Stepping outside, Melanie glanced back at the woman who hovered in the doorway. Muchas gracias.
The woman nodded, her black eyes gleaming with an emotion Melanie couldnt define. That man, he is a bad one. A devil, she said in halting English, then, crossing herself, lapsed back into Spanish. Vaya con Dios.
Melanie had no trouble making the translation. Go with God.
Chapter Three
A few minutes later, Melanie hurried into her room, bolted the door, then stood leaning against the frame as she closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath.
That had been close. Way too close.
But how long before Lassiter found her here?
And he would find her. In a place the size of Santa Elena, it would be easy to check all the hotels. Even if he didnt yet know her name, he had a description of her. He might even be knocking on her door within the hour.
Question was, would he come alone or would he bring the police?
In hindsight perhaps the better option would have been to face him back at the clinic or at the café where witnesses were present. After all, what had she done that was so terrible? Shed stolen drugs to save a young girls life. Even if Jon Lassiter couldnt appreciate the distinction between that and petty thievery, surely the authorities would.
But what if Lassiter, or even Kruger himself, wouldnt let it go? What if they pressured the police to arrest her? Make an example of her? Spending the next twenty years in a Cartégan jail wasnt Melanies idea of growing old gracefully, but then, there were ways out of almost any prison, as she well knew.
She could have used those ways to get away from Lassiter earlier, but she hadnt wanted anyone on the street or the old lady in the shop to witness her vanishing act. Melanie had come to Santa Elena looking for answers, which meant she had to ask questions, and the last thing she needed was for the locals to become suspicious of her, let alone afraid of her.
She crossed the room and dragged her suitcase from the closet, but not to pack. Instead, she removed the stack of letters from inside, then lay down on the bed and propped herself against the headboard.
Plucking the top envelope from the packet, she stared at the handwriting. Her fathers handwriting, she now knew. The letter had been sent from Cartéga six months ago.
She didnt open it because she didnt have to. She knew the contents by heart.
I want to see Melanie on her birthday. Tell her Ill be waiting for her in the clouds
Melanie didnt recall much about her fatherwhat hed looked like or even the sound of his voiceand yet the meaning of his words had come to her instantly. And with it, a memory of the last time theyd been together.
Melanie had been five years old, small for her age, but adventurous even then. And impulsive. Already looking for that next thrill.
Push me higher, Daddy! They were in the backyard of their home on Long Island, testing out the new swing set shed gotten for her birthday. Higher!
Youre going high enough, Melly Belly, her father had laughed. If your mother could see you now, shed have my head.
Funny how Melanie could remember the conversation so vividly and yet she still couldnt picture her fathers face. Couldnt conjure up the sound of his voice no matter how hard she tried. Only his words came back to her.
Higher! shed screamed. I want to touch the clouds with my toes!
I know a place where you really can touch the clouds, hed told her.
Take me there!
Someday I will.
Not someday. Tomorrow!
Its a long way from here, in a little country called Cartéga. Ive been reading about it. You have to go way up into the mountains to touch the clouds. We cant go tomorrow, but we will soon. You and me and Mommy. Well all touch the clouds together.
Then push me higher, Melanie demanded, so I can touch that cloud right now!
Presently, her father stopped pushing her, and Melanie leaned back so far to look at him that she almost tumbled from the swing. Why did you stop? she pouted.
Careful, youll fall out, he warned.
No, I wont.
Hard head, he said affectionately. But there was a look in his eyes that made Melanie sad for some reason. You think youre invincible, dont you.
I dont know. I think I want you to push me some more.
I cant. I have to go inside andtake care of some things.
What kind of things?
Work kind of things. He knelt and placed his hands on her shoulders. This trip we talked about. Lets keep it a secret for now, okay? Dont mention it to anyone.
Not even Mommy?
A shadow flickered across his features. No, not even Mommy. Well let it be a surprise. Right now, I have to go in and get some work done.
Ill come with you.
No. You stay outside and play. I wont get anything done with you around.
But its no fun out here without you, she protested.
Sure it is. You just keep swinging. Pump your legs the way I taught you. Thats it.
Melanie continued to swing after her father had gone inside, but her heart really wasnt in it. She didnt like being alone. She let the swing come to a stop, then lazily rocked herself back and forth with her toes.
