Once Shunned Read online

  Riley couldn’t help but smile as she finished Jilly’s thought …

  “Like a raving idiot?”

  Jilly gasped a little, then let out a nervous giggle.

  “Yeah, pretty much,” she said.

  Riley was starting to breathe easier.

  She said, “It’s OK, Jilly. I understand.”

  “But I told him …”

  “I know, and you shouldn’t have done that,” Riley said. “You shouldn’t tell people anything about what I’m doing when I’m working on a case. But this time you couldn’t help it. You were worried about Ryan, and you meant really well, and …”

  Riley paused, then said …

  “And you had good reason to worry. He’s not doing very well, Jilly. He’s going through a bad time. And he’s doing some rash and stupid things because of it. I wish there were something we could do about it, but there’s not.”

  Another silence fell as Riley waited for a reply.

  Then Jilly said, “He’s got to work things out for himself, doesn’t he?”

  Riley felt her throat catch at Jilly’s words.

  What a mature thing to say!

  Her younger daughter really was growing up.

  She said to Jilly, “Yes, he does. He really does. But he’s having trouble understanding that. He keeps turning to other people to fix his life for him. Nobody can do that but him, and if any of us give in and try to fix things for him, we’ll only make things worse for all of us, including him. But you’ve got a good heart, Jilly. And I’m really proud of you for that.”

  Jilly let out another last sob and said, “Thanks, Mom. I’m proud of you too.” Then she added, “Hey, an FBI guy was on the news after you and Ryan went into the building. He said you got the killer. Congratulations.”

  Riley’s spirits sank a little.

  Given all the doubts she shared with Bill and Jenn, she didn’t feel like being congratulated right now.

  But she knew she’d better not go into all that with Jilly.

  “Thanks, Jilly,” she said.

  “Does this mean you’ll be coming back home soon?” Jilly asked.

  Riley stammered, “Uh, yeah, we—we’ll be flying back tomorrow.”

  Jilly sounded really happy now.

  “It’ll be so good to see you! I know you’ve only been gone a couple of days. But it always seems like a long time when you’re gone. I really miss you.”

  Riley swallowed down a lump of emotion.

  “I miss you too, Jilly,” she said. “And I love you.”

  “I love you too. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  They ended the call, and Riley sat on the edge of the bed feeling sad and discouraged.

  Jilly’s words echoed through her head …

  “It always seems like a long time when you’re gone.”

  It made Riley sad that she couldn’t feel the same way. Certainly she missed her daughters, and missed them badly. But the work she was doing always absorbed her full attention, and time often seemed to fly while she was doing it. It was hard to think much about home when she was away.

  And now …

  What kind of mom will I be when I get home tomorrow?

  Doubtless she’d be edgy and anxious after leaving matters so unsettled here in Connecticut. She’d have a hard time giving all her attention to the girls. And of course, they’d feel like she was being distant with them.

  If only Bill and Jenn and I could stay a day or two longer, she thought.

  If only we could solve this case once and for all.

  Then she could go home with a clear mind and spend some great time with her kids—time that they all could enjoy.

  Riley got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower, then went straight to bed. She was tired after a long, hard day, and she went to sleep quickly.

  Riley found herself standing on the edge of a precipice, staring down into a seemingly bottomless darkness. Strange sounds emerged from those depths—screams, cries of torment, evil laughter, clanking chains, gunshots …

  “What is this place?” Riley asked herself aloud. “What’s down there?

  To her surprise, she heard a voice answer in reply …

  “It’s the abyss.”

  She turned to see who had spoken. Also standing on the precipice just a few feet away was Wesley Mannis, staring fixedly in those depths.

  She was astonished to realize he was right. This was an abyss—her own personal abyss, filled with all the evils, pain, injustice, and horrors she’d faced and struggled against her whole life. It was also full of her own faults and failures, weaknesses and lapses that had cost so much to herself and other people—sometimes even their lives.

  It terrified her deeply to think …

  All of it.

  Everything that frightens me.

  All of it is down there.

  But then she wondered—what was Wesley doing here, standing next to her?

  And most of all …

  She asked him aloud, “How do you know? About the abyss?”

  Wesley kept staring silently. Riley remembered how hard it was to reach Wesley, to get him to say as much as a single word. Surely he wouldn’t speak to her now.

  But then, still staring downward, Wesley said …

  “I know because I’ve been there.”

  Riley felt jolted with astonishment. How was it even possible? This was her abyss, crawling with her own personal demons and horrors. How could Wesley know anything about it?

  And yet she knew …

  He wouldn’t lie.

  She looked down and listened again. This time, amid the tangle of noises and voices, she could just barely make out a terrified cry for help. Someone needed her. Someone’s life was in danger, and Riley had to save that life.

  But how?

  The abyss was so deep, she could think of no other way to enter it but to jump.

  But even if she did, what could she do?

  She’d be lost and confused and of no help at all.

  Then she realized something. She turned to Wesley and said …

  “We’ve got to go down there—both of us. I can’t do it on my own. We’ve got to jump in, both at the same time.”

  Wesley didn’t reply, just kept staring.

