Missing Read online

  A resigned sigh filtered from her mother. “Yes, there was that. But it was more. He felt like you betrayed him—us—and everything that we taught you. He felt like you betrayed yourself.” Her mother shrugged and swiped a few more stray tears.

  “Well,” Lacey admitted, “I suppose I did, but I think the punishment didn’t really fit the crime.”

  “I agree.”

  “So what did the church say?” Her mother had avoided answering that one.

  The woman sighed. “Your father told them you’d decided to go to school in North Carolina.”

  “Hmm. The truth. At least part of it.”

  “Yes. Of course it was the truth. He would never lie, you know.” Surprised, Lacey wondered if she didn’t detect a hint of bitterness in her mother’s voice. With a start, she realized her mother had her own regrets. She poured the milk into the saucepan and turned on the stove. “Knowing what you know now, would you have done things differently?”

  Her mother looked her in the eye. “In a heartbeat.”

  Lacey expected to feel satisfaction, a surge of victory that she’d managed to make her mom regret sending her away. Instead she just felt sad for all the missed years, missed family time, and the missed granddaughter/grandparent time Bethany should have experienced growing up.

  On impulse, she threw her arms around her mom and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry I was so stubborn and unforgiving. I’m sorry I waited so long to come home and share Bethany with you.”

  Her mother’s arms enclosed her in that embrace she remembered from childhood. “I know. I’m sorry, too.” When she pulled back, she cupped Lacey’s face and said, “But let’s not think about what we missed. Let’s think about what we have in front of us. A lifetime of love.” She tightened her lips. “As soon as we get Bethany back.”

  “Deal. It’s not going to be about what was missed. It’s going to be about the future.”

  Her mother patted her arm. “I’ve got to get your father’s medication for him.”

  Lacey rubbed her bleary eyes. “I’m going to lie down for a few minutes.”

  With one last hug, the two parted and Lacey started down the hall to her bedroom with her mug.

  Settling on the bed, she pulled her laptop toward her. Might as well work while she could. Just as she powered up the machine, a knock on her door sounded.

  “Come in.”

  The door swung open and her father entered.

  Surprised, she could only stare at him with one brow raised. He rarely sought her out since she’d been home. “Hey.”

  “Hi.” He looked uneasy as he stood in the entrance.

  Taking pity on him, she motioned him inside. “What is it?”

  Blowing out a sigh, he raised one hand to rub his balding head. “I have something I need to tell you and it’s going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I’m working up my nerve.”

  Puzzled, she simply looked at him.

  “All right,” he said, moving to the chair by the small desk on the opposite wall. “I guess there’s nothing to it but to come out and say it.” She waited.

  Clearing his throat, her father said, “I was wrong. And prideful.”

  She drew in a deep breath. “About?”

  “Sending you away.” Looking down at his hands, she saw his fingers work and wring themselves together. Finally, his head lifted and he swallowed again. “The night you came to us and told us you were pregnant was surreal to me. I remember it in a haze—and with such disappointment and—anger.”

  She really didn’t need this right now. “Dad…”

  He held up a hand. “Just let me finish, please.”

  Wilting back against the pillow, she conceded.

  Her father rubbed his mouth then shook his head. “I had just counseled a father that day. His daughter was seventeen years old and had told her parents that she was pregnant. In my…stupidity…I essentially blamed him. Told him what a bad father he’d been and how the teachings of his household and his spiritual leadership had obviously fallen short. In a word, I judged him lacking.”

  “Because his daughter got pregnant,” Lacey said dully.

  “Yes.”

  It all became startling clear. “I see now.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  Tears formed in his tired eyes, and Lacey forced herself not to look away. Instead, she said, “So when I told you I was pregnant…”

  He gave a short, humorless laugh. “Don’t think the irony escaped me.”

  Her throat ached with the effort to hold back her tears. “And you certainly couldn’t have me show up in church, pregnant.”

