Lost and Found (33 page)

Maggie followed Daisy in the house and watched her dog slump back to bed.

“She’s an old dog, Maggie. She’ll be okay. Just let her be for now.” Richard poured her a cup of coffee. “We ate already, and Ryley’s already gone to school. Do you want some eggs?”

“I’ll do it.”

He lingered for a moment until she looked up at him. She forced a tight smile. He was so strong and together. Why couldn’t she be more like him? The depression and blue days snuck up on her. She didn’t see them coming. Maybe it was waking up with all this uncertainty, and she still carried Lily’s aura, her tiny little being with her. She could see her face as clear as day. She swallowed and tried to push away the giant ache that shredded her heart in two.

Richard squeezed her shoulders in his way of letting her know he knew what she was thinking. “One day at a time Maggie. Eat and then join us. Harper got the 911 tape. We need to listen and figure out who made the call.”

He was good at distracting her. But for some reason, the pain was a giant hole right in her center, and today—this morning—it felt as wide as a crater.

She blinked hard to stop the tears that burned her eyes and cracked an egg in the frying pan, and then popped two slices of bread in the toaster. Richard rubbed her back and then traipsed into the living room where Sam hooked up computer equipment. She leaned against the counter and listened to the low chatter, rustling papers, and eagerness of this amazing group of friends, here to build a strong case, brick by brick, to save her husband.

Maggie dumped her plate in the dishwasher after she choked down breakfast and wandered into the room just as the 911 tape played. The operator came on, “What’s your emergency?”

A young woman’s hysterical voice trembled on the other end. “Help, I think he’s going to kill him.”

“Who, ma’am? And what’s your address.”

“Richard’s shouting at Dan. They’re arguing please come quick. Richard’s going to kill him. Oh my God, he just pulled out a gun. He shot Dan!” The young lady screamed.

The operator came on again. “Ma’am, are you safe? Is this Richard still there, and did you say he has a gun?”

“He can’t see me. But he’s still there. I’m hiding, but I need to get out of here before he sees me.”

“Ma’am, what is your name? What’s your location?”

Maggie gazed at her husband who frowned and held up his hand when she started to speak.

Marcie stared at Sam and said not a word as they listened to the woman rattle off the address before hanging up.

“Well that was interesting. Anyone recognize the voice?” Diane slipped off her jean jacket and tossed it over the back of the sofa.

Kyla cooed, waved her chubby little arms, and kicked her legs in her pink terry sleeper. She was wrapped in a purple and white crochet blanket and rested on her mother’s hip. Marcie swayed the way a mother does to keep her baby content.

“Marcie?” Something past between Sam and Marcie before she shrugged,  frowned, and patted Kyla’s back.

“I don’t know. It’s familiar but…”

“There was a lot of noise in the background, kind of hard to hear, to make out who it is.” Richard sounded irritated.

“That’s traffic you’re hearing, Richard. A lot of traffic.” Diane never turned around while she adjusted something on the computer.

“Traffic? The property’s off the highway, it’s isolated. No way you can hear that kind of noise. Play it again, Diane.” Richard hovered closer to the computer.

They played the recording about a dozen times. As Maggie listened she hoped there was something about the voice that was familiar, but there wasn’t. Marcie watched her and said nothing.

“There’s no way that call was made from the Gardiner property. It’s off the highway and still too isolated for that kind of traffic. And we know the number came from a disposable cell. We need to find the young woman who made that call.” Sam appeared to be strategizing something as he eyed both Diane and Richard.

Someone pounded on the backdoor.

“I’ll get it.” Sam hurried to the back door, and a minute later, reappeared with a good looking trendy guy oozing with so much confidence that Maggie had to take a step back.

“Maggie, Richard, this is Frank, my techy FBI guy.”

He reached for Maggie’s hand and grinned. “Charmed.”

Maggie yanked it away, and Richard stiffened beside her.

“Hey Diane, heard you need some help.” He swatted Diane away from the computer and took over the tape. Whatever he was doing on the computer, his fingers were flying over the keyboard. Diane stood behind him and frowned the way a big sister does at their irritating younger brother.

“Frank, can you clean up the background noise so we can hear the woman’s voice clearly?” Harper leaned against the table and looked down at the computer.

“No problem, why don’t you all take a break and give me a minute to clean it up.”

