MESSAGE in the BLOOD, page 11
I toe the sidewalk and try to make myself invisible. “You're unbelievable,” I tell her then drive away.
In the car, I can't believe what I just witnessed. Gabby may have her issues, she even believes God talks to her. I never thought she'd hurt Lucas like that. I catch up to his cruiser and follow him to the station.
I push thoughts of Gabby and Lucas and their relationship out of my mind. We have work to do.
Nathan McAllister is loose and has a girl held hostage.
I change at the station into a spare uniform I keep in my locker and get to work.
After a long and fruitless morning, the last thing we expect is the call that comes into dispatch. We are sitting at our desks, discussing what our next steps should be when the call comes in.
“Lacey Aniston called to report a dead body washed up in the river.”
“Where at?” I ask, standing.
They give the address and Lucas pales. I know that bridge is close to his father's house.
“I'm sure Gregor is fine,” I say.
“I'm not worried about that,” he says, brushing off my concern. “Let's just go. At least Gabby didn't find the body this time.”
We were wrong about that. Her car is parked on the far side of the bridge. Lacey is standing next to the driver's side door.
“What are those two doing together way out here?” I ask.
Lucas grips the steering wheel tighter and keeps his eyes straight ahead, avoiding the Charger.
“I don't care,” he grumbles.
I climb out first, ready to grill Gabby, but she pulls out and drives away.
“What got into her?” I ask Lacey.
She shrugs. “Who knows. She just said she had to go.”
Lucas watches the car drive away and then turns his attention to the crime scene. “Where is he?”
“Down there,” Lacey says and points to a man face down at the side of the river.
“How in the world did you two even see him way out here?” I ask.
“Gabby just drove here, then stopped the car and got out. She's a bit erratic, you know.”
Lucas makes a sound of derision. “You could say that.”
“Sorry to hear about you two,” Lacey says gently.
“I'm not,” he grumbles back and begins down the bank.
“Did she, you know, touch him before she left?” I ask Lacey.
“She did. He's one of the men holding my sister. He was going to assault Aubry. He wanted her. Then your dad stopped him. The next thing we knew, he was shot. Nathan must have dumped him here.”
I hear the “we” but let it go.
“Or upriver,” I say looking in that direction. “The current here is pretty strong. He could have been thrown in anywhere that way.”
“I suppose so,” she says thoughtfully, twirling her hair. “Look, can I get a ride out of here? Your sister just left me and my car is at her house.”
I want to ask why they are together, but knowing Gabby I won't like the answer. “Dustin,” Lucas calls before I can form the words. “He's been shot. There's a nasty exit wound on his back.”
“Yeah, he's one of Nathan's men holding Aubry. Apparently, he tried something on her and was shot because of it.”
Lucas stares at me from down the bank. “And you know this how?”
I point in the direction Gabby drove off in.
“Why even be detectives if she's just going to swoop in and figure things out without us?” He turns his anger on Lacey. “Let me guess, she touched the body? A fresh crime scene and she's down here mucking it up.”
Lacey's mouth opens for a sharp retort. I touch her shoulder to stop her. “He's having a bad day. Let it go.”
Her mouth snaps shut.
“We will get you a ride back as soon as we can. Maybe a patrol officer can take you. It might be a while. You can sit in the cruiser if you want.”
Lacey tosses her hair and goes to sit in the passenger seat of the cruiser.
I climb down the bank to the body. Lucas has on gloves and is checking the man's pockets for an ID. I know he won't find one. Nathan would never be that careless.
“His pockets are empty,” he says.
We both look as the sound of a car approaches. “Coroner Gomez is here,” I say.
“Great,” he says sarcastically. “I'll get blamed for Gabby being here and messing with the body.”
“We don't have to tell her.”
“But we know this man's identity, well sort of. We can't keep that secret.”
“We're the detectives. It's our business what we know and what we share.”
“So Gabby was never here?”
“Exactly.”
