The Stares of Strangers (10 page)

Chapter 20

Jane stepped into her son's apartment, took one look around and then covered her face with her hands as she wept.

There are no words one can offer in a time like this. I've found that it's best to just be present; to let the person know that he/she is not alone and, then there are times when a little privacy is all that is needed.

I went to the kitchen and opened a cupboard, in hopes of finding coffee or tea. I found a can of instant coffee. I boiled some water and filled two coffee mugs.

When I joined her in the TV room, Jane was sitting on the floor, looking through her son's collection of music CD's.

She looked up at me and accepted the coffee mug. “How did you know this is what I needed?”

“
I've found that coffee is a cure for many maladies. It also helps a broken heart.”

She smiled at that. “Thanks, Sarah.”

I joined her on the floor and we sipped from our mugs while she talked about her son.

“
Trent was always an intense kid,” she said. “I wished he could be more carefree, let his demons go. He had the potential for great things. I'd hoped someday he'd meet the right girl and she'd be patient enough to deal with his dark side. However, he scared girls away usually before they got the chance to know him.”

I decided not to bring up the issue of Penny. This grieving mother didn't need to know that her son had not chosen the right girl to see past his dark side.

I let Jane ramble on and on to her heart's content, knowing how therapeutic it must be to vent. Sometimes talking to a stranger is best because judgment by an outsider is of little or no importance.

“
Have you ever met Marcy, the girl who lives upstairs?” I asked. “She's the one who's taking care of Trent's guinea pig.”

“
Trent told me about her. She's a very close friend, apparently but, no, we haven't met, yet. I'll probably see her at the wake tomorrow night.”

Jane checked her watch and gasped. “Oh dear. Time's a-wasting. I should start the packing. Sorry to talk your ear off.”

“
No problem,” I said. “Just tell me what you want me to do?”

“
Let's start with his bedroom. Grab a few boxes and you can tackle the closet while I go through his drawers. Most of his things will be donated to Goodwill but I intend to keep his CD collection.”

When we walked into his bedroom together, she stood still for a few seconds while taking in the sight before her. She whistled low. “He sure was a slob, wasn't he?”

Her comment caught me completely off guard but, when she burst out laughing, I couldn't help but giggle along with her. We both needed that moment of levity.

“
Well,” she said, with arms outstretched. “If you see anything you like, feel free to take it, okay?”

“
Thanks anyway. I'm trying to downsize.”

She nodded. “Me too. Although, if you come across his digital camera, I'd like to keep that. I gave it to him for his birthday last year.”

Jane began to gather dirty clothes and towels and stuffed them into the hamper. I got to work inside the closet, emptying the shelves and piling everything in boxes.

When I came out to grab another box, I noticed Jane had begun to strip the bed sheets but, for some reason, she had stopped. Her expression was one of complete puzzlement.

Then I noticed why. Silky undergarments were scattered across the bed. It looked like a Victoria's Secret rummage sale.

Jane's face turned bright pink. “I have no idea what to make of this. Why would he have these stashed here?”

 
I couldn't be certain but I had a hunch they were Penny's missing underwear. I had never thought to look
under
his bed sheets when searching for the items Sunday afternoon. All this time, I was convinced that Trent hadn't stolen them, simply because of the photos of Penny that were delivered the morning after he died; that continued to be a mystery.

Jane gathered the undergarments together and placed them in a box. “These might belong to his ex-girlfriend. I have no idea why she'd give them to him.”

I didn't have the heart to remind her that Trent had been a disturbed young man with obsessive tendencies. No woman would ever willingly give away an expensive collection of underwear like this. “If you want me to, I'll return them to their rightful owner. You shouldn't have to worry about this.”

She seemed relieved to be absolved of the responsibility. “If you don't mind, I'd appreciate that very much.”

By three o'clock, we had loaded ten boxes into Jane's car and she was ready to call it a day. Before we parted ways, we exchanged numbers and I told her I'd stop by the wake to pay my respects.

I placed the box of underwear in my trunk and then went back inside the apartment building. My work wasn't done yet.

I had no idea what time Marcy would be home from work, but I figured an hour would provide me with enough time to search through her apartment. I had a strong feeling in my gut that she had Trent’s digital camera.

Chapter 21

I don't make a habit of breaking into people's private spaces but I am able to justify it from time to time. Getting inside Marcy's apartment was a breeze as my lock picking skills have improved. I set the timer on my watch for twenty minutes. I tend to lose track of time when I'm on a mission to find something.

