The Haret (The Haret Series) (4 page)

CHAPTER SIX

                  By 1:00 AM, the Rebolds were called and arrived at the scene. The dread they were feeling was apparent in their faces. Melvin Rebold being the influential man of the community that he was pretty much took over the search asking more questions than the police.

 
   Ian arrived by 1:30 visibly upset and on edge; Catlin arrived with him. They were both questioned and after their brief interrogation by the local law enforcement Ian entered the woods to search and Catlin sat by the fire and waited with the others.

 
   By 2:00 AM, the Reddick estate was alive with activity. Emergency vehicles surrounded the area, their red and blue lights rotating, penetrating the blackness of the night. A search copter flew overhead casting its bright beam of light over the area. Esther sat with Felicitas' mother and sisters near the fire and waited trying to keep her mind off the dire imaginations that consumed her thoughts. Esther felt for Felicitas' mother sitting there alone staring into the fire. She could only imagine what she must be feeling.  Every now and then when she thought of the things Reed told her in the woods,   a terror would find its way up her spine chilling her in spite of the warm blanket wrapped around her.  

 
   David and Danny stayed beside her, their playful antics replaced by a somber spirit.

 
   Everyone waited while the police and the canine unit combed the woods. Reed rejoined the search party along with his dad and the hired men. A news reporter showed up eager to question the officer in charge. Her stomach churned while she listened to the reporter announce that the daughter of a well-known local minister had gone missing.

 
   Esther stared into the dying flames wishing she hadn’t suggested coming tonight. Felicitas had not wanted to come. She had wanted to talk to her about something. There was a deep fear growing within her that whatever it was that Felicitas wanted to disclose had something to do with her disappearance. She mentioned it to the officer, but he seemed to dismiss it. He was more interested in hearing about Felicitas relationship with Ian. Esther could tell he had already made up his mind that whatever happened to her had something to do with Ian. His suspicion fell short when Ian and Catlin arrived with an alibi.

 
   By 4:00 AM, only a few faithful friends remained.  The search party emerged from the woods empty handed. There was no trace of Felicitas. Esther held back her tears for the sake of Felicitas' parents. She would cry when she got home.

 
   Reed made his way over to the fire and sat down beside her.

 
   “I’ll drive you home.”

    At 4:30 AM, Reed pulled his truck into Esther’s driveway. She didn’t make a move for the door handle; instead she sat staring out of the windshield.  He turned off the engine and waited.

 
   “Taz was supposed to spend the night with me tonight. I never dreamed I’d be coming home alone. How does something like this happen? It’s so frustrating not to know anything. How could she have disappeared in plain view?”

 
   Reed didn’t answer. Instead he turned and looked out of his window.

 
    She never knew him to be a loud talkative type of guy anyway. It was his silence that made him mysterious and sexy to the girls. His dark eyes would conceal his thoughts as he scanned the crowd never revealing what he was thinking. Tonight, however, his silence made her uneasy.

 
   “What are you thinking about? The well?”

 
   “Uh huh.”

 
   “You think it has to do with her disappearing don’t you? Why do you think that?”

 
   Reed turned away from the window and cast his black eyes on her. Even in the dark of the night it took her breath away.

 
    “I lost something to that well once.”

 
   Esther felt the trembling begin again so she wrapped her arms around her body to try and keep from shivering.

 
   “What are you talking about?”

 
   “The night I discovered the well, I was in the woods playing with my dog, Lancer. He saw something and began barking like crazy. Then he took off running. I chased him but couldn’t keep up. Then his barking stopped. I looked everywhere, called his name over and over. Nothing. I kept searching and that’s when I found the well. It looked just like it did tonight with the water running over the top. I had a flashlight on me and I shined it past the trees and I saw Lancer's collar broken off lying near the well.”

 
   “Did he fall in?”

 
   “Lancer was a bull mastiff. He weighed over a hundred and eighty pounds. He would have never fit past the tight space between the trees.”

 
   Esther shifted in her seat disturbed at what she was hearing. “So what do you think happened?”

 
   “I wish I knew. I loved that dog and he loved me. He would have never just abandoned me like that. The next day I went to the well and it was completely dry, no water at all. There were paw prints in the mud around it. That was nine years ago and he never came home.”

 
   Tears burned at Esther’s eyes but she held them back, refusing to cry until she was certain the worst had happened.

 
   At 5:30 AM, the sprinklers raised their spinning heads and watered the grass hitting the side of Reed’s truck just as the morning paper landed in the driveway. Esther raised her head from Reed’s shoulder and looked around. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep let alone spend the night in Reed’s truck. They had talked for some time neither one aware when they drifted off to sleep. Esther invited him in for breakfast. Reed picked up the paper and handed it to her as they entered the house.  Opening it, she saw Felicita's picture plastered on the front page with the caption: Local Teen disappears at backyard party. She scanned the article; suddenly her appetite diminished.