“How do we explain Lacey being here and finding the body?” he asks.
“She was out jogging. She was so upset about her sister, she needed to blow off some steam so she went for a long run. A woman like that probably runs all the time.”
He looks thoughtful, for a moment, then agrees.
“Gabby was never here and Gomez won't have a reason to chew my butt.”
“That's the story.”
He looks at the body of the man. “Probably shot in the shoulder, based on the exit wound. Thank God his aim was worse when he shot you.”
I rub the spot where my father shot me, and stretch the shoulder that aches most of the time.
“Thank God,” I agree.
“Stand back, detectives,” Gomez shouts down at us from the bridge. “Don't contaminate the scene.”
We both step back from the man and let Gomez take over.
Chapter 22
GABBY
I make it back to the shop as my client is arriving. They are carrying something wrapped in a brown paper bag. The woman holds it tight to her chest. I search her face and she seems genuinely concerned with what she's brought for me to touch. Either she's a great actress or not one of Nathan's fakes.
I spend the next half hour with the woman and her grandma's antique jewelry box. I tell her the history of the box and the contents. Luckily the memories are happy ones. I don't think I could take any more negative energy flowing through me today.
The woman thanks me profusely as she leaves. The familiar pride in my work fills me. I helped this woman, I made a difference. She appreciates my gift.
I watch her walk down the sidewalk and get into her car.
“You did good,” Mom says from the stairs, startling me.
I spin around. “How long have you been there?”
“I came down right as she was arriving. I didn't want to bother you.” She descends the last of the steps. “You really are quite remarkable, you know.”
“Tell that to Lucas,” I grumble, my heart aching as I flop down on yellow couch where the woman sat a moment ago.
“That boy loves you.” Mom sits next to me.
I rub my face, will the tears not to come. “We broke up,” I manage.
“Oh no, Gabby.” Mom's arms are around me in an instant and I melt into her. “What happened?”
I'd have to tell her about the tattoo and it's messages for her to understand. I hesitate, then dive in.
I pull up my sleeve and explain how God talks to me, hoping she won't pull away in disgust or fear.
She wraps her arm around my shoulder and holds me tighter. “Even more remarkable. No wonder Nathan wants you to join him in his criminal pursuits. Of course, if he knew God talked to you, maybe he'd realize you'd never help him do evil.”
I sniff and sit up straight. “He does know.” I explain about the fake clients and how he's been studying me.
“I heard he was at your house last night. How that man can keep conning everyone is beyond me. Of course, I married him so that makes me the biggest fool.”
“He wasn't always like this,” I say. “I remember him being very different when we were kids.”
Mom rubs her hands down her thighs, a nervous habit. “I suppose he was different then. I just don't know what made him change.”
“Greed will do that to the best of us,” I point out. “I feel sorry for him, really. He's a miserable man trying to control everything and everyone around him.”
Mom makes a sound of disgust. “Don't feel sorry for him. He's brought all the bad on himself.”
“Don't worry. He's on my number one enemy list. Right now, I need to find Aubry. If this is all a test, I must pass it. For her sake.”
“He said this was all a test for you?”
I nod my head, “Yep. And so was the bridge he blew up last night.”
She shakes her head in disgust. “He really is sick. So what are you going to do?”
I tell her about searching the abandoned houses. “I don't know where to go now.” A yawn cuts through me, so large it hurts my jaw.
Mom pats my hand. “Looks like you could use some rest.”
“I can't. Aubry is counting on me.” Another yawn takes hold.
“Have you eaten yet today?” Mom asks.
“No, just some candy.”
She stands and pulls on my hand. “Come on. Your grandma is making lasagna tonight. That's where I was headed when I came down the steps.”
My mouth waters thinking of Grandma Dot's lasagna and my stomach growls loudly.
“Guess a girl's gotta eat.”
