Elemental Enchantment (12 page)

“Margery Lewandowski is a housebound, little old lady. There’s no way she kidnapped those kids.”

Eli fought the urge to bang his head against the desk. Or better yet, bang his
boss’
head. “Probably not, but someone else could have used her car.”

The chief stared at him for a minute and said, “You wanna suit up and run by her place, knock yourself out. That little old lady wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

If Eli found what he suspected he would, his boss might want to put in for early retirement. “I’ll do that.”

He went to the locker room and quickly changed into his uniform. The faster he got out to the Lewandowski farm, the better he’d feel.

* * * *

Eli pulled his cruiser onto the pitted, gravel driveway of a turn-of-the-century farmhouse. Old willow trees bent and swayed in the breeze, and a dilapidated barn stood in the distance, its once red paint faded and peeling. Turning back toward the house, he climbed the crumbling cement steps and knocked loudly on the door.

Through the lace curtains hanging on the door, he saw an elderly woman shuffling toward him. When she finally reached the door, she opened it a crack.

“Oh, hello, Officer. Can I help you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He held out his badge for identification. “I just need to ask you a few questions.”

“Of course. Come in. It’s so nice to have company.”

He followed her to the living room. The chief was right, there was no way this woman had kidnapped anyone.

“Now, who are you?” she asked, beaming at him.

“My name is Elijah Jones, ma’am.”

“Well, Officer Jones, what did you want to talk to me about?”

He pulled his notepad out of his pocket. “I wanted to ask you about your vehicle.”

“Oh, I don’t drive anymore.” She laughed. “I’m far too old for that.”

“But you still own your car?”

She nodded. “It’s in the barn. My Bobby drives it every so often to make sure it’s still running. He says it’s a classic, so we keep it inside. Wouldn’t want it to get rusty, you know.”

“Of course.” He smiled even though his stomach churned. This guy had turned his mother into an unwitting accomplice. Eli stifled a sigh. It wouldn’t be the first time, and he was sure it wouldn’t be the last. “Is there any chance I could take a look at the car? There was one used in a crime recently, and we just want to rule out your vehicle since it matched the description.”

Her eyes widened in horror then filled with tears. “That little girl?”

He nodded.

“Of course. Anything you need, Officer. I can call Bobby up here and have him help you.”

Eli gave her what he hoped was his most reassuring smile. “No need for that. If you can just point me in the right direction?”

She shuffled to the kitchen door and lifted a set of keys off the key hook on the wall then handed it to Eli. “It’s in the barn.”

The lawn leading to the barn was carefully tended. Eli guessed Bobby was out here often enough. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was because he was invested in caring for his elderly mother or if he had other reasons.

Eli unlocked the relatively new-looking padlock—well, newer looking than anything else on this barn—and slid open one of the doors to reveal the gold Lincoln Town Car. It was the quintessential little old lady mobile. He slipped on the latex gloves he’d stuck in his pocket before leaving the station and carefully opened the driver’s side door. He didn’t see anything out of place. The backseat yielded nothing either. Moving to the opposite side, he shone his flashlight around the interior. He spotted a small muddy boot print on the glove compartment. It wasn’t enough to call out the department’s excuse for a forensic team.

Hope soon returned. A dull flash of red caught his eye, and he squatted down next to the open door to peer under the seat—a red rain boot. It had to be Ava’s. He was sure it was. He immediately called dispatch for a processing unit.

* * * *

Meaghan left the studio after cluing in Toby about the problems with the wedding pictures and apologizing for not finishing the editing process. Toby had taken the ghost issue better than Meaghan had thought she would and proceeded to pull out other photos of spirits that had shown up at photo shoots. Still, she was more than a little creeped out by the ghost’s resemblance to the missing girl.

After they sorted through the best pictures, Toby suggested Meaghan take the rest of the day off. Meaghan wasn’t stupid enough to argue with that offer. Besides, she needed to figure out some way to apologize to Eli. If he’d even forgive her after her crazy-pants behavior.

Sighing, she decided to take the long way home. She needed time to think about what to say. The fact that she apparently didn’t believe someone could love her without the use of magic was more than a little pathetic.

