Close To Her Killer (A Boarding Case Mystery Book 3) Read online

  As the ferry sails swiftly atop the deep blue waters, Tina grunts as if to shake off the ominous feeling that is now stifling the salty air. She knows it. She has sensed it before though she could not explain it. It is the gloomy realization that she is walking into her death.

  Chapter 4

  “She hasn’t left her room since I called you.” Seeing her daughter tormented has left poor Mrs Conwell feeling helpless. Her age which was a mystery when Tina first met her at the school is now evident in the wrinkles on her worried face.

  Tina arrived moments ago at the grand Conwell estate. One look at the magnificent landscape and Roman-inspired exterior as she entered the estate in her rental car, made Tina’s new home appear more like a cottage. The interior is even more breath-taking, with themed rooms with paintings and sculptures from various eras. As Tina admires the Monet on one wall, she feels like she has arrived at The Louvre. Mrs Conwell accompanies her to the study where they discuss the case. “Can you think of why someone would want to target your daughter Mrs Conwell?”

  “Please, call me Becky. You’ve seen our home and we are incredibly privileged.” She says as she hands Tina a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade. “Sure, we receive the odd threat here and there, but it is always aimed at me or my husband, Jason. Not our...” Becky sobs into a handkerchief. “We’ve always tried to shield our daughter from the public eye. We even placed her at Hartford, assured it was the best fit for her. And now we’re not so sure that was such a good idea.”

  “Could someone be after your money or have something against you, your husband or Ella?”

  “We have asked ourselves that question and we can’t think of anyone that would do this to us. Oh, Ella honey,” Becky springs to her feet and embraces Ella whose body is as stealth as her expression. “Detective James is here to help us.” She walks her to a seat between her and Tina.

  “Ella, I know you’ve had a rough week and night. I’m sure you’re ready to have your life back and I want that for you. But, I need your help. You have to talk to me. Please tell me anything the caller told you.”

  Ella’s eyes turning to look at Tina are the first sign of life that Tina’s seen in her since yesterday. Tina rubs her hand and encourages her to share. Her hand is cold, as if someone drained the blood out of it. Her mouth trembles at first. Then she says in a hushed, lifeless tone, “The first time the calls came in, I picked up. The area code was a Newport number and I thought it was one of my friends.” Her body does not move, she only moves her mouth, and barely, when she speaks. “All they said was I should finish what I started.” Tears fall down her tender, pale cheeks, but she does not flinch.

  “Do you know who it was Ella?”

  “No. The voice was muffled.”

  “Is this the voice you heard at the school?”

  Ella purses her lips and turns her head away from Tina. She stares at the wall in front of her, but her eyes look lost and distant.”

  “It’s okay, Ella. You can tell me more when you’re ready. You mom shared the messages with me and I’m tracing the number. I think I’d better let you rest.”

  Ella remains stoic and Tina pats her hand as she stands up and follows Becky to the door.

  “I’ll be staying in town tonight. If she says anything else, you can give me a call.”

  The drive back to the motel is beautiful. Tina passes beautiful beaches and lush greenery. She can see herself living in Martha’s Vineyard. At every opportunity, she would visit a trendy boutique along the strip in Oaks Bluff and end her day at a cozy cafe or eating dinner in one of the raved restaurants that overlook the ocean. One day she might live there, but right now is not the time. She is here to solve a mystery.

  When she checks into her motel in Oak Bluffs for the night, Tina receives a cute text message from Nick, “Goodnight, Beautiful.” The message lights up her evening and she sits there smiling and thinking, Nick is one of the good guys. He is good with her and with the students. They text for a little bit and for one night since she arrived, Tina shuts out the world and enjoys a full night of rest.

  *

  Much has happened in the night and Tina is now awakened to it. Morning came all too soon and Tina has woken up to a full inbox of voicemails and messages from only two numbers – Nick and Amy. Nick was the first to message her in the middle of the night with just three letters, S.O.S. Tina is startled and can’t think of what might have happened. She just hopes deep down that another girl has not taken her life. Next are Amy’s copious voicemails sent in the last hour. How did I miss all these? Tina sees that her phone was on silent while she slept. Amy’s messages are short, Call me, we have an emergency at the school.

