The Arcaden Police Department and its detectives conducted an extensive search for Leah Meyers, scouring the forest and combing through the lake, leaving no stone unturned. At the same time, Lesley stood anxiously in the middle of it all in her tattered clothing and untamed hair. She was determined to remain on standby, ready to assist detectives or officers with further questioning in their search for Leah.
Lesley watched intently as the officers scurried around the forest in their dark blue uniforms like a family of ants desperately searching for the last crumb of sugar they had lost. Several Arcaden Police canines assisted in the search, their black leashes securely held by the firm grips of their assigned officer. With their noses, the dogs diligently sniffed the forest floor, seeking out any trace of clues.
The officer's flashlights zigzagged streaks of light across the dark forest, transforming it into a mesmerizing light show.
The pinging of her phone disrupted Lesley's focus. She reached into the pocket of her jeans and pulled it out, but the pinging had stopped when her eyes peered down at it. Without further thought, Lesley knew who had called her.
Nick!
She placed her index finger on the screen and scrolled through her missed call log. There were a total of fifty-six missed calls from Nick. Lesley's heart sank in her chest like a stone sinking into the very depths of shallow waters. She knew Nick must have been frantic with worry. Her eyes still glued to the phone as she tapped on the voicemail icon, and the messages began to play. She then tapped on the speakerphone icon, letting the voicemails play out into the air.
"Lesley! Call me back immediately, please. It's 1:00 A.M., and you've never been out this late. I can't eat or sleep. I hope you're okay. Call me back, please. I love you, Les!"
Lesley's heart ached, and her already somber mood was magnified, filling her with guilt and a sense of grief for Nick's desperate plea.
She listened as more voicemails played.
"Lesley, where are you?! Please call me. I'm extremely worried!" Nick's voice streamed into her ear, panic and fear evident in his quavering voice.
Remorse flooded through Lesley, and she made up her mind. She'd explain everything to Nick as soon as they were in contact. Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long; the Arcaden Police Department had already contacted him, notifying him of Lesley's whereabouts.
Nick eventually made it down to the lake, reuniting with Lesley.
"Les!" He ran to her with outstretched arms and wrapped her in a warm hug.
Nick's voice quivered as he held her in his arms as if he hadn't seen her in years.
"Is everything alright?" He stepped backward, placing a gentle hand on each of her shoulders. His glossy eyes reflected the whirlwind of emotions brewing inside him, mostly happiness at seeing Lesley standing before him.
Lesley lovingly gazed into Nick's eyes as guilt and remorse consumed her. She knew she shouldn't have ventured into the forest and the lake without initially informing Nick. As a result, the emotions that surged within her felt like a devastating punch to the gut. She forced a shaky smile and nodded, "Nick, I'm fine."
"I have a mug of hot tea in the car and a few Tylenol's." Nick offered while he draped the beige blanket over Lesley's shoulders and wrapped it snugly around her.
"Thank you, Nick!" Lesley's heart swelled with warmth, touched by the genuine kindness in Nick's actions.
The sky began transitioning from dusky blue to soft hues of morning light. Lesley raised her gaze, witnessing the sun's slow rise over the horizon. Its gentle rays infiltrated the lingering darkness, illuminating a rather gloomy night.
"Les, why did you come down here?" Nick's voice carried a tinge of concern as he rubbed his forehead, his eyebrows furrowing with worry.
Officer Grant walked toward Lesley, cautiously stepping over fallen branches and leaves as if they were innocent creatures he didn't want to harm.
"Lesley, I have one question for you." Officer Grant started, his round hazel eyes gazing into Lesley's.
"Yes?" She replied, wrapping the beige blanket tighter around her body as she sipped her tea.
"What prompted you to come down here and search for Leah Meyers?" Officer Grant gazed intently into Lesley's eyes.
"Well, I wanted to do some investigation of my own," Lesley admitted, turning her gaze toward Nick, "Nick, look, I know there was someone in the lake that day, and it was Leah. Leah Meyers."
Nick shook his head in utter disbelief, his voice tinged with frustration and concern. "Lesley, please, don't do this to yourself." He wearily buried his face in his hands, drained by Lesley's obsession with the imaginary drowning girl. She was adamant that she saw Leah Meyers in the lake, but everyone in Aracden knew Leah had died. Her drowning was a tragedy that haunted the town.
Lesley's eyes brimmed with tears, reflecting the torment she felt inside. "Nick, I swear I saw her. It was Leah, I know it!"
The weight of Lesley's words pressed down on Nick's heart like a ton of bricks. He cared for her deeply, but her insistence on the impossible theory took a toll on them. He had spent countless hours trying to convince her that it was a trick of the mind. However, she refused to believe it.