The sun flickered through the leaves as she made her way along the back roads beneath the green canopies that arched over the rough gravel. She rolled down the windows to let in the fresh air then suddenly slammed on the brakes. There, off the side of the road, was the stand of trees she’d seen in her dream. Belatedly, she glanced behind her. Thankfully, the road was empty. She pulled onto the shoulder as far as she could and turned on her hazard lights.

Getting out of the car, she stared at the trees. There was an old barn in the distance beyond the trees. She didn’t remember the barn from her dream, but she was sure this was the place. Anxiety twisted her stomach as she stared at the small copse.

She yanked her phone from her pocket and quickly sent Eli a text.

I’m on Seventy-Sixth Street near Riley. Found the trees from my dream this morning. Checking it out. Will let you know if I find anything.

Without waiting for a response, she hopped over the ditch into the thigh-high grass beyond. As she made her way through the sun-drenched field, her phone vibrated with a message from Eli.

Please wait for me.

As she drew closer to the trees the knot of anxiety in the pit of her stomach tightened. The sound of plastic flapping in the light breeze didn’t help. The anxiety turned to nausea and dread as she got close enough to see a black garbage bag hidden among the bracken at the base of a cluster of trees. Through a hole in the bag, she saw a little blue sock with bits of hay stuck to it.

She texted Eli again.

I’m pretty sure I found Ava. Hayfield. North side of the road. Can you come out? Or send someone?

She’d started to dial nine-one-one when she heard a child crying. Oh, god, was this her dream coming completely true? Was the killer bringing Daisy here to torment her with Ava’s body?

Meaghan darted behind the largest tree and watched, waiting for whomever it was to get closer. Her phone vibrated in her hand. Eli again.

Don’t touch anything. I’ll be there ASAP.

The child came into view. As did the man with her. It was the bride’s uncle. Bob or whatever his name was.

Meaghan’s hands grew slick, and her breathing shallow. As fast as she could, she texted Eli.

He’s here with Daisy.

As soon as she hit send, she pressed the record button on her phone’s camera and hoped Eli or some other cop would show up soon. She’d leave her hiding place if she had to, but she wasn’t sure she could take Bob, and she didn’t want him to panic and hurt the child if she startled him.

“Shut up!” The man jerked Daisy by the arm to stand in front of the garbage bag. “Stop your damn crying, or you’re going to end up like her.”

At the sound of tires on the gravel road, he dropped to the ground and pulled the child down into the tall grass. Daisy’s terrified whimpers drifted to Meaghan, and she wanted to cry. Her phone vibrated wildly in her hand, but she couldn’t respond or the recording would stop.

When the car passed, he sat up. She caught a glimpse of his eyes—severely bloodshot and crazy looking. “I wanted to keep you longer,” he muttered more to himself than the girl. “But, now, I have to move you and this one, too,” he said, kicking at the garbage bag. “They’re getting too close.”

Meaghan looked around for something she could hit him with. Closing one hand around the heaviest stick she could find, she dialed nine-one-one with the other. As soon as the dispatcher answered, she said, “I’ve found the missing girl. She’s in a field on Seventy-Sixth near Riley. North side of the road.”

The kidnapper’s head whipped around at the sound of her voice. He lunged at her, shoving Daisy aside.

Meaghan dropped the phone and swung the branch at the guy’s head, missing. “Run to the road, Daisy! The police will be here soon!”

As soon as the words left Meaghan’s mouth, he plowed into her and knocked her to the ground shoving the air from her lungs. Just that fast, he straddled her, his hands going around her throat.

“You stupid cunt,” he snarled, spit flying everywhere. “I’m gonna kill you, and I’m still gonna kill that little bitch.”

Meaghan struggled, but he was so much bigger than her. His eyes glowed with a feverish light as he squeezed, pressing down on her windpipe. Black spots floated in front of her eyes, and her lungs burned. With a desperate burst of strength, she smashed the branch into the side of his head—square in the temple. It was enough to knock him slightly off balance, loosening his grip on her neck. He ripped the weapon from her hand and threw it out of reach, but she managed a few precious breaths of air before he squeezed down again.

