Reality Lies by D.F. Downey (books recommended by bts txt) 📖

that any relatives, that might be able to help.”

Johanna thought a second then said, “Not really. Mom and dad passed a few years before Jay arrived. I have a sister but I have no idea where she is or even if she is. We had a major falling out when I was still at home. We were never close anyway.”

“How about Jay’s father?”

Johanna blackened, “He disappeared when Jay turned three. I haven’t heard from him since, not a word. I don’t think he could handle Jay’s um, “differences”.”

“He just up and left?”

“Yes.”

“Did he leave you anything?”

“Actually, he left everything. The house was fully paid for, so were the two cars. He had stocks and a fair amount of cash.”

Jackie was shocked. “It sounds more like he disappeared. Why are you so sure he left you?”

“We had a fierce argument the night before about Jay. He thought we should seek help. I disagreed. He said he couldn’t put up with it anymore. He was leaving. He stormed out and I never saw or heard from him again.”

“Did you call the police?”

“No.”

“What about his job?”

“He didn’t have one.”

“Didn’t he have parents? Relatives? Friends?” Jackie asked

“Just like me, his parents died a few years ago and he was an only child. He’d lost touch with his friends, what there were of them. He moved a lot. We were basically all each other had.”

Jackie couldn’t control herself, “Then where the hell did you think he went!” Jackie thundered. “He had no place to go, no one to go to. He didn’t take anything! Didn’t you even suspect for a minute that he might be in trouble? He might be hurt. He could be dead. You didn’t even consider this?!”

Johanna was taken aback by Jackie’s strong reaction, “I was confused. I was protecting Jay. I wasn’t. . .”

“Still, you had to wonder what happened to him.”

“I did. But it wasn’t for several weeks. I walked around in a rage then I walked around numb then I settled on scared. I was afraid if I contacted the police, they might notice Jay’s differences. I knew Gary would want me to protect him so I decided not to do anything.”

“And no one’s checked in the last two years.”

“No one, shocking huh, you would think someone might have by now but as long as I pay my bills on time and lay low no one seems to care. I know you won’t believe me but I really miss him. I’ve been alone so long.”

Jackie felt sorry for her. ‘What a messed up woman.’ she thought. ‘I hope they weren’t paying attention to the surveillance camera, that would be all she needs.’

“Listen, I have to go now. I don’t want to push it with the woman watching Jay.”

“Okay, tell Jay mommy loves him.” Then she added, “You will come back?”

“Yeah, I’ll be back. But hopefully we’ll get you out before that’s necessary.” she paused, then added, “Whatever you hear, go along with it.”

“What?” Johanna was confused.

“Agree with whatever I say. I can’t elaborate. You’ll be out soon.” Jackie hoped she would eventually catch on.

“Okay. Thank you again. I know you didn’t ask for this.” There was still no sign of recognition.

“Too late to change that now.” Jackie was all in.

Chapter 12

“I’m here to see Detective Plant. He’s expecting me.”

“Just wait here. Ted’s in the back.” The woman buzzed him on the intercom. “Ted there’s a. . .”

“Mrs. D’Angelo.” She consciously decided to revert to her pre-mom days. She had an obvious effect on men. She had worn a figure hugging, custom-tailored jumpsuit from her pre-mom days. She discovered she still had the goods.

“Mrs. D’ Angelo to see you.” She had the intercom on speaker.

“Sure, I’ll be right out.” said the disembodied voice from the speaker.

She had spoken to him many times while Robbie was missing but she was only just now really seeing him. He was tall, well over six foot and much younger than she remembered, better looking too.

“Mrs. D’Angelo! How are you doing? How’s Robbie?”

“He’s fine, we’re fine. We’ve been seeing a therapist.” she fibbed.

He nodded, “What can I do for you?” He jumped right over what she had rehearsed as her opening. ‘Okay Jackie, reboot.’ She thought to try refocusing

“Like I said, I’ve been going to a therapist.”

“That’s good.” he interrupted.

She smiled weakly as she thought, ‘I wish he’d keep quiet. Lying is hard enough.’ then answered. “Yes it is. Well, the reason I’ve come to see you is that I’ve started to remember things, details from that day, details that might be useful to find out who took Robbie.”

She had his attention. “We have the person that did it. You’re the one who gave her to us.” The prospect of more work crossed his mind.

