Excerpt for Captive Fear
Laughing gaily, the two girls stared at the modern display of bridal dresses in the window of the small boutique.
“What about that one?” Mary Margaret teased, pointing to a hip new style.
“I don’t think it’s quite me,” laughing Alexia entered the shop.
After trying on twenty different gowns, Alexia stood before the wall of mirrors and knew it was perfect. The white gown was elegant and simple, falling to the floor in an a-line with a small train sweeping the floor in back. The off shoulder style and beaded bodice made Alexia feel like a princess.
Mary Margaret gasped as she stared at Alexia’s dark red hair curled against the white satin and thought she’d never seen anything so lovely. With tears in her eyes, she hugged her best friend.
“Alexia, you’re beautiful. It’s just perfect.”
Returning the hug, Alexia felt tears gather in her eyes too. “Now we need to find just the right dress for you, Meg.”
Mary Margaret smiled, everyone always called her Meg. She supposed it was because when they were calling her Mary Margaret it seemed as though they were speaking to one of the sisters from the convent. If her mother had gotten her way, that’s where Mary Margaret would be instead of being here with her best friend choosing a beautiful and sexy dress. Glancing at her watch, Meg realized that the time had gotten away from them and her dress would have to wait for another day.
“We don’t have time for that today, not if you’re meeting Matt at the station at five. We’ll have to hurry.”
“I didn’t realize it was so late.” Alexia called for help from the salesgirl and told her she wanted the gown and would be back to order dresses for the others in the bridal party.
***
Glancing around the room at the men gathered there, Matthew Barns knew he was about to lose his temper and that was something he never allowed himself to do. He liked to stay calm and in control, no matter what the circumstances.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what the FBI is doing to find Tommy Martin. This is Briarwood and Tommy is one of our own. It’s up to us to find him and bring him home to his grieving parents.” He glared at each of the other three men, in turn. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yeah, Captain, we got it loud and clear.” Ned Jenson muttered as he left the room with Karl Loftus close behind.
Benny Wright looked at Matt, a frown creasing his brow. “Not like you to lose your cool that way, Matt.”
Matt sat down at his desk, cluttered with notes and pictures of five-year-old Tommy Martin and sighed. “The trail is getting cold on this one, Benny, and quoting the things the FBI is doing isn’t getting us any closer to finding Tommy. We need to go back over every single lead and figure out what we’re missing.”
Benny nodded as he looked at his friend. He’d been working under Matthew Barns ever since Matt had shown up here five years ago. Matt came straight from New York with six years under his belt as a New York City police officer.
Three of those years had been spent as the head of missing persons. Having a reputation for being able to find people when all others had given up, Matt was also a handsome devil with his cool gray eyes and blonde hair. All the women he met swooned over him, even Meg, Benny’s wife.
Benny had been disappointed and frustrated that Matt was given the job here. He thought the department should have offered him the job as captain of the department. He’d been here for seven years and didn’t like being overlooked for a promotion, even one he didn’t want.
Eventually he accepted Matt and they became friends. He was the one who had introduced Matt to his wife’s best friend, Alexia and now Lexy and Matt were to be married in two weeks. Matt was a lucky man to get Alexia.
“Ok, Captain, when you’re right, you’re right, let’s get back to it.”
Matt handed Benny a stack of papers. “Let’s go over all the interviews from the witnesses. There has to be something in here that we’re overlooking.”
***
Barney hated his grandma’s old shack but he hadn’t known where else to hide Tommy when the police came around asking questions. He watched Tommy for weeks playing outside the little house and sometimes he would fantasize while watching him ride around on his little tricycle. He thought about snatching the kid a few times but Tommy’s mom was always right there keeping a close eye on her little son.
One day Barney watched as Tommy wandered out of the yard and into the ally across the street. Mom was nowhere to be seen. Barney knew this was his chance and snatching an apple from the bowl on the counter, he ran down the stairs to the back of the ally. He gave Tommy the apple and asked if he wanted to go play. Tommy readily agreed and Barney scooped him up and took him to his apartment.
Copyright ©Elizabeth Melton Parsons
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