  First, Tina calls Nick, but his phone is switched off. That’s odd, I was just texting him last night. Next, she calls Amy and she picks up.

  “I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. We have a problem. Someone leaked out what happened to Ella and yesterday” Amy says.

  “How can that be? You, me, Nick and Charlie are the only ones who know.”

  “It gets worse. The informant specifically said Ella was told to atone for her sins by killing herself. Now, several students have come forward accusing Chaplain Nick. They claim he is responsible because all the other girls said something similar to their friends before they took their lives.”

  “But that can’t be true. Nick is...” Tina is having a hard time wrapping her mind around the idea of Nick being the monster behind the deaths. He doesn’t strike her as the type.

  “I know. It doesn’t sound like something he would do. But this morning when I went to talk to him about the accusations he was gone. No one has seen him since yesterday. Agent James, it doesn’t look good. It’s like he just picked up and left without a word to anyone.”

  Tina is not sure what to think, but she can see how things look. If Nick is not guilty then why did he run? Does he have something to do with the recent deaths at the school? If so, did he act alone? If not, then who took him? Since he messaged her, S.O.S., is he in danger or is he the danger? These are questions that Tina is not yet ready to address, but she is sure other minds at the school are pondering.

  It does not look good for Nick at all, she thinks. Then she devises a plan, “Amy, I’m still in Martha’s Vineyard. I’m going to check on Ella and then I’ll know how quickly I can return. In the meantime, can you work with Barnes to figure out where Nick is?”

  “Sure, but please hurry if you can.” Tina can hear the concern in Amy’s voice.

  She readies herself and drives to the Conwell estate in Edgartown. She passes a group of tourists taking pictures on an old bridge that seems familiar to her, though she cannot recall how she knows it. The road to the Conwells is filled with vibrant scenery which escapes Tina. Her mind is consumed with worry for Nick and suspicion. Did he run or was he taken? Thinking of the godly messages he shared, she can’t fathom him partaking in such horrid acts. She wants to believe that he is the victim here, but the evidence is pointing to him as the suspect. If he is the one behind the deaths, why would Ella allow him to bring her down from the water tower or is that why he pushed to go up and get her in the first place? Tina is not sure what to believe. If he really did manipulate all those girls, then who has she been falling for? Was he the real Nick or a lie? Before long, she is pulling into the Conwell estate and parking her thoughts along with her car.

  “Becky, may I please speak with Ella? I’m hoping she can clear up a few things for me.”

  It’s early in the morning and Becky is dressed and ready for the day, “Sure, this way.” She leads Tina to Ella’s room. “She hasn’t come out for breakfast yet. I thought I’d give her a chance to sleep in.”

  She opens the door and Ella is missing. Becky lets out an involuntary yelp and quickly holds her mouth with both hands. Ella’s window is open and a cold breeze is flowing into the house. Tina runs to look out of the window. She can’t see her outside the window. She’s gone. Tina searches for clues. The bed is made. That m
eans she was not kidnapped. She went voluntarily. Becky is checking the closets and calling out Ella’s name. Ella does not respond to her mother’s calls.

  Tina calls the police and outs out a B.O.L.O. on Ella. Then, she searches the room some more and under a water glass on the dressing table, she finds a note.

  It reads, Finish what you started.

  The note must be from Ella’s killers. Tina recognizes the handwriting, it’s the same as the note that was left at her home a few nights ago. Are the same people after me also after Ella? Her detective mind is connecting the clues. “Becky, did a letter come in the mail for Ella yesterday?”

  “No, I see all the mail that comes on the estate. Ella hasn’t received mail for months.”

  “Then how did this get here?” Both Tina and Becky are puzzled, so, they continue searching and hoping they’ll find something that can lead them to Ella.