After soothing my tired soul by listening to some Twenty One Pilots and singing along like a wild person, I park near the barn at Grandma Dot's. Mom parks next to me and finds me chuckling at the memory of the raccoon that scared Lacey and me.
“Those coons are terrifying,” she says pointing to the barn. “When I was a kid, one chased me out of the hay loft.”
It feels good to laugh a little. “I haven't been in that barn for years. I wonder if there's any in there now?” She muses.
The large bank barn looms. The sliding door on the side is hanging open, Grandma's Kubota tractor is parked just inside. “Looks like Grandma was out tilling today,” I say and walk over to close the door. It takes both Mom and me to pull the heavy wooden door along its track.
“The track must need greased,” Mom says. “I wonder if Mr. Sickmiller still does that kind of thing for her?”
Last time I saw Mr. Sickmiller, he was on the side of the road. He was in no shape to be climbing ladders with a grease gun. “Knowing Grandma, she'll be out here on a ladder before the day ends.”
We both giggle at that and climb the steps to the porch and let ourselves into the kitchen.
“Grandma, you're being invaded,” I call. The kitchen smells wonderfully of garlic and baking tomatoes. My stomach growls again. Jet bounds across the floor to meet us and I pick him up.
“Gabriella, you came,” Grandma Dot says as she enters the kitchen.
“I heard there was lasagna. Of course I came right over.”
Grandma puts on her chicken print hot pads and takes the lasagna from the oven. “You're just in time. I made an extra large one. Pauline is coming for dinner and I figured you'd be here at some point.”
“How is Mrs. Mott?” Mom asks. “I've barely seen her lately.”
“She has a new man,” Grandma says in a whisper. “He's younger than her.”
I warm to the gossip, “How much younger?” I whisper back.
“Fifteen years. Of course, she and I need a younger man to keep up with us.”
“Of course,” I giggle, the tension leaving my shoulders. Jet wriggles in my lap.
Grandma grows serious and looks me in the eye, the steam from the lasagna floating between us. “I heard about your father and what he's doing to you.”
I don't ask how she knows. All the news in River Bend comes through Grandma's beauty shop at some point.
“It was quite a shock finding him in my bedroom last night.”
Grandma scrunches her face in disgust. “Would it kill him to ring the bell like a normal person? No he has to sneak into your room.”
“And out of jail,” I say.
Grandma tosses the hot pad on the counter. “We need a better jail if they are just going to let the likes of Nathan escape. At least you are okay. I saw on the news that the bridge exploded last night. Lacey left your name out of it, but Alexis told me all about what she heard from Dustin.” She suddenly snaps her mouth shut at mention of Alexis.
I let it slide, not wanting her to know I am aware that she's been watching Walker while Alexis goes to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It's not my story to talk about.
“Yeah,” I say with faked casualness. “I might have had to jump into the river with Anthony Aniston.”
Mom gasps. “I didn't know you were there. Oh my, Gabby.”
I shrug off her concern. “No worries. Nathan said he had no intention of me getting hurt. He just wanted me to think I might. It was another test.”
“Oh, that man!” Grandma exclaims. “If I ever get my hands on him.” She makes a gesture of choking someone.
“He's no match for you,” I say, giggling again.
Grandma takes plates out of the cabinet and Mom gets out glasses. I soak up the simple moment from my seat at the kitchen bar.
Grandma feels me watching her and turns slowly, the plates held in mid-air. She studies my face and gets a faraway look in her eyes. “You're different. I can sense something.”
Grandma likes to think she has a touch of the psychic powers, too. I've always thought she was just good at reading people.
My face burns. “Nothing's different,” I lie.
“She and Lucas broke up,” Mom says quietly.
Grandma slams the plates on the counter. “He broke up with you? How dare he?”
“I appreciate the support, but I broke up with him.”
“Gabriella, why? You love him.”
I can't meet her eyes, so focus on Jet and rub him behind the ears. “My tattoo told me to. It was very clear about it.”