  “Did you hear me, Wesley?” she said. “I need your help.”

  Wesley stood silent for another few moments, then said …

  “I’m not a peeper.”

  Riley was startled to hear those words he’d said over and over again yesterday.

  She pleaded with him, “This isn’t about peeping, Wesley. This is about doing the right thing. This is about saving someone’s life.”

  “I’m not a peeper,” Wesley repeated.

  Then, to Riley’s alarm, he turned and started to walk away.

  She called after him …

  “Wesley, please don’t go! I need your help! Someone down there needs our help! We have a life to save! Maybe more than one life!”

  But Wesley kept on walking away, muttering over and over again …

  “I’m not a peeper … I’m not a peeper …”

  Riley tried to run after him, but her own feet were frozen where she stood.

  She turned and looked again into the abyss and thought …

  I’ve got to go down there.

  But I can’t do it alone.

  I need Wesley to help me.

  But how could she possibly get him to do that?

  Riley’s eyes snapped open, and she lay gasping from the nightmare she’d just had. She saw morning light coming in through the curtains.

  As she remembered the dream, she thought …

  Wesley has been through a trauma.

  He saw something he thinks he shouldn’t have.

  He’s probably endured other traumas too.

  Riley had suffered through her share of traumas and had experienced terrible bouts of PTSD. Could she reach him through their common experience? Could she get him to tell her what he’
d seen that night?

  I’ve got to try, Riley thought, jumping out of bed and pulling on her clothes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  When Bill awoke at the sound of a knock at the door of his room, he knew right away …

  It’s Riley.

  He called out to her in a hoarse, sleepy voice.

  “Give me a minute, Riley. I’ll meet you downstairs for breakfast, OK?”

  “OK,” Riley called in reply. “I’ll go wake up Jenn.”

  Bill grinned as he got out of bed. This was no surprise. When he’d gone to sleep last night, he’d been aware that Riley was still ruminating on the case. His longtime partner often got powerful intuitive hits by way of nightmares or late-night insights. And those hits often went contrary to the expectations of her co-workers.

  Right now, Bill was glad of it.

  He knew that Riley’s ex-husband turning up out of the blue yesterday had shaken her up a bit. Despite all his years working with Riley, Bill had never gotten to know Ryan Paige very well. But Bill had never really liked him, and Riley had made no secret that Ryan didn’t like him either.

  What did Ryan think he was doing here, anyway? Bill wondered.

  Whatever he’d had in mind, the man had certainly caused his share of trouble. And Riley had seemed discouraged for the rest of the day.

  This early wakeup call suggested to Bill that maybe she was back to her old self. If she’d gotten a new idea, the team badly needed one right now.

  Yesterday Riley had pretty well convinced him that Bruno Young wasn’t their killer, which surely meant that the real murderer was out there somewhere, ready to strike at any time …

  If he hasn’t already.

  Bill hated the idea of leaving Connecticut without solving the case. He was sure they’d just have to come flying back after someone else got killed. If Riley had thought of something new, that could give them a fresh start.

  He brushed his teeth and got dressed and headed down to the restaurant, where Riley and Jenn were already getting settled at a table. The three of them quickly ordered coffee, then Bill and Jenn both looked at Riley expectantly.

  Riley took a deep, long breath and said …

  “We’ve got to go talk to Wesley Mannis.”

  Bill’s spirits sank a little. A repetition of a fruitless meeting wasn’t what he had expected.

  Jenn asked bluntly, “What good will that do, Riley?”

  Sounding a bit anxious, Riley explained, “He saw something the night Robin Scoville was killed. He may have seen it happen.”

  Bill said, “We already know that, Riley. But nobody seems to be able to get through to him right now, not even his mother.”

  Jenn added, “Even that strange therapist, Dr. Bayle, didn’t seem to be making much progress the last time we were there.”

  Riley hesitated, then said …

  “I can get through to him.”

  Jenn looked at Riley with an expression of disbelief.

  “Oh, Riley, I don’t know,” Jenn said.

  Bill added, “I’m not sure you understand what you’re saying.”

  Riley sounded impatient now.

  “I do know what I’m saying,” she said. “We’ve got—well, we’ve got something in common, Wesley and me. Something that I can use to make a connection.”

  “What’s that?” Jenn asked.

  “I don’t know,” Riley said. “That’s what I’ve got to find out.”

  Bill exchanged a doubtful glance with Jenn.

  Riley said, “Look, just let me try, OK?”

  Bill shrugged and said, “Well, it depends on whether you can even get permission to see him. That’s going to be up to staff over at Wilburton House—Dr. Rhind and Dr. Bayle, especially. I’m not sure they’re going to want you to do that.”

  The three of them fell silent for a moment. Riley’s taut expression was familiar to Bill. She often wore it when she was building up her resolve to take some kind of action, no matter what anybody else thought.

  Bill knew from experience that could mean trouble.

  The server arrived with their coffee and took their orders. Then Riley abruptly took out her cell phone and started to make a call.

  “Who are you calling?” Bill asked.

  Riley didn’t say anything, just waited for someone to answer.