  Amidst her search for clues and connecting the evidence at hand, Tina receives a message from Tim saying he has news on the phone number she sent in. She calls him.

  “James, it’s a burner. We pinged coordinates from the local towers and found calls were made yesterday in Newport, at the school.”

  “So it is someone at the school.”

  “Well, I’m not so sure. My new tech guy, Aaron, pinged it again this morning and found it was used this morning in Martha’s Vineyard, at the uh… Conwell estate.”

  “Oh, no. They are here.” If the killers are in Martha’s Vineyard, they may already have Ella. Tina considers how the killers could have taken Ella out of her home without force, maybe she knows them!

  “I’m sorry I can’t help you more James. But, good luck!”

  Tina instructs Becky to stay at the estate and wait for Ella while she searches on the streets. Becky calls her neighbors and asks if they’ve seen Ella. They haven’t seen her, but they offer to help with the search. Such is the good nature of the people of Edgartown.

  As Tina drives, she starts form the estate and works through the town slowly. The police have units working their way in from Oak Bluffs and others from Edgartown. She can’t have gone far, Tina thinks.

  Her B.O.L.O. lands a hit, “Jaws Bridge.” Tina knows exactly where that is. It’s the familiar bridge she passed when she was driving into Edgartown from Oak Bluffs and now she remembers why she recognized it; it’s famous for a scene that was filmed in the movie, Jaws.

  Tina immediately drives to Jaws Bridge not knowing that she will come face to face with her own death today.

  Chapter 5

  Tina is about to meet with fate. The one fear that she has been running from has caught up with her. Surrounding her on her left is the vast natural beauty of Martha’s Vineyard; trees, grass and streams are painted on its canvas. On her left is the deep, blue Atlantic ocean, stretching for miles towards the horizon. The sunrise is forming quietly behind the clouds. The ocean is still like a hunter awaiting its prey. Tina is cold. Her extremities are freezing – it’s a problem that she’ll have to deal with after she gets off Jaws Bridge. Standing on the edge of the now deserted bridge that was flooded with tourists an hour ago, is Ella. The police are her only audience encamped about the bridge. Slowly, Tina inches forward on the bridge in the hopes of saving Ella for the third time.

  “Ella, you know this is not how you want this to end. Why should it be your life? Do not give them the satisfaction. Not now; not like this.” The crowd of police officers is silent. They watch on as Tina negotiates with Ella. “Look, I don’t have a gun.” She spreads her hands out to show Ella who does not turn to look. She remains focused on the water below her. “I have no weapon. It’s just you and me and I’m not going to harm you Ella.”

  “They followed me home Detective,” Ella says, saliva forming around the edges of her mouth. “They won’t leave me alone unless I do this.” Ella is not budging. Tina can tell she’s more resolute than before.

  “Your parents are on the way Ella. Think of them. They love you so much. If you do this, it’ll break them. Please, Ella, don’t make me have to explain this to them. You can walk back with me now and forget this ever happened.” Ella shakes her head, she is still staring down at the ocean below. Tina is close enough to touch Ella, but she is careful to not make any sudden moves. A gust of wind blows from the ocean unsteadying Tina who is crouched low for balance and knocking Ella off her feet. She loses her balance, leans back with one foot in the air and in an attempt to catch her body before she falls, Ella overcorrects and slips forward into the water. Tina thrusts her arm into the air to catch Ella, only to graze her elbow and miss her entirely. A resounding gasp is heard from all the police crew as Ella’s body free falls in the air and hits the water with a loud splash. Her body lays stiff on the face of the deep and her arms float on the surface. Then gently, the ocean engulfs her.

  Tina clutches the low rim of the bridge while kneeling down and she freezes. For Tina, time stopped when Ella’s body hit the water. Every sound close to her became silent and all she can hear is the distinct thumping of her own heart beating faster and faster still. It dawns on her that she has not gone back into the water since Casey’s accident with the shark. She tried many times, but this same paralyzing fear overtook her and she couldn’t move. Her breaths would shorten and soon she would be on the ground keeled over and gasping for air. Her arms would then hug over her body and stroke her gently to calm her down. After lying there for some time, her fear would recede slowly and finally leave.

