21
“The body was seen along the south shore of the reservoir,” Chief Muse told Max over the phone as they drove to the reservoir. “Some boaters saw it but couldn’t get close because the water is so low. It’s been a dry year.”
“How will we get to it?” asked Max, keeping his vehicle right behind the chief’s as they sped down the highway.
“Might get a little wet, but we’ll come in from the south shore. We’ll figure it out. I’ve requested an ambulance, and two of my officers are nearly there.”
The reservoir wasn’t too far east of the town, easily visible from the main highway out of Prineville along its north edge. But they needed to get to the south side.
“The boaters tell anyone?” asked Max. “I assume people are camping there and are out on the water.”
“No. I know both of them. A couple of old-timers who spend every minute they can fishing on that reservoir. They’re keeping the boat between the body and the main part of the reservoir to try to shield it a bit and said they think it’s caught on something because it stays in one position.
A few people are water-skiing and swimming, but they’re mostly near the campground on the north side. ”
“Good.” Max ended the call and dialed Evan.
“What’d you find at the motel?” asked Evan as a greeting.
“Nothing. It appeared the room was never used. I think they chickened out about using the stolen card and decided to split.”
“Shit. Think that was her?”
“Don’t know, but I’m on my way to the reservoir just outside of town. The chief got a call that there’s a child’s body in the water.”
“Jesus!”
“No one’s been able to get to it yet, but the chief thinks we can do it. There’s a campground on-site, and I wonder if that’s where this couple ended up staying the night instead of the motel.”
“Get all the chief’s officers to the campground. I’ll get some deputies out there too. We need to ask everyone there if they saw the girl or the adults. Did you get a description of them?”
“The motel owner said they were in their twenties. Male had dark hair and the woman was blonde and thin. She said the woman was twitchy.” Max paused. “The owner had some doubts when I showed her new photos of Belle. Said she couldn’t be sure it was the same girl.”
“I’ve noticed she looks a bit different in a few of the photos,” said Evan. “Kids change fast.”
“Any other updates?” asked Max.
“The odontologist made an identification on one of the bodies, but I want you to stick with Belle.”
“That’s my plan,” said Max.
“We received Belle’s dental records from a pediatric dentist in town. I’ll forward them to the medical examiner so they’re ready when needed.”
The sudden thought of that beautiful little girl being reduced to a dental identification punched Max in the gut.
I want her alive.
I don’t want to need dental records.
“Max? I lose you?”
“No. Thanks, Evan. I’ll keep you updated.” He ended the call before Evan could say anything more. Nausea swamped him and sweat broke out on his forehead.
What did I expect? We’re headed to a water recovery.
He shuddered and followed the police chief as he turned off the highway.
Soon they were on a dirt road winding their way through some pines.
After a couple of minutes, he spotted a couple of Prineville PD SUVs parked off the road.
Two officers waited, and Max recognized one as Officer Fryar from the motel.
He parked behind the chief and the four of them came together.
“Should be less than a hundred yards that way through the trees and downhill,” said Chief Muse.
“I just spoke to one of the boaters again. He said no one else on the lake has appeared to notice the body. They’ve got their fishing rods out, so other boaters are giving them some distance.
” He glanced at Max. “Got some boots? With the water level down, the banks are muddy.”
“I do.” He headed back to his SUV. He’d learned to keep extra changes of clothing in his vehicle at all times. Along with boots, a heavy coat, and rain gear.
Do I need to add waders to my stock?
He perched on the bumper and pulled on his boots. Returning to the chief, he saw the other three men had done the same.
“Let’s go.” Chief Muse headed into the trees.
It only took a few minutes to work their way down to the water’s edge, and Max immediately spotted the body.
Fuck.
The child was face down in less than a foot of water about twenty yards out. The four men stopped, staring out at the body.
“Jesus Christ,” muttered Fryar. “She’s the size of my son.”
The girl appeared to be wearing a blue swimming suit, and her pale arms and legs were close to her body, the hair a pale color.
Her body subtly rocked with the gentle waves but didn’t float away.
It appeared the fisherman were right that the body was hung up on something.
Farther out were the two men in the boat, holding fishing rods and watching Max and the officers, everyday citizens protecting the dignity of a child.
