Authors: Jessica Gaffney
“Yes, but they know not to give him any information. He may not have called them, stating he was your husband. He probably had an alias and a well thought out plan.”
Maggie’s head hurt. “Look, I don’t see how any of this is going to help me get my boy back.”
Maggie picked up her phone and dialed Thurston’s parents again. As she thumbed over her phone’s screen, she looked at the photo. She had cancelled Jack’s credit cards, and even closed down her old accounts. She did all of her shopping locally, and paid cash. She thought she left no trace. But wait, she recently ordered photos and had them sent to her mom. Jack knew which company she used. That was the connection.
Maggie was frazzled, every nerve seemed to be on alert and Ben was her only reason for not completely losing it.
Detective Brant had been on the phone with her attorney. With Maggie’s need to constantly change her phone number; her attorney had been unable to contact her, other than mail regarding Jack’s release. Fortunately, he was able to give the location and date of Jack’s discharge, so the officer’s could build a case.
Maggie sat on the couch staring at the smoldering fire. Ben rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. Her voice was weak and her eyes red. “Why is this happening? Where is he?”
An officer spoke with the detective in hushed tones and the two approached Maggie. Her throat knotted up, in fear of what they found. She looked up at Detective Brant as he spoke. “There was a half empty 404 can sitting outside Eli’s porch. We found a second one, cracked open, but full by the front door.”
Maggie began to shake. “No. Please don’t tell me he was here.”
“There are foot prints matching the one’s we found in the snow, leading through the woods, down the hill.”
“Down the hill?” Ben seemed shocked. “But I live down the hill. I have dogs, they would have found something.”
The police officer took one look at Ben’s feet and asked, “What size shoe do you wear?”
“A twelve.”
“May I see the soles of your shoes?”
He lifted them up, muddy soles and all.
“Thank you.”
Maggie looked at the cop like he was crazy. “I’m sorry ma’am, but with the tracks in the backyard, you never know who may be out to get you.”
She looked up at Ben, frightened by the new possibility that he had done this to her. Was he the one playing games with her? She pulled away from him as her stomach swelled in fear. Who could she trust?
She nodded at the detective and bent forward. Ben couldn’t be the one responsible for all this. It was just her mind playing tricks on her. He was there for her all along; with the missing wood, the mall. Then again, that may prove that he was always at the right place at the right time. That couldn’t be a coincidence.
“Maggie, I need to ask you more questions about your ex-husband.”
“What kind of questions?”
“We just want to be sure that we can protect you the best way possible. If you think he’s coming for Eli then we need to inform your son’s school and any caregivers. You’re boss will need to know, and perhaps the neighbors so they can keep a look out. Is there anything that might help us to recognize or learn more about him; should he be in the area.”
They already had his arrest photo, but other than that, she gave them his tattoo descriptions and a list of scars on his head, which he kept shaved.
“If he were to come looking for you, would he harm you? Is he after your son?”
Maggie’s throat nearly closed. Wasn’t that the whole reason they were here, to protect her. Of course Jack wanted to hurt her. She turned him in.
She dropped her head into her hands and let the tears flow. “This can’t be happening. He was here just a few hours ago.”
“Maggie if you’re son is in any danger, we will find him. We can have look outs at all the border check points. I need to know if Eli would recognize Jack, as his father?”
She had worried about that but how could she be sure? It had been three years since Jack laid eyes on either one of them. She had changed her hair, lost a little weight and Eli was bigger now. He was a friendly kid, but he knew better than to go off with strangers. She’d trained him to use a password, and she had told him his daddy died. “I don’t think so.”
The detective made eye contact. “Now I know this is going to be hard, but try to make things look as normal as possible, in case he is watching you. Fear entices these kinds of behavior. It’s best to not look rattled.”
Maggie shook her head.
Ben walked away. “I’m going to make us something to eat.”
Normally his presence put her at ease but right now, she felt violated, controlled and scared.
The hours lagged on as every possible scenario played out in her mind. Jack wasn’t one for creature comforts. He was a survivalist. For all she knew, he could keep Eli penned up in the woods in some makeshift shack and be living off the land.
Detective Brant took a phone call and Maggie looked out the window. She let the heat from her tea try to bring her comfort, but her son was missing. What comfort was there?
“I see. Thank you.”
She turned her eyes back his way, because her curiosity was still hopeful that Eli was not missing but just misplaced.
“Good news Ms. Burke. The Holland’s had taken the kids for food when the weather worsened. One of your neighbors was at the same restaurant and they took Eli home.”
“A neighbor, which neighbor?” Maggie stood up, “Who?” she shouted. Infuriated she charged to the door.
“We don’t have that name but Mrs. Gable said Eli was playing with their kids, when the parents approached and asked for you.”
Ben began dialing the neighbors. “Check your phone. Someone close by has him, they probably offered to take him home because of the storm.”
Maggie’s mind spun. “Maybe, but what if it was Jack, and he playing the part? What if he has him?”
“Ms. Burke, your son is going to be fine. Mrs. Gable clearly said Eli was playing with their children. He knew them. She said she tried to call you and said that she sent a few texts.”
Maggie darted toward the couch and retrieved her phone. There were 22 new texts, she scrolled through the list, “I don’t see it,” she cried as she looked to Ben for hope. “There’s nothing here.”