Trent's digital camera his mother had been searching for had never turned up in his apartment. I had a feeling, however, I'd find it in Marcy's.

Upon entering her bedroom, I heard Ralph munching on something inside his cage by Marcy's bed. He looked fat and happy with his chubby cheeks. I was relieved to find she'd been taking good care of him or, at least, feeding him well.

I sat down at her computer desk and opened the laptop. She'd neglected to close out the last site she'd been on.

When I read the title of the blog she'd been reading, my chest tightened. Then I realized what Marcy had been planning to do.

Next to the laptop was a printer with a digital camera attached by the cord. I switched the camera on and looked through the photos. Must have been hundreds of them, mostly images of Penny in various places. Some of them were taken from outside Penny's bedroom window.

When my watch timer beeped, I knew my time had run out. If I lingered any longer, I'd be pressing my luck. I just needed a few more minutes.

It's so easy to lose track of time when I'm absorbed in a case; eager to find that one defining clue that will explain everything; the missing link that ties the whole case together. Sometimes, it just isn't there and I'm left to fill in the blanks. The only thing I knew for certain was that Marcy had evil intentions and that Penny was in danger.

I grabbed my cell phone and dialed Officer Bouchard's number. I asked him to meet me at Riverside Terrace apartments as soon as he could.

“
What's going on, Sarah?”

“
It's Marcy Thayer, Trent's friend, with whom we spoke right after Trent overdosed. I believe she blames Penny for Trent's death and is planning to get revenge. As it turns out, Trent was the one who stole Penny's underwear. I was helping his mother pack his things up, and she found them in his apartment, underneath his bed sheets. I never thought to look there. Anyway, I'm inside Marcy's apartment now. You won't believe this website she's been reading.”

 “
So you broke into her place? You know that's illegal, right?”

“
Of course I do, but this is serious. Marcy is planning something.”

 “
Okay,” he said. “I can bring her in for questioning, but I won't be able to hold her for long. Any evidence you have will be inadmissible, since you unlawfully entered her premises, you understand?”

“
Yes - but if she knows we're on to her, maybe she will let this go.”

At the sound of a key in lock, I sat up straight. “Oh, shit. I think she's home. I gotta go.”

“
Wait---”

I ended the call and stood up, my heart beating frantically. My first instinct was to find a place to hide. I ran to the closet and got inside, making sure my cell phone was silenced just in case Officer Bouchard tried to call me back. Hopefully, he was already on his way over and I wouldn't have to be stuck in the closet for very long.

…
and then I remembered I'd left the bedroom light on.

I could hear Marcy's footsteps on the carpeting as she entered the room and then stop. I couldn't see her but I could picture her standing there, wondering if she'd forgotten to turn the bedroom light off before she'd left for work.

Inside my small, dark space, I held my breath and prayed that Officer Bouchard was en route and would be knocking on her door any minute.

My heart was beating so loudly in my chest, I was certain she'd be able to hear it; but then the light went out and I could hear her footsteps walking away.

I let out a long breath of relief when I heard the sound of the shower running. Thank God. I'd give her a minute to get into the shower and then make a run for the door.

As I stepped out of the closet, I quietly padded across the bedroom and peeked out into the hallway. All seemed clear. I continued on toward the door, already congratulating myself for the easy escape. When a sound to my right caused me to freeze in mid step.

“
I knew you just wouldn't let it go, Sarah.”

I turned my head slightly to get a visual. Marcy was standing in the kitchen with a gun in her hand. Pointed at me.

I slowly raised my arms in the air. “I get it, you know. I understand what's going on. You blame Penny for his death, and you want her to pay for that.”

Marcy shook her head as her eyes filled with tears. “Why did you have to come back here and ruin everything? I really liked you.”

“
I don't regret coming back because I'm not going to let you do anything stupid. You have your whole life ahead of you and Penny is not worth it. You might blame her for Trent's suicide but Trent did that to himself.”

“
No,” Marcy said. “She played with him. She knew what she was doing, and she didn’t care. Trent was too blind to see it.”

“
That may be true,” I said. “But Trent’s mother told me that he's been battling depression his whole life. Penny didn't create it. She may have contributed to it, but that's all.”

Marcy looked away as if she didn't want to hear it. “Bullshit. Penny enjoys tormenting people and Trent was just a game to her. She knew the whole time that he was stalking her, and she thought it was entertaining. She allowed it. It was a sick game that screwed with his mind.”

I paused to consider her insinuation. “Wait, so she knew he had been stalking her?”