The spots returned, and a roaring filled her ears. She struggled, but nothing she did had much of an effect on him. She just wished she’d had a chance to apologize to Eli for not believing him about falling in love with her. She wished she would have told him she felt the same. More than anything, she wished they’d been able to see where their relationship would go. Still, she couldn’t regret her choice—not completely. Daisy had an actual chance at survival now, even if Meaghan didn’t. Daisy had already lost so much. She didn’t need to lose her life, too.

Meaghan’s vision faded. Everything grayed around the edges, and it seemed as if she viewed the world through a soft-focus lens. From what seemed a great distance, she heard something that sounded like an explosion. Her attacker’s hands suddenly fell slack around her neck just before the world went black.

Chapter Fourteen

Eli’s heart left his body as he watched Bob slump over on top of Meaghan. Keeping his hands locked tight around the grip of his gun, he ran to Meaghan’s side and shoved Bob off her. The man was still breathing, but probably not for long.

Placing his fingers on the side of Meaghan’s rapidly bruising neck, Eli couldn’t find a pulse. He laid his ear against her chest while feeling for a pulse in her wrist. Nothing. Yelling for a paramedic, he immediately started chest compressions and rescue breathing.

“Meaghan, c’mon, honey. I need you. Don’t do this to me.”

The two EMTs raced across the field, carrying oxygen and a stretcher, leaving Daisy with one of the other cops who’d arrived on the scene. As soon as the paramedics took over for him, he glanced at Bob. The man’s empty eyes stared at the sky. Eli checked for a pulse. Nothing. He started chest compressions. Still nothing. He worked on the guy until the second ambulance crew reached him. As soon as they took his place, Eli returned his attention to where it belonged.

“Got a rhythm,” one of the paramedics working on Meaghan shouted.

The other one fitted an oxygen mask to her face before they moved her onto the stretcher. Eli moved automatically. He helped the EMTs carry Meaghan to the ambulance, yelling for the second officer to stay with Lewandowski’s body and the other ambulance crew.

Eli helped Daisy into the ambulance and reassured her that she’d see her family as soon as the doctors checked her out. His heart ached for her—for the sadness and fear in her eyes. As worried as he was for the child, it didn’t come close to the terror he’d experienced seeing Meaghan’s lifeless body.

She was breathing now, but would she be okay? How long had she been without oxygen? He’d yelled for Bob to release her, but when the man hadn’t, Eli had shot immediately. He didn’t know how long the man had been strangling Meaghan before then.

He sighed. He hadn’t meant to kill the guy. He’d been aiming for his shoulder, not his chest, but Bob had moved. Eli couldn’t bring himself to feel any real remorse, not when the guy had been trying to kill Meaghan and had most likely killed Ava.

The paramedics secured both Meaghan and Daisy in the back of the ambulance and closed the doors. It nearly killed him to be away from Meaghan, but he needed to do his part and escort the vehicle to the hospital as quickly as possible—lights and sirens blazing.

Radioing the pertinent information to dispatch, he made for the nearest expressway entrance. The drive to the hospital was only twenty minutes, but it felt interminable. The emergency room staff was outside waiting for them in the ambulance bay. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or not. Had Meaghan crashed on the way over? Were they just taking extra precautions?

Eli parked and jumped out of the car to follow the gurney into an exam room. He stopped dead when he saw Meaghan. She was bruised all to hell, but she was awake and seemed to be fairly alert. Her eyes filled with tears and what looked like relief when she saw him. He moved toward her, but a short, middle-aged nurse blocked his way.

“I’m sorry, officer, but you need to clear the room.”

Meaghan tried to speak and winced. Gesturing frantically, she motioned him to her side.

The nurse looked between Meaghan and Eli then frowned. “After the exam. Now, out.”

“I’ll be right outside,” he said. Reluctantly, he exited the room to find the chief talking to what he assumed were Daisy’s parents outside her room. When his boss spotted Eli, he excused himself and made a beeline for him.

“I’ll need your report immediately.”

“You can have it after I talk to the doctor about how Meaghan is.”

His boss’ eyebrows rose. “At least, explain what happened to me.”