She tried again and finally spotted the word mom on the eighth message. It read,
the Holland’s invited me to watch a movie. Can I stay?
“He’s at the Holland’s.”
She checked the message again. The text was sent at 4:54. It was now 5:50 pm.
Maggie grabbed her coat and headed to the door.
Eli was curled up on the floor with the Holland boys watching a movie. Maggie felt her nerves surging up like wave of tension. She forced herself to remain calm and not tip off the neighbors as to her distress. She had missed their call; that was it. “Thank you so much for bringing him back in this weather.”
“With the storm coming in, you know how people down the mountain are, they panic. Guess the family wanted to get home before the heavy stuff settled in.” She read the unease in their faces, perhaps it was because the police had gone door to door. Any concerned parent would have called the police.
Mrs. Holland looked at Maggie, her eyes filled with anxiety as she rattled off her idea of an explanation, “Eli sort of attached himself to the boys. We thought there’d be no harm. But you didn’t answer your phone. By time we drove by your house, no cars were there.”
Maggie didn’t want to tell them that she parked in the garage like a normal person. She simply asked for his coat and walked out into the snow.
Maggie had been sitting at the table for an hour. Eli was running around with Ben as if nothing had happened, yet it did. The emotions of almost losing her son had triggered Maggie into an emotional whirlwind. She needed Claire. She could talk some sense into her.
“Maggie.”
She looked up as Claire rushed inside and ran toward her, “Oh my God.”
The two embraced as Maggie let her guard down. Her fears seeped out as she hugged her tight. Claire took her hands. “It’s gonna be alright. We are not going to let that jerk touch you.”
Maggie called for Vala. The dog looked up from her bed, “Here.”
She walked ever slowly toward her master. Maggie pet her head slowly, looking into her eyes. “What happened today girl? Did you know he was here?”
She smiled and tried to hold back her tears. She had come so far in her recovery. Why now? Why would God allow Jack to get this close? Why did she meet Ben if Jack was going to terrify her all over again? She and Eli needed stability and that included Ben, he brought that into her life. And she reminded herself not to forget it either.
She excused herself from the table and withdrew to her bedroom. After a good cry, Maggie wrapped herself up in the comforter. Night had come and she had no idea if she would fall asleep or not. Worrying would only make it worse, so she breathed in deep and tried to trust in those around her. God knew what he was doing. Now it was time that she needed to do her part.
It seemed like a good time to review her journal. She reached for the composition book and returned to the last entry. There in blue ink was her dream, the one where Vala gets shot, in the woods. She understood it now. Her subconscious played it out already. Jack was out, he was coming for her, and someone was going to die.
Her dreams were never wrong.
Maybe she could pack up her things and run? That would certainly keep them safe. Then again, if she ran, she was also leaving the protection she built around her. She had the police, the shelter, the dog. Jack was closing in, there was a chance they would catch him. And while she was still afraid, she was not as frail as she once was. He was not invincible. He’d make a mistake and they would find him. She had to remind herself of that. Dr. Gibbons told her numerous times. He is just a man, but how you portray him dictates your responses. Those responses control your thoughts and emotions. When you deal with Jack, you must choose to control where your thoughts and reactions go. Take him off his pedestal, he is not evil incarnate. He has a body, blood, needs, and fears of his own. He is human.
There wasn’t much about Jack that seemed human. She argued that one. But the doctor was right. It was all about how she perceived him. And if she was afraid, he’d feed on it. He was after her submission. She needed to stay strong and not teach Eli to be afraid of a man either.
She folded her hands and thanked God for sanity. She had to stop thinking about Jack the way she did for the past decade. With hands together she said a quick prayer to put her in the right mind frame.
The boys were sprawled out on the floor playing chess. A sight to be seen. Maggie walked over to them, a little more wobbly than expected. “Think I’m gonna take a bath.”
“Go right ahead,” Ben’s eyes were soft and caring. Eli lay tummy town with his hands holding up his chin. When it was his turn to move he reach up and moved his pawn. “That’s a good one, isn’t it Ben.”
“It is buddy. You may win this one.”
He smiled like a kid at a camp fire.
The doorbell rang and Maggie’s heart leapt. Ben looked out the window. “It’s all right. It’s just the detective.”
Eli ran to the door and saluted Mr. Brant, as if he were a Marine.
The man smiled and patted Eli on the head. “May we speak in private?” He asked.
Maggie clutched her shoulders. “Anything you have to say can be said in front of Ben.”
“I was referring to an adult only conversation.” He said looking toward Eli.
She settled Eli into his room and turned on a movie. He’d do anything she asked if he got to watch a movie. She set up a TV tray and put a drink and some popcorn in a bowl. That should be enough to put him to sleep. Ben had poured her a cup of coffee and the three sat at the kitchen table. “Now I don’t want to alarm you but you need to know that a security camera at your son’s school shows some suspicious activity near the playground. The local precinct had a call two days ago that there was a perpetrator parked near the school.”
“What time of day?”
He flipped open his pad of paper. “The call came in at 11:52 am.”
Maggie began to shake. “That’s when Kindergarten goes outside.”
Ben put his hand on hers. “Is there anything else you are not telling us?”
“No. But I suggest you folks sit tight and let us do our job. We should know more by the morning.”
“He may break in before morning. Should we leave?”
“You are under surveillance Maggie. This is the safest place.”
She shook her head yes, but every nerve in her body told her Jack was coming.