“
Of course she knew.” Marcy snorted.

I laughed in spite of myself. “But Trent didn't deliver those photos after he died. That was you.”

Marcy lowered her gun. “After Trent died, I decided I'd like to play a little game with Penny myself. I printed out some pictures he'd taken of her and delivered them to her house. I had all kinds of things planned for her. And I was just getting started.”

“
I know. I saw the website on your computer. You can’t be serious about it, right? Please tell me it was just a vengeful fantasy.”

Marcy shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not.”

I lowered my hands gradually, keeping her weapon in sight. “Listen, Marcy. It's all over now. It's time to let this go. I know you want to avenge Trent's death but this isn't the way. Do you really want to waste any more precious time on Penny? I guarantee you, she will eventually lie down in the bed she's made for herself.”

“
No she won't! Beautiful women always get away with stuff! She'll just find some other poor sap to grovel at her feet. It will never end.” Marcy placed the gun on the counter and backed away. “Just so you know, it's not loaded. It’s not like I’d ever shoot you anyway. I just bought it because I live alone. There’s drug dealers who live in this apartment building.”

“
Marcy, it’s okay to feel angry. You should feel angry because it’s not fair. But you seem like a smart girl. Please don’t do anything to Penny. Promise me you won’t.”

She turned and walked toward the hall. “I couldn’t do it now if I wanted to.”

Marcy went into her bedroom and closed the door behind her. I didn’t know if that meant she wanted me to leave or not.

I checked the gun to make sure she was telling me the truth, that it wasn’t loaded. As soon as I held it in my hand, I could tell it wasn't even a real gun by the weight of it. Just a very convincing fake made out of plastic. Could have fooled me.

I left Marcy's apartment and, as I neared the stairs, Officer Bouchard was coming up them.

His furrowed brow was moist with perspiration. “Sarah, is everything okay?”

“
I think so. You might want to talk with Marcy and make sure she's got her head on straight. She was doing research online, about how to stalk someone without getting caught. I believe those pictures she delivered to Penny's house was only the beginning of what she had planned.”

Officer Bouchard shook his head. “Do you really think she would've gone so far as to hurt Penny?”

“I don't know. Revenge is one of those things … usually it remains a fantasy for most people. I don't know if Marcy has it in her to act on it. But the fact that she took the first step, well, it's disturbing. Maybe she needs a few sessions with a therapist to work on her issues.”

“
Where are you heading now?”

“
I'm gonna call Carter and tell him what happened here. And then we're going to Penny's house. I have something to give her.”

“The underwear?”

“Yes, and also a piece of my mind.”

 
* * *

Later that evening around five o'clock, Carter and I showed up at Penny's door. She must have known by the look on my face that I was less than pleased with her.

“
May we come in?” I asked. “We have something to discuss.”

She eyed the box in my hands and nodded. “Sure, come in.”

Carter immediately got to work removing the surveillance equipment, probably hoping not to participate in the conversation.

“
What are you doing?” she asked Carter. “I thought you were leaving those in place?”

Carter ignored her.

I walked to the living room and dropped the box onto the coffee table. “I recovered your items, Penny. At least. I’m assuming these are yours.”

She peeked inside the box and her eyes grew wide. “Where did you find them?”

“
They were in Trent's apartment but I guess you already knew that.”

Penny opened her mouth to speak - but nothing came out.

“
Just so you know,” I began, with arms folded across my chest. “Carter and I spoke with your parents. We explained everything to them; how you selfishly and knowingly caused them unnecessary grief, not to mention wasting their money. Your stalker was already dead but you wanted the game to continue.”

Penny shook her head and I could tell she was about to give me some lame excuse.

“
There's no point now,” I said. “Your parents are insisting that you move back home to San Diego. They will not pay your expenses or continue to send money if you decide to stay. You'll be on your own. So I guess it's your decision but let me add one more thing: if you decide to stay, you'd better watch your back very closely.”

Penny swallowed, blinking away tears. “I never knew Trent would kill himself. If I knew that, I would have stopped. You have to believe me.”

“
It doesn't matter what I think anymore, Penny but I will offer one last piece of advice. If you continue to play your games, someday you will find yourself in a bad situation. A real situation that you won't be able to buy or charm your way out of and, at that point, you may not have any friends left to help you.”

She stared at me, aghast. I fully expected a melodramatic reply, but none came. She must have known that there was no point.

When Carter was finished collecting his equipment, we left her house for the last time.