The Silent Child Boxset: A Collection of Riveting Kidnapping Mysteries by Roger Hayden

Author:Roger Hayden [Hayden, Roger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-28T00:00:00+00:00

Preventative Measures

Clearwater, Maine

Victoria left work early, in the throes of an emotional breakdown. It was a calm, peaceful afternoon, and as she drove through her coastal town of nearby ports, rocky hills, and sprawling forest, she felt an increasing urge to get away from it all. Clearwater, Maine was her home; a beautiful town she had cherished since moving here with Todd before they were married. Brooke had been born there around the same time Victoria had just begun her career as a project analyst. There were so many memories associated with Clearwater that Victoria couldn’t possibly categorize them all. Their lives were there. But now, everything felt different.

She slowed at an intersection, surrounded by quaint shops, diners, and old buildings that made up the mile-long downtown business district. LTD Technologies, her employer, was in the industrial sector a few miles away among warehouses, manufacturers, and government contractors. It was a Friday and she wouldn’t have to drive back that way until Monday. Her weekend, however, was in shambles. She and Todd were supposed to go shopping for Brooke’s birthday. They had planned to relax together in preparation for a busy work week ahead. Now, everything had changed in the worst way imaginable. She hadn’t cried in hours. Not since the phone call.

She was four blocks from the police station, trying to get her story together. She had a stalker who was determined to harass her daily. Her high school friend had been murdered. There was even the recent murder of a local woman, Susan Shields. She couldn’t say whether anything was connected, but simply planned to tell the police what she knew and let them piece it together.

Waiting at the light, she scrolled her cell phone for her mother’s number and called it, listening as the line rang, hoping her mother would pick up.

“Vicky?” Nancy’s surprised voice said as she answered.

“Hi, Mom,” Victoria said. “How are you? How’s Dad?” the words tumbling out.

The light turned green and she waited as a Ford Bronco ahead of her took its time to realize it.

“We’re fine. Haven’t heard from you in a while. Is everything okay? You sound…”

“Did you get my voicemail from two days ago?” Vicky said.

A brief pause followed as her mother answered. “I’m sorry. Yes, I did. I forgot to call you. Your father and I just got back from Palm Springs.”

“How was that?” Victoria asked.

“Oh, we had a lovely time as always. We sure miss you and Todd and Brooke. Maybe you guys can come next time.”

“We’ll certainly try,” she said, feeling a tinge of sadness as she tried to hold back her welling tears. She drove past a newspaper and magazine stand, with the police station parking lot in the distance. “Listen, Mom. I need to talk to you about something important.”

“Oh?” Nancy said, sounding distracted. “Hold on a second. Your father says hi.”

She heard her father’s voice mumbling in the background, bringing a temporary smile to her face. “Tell him I said hi too. I miss you guys.

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