  “No, my pride wouldn’t have that.” He sighed and looked away. “So, the only option available was to send you away.”

  Old hurt welled up inside her. She forced it away. The time had come to forgive. It was the reason she had come home in the first place. And what he was saying was nothing she hadn’t thought about. She knew his sending her away had to do with his pride, she just hadn’t realized how much. Only now, he sat before her a humble and broken man.

  Rising from the bed she pushed the laptop aside and walked to her father’s side. Kneeling beside him, she took his hand in hers. “I forgive you, Dad.”

  A sob escaped him. “How?” he whispered.

  “Because God forgave me.”

  He knew what she meant. In one move, he gathered her to his thin, shaking frame and buried his face in her hair. “Thank you, Lacey. I know I don’t deserve it.”

  “I don’t, either.”

  He pulled back. “Can we move on from here?”

  Lacey stood, her knees popping. She gave a shaky laugh. “I think moving on from here’s going to be the easy part—as soon as we get Bethany home.”

  Her father stood, too, and stroked her cheek. “You’re a fabulous mother. You’ve done a wonderful job with her.”

  Tears threatened once again but she choked them down. “Thanks, Dad.”

  With one last hug, he walked from her room.

  Which left Lacey staring across the hall at another closed door.

  Bethany’s.

  On impulse, she took a deep breath, walked to it and put her hand on the knob. She closed her eyes and opened Bethany’s door. Slowly, she opened her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief when nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

  The mess from the other night had been cleaned up. She shuddered at the memory and tried not to visualize Bethany’s features over that of the wig holder.

  Lacey’s mother had washed and dried the bedspread and all was as it should be. Waiting for Bethany to return to her rightful place.

  Oh, Bethany, where are you, darling?

  Lacey sat on Bethany’s bed and picked up her pillow. Breathing in, she realized that the washing had taken away most of Bethany’s scent.

  Hurrying to the closet, she opened the door and pulled up short. A strange faint smell greeted her. A smell that seemed familiar yet she couldn’t place it. It wasn’t Bethany, that much she knew.

  Unless Bethany had changed perfumes.

  A chill swept over her. How had a strange—yet familiar—scent gotten in here? Had someone been in this closet? And when?

  Quickly, she took inventory. Unlike most teenagers, Bethany didn’t have a closet full of clothes. Lacey hadn’t been able to afford them, not if Bethany wanted to keep up with the karate. For a long time, it had been hand-to-mouth, paycheck-to-paycheck living. All of Bethany’s clothes were accounted for except for the ones she was wearing when she’d disappeared.

  Except for her purple A-shaped shirt with the ruffled collar and a pair of jeans.

  Why hadn’t she noticed this before? She’d gone through Bethany’s clothes when her mother had voiced concerns that Bethany had left willingly.

  All of her clothes had been there at that time.

  Including the shirt and jeans.

  So when had these disappeared? />
  Last night when the person after her had been in her house? And why?

  Because the person felt that Bethany needed a change of clothes? Maybe?

  Again, why?

  Lacey shuddered. Felt the hair on her neck stand straight up. This was so wrong.

  She fingered the rest of the clothes. All accounted for. Moving from the closet to Bethany’s dresser, she opened the top drawer.

  All looked undisturbed. Socks, underwear…Lacey’s diary.

  Her breath whooshed out and she opened the book.

  April 1st

  Today MS kissed me for the first time. I laughed, I couldn’t help it. He was so cute and so nervous…and so gallant. I didn’t laugh too much, though. I can’t believe he waited a whole month of dating before kissing me. He’s so incredibly wonderful. I can’t wait to see where all this goes.

  April 16th

  MS told me that his mother left his father a couple of years ago. That she had a lot of affairs and lied to his dad about all of them. And his dad believed her. MS was so disgusted with her. I’m surprised he’s even interested in dating after watching his parents’ marriage fall apart. I want to do everything in my power to prove to him that I’ll always be there for him. I know he’d be there for me—through anything. I love him so much.

