Searching for Faith - A gripping psychological thriller Read online

  “It sure is,” said a man’s voice.

  Chloe and Maddy turned to look at the stranger. He was a heavier-set man in his fifties, with a slight paunch, puffy white hair and glasses.

  “I think it’s a gneiss,” he continued, walking toward them.

  “What’s a gneiss?” asked Chloe.

  “A foliated, metaphoric rock,” he replied, smiling at them warmly. “Basically, it means that it’s been exposed to heat and direct pressure, below the earth’s surface. The lighter bands around it are made from feldspar and quartz. That’s what makes them so intriguing.”

  “This one, too?” asked Chloe, picking up another rock that looked similar.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “You certainly know a lot about rocks,” said Maddy, noticing that he was also carrying a camera.

  “I’m a high school science teacher,” he said, with a warm smile. “And part-time photographer. I should probably introduce myself.” He held out his hand to Maddy. “My name is Harold Williams. I’m the photographer your sister hired for her wedding.”

  “Oh. I thought you looked familiar. She showed me your website,” Maddy replied, shaking it.

  “Oh, good. I also do holiday, family, high school and children’s portraits,” he said and then turned to look at Chloe, who was busying herself with searching for more rocks. “Speaking of young people, who is this lovely little sprite?”

  “That’s Chloe,” said Maddy. “Say hello to Mr. Williams.”

  Chloe looked over at him. “Hello.”

  “A rock hunter, huh? Are you a collector?” asked Harold.

  Chloe nodded. “Yes. I’m bringing them home to remember our trip. It’s the first one I’ve ever been on.”

  “Excellent idea. Where are you from?” he asked.

  “Minnesota,” replied Chloe.

  Maddy and Harold both laughed.

  “You’re in Minnesota, silly,” said Maddy. “Do you remember the city you live in?”

  Chloe blushed. “Minneapolis.”

  “You don’t have to be embarrassed,” replied Harold. “Compared to Minneapolis, I imagine this place seems very far away.”

  She nodded. “It took us a gazillion hours to get here.”

  Chuckling again, he looked at Maddy. “I suppose at that age, it did feel like a gazillion hours. Is she your daughter?”

  “No. She’s a friend’s,” said Maddy.

  “Ah. I thought you looked a little too young to have children,” replied Harold.

  “I actually have a very close friend, who is my age, with a five-year old son. He just started kindergarten.”

  “Ah, yes. Babes having babes. In any case, “he turned back toward Chloe, “she is a lovely child probably very photogenic. You know, I’m having a few specials going on, in regards to family photos. I should ask her parents if they’d be interested in getting photographed while they’re here.

  “Yeah, you should. I know they’ll be staying at the resort for a few extra days, after the wedding, tomorrow,” she replied.

  “Good to know. We could shoot some pictures near Gooseberry Falls. It’s lovely there this time of year,” he said.

  “I bet,” said Maddy. “I’ve yet to visit there. I’m hoping to stop on Sunday, before I head back to the Twin Cities.”

  “You should definitely not leave until you’ve checked it out. It’s only a couple of miles up the road from here,” he replied. “Although, it’s supposed to start snowing soon. They say we’ll get anywhere from three-to-ten inches. In the next couple of days, Gooseberry Falls will be covered with slow and pretty slippery.”

  “Yeah, I heard about the snow. My sister, and our mother, has been freaking out about it.”

  “I’m sure her wedding day will still be magical. Brides are always stressed out, even on the most beautiful of days,” he replied.

  “That’s why I’m never getting married,” said Maddy. “Or, if I do, I’m not having a big wedding. I’d rather run off to Vegas and elope.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” said Harold. “Do you have a beau right now?”

  “Uh, kind of. It’s a complicated situation,” she replied.

  “Too bad. A pretty, young woman your age shouldn’t have complications,” he said.

  “You can’t always help who you fall in love with,” she said, smiling sadly.

  “No. I agree with you there whole-heartedly,” said Harold.

  “Chloe, don’t go so close to the water,” said Maddy.

  “Sorry,” she said, moving back toward them.

  “So, Chloe, have you been to see the falls with your parents yet?”