Max knew floaters sank immediately, whether they’d drowned or been killed another way.
It took a few days for decomposition to start creating gases in the body that would make it float.
The last sighting of Belle—assuming she had been at the motel—had been on Friday.
It was now Tuesday afternoon; the timing fit.
“Water’s shallow right here,” said Fryar, “but I bet the mud is thick.” He took a few steps, his boots sinking six inches into the muck.
There should be a hysterical parent screaming for someone to find their child.
But Sydney Beason was gone, and Belle’s father was miles away, unaware of the find.
Where they stood at the reservoir was mostly silent. The faint sound of cars on the highway carried across the water, along with some occasional sounds of boat engines. Max and the men stood in a small inlet, protected from sight of most people on the water.
“I’ll go,” said Max, moving into the mud. “You hang back,” he offered, seeing how pale Officer Fryar was, no doubt thinking of his son. The young man glanced at his chief, who nodded.
“I’ll go with you,” said Chief Muse. He came up alongside Max, and the two of them trudged through the shallow water toward the body. Several times they nearly pulled their feet out of their boots as the suction of the mud gripped them in place.
“Something’s not right,” said Muse, coming to a stop and squinting, the body still yards away.
Max looked up. He’d kept his gaze on the murky water by his feet to avoid the rocks.
And to avoid the sight of that girl face down in the water.
“What the hell?” muttered Max in surprise. “What is that?”
“I know exactly what it is.” Muse pushed forward, anger radiating. “Those damn fuckers.”
It wasn’t a child that floated in the water. Not a real one, anyway. As far as Max could tell from this distance, it was a large, lifelike doll. “Who’re the fuckers?” His knees briefly went weak as relief swamped him.
“The graduating high school seniors. For their senior prank early last month, they bought a couple dozen of these big dolls. Stashed them in trees around town and on people’s roofs.
Even put a few under some of the teachers’ cars and added ketchup, making it look as if they’d hit a child.
The station got panicked phone calls for a week.
Totally forgot about them until right this minute. ”
“This doll is left over from that?” asked Max, fury growing. “Do you think someone knows why I’m in town and decided to fuck with me?”
“They’re not that organized,” said Muse. He’d reached the body and flipped it over. It was surprisingly real looking, the right size and build for a young child.
“Those can’t be cheap,” said Max.
“I heard one of the students ordered them in bulk from China or something,” said Muse. “All the senior kids pitched in some cash.”
“It’s dirty,” said Max, studying the doll. “Look at the crust from the water level. It’s been here awhile.” His anger evaporated, replaced by relief again that he wasn’t looking at Belle Beason. A small wave of relieved lightheadedness hit him, and he was suddenly exhausted.
The chief waved his arms at the fishermen. “It’s a doll!” he hollered. He looked at Max. “I know Jim’s eyesight isn’t the best. Can’t blame them for calling it in.”
“It fooled us from the shore,” said Max as the chief shouted the same thing at his men. Fryar abruptly sat down on a big rock, his relief radiating across the water.
“Sorry to waste your time, Max,” said the chief. He grabbed one arm and started to tow the doll toward shore, its eyes staring up at the sky.
Still looks nearly real.
“Damned teenagers,” muttered the chief as they made their way back through the muck.
“Sounds like a unique prank,” said Max.
“That’s true. We had a few good laughs over some of the placements.
They managed to stick one to the ceiling in the bathroom at the park.
Made a preschool group scream and scatter.
This one’s not funny,” he added darkly. “It was probably in one of the trees to start with, trying to freak out the boaters. Eventually ended up in the water.”
“Maybe you’ll find a few more,” said Max, as his boot got stuck in the mud and he nearly lost his balance. Again.
“God, I hope not. This one took five years off my life.”
“Mine too.”
“I really hope you find that girl,” said Muse. “Hate seeing stuff happen to kids.”
“We’re determined to find Belle.” A platitude. He couldn’t put into words his—and several other people’s—emotional involvement in the case.
“Yeah,” said the chief. The single-word reply conveyed all the heavy doubts, worries, and difficulties of police work.
The two men were silent the rest of the way.
When will we get a solid lead?