 
   At 7:00 AM, the elderly doctor swallowed a bite of his eggs and put down his coffee mug. He folded the morning paper and laid it aside to pick up his phone, and then he punched a series of numbers with his chubby finger.

 
   “Hello, Murfreesboro Police Department, how may I direct your call?”

 
   “Hello, this is Dr. Garrison down at the Regenwood Clinic. I believe I have some news on the missing teen.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

             
Esther was furious and talked back to her radio as if the announcer could hear her verbal assault. The reporter was saying that due to a recent development the authorities declared Felicitas Rebold to be a runaway. Esther fumed at the accusation as she pulled her jeep into the large circle drive and parked near the bubbling fountain. She slammed her door unknowingly catching the sleeve of the jacket she carried. She walked forward with determination only to be yanked backward. She bit her lip to keep from cursing. She didn’t curse often but there were some occasions that called for it and this certainly was one but she dare not curse on the property of a minister. Knowing Melvin Rebold as she did she was certain he would have captured the entire scene on his security cameras and replay the incident in front if the entire congregation next Sunday morning and then preach against swearing.

She freed her jacket sleeve from the grip of the door and tossed it inside. She was heated and had worked up such a sweat she doubted she would need it anyway.  With determination she walked toward the house passing Ian’s car and then several others she did not recognize. 

Felicitas mother, Sharon, had phoned Esther earlier and asked her to come over and told her a detective was at their home and had some questions to ask her concerning Felicitas. Esther took a quick shower and hurried over. Now hearing the latest news on the radio she had a few questions of her own. One being what in the world would make the police think Felicitas had run away?

             
Sharon hugged Esther tightly before escorting her into the house. She was a stunning woman looking much younger than forty-three. She was a typical southern belle, her highlighted hair flawlessly coiffed brushing the top of her shoulders and her makeup applied to perfection. Today; however, Esther noticed tear stained smudges had erased most of it.

             
Felicitas two sisters Lisette and Hayley, the grandparents on her father’s side and some of her aunts and cousins were gathered in the family room.  Ian was there too sitting on the floor. Esther fumed all over again when she saw Catlin leaning on his shoulder. If the police had any suspicion of foul play Esther would be sure to mention Catlin. It would be a thrill to see her interrogated and watch her admit under pressure that she had a thing for the missing girl’s boyfriend.

             
The detective sat on the edge of the sofa, asking questions and taking notes. Esther took a deep breath as she entered the room.

             
Melvin Rebold introduced Esther to Detective Russell who stood and shook Esther’s hand but before he could say anything she boldly started the questioning.

             
“Can I ask you why Taz is now being called a run away? I just heard that piece of crap on the news and it’s ridiculous. Anyone who knows her at all knows she would never run away.”

             
Detective Russell gave her a courteous smile and then returned to his seat. “I’m wondering how well you do know your friend Miss Goodban.”

             
Esther thought his tone was quite condescending.

             
“What’s that supposed to mean?”

             
“Did you know she was pregnant?”

             
Esther’s knees buckled and she felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. Her head began to spin, her face grew hot, and suddenly the sound of Detective Russell’s voice seemed miles away.

             
“Did you know that Felicitas was pregnant?”

             
Esther found her voice.

             
“No…..no I didn’t.” She immediately looked over at Ian who refuted her accusing look.

             
“I didn’t know either and believe me it’s not mine. We never had sex. It was her rules you know.”

             
Catlin rubbed Ian’s shoulder in pity while Esther looked on glaring. She was about to say her peace but her attention was forced back upon Detective Russell as he continued his questioning.

             
“So Felicitas didn’t tell you she was pregnant?”

             
Esther thought for a moment; maybe that piece of information was what Felicitas so desperately wanted to tell her. Then her mind went back to yesterday in the restroom of Gourmet Mudd when she caught Felicitas throwing up. Vomiting was a definite symptom of early pregnancy. Still her devotion to her best friend wouldn’t allow her to believe such an accusation. She lifted her chin displaying perfect posture before she responded.

             
“No she didn’t because she isn’t. Where did you get that information anyway?”

             
“I received a phone call this morning from a doctor at the Regenwood Clinic. He said she had come in earlier yesterday for a pregnancy test. He said the test was positive.”

             
“Well then she must have been raped or something because she is adamant about keeping her purity. She did seem upset yesterday and I found her vomiting in the restroom at Gourmet Mudd. She asked to spend the night and said she wanted to talk to me about something. We were going to talk after the bonfire.”

             
Detective Russell narrowed his eyes on Esther.

             
“So she never mentioned another boyfriend other than Ian, or any encounter? Maybe an internet friend or something?”

             
“No….never. She’s not like that.”

             
“You mentioned in your statement to the police that she said she saw someone before jumping off the trailer. What did she say exactly?”

             
“She said: My God it’s him. Then she jumped off and started running.”

             
“And you have no idea who
him
is?”

             
“No. I thought maybe she saw Ian…”

             
Before she could finish her statement Catlin came to Ian’s defense.

             
“Ian wasn‘t there. He has an alibi and I am witness to it.”

