[Alex Mercer 01.0] Girl in Trouble Read online

  “Sure thing.” Nick ended the call and opened his laptop. He found the file of cold cases and went to the case he was sure was the original—the one the others had imitated. Janet Vassman. The original lake girl.

  How was she related to Flynn Myer? Nick had already done extensive searches, finding no links whatsoever. Flynn had lived a quiet, dull life without so much as a speeding ticket. He’d never even been to Montana as far as Nick could tell.

  Nick closed the cold case folder and went over to look at Flynn’s history again. The man had worked in the same company for years. Had lived in the same home for just as long. He’d gone through a long series of cars, apparently buying a new one every few years. He worked long hours, apparently so he could have the nice things.

  He scanned the information again, hoping to find something useful. Just a boring guy, but the thing was, nobody was that dull. There had to be something. But no matter how many times he looked, nothing showed up—not even between the lines.

  Nick went to close the window, but froze. He noticed something he hadn’t before.

  When Flynn was eighteen, he’d changed his name. That was certainly interesting. Most people didn’t do that, even if they hated their given names. There was nothing on Flynn before the name change, aside from a driver’s license. But then again, sometimes he had to dig a little deeper to find information on minors.

  He spent the next half-hour looking into Flynn’s—no, Gregory Myer’s—childhood. Gregory had lived it up. He’d totaled three cars and had more than two dozen speeding tickets. He’d been busted for purchasing drugs, everything from weed to cocaine. Gregory had come close to flunking out of school.

  Yet he was a star student in college? Went on to live a quiet life, mostly unnoticed but liked by all his neighbors and coworkers? That didn’t add up. People didn’t change like that, and Flynn had. He’d changed his name and practically turned into a new person.

  Nick’s head snapped up. A new person. Could he have…?

  That was the only explanation. Nick went to the online search engine and tried some amateur digging on Gregory Myer, the flunky drug addict. There was his answer.

  Gregory Myer had died a couple weeks after graduation. He’d overdosed on heroin in a closet and hadn’t been discovered until the next evening. He’d had a small funeral, and his family moved away after that. Then two years later, Gregory had changed his name to Flynn and enrolled in college. The rest was a boring history—or more than likely, a cover up for a three-decade killing spree.

  Waste

  Williams entered Nick’s office without knocking. “He’s given us a location.”

  “Sanchez?”

  “Of course. You coming?”

  Nick shook his head. “I’ve got another lead. Take a look at this.”

  “We have a location, Fleshman. No other leads matter.”

  “This one does.”

  “I’m not going to waste valuable time arguing. If you don’t want to be there when we find the girl, then it’s your loss. The media is going to be all over this.”

  And ridiculing them, if Nick’s suspicions were correct. “I’ll take the risk. This is huge.”

  Williams shook her head. “I’ve met some ridiculous captains in my time—”

  “Just go.” Nick turned back to his laptop. He was determined to figure out who Flynn Myer had been before taking on a dead druggie’s social security number.

  The door slammed shut. His phone rang. Alex again.

  “Alex, I told you I’d call if something came up.”

  “You didn’t think a location was something big?”

  “How did you hear about that already?” Nick exclaimed.

  “Are you on my side or not?”

  “I am. In fact, I’ve pissed off the FBI because I’m not going on that fool’s errand.”

  “Huh?”

  Nick scrolled through the screen, looking for something that would tell him who Flynn had been. “I’m digging through Myer’s past. Found something interesting.”

  “What?”

  “He appears to have been resurrected.”

  “Say what?”

  “I’m going to have to explain it later, but suffice it to say I think you’ve been right about him this whole time.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Alex mumbled something Nick couldn’t understand. “Okay. Talk to you later.” The call ended.

  Nick spent the next two hours trying to find Myer’s past, but he appeared to have none. He’d covered his tracks well, but without more to go on, it would be difficult to figure out who he’d been, especially as a minor in days when that information had only been stored on paper and other non-electronic means.

  A text came in from Alex.

  You were right. Anything yet?

  No. I’ll let you know when I’m off duty.

  Nick had searched everything he could think of between here and Montana, including near the locations of the other cold cases. Whatever Flynn had done, he’d covered his tracks well. Given that he’d managed an illegal identity and held onto it for so long showed he probably had connections. Ones who could cover up a paper trail.

  Muffled conversation and heavy footsteps sounded in the hall. It sounded like the search team was back—and it didn’t sound like they were celebrating a victory.

  Despite his doubt of the lead, Nick’s heart sank. He’d have loved to have been wrong and have Ariana back.

  He went into the hallway. “Didn’t find her?”

  Williams shook her head. “It was just an abandoned shack. No one had been there for years.”

  “We tore the place apart,” Anderson said. “Even the ground outside.”

  Nick nodded and then looked at Williams. “Care to hear what I’ve found now?”

  “No, I’m going to let Sanchez have it. He’s going to give us the real location.” She stormed down the hall.

  “What’d you find?” Anderson asked.

  “It has to do with Myer.”

  Anderson shook his head. “Captain, why?”