Melanie continued to swing after her father had gone inside, but her heart really wasnt in it. She didnt like being alone. She let the swing come to a stop, then lazily rocked herself back and forth with her toes.
After a bit, she began to have a strange feeling that she wasnt alone. She looked up, hoping her father had come back outside, but instead, she saw that a man had entered through the back gate.
Even though the day was warm, he wore a long, dark coat and a hat pulled low over his eyes. Melanie had the impression hed been watching her for several minutes, and her heart started to pound in fear. She didnt like him watching her. He scared her. She wanted to get off the swing and run inside the house as fast as she could, but even if she could make her legs work, he blocked her path to the back door. So she sat on the swing, watching him watch her.
Hello, Melanie, he finally said.
His voice made creepy crawlies go up her spine. She clutched the chains of the swing.
You need to come with me now, he said, and Melanie shook her head. She wanted to scream for her father, but she couldnt make her throat work, either. It was like having a bad dream with a monster coming for you and you couldnt move.
The man walked slowly toward her. Her voice broke free then, and she screamed for her father. She screamed and screamed. Daddy! Daddy!
He didnt come out of the house, though, and as the man moved even closer to her, Melanie suddenly realized that someone else had come up behind her. The second man grabbed her, and before she had time to struggle, he pressed a cloth over her mouth and nose.
And that was Melanies last memory until four years later.
She was sitting in that same swing, rocking herself to and fro and marveling at how easily she could touch the ground now. The back door opened, and Melanie looked up, hoping to see her father, but instead, her mother was the one who came out. At least, she thought it was her mother. She couldnt actually remember what her mother looked like, but this womanseemed like her mother.
The woman carried a trash bag over to one of the metal garbage cans and tossed it inside. As she turned back toward the house, she must have caught a glimpse of Melanie out of the corner of her eye. She did a double take. Stared for a moment. And then her hand flew to her heart.
Melanie? Oh, my Godoh, my God She started running toward Melanie, but her legs gave out and she sank to her knees. She was screaming, crying, holding out her arms.
Melanie hesitated for just a split second, then she got off the swing and raced across the yard. Her mother grabbed her and squeezed her until she could hardly breathe.
Oh, my baby, her mother kept whispering over and over. My baby, my baby!
After a few moments, she held Melanie away from her so that she could look at her. She reached up to touch Melanies face, her hair. Youre so tall! But it is you, isnt it? Of course, its you. Her gaze darkened as she glanced past Melanie. Buthow did you get here? Where have you been?
Melanie didnt know where shed been or how shed gotten back home. She didnt know anything except that she wasnt supposed to ask questions.
When she didnt answer, her mother pulled her back into her arms and held on tightly. Its okay, baby. It doesnt matter how you got here. Dont even think about it. Youre home now and thats all that matters.
She led Melanie into the house, leaving her side only long enough to make a phone call and, a little while later, to answer the doorbell. A strange man came into the kitchen where Melanie sat eating a sandwich.
Do you remember Dr. Collier, honey? her mother asked anxiously. Hes going to have a look at you, make sure youre okay.
The last thing Melanie wanted was to have a stranger poking and prodding her. But Dr. Collier was gentle and he didnt do anything to upset her. Not too much, at least.
After he was finished, he motioned for Melanies mother to follow him out into the hallway. Melanie got up from the table and tiptoed across the room to listen at the door.
Physically, she seems fine, but we need to take her to the hospital where she can have a thorough examination.
But you said shes fine, her mother protested.
I said she seems to be fine. Janet, that child has been missing for four years. God only knows what shes been through.
Ive been thinking about that, her mother said softly. Whoever had her has obviously taken good care of her. Her clothes are clean, and she looks healthy. I think someone saw her that day, a couple who couldnt have a child of their own, perhaps, and they decided to take her. She was such a beautiful little girl, and always so beguiling. Remember how she was? Maybe their guilt finally got the better of them and they decided to bring her back to me.
If thats the case, why cant she remember them? Why cant she answer even the simplest questions about her abductors?
But it was as if her mother hadnt heard him. Im sure they loved her very much.
Dr. Collier didnt say anything for a long moment, then in a low voice, You have to call the police, you know.
The police
Melanie was abducted. Theyll have to question her, find out what she knows about her kidnapper.
I dont want to talk to the police. Her mother started to cry again. Shes come back to me. Thats all I care about.