyone who didn’t belong or hanging around the neighborhood? Were you ever aware of being followed while you and Olivia shopped at the grocery store, on the street, the park, anywhere?”

Mrs. Ingram’s shoulders slumped. “No. Why would anyone want to bother us? We’re ordinary people.”

“Mentally unstable individuals don’t need a reason, just a purpose.” Charley leaned forward. “Would you mind if we visited Olivia’s room again?”

“Sure, nothing has changed.”

“Thank you,” Murphy said. “You’re welcome to join us.”

“No, thank you, I’ll stay here. You do what you need to do.”

Charley and Murphy took the stairs to Olivia’s room. Charley turned the cool brass doorknob and opened the door. Untouched. Olivia’s teal shirt remained on the dresser. Dust had collected on the furniture.

“Ms. Ingram said she hasn’t been in here since. It’s still too painful for her.” Murphy pressed his lips together. “Uhm, it has to suck.”

In the corner, by the front window, the unfinished painting sat isolated on the easel. In front of the desk, Charley opened the mini-blinds to view out the double window. Across the street, a ‘For Sale’ sign stood in the front lawn of a Cape Cod home painted white with colonial blue shutters. The perfect family home.

Charley pointed at the window. “Sean, was the house across the street for sale the last time we were here?”

He glanced out the window. “Uhm, yes.”

“Something’s weird.” She rubbed her arms, sensing a chill.

“I agree, peculiar, but I didn’t sense it until we entered the room.”

“Same here. It’s not like a presence, more like a sensation.”

“I’m starting to believe in ghosts.”

“Wrong kinda sensation for me. This is a lingering haze of… dread or fear, maybe apprehension.” Charley shivered. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am, I agree.”

Charley turned to him as they walked down the stairs. “Feel that?”

“Feel what?”

“It’s gone.”

“Oh, that feeling. It went away the moment we left Olivia’s room.”

“Same here.” She continued toward the stairs.

Mrs. Ingram had remained on the sofa in the den, awaiting their return.

“Mrs. Ingram, that’s all we need for now,” Charley said. “I appreciate your time and understanding. I want to assure you, we’ll keep going until we arrest the person who took your daughter from you.”

Murphy and Charley shared an awkward glance.

“We want to inform you, this afternoon, another kidnapping occurred at Lawson’s Bowling Alley,” Murphy said.

Mrs. Ingram’s eyes filled with tears again. “I received the Amber Alert on my cell. A monster is preying on our children.”

“He will not stop until he reaches his goal or we catch him,” Charley said.

Ms. Ingram’s shoulders trembled as she twisted her hands in her lap. “We must hold onto hope and look to our faith in God to guide the police in finding this heinous savage.”

“Hope keeps us going.”

“We’ll let ourselves out,” Charley said.

Mrs. Ingram nodded.

Ideas gathered in Charley’s mind, she turned around. “Mrs. Ingram?”

“Yes?”

“You mentioned ice cream. You planned to take Olivia for some?”

“Yes. Why?”

“What ice cream shop?”

Ms. Ingram shook her head. “No, an ice cream truck.”

“Ice cream truck,” Charley mumbled. “Describe the truck.”

Ms. Ingram tapped her chin, staring at the overhead ceiling fan. “The only one I know that comes to the neighborhood is a large, white panel truck. Awnings… red, I believe. No. Blue. A strawberry cone is painted on the side.”

“Any writing on the truck? Company name?” Murphy said.

She shook her head. “I don’t remember. But… the man is great with the kids. He leaves the van, talks, and jokes with the children, calling them by their name. He’s on the small side, but he’s nice looking. I don’t know his name.”

Charley and Murphy’s eyes met. A small statured man, children would trust. The Ice Cream Man.

“Thank you, Ms. Ingram,” they said in unison.

As they left the Ingram home, both stood on the sidewalk beside Charley’s Denali. The crescent moon beamed bright as the stars danced. A mild breeze cooled the spring evening.

Murphy lowered his head, rubbing his forehead. His eyes searched for hers.

Charley shrugged. “What?”

Murphy shook his head. “Nothing.”

She placed her hand on his upper arm. “What, Sean.”

“Would you like an ice cream cone?”

Charley licked her lips. “You buying?”

Murphy swung his foot back and forth on the sidewalk. “Whatever it takes.”

Charley gave him a thumbs-up before she wrapped her hand around the bend of his elbow while they strolled to the Denali. “On the way, I’ll call Doobie to have the investigators research all local ice cream trucks to zero in on which ones frequent this neighborhood.”

∞ ∞ ∞

Comfortable in Sassy’s Sandwich and Ice Cream Shop, Charley swung her leg under the table. After enjoying foot log hotdogs, fresh cut fries, and strawberry milkshakes, they slurped their dessert. She dipped her spoon into the strawberry treat, scooping up a blob of goodness. The spoon upside down, she smashed her favorite flavor onto her tongue. “Next Friday night.”

“What?” Murphy said.

“Sirens and Studs.”

“You’re sure about this?”

“We can do this. I’ve taken every precaution.”

He tapped his spoon in her direction. “I don’t like it, but no way will I let you go alone.”

“Thank you, for believing in me.”

Murphy plowed a clump of chocolate soft-serve into his mouth. “That remains to be seen.”