Having returned home, Nick and Lesley settled in. However, beneath the surface, there was a lingering tension brewing between them. Nick couldn't help but feel frustrated with Lesley for venturing off into the lake and the surrounding forest without considering her own safety. Despite his growing impatience, he knew he had to put her well-being first. So, before bombarding her with questions, he checked in on her.
"How are you feeling, Les?" Nick asked with a comforting pat on her back as he sat beside her.
"I'm alright, I guess," Lesley replied somberly, her eyes laden with grief.
Nick gently draped a soft blue blanket over her shoulders while she sat on the couch.
"Les, are you sure you just weren't hearing voices?"
Her eyes widened as she met Nick's gaze, "Nick, are you serious?! "Lesley questioned, "You heard Officer Todd. He said they never found her body!"
The heat of anger rose within her chest.
Does Nick really think I'm crazy? She thought.
"A girl was drowning out there, most likely Leah, and I'm determined to find her!" she asserted defensively.
Nick's patience wore even thinner whenever she mentioned the drowning girl. Nonetheless, he knew he had to approach the situation delicately to get to the bottom of it without pushing her away.
"Lesley, I'm not saying I don't believe you. I think you need some help dealing with it." Nick explained, his voice a mixture of compassion and concern, "I mean, what you witnessed is traumatic, and I don't doubt that for a second."
He gave Lesley a moment to digest his words or share her thoughts, but she remained silent with her eyes fixated on the floor.
The minutes ticked by until Nick decided to break the silence, "I'm here for you, Les." He assured her, gently placing his hand over hers.
Lesley raised her gaze, and her eyes met Nick's.
"Lesley, I think it'd be a good idea for you to go see Dr. Benson again," Nick started in a gentle yet concerned voice, "Or perhaps have him refer you to a therapist who specializes in treating people who've been through traumatic experiences. It could be helpful to learn some coping strategies."
Lesley's mind was a swirling storm of emotions, and the mention of Dr. Benson and therapists only added to her turmoil. She didn't need anyone to analyze her experience and what she encountered.
Before Lesley could respond to Nick's suggestion, her phone rang, interrupting the moment. She glanced down at the screen, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Officer Grant's name in bold letters. The green icon glowed with a sense of urgency, and without hesitation, she answered.
"Officer Grant!" Lesley exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of anxiety and anticipation. She rose from the couch, the blue blanket sliding off her shoulders and pooling onto the hardwood floor.
"Hi, Lesley, how are you?" Officer Grant's voice sounded steady and reassuring. "I hope you're doing better."
Lesley didn't respond. Officer Grant was only on the line because he could hear her breathing.
"I just have a few more questions for you. Is it okay if we talk now?"
Lesley nodded instinctively, though Officer Grant couldn't see her. "Sure."
He asked her to replay the eerie encounter in the forest step-by-step. Lesley's mind traveled back to that haunting moment when she had heard the teenage girl's voice, desperate and trapped in a sinister reality.
"If you were to guess, how old do you think the girl was?" Officer Grant inquired.
"It was definitely a teenage girl's voice," she replied, her voice catching slightly. "She said her name was Leah Meyers."
Lesley's thoughts raced, returning to those unsettling moments. "I didn't get to see her physically; she was hidden from sight. But her voice felt so real, so haunting."
Officer Grant's next question cut through the silence that followed, "What did she say to you?"
Lesley's gaze fell to the floor, her mind grappling with the weight of those words that had echoed in the dark woods. "She wanted me to help her," she began, her voice trembling, "but she begged me not to call the police after I had already done so." Lesley sighed, realizing that Leah had probably run away all because she had called the cops.
"I'm opening this case back up due to this incident." Officer Grant informed, "We didn't find anything at the site, but I'm going to do more digging, and I'll be in touch."
Lesley thanked Officer Grant for his help and wished him luck. She leaned forward, placing her phone back down on the coffee table. Her anxiousness and thoughts about Leah had not diminished; if anything, it intensified as she wrestled with the reality of her experience and the fear of what it all meant.