Lesley's eyes narrowed in defiance, tears spilling down her cheeks. "You think I'm crazy, don't you? I'm not. I saw her clearly, Nick. She was talking to me, Nick!"
"No, Lesley, I don't think you're crazy," he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness. "I just think you need some rest."
Officer Grant shifted uneasily as he stood amidst the tense conversation between Nick and Lesley. He sensed he was intruding on something deeply personal, thus seeking an escape from the tension. He mustered a polite smile and cleared his throat.
"You know what, folks," he began, attempting to keep his voice casual, "I've just remembered, there's some paperwork I need to follow up on back at the station. It can't wait any longer, so I'll contact Lesley by phone as I may need to follow up with further questions."
Nick glanced at Officer Grant, offering a half-hearted smile. However, Lesley appeared to notice the officer's discomfort, her eyes locking with his.
"Oh, Officer Grant, I apologize," Lesley said, her tone softening as she recognized his unease, "I can answer any questions you have here right now." She offered.
Officer Grant shrugged, trying to maintain his composure. "No worries. You two take your time. I'll catch up with you later."
As Officer Grant turned to leave, Nick nodded in understanding, "Thanks, Officer Grant. We appreciate it."
Once out of earshot, Officer Grant let out a sigh of relief. In truth, Officer Grant was sympathetic to their pain. The case of Leah Meyers was one of the most perplexing he had encountered during his years of service. Not only was Leah Meyers his best buddy, Lawrence Meyers's, daughter, but he desperately wanted to bring closure to the community. It was a frustrating and heartbreaking reality.
He had his eyes primarily on three individuals- the three who all witnessed Leah's drowning. He still needed to follow up with them, as the investigation was procedurally shut and closed. However, he knew there was more to the story than the three individuals were letting on. Officer Grant just had to keep quiet about it. He couldn't let that information seep out, not here and not now. He would continue performing his investigation behind the scenes to find out who was really behind the drowning or murder of Leah Meyers.
As he returned to his patrol car, his mind lingered on Nick and Lesley. He wished they could find peace in each other's company, even amidst their differences in belief. Officer Grant hoped the investigation would yield the answers they all desperately sought.
With a heavy heart, he drove away and headed back to the station.
Lesley's face contorted with a mix of frustration and sorrow. "You don't understand, Nick. I know what I saw. I can't ignore it."
Nick sighed, feeling the weight of their shared anguish. "I wish there were something I could do to help you through this, but I can't ignore the facts either. Leah is gone. We need to find a way to move on." He knew he had to be there for Lesley, to support her in any way he could, even if it meant grappling with the inexplicable and the unimaginable.
Soon, another officer from the Arcaden Police Department approached them. He wasn't as tall as Officer Grant; he was of average height and had a nicely groomed mustache.
"Hello, I'm Officer Todd," He greeted with a warm smile, extending a hand to Nick first, then Lesley, offering a handshake, "So, what brought you down here, Lesley?"
Officer Todd's eyes peered into Lesley's.
Lesley sighed, "I came down here to search for Leah. I believe she might still be alive." Lesley said with apparent exhaustion in her voice.
Heat traveled up Nick's face as he began to feel embarrassed at Lesley's suggestion that Leah Meyers was still alive.
"I'm sorry, Officer Todd, but we want to go home now. My wife is tired, and we've had a very long, frustrating, and chaotic night." Nick explained in an almost apologetic tone.
"I spoke to Leah Meyers!" Lesley offered, "She's here in the forest somewhere."
Officer Todd's eyes widened, and he appeared somewhat annoyed, "Lesley, Leah Meyers is dead. She's not coming back."
Lesley choked, a tear running down her cheek, "How do you know that?!" She replied defensively as she stood face-to-face with Officer Todd.
"You're right, I don't know. Her body was never found." Officer Todd apologized.
Lesley's jaw dropped. "What do you mean?!"
"I mean, just what I said, we never found her body. However, three individuals witnessed the drowning, and since we have those three witnesses, it was a shut and closed case." Officer Todd explained.
"They never found her body!" Lesley's voice trembled as she gulped, her heart flip-flopping wildly in her chest as she tried to digest the startling news.
"That's unbelievable." Nick placed his hand on his forehead in disbelief.
"No, we've never found her." Officer Todd wore an apologetic frown as his eyes drifted down, gazing at the scattered leaves on the forest floor. "We assumed her body drifted off into the lake and possibly ended up in the ocean. And when you called to report a girl in the forest telling you her name was Lean Meyers, we were really concerned. That's why you see so many officers out here." He explained.
The news jolted Lesley, intensifying her determination to find Leah, whether she was dead or alive.
****THANKS FOR READING. I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING THE BOOK SO FAR*** PLEASE VOTE AND LEAVE A COMMENT! THANK YOU!!***