  “Because he’s the only lead that makes any sense—and now more than ever.”

  “Anderson, come here,” Williams called.

  Anderson arched a brow.

  “Go,” Nick said. “I’ll fill you in later. I’m still trying to connect some dots.”

  “Okay.” Anderson headed down the hall.

  Nick went back to his desk and opened the file on the original lake girl. If only he could find more about the kids Janet had spent her last hours with—they had to be the key to all of this. Not only that, but Flynn would’ve been a teenager. Perhaps the same age or a little older than the girl. It was hard to know for sure, now that Nick knew Flynn was lying about everything.

  He opened a database and ran a search for Flynn Myer prior to his miraculous resurrection. Just as expected, Nick found nothing useful—and without knowing Flynn’s true identity, he wouldn’t be able to.

  Nick’s head hurt and his legs were sore. He got up and stretched, then headed down the hall to see what was going on with the FBI’s investigation. Everyone in the room was either flipping through files or typing furiously in front of a screen. None of the FBI agents were in there.

  “What’s the latest?” Nick asked.

  Reynolds glanced up from a stack of papers. “Williams is grilling Sanchez. That’s all we know.”

  Nick nodded a thanks and headed over to the room behind the interrogation room. Two agents stood by the window while Williams yelled at Sanchez, who sat with his arms folded, looking bored.

  “He’s not speaking now,” said one of the agents. “I’ve never seen Williams so pissed.”

  With any luck, she’d grow annoyed enough to actually hear what Nick had to say. He leaned against the back wall and watched the scene before him.

  Williams paced in front of Sanchez, making empty threats. He probably knew it, too. He’d only confessed to cover something up. H
is job was done. He probably figured once the girl was found, he’d be free since he couldn’t have done it if he was in custody.

  “You guys willing to hear me out yet?” Nick asked.

  “Still stuck on the computer programmer?”

  “His physical description is an exact match to our eye witness’s account.”

  “But his alibi—”

  “Forget the alibi.” Nick pounded his fist on the table. “Shoving that aside, he looks guilty. Much more so than this guy.”

  “He’s an upstanding citizen without so much as a parking ticket. He pays his taxes on time and volunteers with the elderly twice a month.”

  “Myer also died when he was eighteen.”

  Both agents snapped their attention toward him.

  “What?” exclaimed the one who’d been silent.

  “Yeah, and his first name was Gregory at the time. Two years later, the troubled young dead man changed his name to Flynn and became the ideal citizen.”

  They both stepped closer to Nick. He filled them in on Gregory’s life, death, and miraculous recovery two years later.

  “That does give us reason to look closer at him, but that doesn’t negate the fact that he couldn’t have been there to kidnap the girl.”

  “I know.” Nick’s stomach tightened. That was the one thing that didn’t make sense. How could he look exactly like the man who had put Ariana into the van when he was giving a speech?

  Fury

  Alex jumped up from the couch. “I can’t keep watching this.”

  Clementine jumped from the couch and ran from the room. Alex’s parents both gave him startled expressions.

  “They might be close,” Mom said.

  “Why doesn’t anyone believe me?” he exclaimed. “I saw the kidnapper. It wasn’t that guy! He was a balding white guy, not a tattooed Hispanic. Flynn is probably watching this, smug as anything.”

  “What if the guy you saw was working for this Sanchez guy? Or the other way around?” Dad asked. “It could be a group job. Someone else has to be with Ariana.”

  “Because a criminal wouldn’t leave an eleven-year-old alone, right?” Alex snapped.

  “Alex,” Mom exclaimed. “We’re on your side.”

  He took a deep breath. “I know. This just pisses me off. It’s gotta be a distraction. I need to go for a walk and clear my head.” Alex headed outside, grabbing his coat.

  The temperature seemed to have dropped five degrees. He shivered and zipped up. The wind blew, making it feel even colder.

  Alex stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked down the street, fuming over the confession. Flynn could have easily paid someone off. It would be the perfect distraction away from himself, and given where the dill hole lived, he had no shortage of funds.

  Alex stormed down the streets of his old neighborhood, going over every detail of the kidnapping. Before he knew it, he was completely on the other side of the development and he didn’t feel any better. He was still angry and nothing had changed.

  He pulled out his phone and sent Nick a text.

  Is now a good time?

  No. I’m neck deep in this confession.

  It’s a fake.

  And it’s up to me to prove it. Gonna be a long day.

  Great. Thx.

  Alex shoved his hands back into his pockets and made his way back home. Zoey came out of her parents’ house.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “It’s a load of crap. The confession. Everything.”

  “Why would he confess, though?”

  Alex clenched his jaw. “To get the attention off the real kidnapper. It’s almost Halloween!” Terror gripped him. The police and FBI were so focused on the fake confession, it just gave Flynn the space he needed to plan his latest kill.

  That meant only one thing. Alex needed to take matters into his own hands if Ariana was going to live to see next month.

  Tears shone in Zoey’s eyes. “We’re going to get her back, right?”