  For years she has been captive to this fear. She even tried to keep it a secret, fearing it would hinder her opportunities as a detective, yet, it is this fear that has lured her to this bridge today. She could keel over and let the fear overcome her like before, or she could stand up and walk back to where the rest of the police are manning the bridge. Either way she admits defeat, her fear wins and she loses Ella. Tina’s heart beats even faster and her blood curdles as she realizes that she has to overcome her fear to save Ella. Yet, she can’t move. Her fear has already immobilized her.

  Anger takes root in her and it grows as she realizes, it is this fear that has been stealing her courage to love deeply. She stops herself from truly investing in meaningful relationships fearful that anyone who comes close to her will be harmed. That moment in Cape Cod with Casey is where she died from being present in her relationships to simply existing in the idea of them. She is living a life of fear. All these years she thought she was protecting those she loves from harm, when she was really shielding them from her and the fear that holds her. Tina did not feel that she was safe to love, at least not so intimately and she kept back a part of herself from those who drew near to her. This is what Tim meant, Tim’s words come flooding in with understanding that he saw in her what she was too blind to see, her Achilles. All these years, she thought what happened in Cape Cod gave her drive to become an agent, when in reality it had been haunting her and keeping her from growing into the agent she really is.

  A loud shrill slices through the silence. It is Becky Conwell who has just arrived with her husband Jason. They are standing on the side of the bridge and the police are holding them back from coming any closer. Becky leans in and shouts as loud as she can, “Detective James, you have to save her!”

  Tina snaps out of her trance and sees Becky crying in anguish. Like a caged bird freed for the first time, she rises to her feet with one strong inhale as if tearing off chains that once bound her. And with that one deep breath, she dives into the water. Ice cold water beats on the pores of her skin like sharp knives simultaneously darting into their victim. She gasps. The shock of the freezing water sends a jolt of electricity through her body. This time Tina does not wait for fear to settle in again, she is in control for a change. She swims down as low as she can in the cleft of the water, searching for any sign of Ella. Where the bridge is, the water is not as deep as in the body of the ocean. Tina is resolute on finding Ella. She swims up again to procure air. For a moment she hears the cries of Ella’s mom. She is a mot
her distraught at the thought of possibly losing her only child. Tina is not prepared to see this happen. Certainly, not like this. They need help and Tina is prepared to provide it.

  The coast guard is on its way,, but waiting for them can be the difference between finding Ella while she’s alive or being too late to save her. While it would be safer to wait for the coast guard, something compels her to try to save Ella. Tina feels a tingle on her heel. She jerks her legs up to her body and snaps her hand to her side instinctively wanting to draw her gun. It’s just a small fish. Just as well because she remembers she left her gun in the car and she is doubly relieved it wasn’t anything more dangerous.

  Now that her own safety is attained, Tina surface dives into the water. The police shine a light on the water which guides Tina where she needs to swim to find Ella. The light shines closer to the ocean body. Tina who has now swam past the bridge towards land, must now back-track towards the ocean. It concerns her that the current is flowing into the ocean. This adds urgency to her already tired body. She breathes heavily. Since she arrived in Newport, Tina hasn’t found a gym to work out in and she is feeling the difference a sedentary lifestyle can have on the body. Following the light past the tunnel and under the bridge, the voices from above the bridge lose their strength against the overpowering winds above and waves below. Tina swims on the surface and when the light stops, she dives deep into the water. The water is beating against her body, almost pushing her towards the ocean. She catches a glimpse of Ella’s foot swaying deeper into the water, it’s limp and surrendered as if Ella’s will to fight has been sucked out of her. This is nothing like the Ella she met a few days ago. That Ella had a reason and a will to live a life that will bring honor to her friend’s memory.