Chapter XX
The Calm Before the Storm
Sofia was at work. Though they'd spoken over the phone, Sara knew she wouldn't see her all day. That was, perhaps, for the better. Sara spent the day on her computer, going through everything she could find on Madison Daniels.
She was the all American girl, it seemed. Her father had been a lawyer, her mother had been an accountant. Madison was an only child. She'd excelled at everything she'd touched and had went to college on a Rhodes Scholarship. Her parents had died when she was twenty-five, a horrible accident. Their car had gone off the cliffs while on vacation in Monterey. Sara knew those roads and they were dangerous. She also knew, from what she'd seen, that Madison had inherited everything after her death. What else could a recent grad ask for? She had never married, never had children, though her platform was often based on family values and safety.
Sara knew it was her. Madison Daniels was the Doll Collector, she just couldn't prove it, not yet.
Catherine sat on her daughter's bed. The room was a mess, it was the very essence of her daughter. There were clothes everywhere, school books scattered around, a Pirates of the Caribian screensaver was on the computer. On the bedside table there was a picture. Lindsey, herself and Eddie at Lindsey's sixth birthday party. They all looked so happy, so wholesome. The All-American Family. Except of course, that she had been working herself half to death and Eddie had been screwing half of Nevada. The picture though, didn't show that. It didn't show that she'd been exausted at that party or that Eddie had left early. It only showed the three of them, smiling over a birthday cake.
Sara stared at everything she had and Catherine's words echoed in her head.
"You're not a profiler...not a psychologist."
No, Sara wasn't a trained psychologist. She did, however, know evil when she saw it.
She reached for her phone. She had a plan. It was hair-brained, half baked and could potentially end her career, but it was the only plan she could come up with.
Catherine watched the children run down the steps, happy that another day of school was finally at an end. Catherine found Lindsey in the crowd and watched her little girl come towards her car. She looked beautiful. All blonde tresses and blue eyes, innocent and smart...and hers. Unbidden tears sprang to Catherine's eyes and she didn't bother wiping them away as they fell down her cheeks.
When Lindsey opened the Denali's door, that was what she saw. Her mother, crying, for no apparent reason whatsoever. "Mom?"
Catherine blinked. Her daughter was still right here, alive and well. She pulled the girl into a hug. "Hey Sweetie."
Confused, Lindsey hugged her Mother back. "Um Hi."
Author's Note: A small break before we plunge into the wild blue yonder, folks. If you've yet to buckle up, I suggest doing so now. Also, please secure all lose articles and set your seats to the full and upright position, it will be a bumpy ride from here on out. You know you love it.