  Everything in Alex wanted to wrap his arms around her. Not when Golden Boy was probably inside, watching. “I’m going to do everything in my power.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m going to make sure she comes back home.”

  “Alex…” Zoey’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t care what it takes to get her back.”

  She tilted her head and her brows came together.

  “Why don’t you go back inside? I have some things I need to take care of.”

  “Do you need help?”

  “Actually, yeah. Can you go to the hospital and stay with Macy for a few hours? Luke’s there now, and we’re all taking turns. I’m supposed to be there in—” he checked his phone “—twenty minutes.”

  She nodded. “I’ll go.”

  “Thanks, Zo.”

  They held each other’s gaze. It seemed like she was going to say something, but then she just nodded.

  Alex nodded and headed up his driveway. “Say hi to Kellen,” he muttered.

  He went up the stairs and nearly ran into Mom. She gave him a double-take. “I thought you were going to the hospital.”

  “No, I ran into Zoey. She’s going.”

  “It might do you some good to focus on Macy for a little bit. I can see how worked up you are over the confession.”

  “Everyone else should be, too! This isn’t good news.”

  She took a deep breath. “Do you want me to make you something to eat?”

  “I don’t want food,” he snapped. “Excuse me.” Alex went around her up the stairs and into his room and slammed the door.

  He was done waiting for the police and the FBI. The fact that they were giving any credence to the confession told Alex that he was on his own in this battle. Sure, Nick believed him, but that did him little good. The captain was bound by miles of sticky red tape. Alex wasn’t.

  In fact, as long as Ariana ended up safe in the end, Alex didn’t care what happened to him. If he had to kill Flynn to get to Ariana before Halloween, then so be it. He’d spend the rest of his life behind bars. It wasn’t like he had much to lose. Zoey had her fiancé. Luke and his parents had to take care of Macy.

  This was on him.

  If Flynn was going to go down, Alex would have to be the one to do it while the police were busy with a fake lead.

  He flipped open his laptop and opened a picture of Ariana. “This is for you.”

  Alex closed the image and opened a new browser. He was going to learn everything he could about Flynn, find him alone, and beat him until he brought Alex to where he was hiding Ariana.

  For the next several hours, Alex studied the layouts of the building where Flynn worked and of his house. He studied and studied until he was certain he could find his way around either one in the dark.

  Next, it was a matter of figuring out the jerk-wad’s schedule and when the best time to strike would be. Time was not on his side, and he needed a plan. He’d never come close to killing anyone, and it might just come down to threatening that if Flynn wouldn’t cooperate.

  Ring

  Kellen’s steps were heavy and his breathing tight as he trudged down the quiet hallway of the hospital. His footsteps echoed around him. Harried conversation sounded from somewhere. His pulse drummed in his ears.

  He hated the conversation he needed to have with Zoey, and even worse that it was going to be in a hospital. But that’s where she was, and he couldn’t wait any longer.

  Kellen slowed as the room numbers grew closer to the one he was looking for. Finally, he reached the right one.

  Knock, knock.

  “Come in,” came Zoey’s voice.

  His breath caught at the sound. He loved her—more than anyone else, in fact. That’s why this conversation felt like it would crush him, especially given the horrible ordeal she was going through. He was a first-class jerk for doing this now. No better than Alex, really. Maybe she did have a type.

  Kell
en sucked in a deep breath and opened the door.

  Zoey’s eyes widened when he came in.

  “Your parents told me you were here.”

  “Oh.”

  “How’s Macy?” He stared at the mess of casts, making Zoey’s best friend look more like a mummy than a human.

  “She finally fell asleep.” Zoey patted a chair, indicating for him to sit. “She was really uncomfortable, so they had to give her a sedative.”

  Kellen grimaced. “And the guy who did this to her walked away?”

  “Apparently. Have a seat.” She kept her focus on Macy.

  His muscles ached. He hated to do this. Almost enough to put it off. He changed the subject. “I heard about your break-in. I’m glad you’re okay.”

  She shrugged. “I never liked that window, anyway.”

  The corner of Kellen’s mouth twitched. “At least you have a good attitude about it.”

  “I’m not going back there, though.”

  He sat in the seat next to her. “You’re not?”

  She shook her head. “Not alone, and that’s my only option at this point.”

  “I’m really sorry, Zoey. This isn’t how I wanted things to end between us. I didn’t want them to end at all, but I can’t be your second choice.” He wanted her to deny it. To say she’d thought it over and realized he was the one and that everything would change.

  The silence between them spoke volumes—more than words ever could.

  “Did you come here for the ring?” she finally asked.

  He swallowed. “I need to return it before the next payment is due. Unless…”

  More silence.

  Zoey slid off the ring and held it out.

  Shaking, he took it. This was it. They were officially over.

  She glanced up at him, holding his gaze.

  It felt like a dagger to his heart. “I’ll do whatever I can to help find Ariana.”

  Zoey nodded and then turned to look at Macy. “You should go.”

  “Do you need anything?”

  She shook her head.

  “I love you, Zo. It’s just that we want different things.”

  “I know.”