             
Esther had enough. She sneered at Catlin, her eyes like two daggers stabbing into her pretense.

             
“And why don’t you explain to Detective Russell how a seventeen year old high school senior managed to get into an over twenty one night club? Maybe someone should question you. You certainly have a motive for wanting to get rid of Taz since it’s so evident to everyone that you’re after her boyfriend!”

             
Catlin face turned crimson.

             
“Esther! Oh my God, how could you say such a thing?”

             
Detective Russell immediately took back control.

             
“Miss Goodban are you aware that Felicitas had been secretly visiting her grandmother Rosie Christenberry?

             
Esther knew her expression gave her away. The question came fast and unexpected leaving her no time to prepare an answer. The name Rosie Christenberry had long been banned from the Rebold home and the details surrounding why were sketchy. Felicita’s memories of her grandmother were vague and she told Esther she was curious as to why the family was forbidden to have any communication with her.  Melvin Rebold told his daughters their grandmother was crazy and bent on evil and it was best they consider her dead and never have anything to do with her.

             
A year ago Felicitas confided to Esther she hired a private detective to find her grandmother. She presented Esther with the address scribbled on a sheet of paper as if it was an ancient map leading to buried treasure. With a gleam in her eye she planned a Saturday afternoon trip to the location. Esther went along on the secret quest as a faithful friend. An hour and a half later they arrived at their destination but Felicitas was too reluctant to go through with the plan; all the years of her father’s morbid warnings played over in her mind and stole her courage. They sat out in front of the location for hours debating on what to do before they decided to head back home. If Felicitas had gone alone, she never told Esther about it.

             
Esther could feel the stares of everyone in the room; Melvin’s being the most penetrating.

             
“I knew she found her grandmother but as far as I know she never actually met with her.”

             
Esther heard Melvin sigh.

             
“Miss Goodban do you know Felicitas passwords, to her email and face book accounts?”

             
“Yes.”

             
“I’m going to need them. I’d like to take a look at her mail and private messages to see if there is any correspondence with her grandmother or someone else her family was not aware of. Maybe someone she met on the internet and kept private.”

             
Esther didn’t want to give the password out. She felt like she was betraying her friend but if it helped find her in some way….

             
Detective Russell handed Esther his notebook and pen. She scribbled the word
r3m3mb3r
and handed it back. It was a strange password. The word remember with the E’s exchanged for 3’s. Once when Esther questioned Felicitas about the meaning of it, she just smiled mischievously and said she would tell her later. She never did.

             
Detective Russell closed his notebook and placed his pen back into his shirt pocket. He handed his card to Esther.

             
“If you think of anything else pertinent to the case give me a call,” then he turned to Sharon, “Now I’d like to take a look in your daughter’s room if you don’t mind.”

             
Esther watched Sharon lead the Detective up the massive staircase for Felicitas room. Everyone sat stoic staring out into space. Ian stood abruptly.

             
“I need some air.”

             
Catlin uncurled her legs and started to stand until she caught Esther’s scowl and immediately sat back down. Esther followed Ian out onto the back patio. She felt for him. Everyone knew he was obsessed with Felicitas and had been the moment he first met her. He moved to Nashville a year ago to pursue his music but when he met Felicitas one evening at Gourmet Mudd performing an acoustical concert he was immediately smitten and moved to Murfreesboro so he could be closer to her. He was obviously not the church going type but once he realized what it would take to date the daughter of the town’s most prominent minister he never missed a service. He even tolerated Felicitas strict standards just to be with her. There were rumors that he had put a diamond on lay away and would be proposing at Christmas. Esther’s heart went out to him. If he wasn’t the father of Felicitas baby, then she could only imagine what he must be thinking.

             
“You okay?”

             
He glared at her, his copper eyes burning in anger.

             
“No I am not okay. Taz is missing and worse than that she’s pregnant? How am I supposed to feel?”

             
“You promise it’s not yours?”

             
Ian looked perturbed. “Come on Esther. We both know Taz and we both know that’s impossible. I wish it was though….God I wish it was. How could she?”

             
“You don’t know that she did anything Ian. Willingly that is. It could have been something bad and she didn’t know how to deal with it. I know that’s why she wanted to talk to me. Damn, I wish we’d have never gone on that stupid hayride.”

             
Ian sat on a lounge chair and looked out over the garden.

             
“I wonder how long she has known.”

             
His statement hit Esther hard. It was true. For the first time she realized Felicitas must have carried this secret with her for at least a month or so, depending how far along she was. Her stomach churned; she felt like crying.

             
“So what’s up with you and Catlin?”

             
Ian made a face. “Nothing. She’s just trying to help me.”

             
“Helping herself is more like it.”

             
Ian shrugged it off and lifted an eyebrow.

             
“So you have Taz’s passwords?”

             
“Uh huh and better than that, her laptop is at my house. She had dropped her things over last night before the hayride.”

             
Ian’s face brightened at the disclosure.

             
“Will you give it to me?”

             
“No.”

             
“Why?”