“Marcie, we’re going to rely a lot on you here. You knew Dan’s friends, the one’s he hung around with, some from his past. Do you remember an Alison Johnson from high school? She was Sandra’s friend and apparently dated Dan in high school.”

Marcie glanced at Sam, something odd past between them. One thing Maggie noticed today is how unusually quiet and distant Marcie had become. Kyla started fussing as she rubbed her eyes.

“I’ll take her and put her down for a nap.” Sam touched her cheek, hesitating only a second before taking his daughter.

“Maggie, is that playpen still set up in Richard’s office?”

“Yes, no sense moving it.”

Sam hurried away as Kyla started to fuss.

Marcie wandered into the kitchen.

Maggie followed. “Is this coming between you and Sam?” How would she even begin to make up for all the hurtful things she’d said to Marcie? She wanted to say she was sorry, to take everything back but didn’t know how.

“No. This is hard though. No matter where Sam and I are, talking about Dan and his friends still hurts him. It hurts me to talk about when we were together. It’s a part of my life that’s over. Sam’s determined to bring him down. I guess that’s his right. I’ve passed it over and off me.” She raised her hand up. “You ever heard that phrase, let go and let God? Well that’s where I am. At some point after you’ve done all you can, you have to step back, and that’s where I am with bringing Dan down. I mean for God’s sake, the man’s dead.”

Marcie walked over to the sink with such an odd look on her face.

“Marcie, I never apologized for what I said to you that awful day we buried Lily… I never meant one of those hateful words or…”

Marcie touched her arm so kindly. “I know, Maggie. I never believed you did. It’s okay.” Marcie leaned against the sink and looked away. “Alison Johnson was Dan’s high school girlfriend. I didn’t know her she was a friend of Sandra’s. Dan’s type back then, big boobs, hour glass figure, a body I would have given my right arm for at the time. Sandra introduced her and Dan. They dated for a few years I think. Why would you want to know about her?”

“She works at Ryley’s school. Wow, she’s really changed. Overweight troublemaker now. She’s been questioning Ryley for some time about Maggie.” Richard rested his hands on Maggie’s shoulders.

“She’s related to Fred White, whose daughter painted a really ugly picture to Ryley of me and Maggie. Her affidavit in court, and the fact she was friends with Sandra, and Sandra still has a contract for respite care. Doesn’t all of this sound too coincidental? Like someone put together a plan to nail me. Maybe get back at me and Maggie.”

Marcie leaned against the sink and narrowed her eyes. “Yes, it does, Richard, but let me ask you this. Why has the focus been put on just you and Maggie? I’m the one who betrayed Dan and Sandra. And yet they’ve done nothing to me.”

“That’s because, my sweet thing, they’re smart enough to know right now you’re untouchable.” Sam carried Kyla and handed her to Marcie. “She’s hungry, and I can’t help her in
that department.” Sam kissed Marcie, and she wandered off to Maggie’s sunroom with her daughter to nurse.

“What do you mean she’s untouchable?” Maggie asked.

It was Sam that answered. “Haven’t you watched her? It’s as if she’s walking in and creating miracles around her. I mean that higher power stuff she’s always talking about. Surrounding herself in light, her angels. I see the miracles every day just being around her. Nothing bad touches her. She sends out love around her to everyone. And when she does something, it’s out of love. Don’t create bad karma, that’s what she says all the time. And it’s as if she’s doing her part to clean up all the bad and darkness that’s been created here. Whether you believe or not. Nothing can touch her.”

Maggie and Richard stared at each other. This weirdness was something neither expected from Sam.

Before anyone could say anything further, Frank hollered from the living room. “Break’s over, let’s rock and roll. I’ve reworked this tape, and cleared off enough of the background noise to get a better listen to who this chick is.”

Diane and Harper wandered away from the dining room table where they’d hunkered down organizing and prioritizing a list, shuffling papers, and devising some strategy to poke holes in the state’s case against Richard. They were detail people. And good at it. But it was Diane who added, “I spoke with forensics, apparently that video tape at the crime scene was one pulled right from the security camera.”

“Someone’s sure doing a bang-up job trying to frame me Diane, and they’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”

Everyone stood around the computer when the clear voice played on the 911 call again. And it was clearer. Easy now to pick-up the slight twang in the way she lingered on Richard and Dan’s name. But even then, Maggie couldn’t place the voice. Richard shook his head, and Maggie new he was frustrated.

