Chapter Eight #2
“Alice was the other girl he kidnapped?” Shane had pulled out a notebook and was scribbling furiously in it.
“That’s right.”
“Where is Alice now?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you know if the doll was ever written about in the papers or mentioned at Ledger’s trial?”
“I don’t know. I was a witness, so I wasn’t there for the whole trial. But no one ever asked me about it.”
Shane nodded. “Did you recognize the handwriting on the note?”
“No. But I never saw Ledger’s handwriting.”
“Okay.” Shane tucked the notebook away once more. “Whether this was done by William Ledger or someone else, I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here,” he said.
“No,” she said. “I’m not going to stay here.” The thought of going back inside and seeing that doll again made her shudder.
“Do you have somewhere you can go?” Shane asked. “We can try to find a bed in a women’s shelter for you.”
“I know a place she can stay,” Dalton said.
She turned to look at him. Was he suggesting she stay with him? “That’s sweet of you to offer—” she began.
“You can stay with my parents,” he said. “None of us kids live at home anymore, so they’ve got plenty of room.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose . . .” she said, hesitating.
He moved around to sit beside her on the bench. “You met my mom,” he said. “She loves taking care of people. And it would be a lot better than a shelter.”
It would be much better than a shelter. Walking into the Ameses’ house had been like being wrapped in a warm hug. She looked at Shane. “Would that be all right, if I stayed with the Ameses?”
“It should be. I’ll let the sheriff know, but don’t tell anyone else you don’t have to.”
“You don’t think I’d be putting them in danger, do you?” Nausea swamped her at the thought. “Maybe I should go to the shelter.”
“Has anyone around you been threatened or menaced?” Shane asked.
“No. Not that I know of.” But she could have told him she didn’t have any people around her. She knew almost no one in town—except Dalton and his family, Debra Percy, her neighbor Kara, and May the barista and a few others she had met casually.
“You should be fine,” Shane said. “Let us know if you see or hear anything suspicious.”
He stood and she rose also. “I need to get a few things,” she said.
“I’ll go with you,” Shane said. “Don’t touch anything you don’t have to. And let me know if anything else is out of place.”
She had to force herself to walk upstairs to her bedroom, taking comfort from the fact that the deputy was right behind her.
She avoided looking at the doll as she collected clothes and toiletries.
Downstairs, she added her laptop and files she needed for work.
Shane helped her carry everything to her car.
Dalton joined them. “I called Mom and she’s thrilled to take you in. She’s getting the guest room ready for you.”
“What did you tell her?” Roxanne asked.
“I told her someone had broken into your house and you weren’t comfortable staying out here by yourself until the sheriff’s department figured out who was responsible.”
He had told the truth, without the horrible backstory. “Thanks,” she said.
Dalton led the way back to town, Roxanne behind him and the sheriff’s department SUV trailing.
The Ameses came out to meet them when they pulled into the driveway.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Diane said, and pulled Roxanne into a hug.
Roxanne froze, but as Diane’s warmth seeped into her, she relaxed a little and patted the older woman’s back.
“Thank you,” she said. “It was a shock, but I’m okay. ”
“What an awful thing to come home to.” Diane stepped back. “When Dalton told me, I could hardly believe it. And I’m so glad you’re not going to be out there by yourself while the sheriff looks for whoever did this. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I really appreciate it.”
“Come on inside and I’ll show you to your room.”
She picked up her computer bag and Dalton followed with her suitcase.
The Ameses led the way to a bedroom at the top of the stairs.
Diane pointed out the bathroom across the hall.
Bedroom and bathroom were done in shades of blue and yellow, with a pile of pillows atop a patchwork coverlet and a student desk under the window.
“It’s not fancy, but we hope you’ll be comfortable. ”
“It’s lovely.” Roxanne swallowed past a sudden lump in her throat. “Thank you.”
Mrs. Ames touched her shoulder. “If you need anything at all, you let us know,” she said.
She and her husband left. Dalton set the suitcase on the desk. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Better,” she said. She looked around the room, at the plain homeyness of it.
She had moved around a lot in her life—first in a series of shelters and foster homes, then to various dorms, apartments and rental houses.
In each one she had tried to make a home.
This simple room felt more welcoming than many of those places had.
“I’m still afraid, but it feels safer here. ”
He moved closer, but didn’t touch her. “I bet you’re exhausted,” he said. “Try to get some rest and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Thanks. For everything.” She hesitated, then leaned in and kissed his cheek. He patted her shoulder, then left. She heard him say something to his parents, but couldn’t make out what. Then a door opened and shut and she heard the Jeep start in the driveway.
She sat on the edge of the bed. Sleep felt a long way off. She didn’t want to lie down and dream the old, bad dreams. She thought she had put those nightmares behind her. Leave it to Ledger to bring them all back.