  “No,” said Chloe, kneeling down to examine another rock she’d found. “But, mommy said we’re going in a couple of days.”

  Harold smiled. “You’re in for a real treat. Especially being a rock enthusiast.”

  The back door of the cabin opened and Paul walked toward them, his hands in his pockets. Noticing the stranger standing there, he frowned slightly.

  “Oh, hi, Paul,” said Maddy.

  “Hi,” he replied, smiling warmly at her. “Thanks for keeping an eye on Chloe.”

  “No problem,” she said.

  “Daddy, look at the gnu that I found!” said Chloe, racing toward him with her rock held high.

  “Gneiss,” corrected Harold with a smile.

  “Wow. Good find, sweetheart,” said Paul, looking it over.

  “Paul, this is Harold Williams,” said Maddy. “He’s shooting the wedding pictures.”

  “Nice to meet you,” said Harold, offering his hand.

  Paul shook it. “Nice to meet you, too.”

  “Your little girl is very photogenic. I was just telling Maddy about this sale we have going on. For family photos. If you’re interested in having some professional pictures taken of you and your family, while vacationing, I could give you a business card.”

  “To be honest, I don’t think we’ll have time for pictures,” said Paul, “but thanks for the offer.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, I’ll be around the next couple of days,” he replied. “You know, shooting the wedding.”

  “Yeah. I’ll let you know if we do,” he said.

  “Speaking of,” said Maddy, looking at her watch. “We have the wedding rehearsal in two hours. I need to get moving.”

  “Us, too, I suppose,” he replied. “Which cabin are you staying in, by the way?”

  Maddy pointed down the row. “The third one from yours.”

  He nodded.

  Maddy turned to Chloe. “Goodbye, Sweetie. I’ll see you at the rehearsal.”

  “Goodbye,” she replied, wiping sand off of her hand and on onto her jacket.

  “It was nice meeting you, Maddy,” said Harold.

  “You, too. See you later,” she replied and then headed down the path toward her cabin.

  “I suppose I should call my fiancé,” said Harold, watching Maddy. “Before she wonders if I’ve fallen into the lake. I told her that I was going to take some shots.”

  Paul turned to him. “Oh, you’re engaged, too?”

  He grinned. “Yes. We’re getting married next summer.”

  Paul stared at him in surprise. Harold looked like he was pushing sixty-five or seventy. “Really? First one?”

  “Marriage? No. Second. The first didn’t work out so well,” he replied.

  “And you’re willing to throw the dice again?” joked Paul. “You must be quite the gambler.”

  He chuckled. “I’ve learned over time that when you truly love someone, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to be with them.”

  “I suppose,” replied Paul.

  Harold’s phone buzzed. He took it out and read a text message. “Yep, she’s getting anxious. I’d better call her back before she has a stroke.

  “Impatient, huh? Hopefully she doesn’t have her period, like mine does right now. Impatience is the least of my worries,” he joked.

  Harold smiled. “Thankfully, she
hasn’t had that problem for a few years.”

  “Lucky bastard. I guess that’s one thing to look forward to when they get older,” replied Paul, smirking. “No rag, no hag.”

  Harold snorted. “Well, I never thought of it that way, but then she has always been good natured, even back when she had her monthly.”

  “What’s a monthly?” asked Chloe, stuffing another rock into her pocket.

  “Ask your mother,” Paul replied, pulling his phone out. “But use extreme caution and don’t tell her that I told you to do it.”

  “Mommy said that I should never keep secrets from her,” said Chloe with a serious expression.

  “I think this is my cue to leave,” said Harold, looking amused again. “I’ll see you both soon, I’m sure.”

  Paul nodded.

  “Goodbye, Chloe,” said Harold. “Keep looking for rocks. There are some real gems around here.”

  “I will,” she replied, not looking up from her rock expedition. “Bye.”

  With a last nod to Paul, the older man turned and walked away.

  Chloe picked up a couple more stones and then started moving back down toward the shoreline.

  “Hey. Stay over here where I can see you,” said Paul, looking up from his cell. “Don’t wonder off.”

  Chloe scowled. “But, it’s getting boring over here,” she replied. “Can’t we go for a walk?”

  “No. We have to get in soon, anyway,” he replied, his focus once again back on his phone.