  Lacey slapped the book closed. She couldn’t relive that right now. Replacing the diary back where she’d gotten it from, she decided to let Bethany decide when to approach her about it.

  Closing the drawer, she thought about Mason confronting Daniel. She wondered what Daniel would say. Would he finally admit his big lie after all these years? Or would he continue to deny it?

  Lacey swallowed hard and decided she didn’t care as long as Mason believed her. That was all she’d wanted for as long as she could remember.

  She opened the next drawer. Scarves, belts, jogging shorts and T-shirts. Again, nothing out of place.

  Wait a minute. Lacey picked up one of the scarves and flashed to the memory of Daniel finding the one at the scene.

  The place Bethany had disappeared from.

  The place where someone had dropped a scarf?

  Raising the item to her nose, she inhaled. It smelled like Bethany.

  But reminded her of someone else.

  Someone who might be Bethany’s kidnapper.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Mason had just pulled into the police station parking lot when his cell phone rang.

  Joseph.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Mason. I just heard back from my contact at the lab.”

  “What have you got?”

  “For one, the print on the car is a match with our Mr. Howe.”

  Satisfaction curled in Mason. Then fizzled. So far, having Howe in custody hadn’t helped Bethany. “So, who’s he working with? We need a name.”

  “On the advice of his lawyer, Howe has decided not to say anything further at this time.” Joseph sounded disgusted. Mason could relate.

  “Great.” He sighed. “I wonder if Daniel questioned that other person from the shelter that Troy mentioned.”

  “He said he was going to.”

  “I’ll give him a call in a minute.”

  He climbed out of his car as he said, “Okay, so what can they charge Howe with?”

  “Attempted kidnapping, obstruction, leaving the scene of an accident. Just for starters.”

  “Good. What about the white Buick?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Daniel said he asked Catelyn to get a list of all of the white Buicks listed within a thirty-mile radius of the city. He seemed to think she was going to pass that on to you because you could get the information faster.”

  A pause. “I haven’t heard from Daniel, and Catelyn hasn’t said a word to me about a white Buick.”

  Mason pictured Daniel at the crime scene. He’d seemed tense. Anxious. Why?

  Unbidden, the memory of Lacey practically accusing Daniel of being the one after her came to mind. Daniel wouldn’t cover something up, would he? Like maybe the fact that he really was the one after Lacey?

  Mason seriously didn’t like the directions his thoughts were taking. “Okay.” Very strange. “Before Bethany disappeared on us again, she said a white Buick always seemed to be in the area. She was afraid of whoever was in it. While she was on the phone with me, she spotted it again.”

  Joseph grunted. “I’ll have that list for you ASAP.”

  “Great. Anything else?”

  “Not yet. I’ll be in touch.”

  His phone beeped, indicating he had another call coming in. “Hey, Lacey’s on the other line. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Mason switched over. “Hi, Lacey.”

  “Mason, where are you?”

  “At the station. Where are you?” His voice sharpened. “You didn’t leave the house unprotected again did you?”

  “Yes, I’m on the way to the station. I want to see that piece of material that was found at the scene.”

  “Material? What material?”

  “The material Daniel picked up and bagged for evidence. I’ve seen it somewhere before and now I want to smell it.”

  The pressure had been too much. She’d finally snapped. Lost it. “Lacey, darling…”

  “I’m not crazy. I’m almost there. Can you meet me and get me in to see the evidence?”

  He thought about it. Catelyn wouldn’t have a problem with him seeing it. And if Lacey thought it would help find Bethany, Catelyn would be open to that, too. “I see you turning in the parking lot.”

  She pulled in beside him and his heart did that funny thing whenever she was around. He swallowed hard and pushed aside surging feelings.

  Soon he would be able to act on those feelings. As soon as they found Bethany. They were getting close, he could feel it.