She loses her defensive posture and simply says, “Oh.”
I'm glad I don't have to explain to her, she just understands the importance.
“Well, I suppose that's that then,” she says, opening a drawer and taking out a large knife.
“I suppose,” I concede. I'd hoped she'd tell me I had been wrong, that I need to fight to get him back.
“You drinking tea?” Mom asks, pointedly changing the subject. Normally, Grandma's tea fixes everything. Tonight I want something stronger.
“You got any wine?”
Grandma snaps her fingers in the air. “Wine. Good idea. Emily, I think there's a bottle or two in that cabinet over there.”
Mom retrieves a bottle of pink moscato and pours us each a glass. I set Jet on the floor and stand up from my stool.
“To new beginnings,” Grandma says, clinks our glasses and takes a sip. “Um, that's good.”
I take a large swig from my glass, enjoying the bite of the sweet liquid. I'm not much of a drinker, but tonight it seems right.
We stand in the kitchen in silence, each of us sipping, the lasagna steaming between us.
“So how are we going to find Aubry?” Grandma suddenly breaks the silence.
I take another large swig of wine before I answer. The alcohol buzzes my brain slightly and I relish the rush. “I have no earthly idea,” I say, then finish my glass.
“You won't do it in earthly ways,” Grandma says. “You have to do it your way.”
“Fill my glass and I'll show you what I got so far.” I leave the kitchen and retrieve the notebook from my car. I'm a little unsteady, my low tolerance from never drinking alcohol making the wine work fast.
I'd left my phone in the car and see I missed a text from Lacey.
“Done at the crime scene and back to get my car. You are not home? Where are you?”
I text her back. “Grandma Dot's,” and slip the phone into my pocket.
The shadow of the barn envelopes me. My head buzzes slightly. I stare up at the evening sky, listening. “Where are you, Aubry?”
The door of the barn creaks as the wind blows against it. The new spring leaves on the large trees nearby rustle, sounding like bones rattling. A bug buzzes past my ear. In the distance a dog barks.
All the sounds of the country, nothing to lead me to Aubry.
My phone beeps in my pocket. “Be right there.” A text from Lacey. I hadn't meant my text to be an invitation, but Lacey did.
Mrs. Mott's car pulls in as I make my way up the porch steps. Good thing Grandma made a big lasagna.
Chapter 23
GABBY
I toss the notebook on the kitchen island and say, “Mrs. Mott is here.”
“Great. We can eat now.” Grandma carries the lasagna to the table as Jet starts barking at the back door.
“Hush, Jet, it’s just me,” Mrs. Mott says as she blows into the kitchen. She pats at a stray hair on her light purple poof. “Phew. Thought I would never get here. Derek and I were in Fort Wayne earlier. We went to the mall and the lines were crazy. I had to wait for two people ahead of me. You don’t get lines like that in River Bend.”
I smile. Mrs. Mott is always excited about something.
“Yes we do, Pauline. You just want to complain,” Grandma teases.
“Well, maybe,” she concedes. “At least the company was good.” She looks at me. “Did she tell you I have a new beau?”
“She did. A much younger man.”
“Indeed,” she pats her hair again. “You should see what I bought at Victoria’s Secret today. He picked it out.”
“Mrs. Mott,” I admonish and take a sip of my wine.
“What?” she feigns innocence. “I may be old, but I’m not dead.”
“That’s enough of that talk,” Grandma says. “Time to eat.”
“I almost forgot. Lacey texted and asked where I was. She invited herself over.”
“In that case we’ll wait.” She takes the last sip of her wine. “We are having wine with dinner tonight,” she tells Mrs. Mott. “Very European.”
“I’d love some.” Mrs. Mott helps herself to the last of the bottle. “Gabby, I heard you are knee deep in the missing Aniston girl case. Even blew up a bridge and ruined the ransom drop.”
“That’s not how it happened,” I try to explain.
“Very exciting. I don’t know how you do it?”