  Then she said, “Hello, this is Special Agent Riley Paige with the FBI. Could I speak with Dr. Rhind, please?”

  She’s calling Wilburton House, Bill realized.

  He whispered to her, “Riley, are you sure this is such a good idea?”

  Riley didn’t answer his question. She waited for a moment, then said …

  “Good morning, Dr. Rhind. My colleagues and I would like to pay Wesley Mannis another visit.”

  After another pause, Riley said …

  “I understand your concerns, Doctor. We won’t do anything you disapprove of. We’ll stop by Wilburton House in just a few minutes and speak to you first about this.”

  Bill was also familiar with that determination in her voice. He knew that it was very hard for anyone to say no to Riley when she came on that strong.

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Riley said. “We’ll drive right over.”

  Riley ended her call and said, “We’re skipping breakfast. Let’s go.”

  Bill stifled a sigh. “OK, but at least let me call Quantico and notify Chief Meredith. I also need to let Chief Brennan know we aren’t bringing his car back right away.”

  As Riley settled the bill for the coffee, Bill stepped aside and took out his cell phone. He called the police station and left a message for Brennan, then called Quantico. When he got Meredith on the line, the first thing the chief said to him was …

  “Are the three of you on your way back yet?”

  “Um, not exactly,” Bill said nervously.

  Meredith growled, “I’m not sure I like the sound of that, Jeffreys. A plane is already on its way to Tweed–New Haven to pick you up. You need to get to the airport.”

  Bill said, “I’m afraid we—won’t be there to meet it right away.”

  “Why not?”

  Bill said, “Agent Paige thinks she might be able to … find out something about the case.”

  “What for? Don’t you already have a suspect in custody?”

  Bill hesitated, then said …

  “Yeah, we do. But the truth is, Roston and Paige and I don’t think he’s the right guy.”

  A tense silence fell.

  Then Meredith said, “Remember what I said before you went up there. No more shenanigans. I expect you to do everything by the book.”

  “Yes, sir,” Bill said. “You can count on us, sir.”

  The call ended, and Bill and his two colleagues headed on out to the car.

  Bill’s own words rattled again through his head.

  “You can count on us, sir.”

  He stifled a sigh as he started the car engine.

  I sure hope we can keep that promise.

  *

  During the short drive to Wilburton House, Riley couldn’t help but remind herself …

  Sometimes a dream is just a dream.

  Maybe the nightmare she’d had didn’t mean anything at all, and this visit to Wesley Mannis was going to be a waste of time—or perhaps worse, troubling and difficult for Wesley.

  Still, she couldn’t shake that image out of her head, of standing beside Wesley on a precipice, and him saying to her …

  “It’s the abyss.”

  It had felt as though she and Wesley shared an understanding of the dark side of human nature. Somehow, the dream seemed to fit with her impressions of Wesley when she’d first met him. If she could find common ground with him, maybe she could coax him into telling her whatever he’d seen on the night of Robin Scoville’s murder.

  When Riley, Bill, and Jenn arrived at Wilburton House, they found Dr. Rhind waiting for her, not looking as cheerful as she had on their previous meeting.

  The doctor said to them
, “I’m afraid this visit comes as a bit of a surprise. I saw on the news yesterday that you had a suspect in custody. Isn’t the murder case closed?”

  Riley didn’t want to say outright that she and her colleagues thought they had the wrong man.

  Instead she said, “We’ve still got some work to do. We’re hoping that Wesley might be ready to help us.”

  “I’m not sure I like this,” Dr. Rhind said, squeezing her hands together anxiously. “Wesley is doing so much better. He’s interacting with other people again, functioning really well. We’ve been hoping he could start spending time outside the facility again, maybe even go back to his old job, or else get a new one. The last thing I want is for him to have a setback.”

  “I understand,” Riley said. “I promise we’ll be careful. But tell me, did Dr. Bayle ever get him to say anything about what he saw on the night of the murder?”

  Dr. Rhind shook her head. “Not as far as I know. I think he would have told me. Dr. Bayle decided to stay here for another day or two to help, so we gave him a room of his own.”

  Bill asked, “Where is Dr. Bayle right now?”

  Dr. Rhind sighed and said …

  “I wish I knew. He’s an odd sort of man. Absolutely brilliant, but with some peculiar habits. He comes and goes a lot, seemingly at random. He’ll be talking with me or working with Wesley, then suddenly he’ll get up and leave, walk right of the building without saying anything at all. Sometimes he’ll be gone for several hours, then he’ll come back and get right back to work without any explanation.”

  Riley felt a tingle of worry at what she was hearing, although she wasn’t sure just why. She remembered being unsettled by the therapist’s demeanor, and especially in his unexplained interest in Riley herself.

  “I know quite a bit about you,” he’d said when they’d first talked on the phone.

  And Dr. Rhind had said he hadn’t been interested in Wesley’s condition right away, but …

  “As soon as I mentioned your name, Agent Paige, he was suddenly eager to come.”

  His curiosity made Riley uncomfortable, almost as if he were some kind of a stalker.

  And why was he coming and going in such a mysterious manner?