On the couch beside her, Nick observed Lesley with a mixture of concern and disbelief. He struggled to comprehend the gravity of what she had been through and wondered if there could be a deeper psychological explanation for her reactions.
Had she become disconnected from reality? Nick thought. He pondered on it long and hard, making it difficult to go about his day constructively. He knew he couldn't focus until Lesley got the help she so desperately needed.
I'm going to find her! I know she's out there. Lesley thought
Lesley's birthday was around the corner, and Nick knew he needed to do something extra special for her. The best idea popped into his head.
Lesley deserves a surprise birthday party with all her friends and family.
Nick initiated the birthday surprise planning process by reaching out to Lesley's close friend, Denise. Considering all that Lesley had experienced since moving to Arcaden, he was determined to create a truly memorable birthday celebration for her.
Picking up his phone, he dialed the number he found when he searched for "Yoga Zen in Arcaden, NY" on his phone.
As Nick placed the phone to his ear, the ringing echoed loudly before someone finally answered.
"Hey, is this Denise?" he asked inquisitively.
"Yes, speaking." Denise replied with a hint of curiosity, "Who's calling?"
"I'm Nick, Lesley's husband," he replied, "You and my wife went to Stony Brook together, and you two recently reconnected at your yoga studio."
"Oh, yes, I remember!" Denise's voice was warm, exuding pure happiness, "Hi! Nick! How's it going?" Nick felt her infectious energy through the phone as if she were a magnet pulling him closer to her cheerful and radiant energies.
Nick cleared his throat, "I'm doing good. I was wondering if we could talk about Lesley's upcoming birthday. I really want to do something special for her, considering everything she's been through recently."
Denise's voice reflected her concern for Lesley, "Of course, Nick. I'm so glad you're thinking of doing something for her. She could really use some joy right now."
"I'm glad you think so, too." Nick started, "Maybe we could organize a surprise birthday party with some of her close friends here in Arcaden. It doesn't have to be anything big, but just a way to show her that she's cared for and supported."
Denise's heart swelled with joy at the thought of a surprise birthday for her dear friend, "That sounds wonderful, Nick! I know a few of Lesley's friends who would be happy to participate. Let's make sure to include some of her favorite things, like her favorite food and activities she enjoys."
"Absolutely," Nick agreed. Before ending their conversation, Denise promised to rally the troops and ensure that the surprise remained a well-kept secret.
Nick smiled, touched by Denise's gratitude. No wonder Lesley had such a deep love for her friend, Denise. She was a kindhearted woman who emitted joyful vibes, and he knew Lesley would be beyond happy once she discovered that Denise was involved in planning her birthday.
Lesley couldn't quite comprehend why Nick was upstairs, whispering into his phone. She just hoped he wasn't discussing anything related to admitting her to a psychiatric facility.
As Nick remained upstairs, Lesley made her way downstairs, where her laptop sat atop a light wooden desk. She flipped it open and grabbed the mouse. She veered the pointer onto the web browser and double-clicked, launching it. She typed â²Death of Leah Meyers in Arcaden, NY' into the search bar.
Her knee bounced up and down as he impatiently waited for the results to load. She watched anxiously as the timer on the browser spun. Once it stopped, a display of multiple news articles appeared. Among them was one with a headline that immediately caught her attention:
Drowned nineteen-year-old Leah Meyers of Arcaden was possibly involved in an affair with a married city councilman before her sudden death.
Lesley's heart churned with a mix of shock and curiosity. She couldn't believe Leah was involved with a married man. Her mind raced with questions.
"Why haven't I heard about this?" She muttered to herself, clicking on the article in a desperate attempt to dig deeper and find more answers. But the report was useless, as it didn't disclose the name of the city councilman involved.
Realizing that she needed more information to understand the whole truth, Lesley knew there was only one person to help her: Officer Grant.
****THANKS FOR READING!! PLEASE VOTE AND LEAVE A COMMENT!!