  Lacey bolted from her car and headed for the door, leaving him to bring up the rear. “Hey, Lacey, you want to wait on me?”

  She shot him an apologetic look but didn’t stop her rush. “I need to see that scrap of material.”

  “There was no scrap of material.”

  The look she gave him said she thought he was dense.

  “Yes, there was. I saw him pick it up and put it in a brown paper bag.”

  He sighed. “All right, come on, let’s go look at the evidence log.”

  Together they entered the building and Mason kept up with Lacey by lengthening his stride to match her short, quick steps.

  Lacey screeched to a stop as she nearly collided with Catelyn who’d rounded the corner in front of her. “Catelyn. Just the person I wanted to see.”

  Catelyn looked back and forth between them. “What is it?”

  Mason stepped forward and placed a calming hand on Lacey’s shoulder. She shifted, impatient, but let him take the lead. “Could we see the evidence log on this afternoon’s incident in front of the homeless shelter?”

  Tilting her head, Catelyn studied him. “Sure.”

  She led the way down the hall. Stopping at her office, she motioned them inside. “Wait here.”

  Ten minutes later, she returned with a piece of paper. “Here you go.”

  Mason took the paper from her and felt Lacey crowd in next to him.

  He didn’t mind one bit.

  Holding the paper so she could see it, he scanned the log. Then he looked at Lacey. “There’s no piece of material listed here.”

  “What?” she cried, and snatched the paper from his hand. She perused it, her finger running over each item.

  “I don’t understand.” She looked up, frustration glittering in her green eyes. “I watched him pick it up and put it in a brown paper bag.”

  “Did he say it was evidence?”

  That seemed to stump her. She shook her head. “No, not exactly. I think he even said something like it wasn’t much of anything. But he said he’d have them check it out, anyway. He told that to the cop who was standing next to him.”

  “Do you know which cop?”
r />   Lacey sighed and bit her lip. “No. I don’t remember his name. He was tall, thin and pretty young. Like maybe in his mid-twenties?”

  Mason pursed his lips. She’d just described fifty percent of the police force. Through various methods, he could find the guy, but it would take time. Time Bethany might not have.

  Lacey’s fingers curled into fists by her side. “I know there was a scrap of material and it’s important.” She stared at Mason. “I was in Bethany’s closet a little while ago. She’s missing a shirt and a pair of jeans. They weren’t missing before that thing appeared on her bed. I think the person hid out in the closet—” her voice wobbled “—and was there when I found that…thing. The smell in the closet reminds me of…” She broke off and bit her lip.

  “Who, Lacey?”

  “Daniel,” she whispered. At Catelyn’s shocked look, she gave a small shrug. “I’m sorry.”

  Mason rubbed his nose. “All right. Let’s just call Daniel and ask him about it.”

  Although this information, along with the fact that Daniel hadn’t asked Catelyn about the white Buick, fueled his suspicions. And it hurt. And made him feel like an idiot. All this time he’d believed a lie. And Daniel had been playing him for a fool. Secretly laughing that he’d managed to come between Lacey and Mason.

  But why?

  Because he’d wanted her for himself. How could he have been so blind? A memory surfaced. Specifically, Daniel’s comments about Mason being a lucky guy to have a girl like Lacey. One time, Lacey had been cheering at a football game. Mason had caught Daniel watching her so closely that it made Mason uncomfortable. He’d asked, “You got something you need to tell me?”

  Daniel had jerked and said, “No, why?”

  “Because you’re eyeing Lacey like a lion on a hunt.”

  Daniel had simply peered at him through narrowed eyes, then shrugged. “Just thinking how you always seem to get what you want. I’m not sure I think that’s fair.”

  Mason had laughed. “Yeah, I know. Maybe one day ya’ll grow up to be like me.”

  Mason blinked as the memory zipped through him at warp speed. And he knew.

  Cold, hard certainty settled like a rock in the pit of his stomach as he pulled his phone from the clip. Daniel was behind all this.