  Chloe was disappointed. “Are you playing that zombie game again?”

  “No. I was just sending someone a message,” he said, typing frantically.

  “Who? Mommy?”

  “No, a friend,” he said, typing again.

  Bored with her rock hunt, she walked over to her father. “Can I send a message to someone?”

  Paul didn’t look up. “Maybe later.”

  “I’m going back inside,” huffed Chloe, irritated that he was ignoring her again. She stomped toward the cabin, her father oblivious to everything but the conversation on his cell phone.

  ***

  He was standing outside of the main lodge, smoking a cigarette, when he saw the little blonde girl heading back to her cabin and looking frustrated. She glanced his way.

  He smiled at her and waved.

  She waved back hesitantly and went inside.

  Faith.

  They called her Chloe but by God, it was her. This time, there was no doubt in his mind. She was the right age and had the same features as his daughter. The eyes. The dimples. The rounded cheeks. Hell, even at one point, their eyes had met and he saw something reflected there.

  Recognition?

  It was possible. Barbara certainly didn’t understand the bond between them. As much as she probably wanted to wipe Faith’s memory clean of her father, she would never succeed. Not completely. He couldn’t wait for them to be reunited so that he could undo the brain-washing she’d been exposed to and be Faith’s hero again.

  He remembered a time when Faith was still in his life and he’d given her a scooter for her birthday. She’d been doing so well on it, but then fell down, skinning her knee. Barbara had tried soothing her but it wasn’t until he took her into his arms that she finally calmed down. Faith was a daddy’s girl, through-and-through. He figured that it was another reason why Barbara had taken her. Pure jealousy.

  He watched as the man staying with Faith walked around the cabin and went inside. He didn’t like the guy and from the expression on Faith’s face, he’d said or done something to make her angry. He wondered who the couple really were and hoped to hell that Barbara wasn’t going to be at the wedding. Most of the guests staying there were part of it. The last thing he needed was for the bitch to recognize him before he had a chance to grab Faith; he couldn’t do it until then, not without the risk of getting caught. He needed to wait until the reception. It would be much easier when everyone was drunk and relaxed.

  Taking another drag of his smoke, he smiled again at his luck. He couldn’t believe that this time, fate had brought his daughter to him, especially after such a harrowing week. The last girl, the soccer player, had been yet another catastrophe. Just thinking about it made him sick to his stomach.

  Damn you, Barbara.

  He should have known that the girl, Amy, had been too old. But, she’d looked so much like his daughter and had played soccer like a champ. God, he’d wanted so much for her to be Faith. But, just like the last two, she’d been a mistake.

  “Please… let me go.”

  Amy’s last words echoed in his head. He pictured her lifeless eyes, staring toward the sky after he did what he had to do. Like the others, he’d cried afterward, consumed by guilt. But, it couldn’t be helped. She’d seen him without his disguise and had even recognized him as a coach from the other school. If he would have let her go, she would have ratted him out. So, he was left with little choice – kill Amy and create a crime scene that would throw the cops off. He’d watched his share of C.S.I. shows to know how to do it, too. The first was to make sure they never found a weapon, which is why he always used his bare hands to do the dirty work. No risk of leaving a gun or knife behind. Plus, blood made him queasy and guns were traceable. It wasn’t as if he knew of anyone selling illegal firearms. Admittedly, squeezing the last breath out of the girls had been horrible; he felt like less of a monster knowing that it didn’t give him any thrills.

  I did what I had to do.

  He shuddered, thinking about how he’d removed Amy’s clothing, to set the stage for the cops. He wanted the authorities to think he was a deviant. A sexual predator. The thought of touching her intimately had made him physically ill, though, and that’s where he’d drawn the line. But, he’d made sure to pose her in a position that would make them think he was a pedophile. He was no sicko, though. Just a desperate man who wanted his daughter back.

  “Not your fault,” he reminded himself, stubbing out his cigarette.

  Trying to forget the victims, rather Barbara’s victims, he pushed the horrible memories away and headed into the main lodge.

  Chapter 4

  CARISSA DECIDED TO eat an early dinner at Blue Waters, the resort’s restaurant. As she was being seated, she noticed that the bar area was busy.