Sam must have realized the stress this put on Richard, as he slapped his shoulder. “Don’t push too hard. We’ll figure it out.”

Harper crossed his arms. He’d been pretty quiet while they listened to the tape. “We have very little time left, and since no one recognizes that voice, let’s pack it in. Sam and Diane, we need to sit down with Richard and go through the other evidence the state’s prepared….”

“Her name is Jane. She’s Sandra’s little sister.” Marcie spoke over Harper as she carried Kyla and walked straight into the circle. “I’d know her voice anywhere. She’s your 911 caller.”

“Well, hello.” Frank grinned from his seat on the sidelines. “So Harper, guess you got a place to start now.”

Frank could be an arrogant pompous jerk sometimes, but Sam learned years ago to overlook that part of him. Unfortunately, Harper appeared, for a second when he glanced at Frank, as if he’d take him down a notch or two. But Frank didn’t work for him. Sam waited until Harper turned away.

“Marcie, are you sure the voice you hear on the tape is Jane?” Harper stepped in front of Marcie.

“Yes I am.”

“Would you testify in court?”

Sam stepped in front of Marcie. “No, she won’t.”

Maggie knew why Sam said it. So did Richard. Harper had no knowledge of Marcie’s past with Dan. The last thing Sam wanted was the DA poking around in Marcie’s past relationship with Dan, and the marijuana plants she helped cultivate with him. In the end, it could backfire and hurt Richard even more.

“Let’s talk to Jane. Sam, you and me. We’ll take the tape to get her to confess. Marcie’s name doesn’t need to come into this.” Diane was on her feet but Harper’s eyes remained glued on Marcie.

“Harper, you’re the expert here. Wouldn’t it be better to confront Jane, to let Sam and Diane lean on her?” Even Richard jumped in.

“Frank, any chance you can figure out from the background noise where’s she’s calling from?” Harper was sharp, the way Sam, Diane, and Richard rallied each other. Maggie knew she missed something.

“What is it? Is there something about the background noise that’s important?”

It was Sam answering Maggie. “As Richard said earlier, all the traffic noise can’t be around their property—the property where Dan was killed. That property’s isolated off the highway, it’s quiet. That was city noise.”

Excitement filled every part of Maggie. She wanted to jump up and down in victory. “This will clear Richard, won’t it? The DA will have to drop the charges.” The way everyone looked at her made her realize there must be a problem. “Won’t they?”

“I can isolate the background noise. Maybe, I might be able to pick something that stands out. But that’s slim.” Frank wasn’t smiling, he was all business.

“Everyone come over here.” Sam hurried to the dining room table where notes and papers were spread out. Sam grabbed a pen,  blank paper, and scribbled notes on several sheets, lining up each page side by side in some kind of order.

Everyone crowded around him. “Let’s deal with what we know and believe to be true. Richard and Dan are partners. They bought land together for a development project three years ago. They start building houses. Dan sweet talks some woman at the county into helping him rezone the land, so he can sell the houses legally as mobile homes and have a steady revenue from pad rent year after year. A really gray area…possible fraud. Go over here.” Sam tapped the next sheet of paper with marijuana written at the top. Last year, Dan coerces Maggie and Marcie to bring in and deliver his marijuana. Maggie delivers to Sandra, the middle man who handles the distribution of illegal narcotics. Sandra Carter has care of several severely disabled kids while in possession of illegal narcotics and one kid dies on her watch. Marcie and I work with the DEA and attempt to catch Dan with the marijuana and suspected cocaine exchange. Richard did help in background. We know someone from the team was tipping Dan off. We also know Marcie’s granny’s cabin was bugged, so we’re pretty sure Dan knew Richard and Maggie were helping us to nail Dan on narcotics charges. This would be an absolute betrayal in Dan’s eyes from you, Richard. And Sandra, well, she knows Marcie and Maggie talked about the marijuana and broke the cardinal rule in the dark underworld. Keep your head down and mouth shut. Let’s just say with Sandra’s apparent connections pretty high in the drug scene, she’s pissed and looking for payback. And Dan’s connection with Lance Silver, it’s likely that hit and run driver may have had another agenda, but hitting Lily, she may have been an unplanned casualty.”