Chapter 51
Ben learned from Lainie that her sister was not yet cleared to drive. When she knocked on the door, her mother was with her. Considering the accident and the time spent in the hospital, he was amazed at how good Evangeline looked, pale but with life in her eyes.
“Wow, I’d never know that you just emerged from a coma.” He reached out his hand and she shook it. Though he could see that she’d been crying. “Are you okay?”
“Thank you, Agent Isaacs. I’m fine, just emotional.” She blew her nose.
“I’m glad to hear that. Thank you for bringing her over today. I want to have this talk. We saved you some pizza. And please, call me Ben.”
“I’m not hungry right now.”
Lainie gave them both some water, and she and Ben pulled the kitchen chairs into the living room while Mrs. Jensen and Evie sat on the couch.
“Thanks anyway.” Evie dabbed her eyes.
To Ben it appeared as if she was struggling for control.
“I’m sorry. It was difficult and more than a little heartbreaking to see Stan. For both of us, really. He broke down and confessed so many things.” She paused, and Ben could see this was not easy for her.
“He told me a lot, but I know that you’re concerned the most about Efren. He admitted that he was not completely truthful when he talked to you, Lainie.”
“Not truthful how? With everything?”
“About Efren. He knew Efren well, and he liked him. But Crystal didn’t. She didn’t like him, and she didn’t trust him the whole time he worked at the car wash.”
“Did she say why?” Ben asked.
“She thought that he paid too much attention to everything; it bothered her. In her eyes detailers were stupid, only manual labor. Efren was too smart for his own good. It came to a head one Friday. She caught him snooping in one of the cars. He told her he found a loose handrest and was only fixing it.”
“Did Stan say exactly what Friday that was?”
“It was the Friday before the Hawaii trip. According to Stan, Crystal accused Efren of stealing something from the car he claimed he was fixing.”
“Did Stan witness this?” Ben asked.
“He heard Crystal confront Efren.”
“That same day?”
“Yes. It was after the car wash closed for the day. It was time to go home, and he came out of his office to raised voices—Crystal accusing Efren of something, and Efren denying it. Then Crystal’s driver, a guy they call Plug, beat him up.”
“Beat Efren up?”
Evie nodded. “Hit him from behind, knocked him to the ground, and began kicking him when he was down.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her hands together.
“Stan said Efren swore he didn’t know what they were talking about, that he didn’t have anything. Stan also says he tried to stop the beating; he pleaded with Crystal.”
“Did they stop?”
She shook her head. “Plug threatened him, said it was none of his business. Stan said even though he left the room, he kept listening, He heard Crystal say that she knew that Efren took the book.”
“The book?” Ben asked. “What book?”
“Stan didn’t know. And he heard Efren deny taking anything.
Crystal was hysterical. Stan said he’d never seen or heard her so upset.
From what he overheard, Crystal had taken a book from Vine.
She wanted something from the book, and then she planned on getting it back to Vine before he knew it was gone.
Because she couldn’t find the book, she was afraid Vine would find out it was gone before she could return it. ” Evie paused and drank some water.
“Maybe they guessed he was listening because they both told him to leave, so he did. The next day at work, Efren didn’t show up and Stan was told not to ask questions.”
“Did Stan ever find out anything about the book?”
Evie shook her head. “Stan has no idea about the book. I believe him about that.” She swallowed. “He said that the next day, Raphael had to work hard to get the blood out of Crystal’s car.” She grabbed a Kleenex.
Ben blinked as emotion hit hard. Blood. Efren’s blood.
A feeling of deep loss emerged, then rising fury. They’d beaten his friend. More than anything he wanted to catch everyone involved.
Evie needed time to compose herself. She sobbed and her mother handed her another tissue.
“What happened to me was bad,” Evie said after a minute, a sob still in her voice. “But I’m here, alive. I have difficulty processing that Stan knew something bad had happened to Efren and never said anything.”
“Do you remember having your car washed and talking to Efren?”
“Washed? No.” She frowned. “Well, maybe vaguely. I used to get my car washed once a week. Efren always did the best job.”
“Do you remember meeting me for coffee?”
Evie rubbed at her temple. “I met you for coffee?”
Ben nodded.
“Memories are so blurry. I know that I met you at some point. I just can’t put my finger on when.”
“We met the day before you were abducted. I asked you about Efren. You told me that the last time you saw him was that Friday, when you took your car to have it washed.”
She sat up straight, closed her eyes as if trying to remember. “It’s coming to me in flashes. I do remember having a conversation with someone about Efren. I also remember being at the car wash and talking to Efren as he was detailing my car.” She pressed a palm to her forehead.
“Did anything out of the ordinary happen when you spoke to him?”
“I don’t think so. He did a perfect job like always.”
“Did he talk to you about anything important?”
“Not that I remember.”
“Evie, do you know where your car is now?” Lainie asked.
Her brow furrowed. “It wasn’t in my garage? No, I don’t. I wish I did.”
“Let’s try something,” Ben said. “I’ve seen agents conduct hypnosis interviews where they take people back to an incident. I don’t particularly believe in hypnosis, but I do think if you consider your routine, think about your normal activities, it might spark a memory.”
“My routine?”
“Yeah, you were getting ready for a trip. What would you do to prepare for the trip? You got the car washed, what would be next?”
Evie thought for a moment. “It was going to be my first trip away in a very long time. I was packing, and one of the wheels on my suitcase broke. So I went to the outlet stores in Orange.” Her eyes got wide.
“You remember something?” Lainie asked.
“I do. Raphael was there when I came out of the store.” She shuddered and her eyes narrowed. “I remember now. He grabbed me, put his hand over my mouth.”
“Raphael abducted you from the outlet mall? Did he take your car?”
Evie shook her head. “There was another car.” Her face drained of all color.
“Give her a minute,” her mother said.
“Oh, oh.” Evie shook her hands out. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this. Lainie, can I use your bathroom?”
“Sure.” Lainie pointed in the direction of her one and only bathroom, and Evie got up and went there.
Lainie turned to Ben. “We know who took her now, but he’s dead. Will this help us at all?”
“Raphael was working on someone’s orders. Right now, we need to go to Orange and find that car.”