Claimed

“Of course I remember her,” James snapped. “She was on my team.” A chubby girl, James recalled, never especially pleasant, though she did her job. She and Kelsey had lunch together a lot, mostly at the park.

“She, uh”—the man glanced down at his small notebook and looked up again— “she noted that you seemed to be especially interested in Kelsey. You had Kelsey sit directly across from your desk and Jenny noticed you were often, uh, watching her?”

That fucking cunt.

James forced a small laugh. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean. Kelsey was a relatively new employee. I had Mark Hammond shift desks so Kelsey could be near her supervisor, in case she had questions or concerns. As to watching Kelsey, I have no idea what Jenny is talking about.”

He leaned forward, offering a conspiratorial smile. “Jenny was, you know, a little heavy, in her late twenties and single, a little desperate, perhaps. She might have resented all the attention a pretty young woman, the new girl, if you will, got from the guys in the department.”

The investigator stared at James for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Yes, all right. I see.” He scribbled something in his little notebook, and James wanted to grab the thing and hurl it across the porch.

Instead, he started to rise from his chair. “Sorry I can’t help you. Now if there’s nothing—”

The investigator made no move to rise. “I see you’re wearing a wedding ring. I didn’t know you had married.” The man lifted his eyebrows in question.

James covered his hand, his fingers closing over the ring. He felt himself flushing. “I’m sorry,” he said stiffly. “I wasn’t aware my marital status was any of your business.”

“You said you were packing?” the man continued, not missing a beat.

“Yes. Yes, I’m—I’m going on a trip.”

“With your wife?”

James stood. “We’re done here, Mr. Johnson, or whatever your name is. Unless you have a warrant or something—”

The man stood as well. “A warrant?” he said musingly. “Think I need one?”

“This is private property,” James said angrily. He took a step toward the man.

“No problem. I’ll just stop by later. Maybe chat with your wife—”

“Yeah, okay. You do that. Come by this afternoon.” We’ll be long gone, you son of a bitch.

“All right then.” The man extended a big hand and James had no choice but to take it. He watched as the man got into his car, waiting by the screen door until the bastard drove out of sight.

His heart was still beating too fast, and he felt like he was going to throw up. He sank into the porch chair and saw that, along with his business card, the man had left the snapshot of Kelsey. James reached for it and stared down at the image. It wasn’t one he’d seen before. She was probably in her late teens in the shot, perhaps on a family vacation. The picture captured just her head and shoulders, though from the thin blue straps on her sun-burnt shoulders, he guessed she was wearing a bathing suit. Her face was tan, the apples of her cheek pink, her thick auburn hair tousled and windblown, her lovely green eyes glowing with happiness.

Again he found himself wondering when he had last heard her joyous, full-throated laugh, or seen her smile. When had the color faded from her cheeks, and the sparkle from her eyes? Where had the happy, sassy, funny girl he used to know and admire disappeared to?

She’s gone, that small, cold voice inside his head replied. You killed her.

Tears splattered down onto the photo of the lost girl. James felt something crack inside his heart, the pieces shattering like shards of cold, sharp glass in his chest. He dropped his head into his hands with an anguished cry as Kelsey’s smiling image fell silently to the floor.

Chapter 15

Kelsey heard the soft metallic sound of the closet latch sliding back and she opened her eyes. She knew she was expected to lift herself into a kneeling position, hands resting on her knees, head bowed in wifely submission, but she only curled tighter into herself.

The fog that had surrounded her all these months had been burned away with James’ horrifying pronouncement that they would be starting a family. It was as if she’d been blinded by James’ constant reign of terror, but now, suddenly, she could see again, and there was no going back. There was no way she could return to that quiet but dark and dangerous place, even if her life depended on it. Other potential lives now hung in the balance. She would rather die than go along with his monstrous plans.

Earlier she had heard James stomping around, pulling drawers open and slamming them closed. No doubt he expected her to beg to be let out, but she wasn’t going to beg for anything—not anymore. She lay on the hard wood in silence, waiting for the closet door to open, steeling herself for the next onslaught of abuse.