  “This place is hopping,” she said to the waitress, when she brought her a glass of iced water.

  “Yeah. There’s a wedding tomorrow and the rehearsal is tonight,” explained the woman. “Are you part of that group?”

  “No. I guess it’s a good thing I arrived here when I did,” Carissa replied, opening up the menu. “Beat the rush.”

  “Yes, it’s going to be very busy. Especially the bar. Speaking of which, can I get you anything, other than water, to drink?”

  As much as she would have enjoyed a small glass of wine, Carissa hesitated. She was alone and not there to relax. She also needed all of her wits about her.

  “We have half-priced cocktails right now,” the waitress added.

  “I’m good. Thank you.”

  “No problem. I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your order.”

  “Thank you.”

  The waitress left and Carissa scanned the menu, deciding on a bowl of chicken and wild-rice soup with a side salad. Closing the menu, she noticed one of the bartenders checking her out. He was handsome and athletic looking, with dark blond hair and crinkly blue eyes. She guessed him to be around her age, late twenties.

  He smiled at her.

  She smiled back and then quickly busied herself on her cell phone. She sensed he was attracted to her and was flattered but not interested.

  When the waitress returned, she ordered her food and handed the woman back the menu.

  “So, do a lot of people get married here?” asked Carissa, pushing her hair behind her ears.

  “Yeah. Not so much this time of the year. We see a lot more weddings in the warmer months.”

  “I imagine,” Carissa said, looking through the large
pane window next to her booth. A few light flakes were beginning to fall from the sky and the view, which over-looked the lake, was beautiful. She could definitely see how one would want to have an outdoor wedding there.

  “So, where did you say that you were from?” the waitress asked.

  She told her.

  “Ah. I’ve never been out of Duluth. I’ve been meaning to take a trip down to the Twin Cities.

  “There are a lot of great places to explore in St. Paul and Minneapolis.”

  “I’ve always wanted to check out the Mall of America. Is it as big as they say?”

  “Oh yeah. It’s an all day excursion, and that’s not counting the theme park inside.”

  She smiled. “Sounds cool.”

  “It is. Although,” Carissa looked outside again, “to be honest, I’m more fascinated with what’s up here. I just love the North Shore.”

  “Me, too. I wouldn’t want to live any other place. Well, maybe Hawaii.”

  “Have you ever been there?” asked Carissa.

  “No.”

  “It’s a nice place to visit, but here is better. Take my word for it,” she replied, having visited Honolulu. It was indeed lovely, but too busy for her.

  The waitress smiled. “Well, I’d better go put your order in before you starve to death. Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  The waitress left and Carissa glanced toward the bar area again. It had picked up quite a bit, during the last few minutes. Most of them seemed to know each other, so she assumed they were guests of the bride and groom. Carissa studied the small crowd, wondering if one of them might know the little girl she was looking for. Of course, it was always possible that the child was a local, too, or staying at a different resort. If only she could reach out and touch everyone, without looking like a total nut-job. It would save so much time.

  Sighing, Carissa’s mind went back to her own childhood. From early one, she knew things. Things she shouldn’t have known and things she couldn’t explain. Growing up, Carissa chalked everything up as being strange coincidences or lucky guesses. It wasn’t until she was in a freshman in college that she’d learned of her psychic abilities. She’d been at a Halloween frat party. Not really much of a drinker herself during that time, she’d stayed sober and so her mind had been clear. Halfway through the night, a tipsy young man, wearing a freaky clown mask, had bumped into her, almost knocking her over. He’d reached out to steady her and the moment his hand touched arm, Carissa was instantly hit with a premonition - it was of him slipping something into a girl’s drink and then raping her afterward. It had disturbed her so much that she’d kept an eye on him for most of the night. Eventually, Carissa brushed off the vision, thinking it was lack of sleep and an over-reactive imagination. Nothing happened and she left the party with her friends. Ten days later she learned that the guy, under the clown mask, had been Daryl Huppert and he’d been arrested for the very thing she’d envisioned. The only difference was that he’d committed the crime at another frat party, the following weekend. She’d been off by a week. The experience had shaken her and from that moment on, she read everything she could on the subject of clairvoyance and extra-sensory perception.