Page 32 of Special Agent Anastacia

The way Nash felt at the moment, he’d be just the guy to take care of business.

Chapter Twenty-three

Once they’d found a spot with a good view, Nash spoke up. “You guys thinking what I’m thinking? That the car Hanna mentioned could be there but parked on the other side?”

Ana pulled her phone from her pocket and showed the others the latest text that just dinged. “Christ. Now that I know the name of the folks who live there, this contact from the office makes sense. At the top of the list is a vehicle owned by Hattie Roddam.”

“Fuck.” Dave followed with a string of obscenities similar to Nan’s own repertoire from the bar.

Ana couldn’t help from pointing out the obvious. “Appreciate your sentiments, my friend, but maybe you’re spending a bit too much time at the local drinking establishment.”

Throwing her a grin first, Dave rounded the squad car to open the trunk and retrieve a rifle, binoculars, and two vests, while Ana and Nash headed toward the nearest peak hoping to have abetter view of the yard. Once Dave joined them and passed over the equipment to Ana, he asked, “Can you make anything out?”

She answered slowly, scanning everywhere. “No car in sight. Could be parked on the side or in the old barn.”

“Yeah, now I remember. Sadie’s husband George had a couple of horses when they lived here. There’s a few small sheds in the back of the property too, close to the lake road. Sadie used one for growing her violets. Had a business going, sold them to a plant shop in town.”

“It looks too quiet.” Nash voiced what they all thought.

Dave picked up on the statement, eagerness sounding in his tone. “Could be the family didn’t come here this week. They have a place in the city and visit only periodically during the season. It’s their cabin away… if you know what I mean.”

Ana heard the hopeful note in his voice and prayed he was right. But somehow in her heart, she knew he wasn’t. Too many things made sense and pointed to this connection.

Still… she agreed, “Okay. Before barging in, let’s dot our i’s and cross our t’s. I’ll see if they have a home phone, and we’ll call their number in the city. What’s the husband’s first name?”

“Let me think.” Dave scratched at his graying beard and closed his eyes. “It’s a short name, dammit, it’s right there.” He slapped at his forehead. “Steve. Scott. Sam… yes. It’s Sam. Sam Roddam.”

Ana got busy with her cellphone and soon had the right listing. She punched in the numbers, hit speaker, and all three waited. After four rings, a man’s voice answered. “Hello.”

Smiling now, Dave took the phone and began talking. “Sam? It’s Dave Chalmers, the local police chief at the lake. We’re here outside your place and think there might have been a break in. Are you and the family in the city?”

“What? Oh, God. No. My wife and daughter went there a couple of weeks ago. My son and I were going to join them on the weekend. Are they okay?”

Ana’s heart lay writhing in spirals on the ground while her blood turned to ice in her veins. When she’d first heard a man’s voice, she’d had a moment of thankfulness, imagining the family was safe. Now fear ravaged her. Pictures flooded of horrific images, and she had to take harsh control to put herself in the state of mind where nothing could be personal. That meant shutting down her frantic worry over Hanna.

It meant cutting all personal ties to the case.

And it meant she couldn’t let her heart rule her head.

Leaning forward, calmly she asked, “Mr. Roddam, is your daughter around fifteen years old with long brown hair?”

“Yes. Carly just turned fifteen last month, and she’s very hair proud… you know… always fussing with it, trying out different styles. Drives me and my wife batty. It’s her first time back at the lake. She’s been away studying in Paris for a year. My wife was so excited to show her all the changes we’ve made to the place that they drove down early. Can you tell me what’s happened?”

“We’re not sure. But we’re looking into it and can update you if anything changes.”

“Oh, my God.” The agonizing worry in his voice ramped up, and he began to stutter. “No. I mean, I’m o-on my way. C-coming tonight. Please keep them safe.” Before Ana could argue, he’d disconnected the call.

Obviously thinking what Ana didn’t put into words, Dave said them for her. “Shit me. We don’t need a crazy man here right now… no, we don’t.”

Nash ignored Dave’s grumbling and spoke his mind, making sense of the situation. “We had no choice but to call. Better to know what we’re up against. Looks to me like Hanna’s devil is the guy who I’m suspecting is one of the Smirnova brothers.”

Ana agreed with a nod. “And I’d say the dead body on the bed with Sadie is the other. And the girl Nan spoke about is Carly Roddam, the same one who’s with Hanna.”

“Which means those boys had to have come to this place at some point. When did Nan say she’d seen Mila – or should we say Carly – with her so-called brother?”

“Just a matter of days. You figure Les might have told them about the Roddams? Then they hit the old house and took the women hostage, or worse?”

Nash added, “And then found out the name of the people the Roddam’s bought from and decided to go to Sadie’s and wreak some kind of vengeance on her?” He grimaced after hearing his own words. “I don’t know. That sounds kinda ludicrous.”

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