“Memories are coming back that are causing me to doubt what I originally perceived.”

He was clearly annoyed. “Memories? You know sometimes these therapists just plant thoughts in your head.”

“No, it’s nothing like that. I was extremely upset when I spoke to you. It took quite a while to calm down, to bring events to clarity.”

“Okay, tell me what happened.” he said resignedly. “Wait a minute; let me get Jeanne in here to witness your statement.”

Jeanne, the receptionist, ambled in, “Yes Ted?”

“Jeanne, Mrs. D’Angelo has remembered some new details. I have to take her statement. Could you get the recorder?”

“I wish you had told me before I came in here. Give me a few minutes. I have to get someone to cover the front.” She left as slowly as she had entered.

“As you heard, it’s going to take a while.” He started flipping papers around in a pretense of busyness. It didn’t take him long to realize he was just being stupid. “I’m sorry, where’s my manners. Can I get you something?”

“No, that’s all right.”

“Do you need to use the …?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Satisfied that he had returned to the limits of civility, he resumed the process of looking overwhelmed. Jackie couldn’t help it, she giggled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” Jackie answered, her head down to avoid cracking up.

“No really, c’mon what’s so funny?”

“You really want to know?”

“Yes, it’ll give us something to do while we wait.”

“It’s you, trying to look busy.”

“Really, I have a lot of work to do.” he said defensively.

“I’m sure you do, but well, I used to work in a law office. Sometimes, when I didn’t know quite what to do when I was stuck with someone, I would start flipping papers, moving them around to give the impression I had something more pressing.”

He broke out in a broad grin. “You got me.” he admitted. “I mean usually if I’m left alone with an attractive woman I’d talk her up but I know your story, married with a child. Well, it would be creepy. I’d be a creep. It’s one of my limits. So instead I feign lack of interest by looking busy.”

“You think I’m attractive?” Everything else he said had rushed right by. He had found her hot button. It wasn’t hard. Being told they were attractive was most women’s hot button. Especially if you set it while trying to resist being creepy.

“That’s just obvious. You must know it. In your case it’s just a fact not a subjective opinion.”

“Detective, a woman, particularly a mom never tires of hearing it.” ‘A fact, huh, good one.’ she thought especially if no one seems to notice any more.

“Thank you ma’am just doing my job, you know promoting personal security and all.”

Jeanne reentered the room. Jackie and Detective Plant both started involuntarily then made a few half-hearted attempts at banal conversation. Ted recovered first, “Good Jeanne you have the tape recorder. Okay Jackie, uh Mrs. D’Angelo,” she smiled at his nervousness. “Could you tell us what happened in your own words.” Immediately, he stuck his hand up to get her to stop. Then he gestured to Jeanne to turn off the recorder. “I’m sorry I didn’t start it right. I’m supposed to introduce it, date time, name, etc. Okay Jeanne, turn it back on. You rewound it right?”

“Give me a second.”

They smiled at each other as Jeanne’s thick fingers depressed the key. ‘You’d think this was really difficult,’ they thought more or less simultaneously.

“May 14th, 1999 Friday it’s 10:05 a.m. This is the sworn statement of Mrs. Jacqueline D’Angelo of 2232 Westwood Road, township of Glen Fields, regarding the kidnapping of her minor son Robert D’Angelo. Statement given to Detective Ted Plant in the presence of Jeanne De Paolo.” He paused then added, “Do you swear the statement you are about to make is freely given without duress and that it is truthful to the best of your knowledge?”

“I do.”

“You may begin, Mrs. D’Angelo.”

“Where should I start?”

“Jeanne, hold tape.” Detective Plant said patiently. Turning towards Jackie, “Begin with the reason for your statement, something like, this is to correct my prior sworn statement. Then just dive in to what your new statement is.”

Jeanne rewound the tape. “Today is Friday, May 14th, 1999 we are at the Glen Fields police station. Present are Detective Ted Plant and Jeanne DePaolo to witness the statement of Jacqueline D’Angelo. Let’s begin.”

Jackie jumped on it this time. “I just want to correct my testi…”

“Wait, wait. I have to get something on the record.”

“You haven’t done this too often have you?”

He looked at Jeanne, she mumbled, “I know, I know, stop tape.”

“Honestly, no, Robbie’s kidnapping was a first for me. Actually, it was a first for the whole department. This is a quiet town so procedurally I am rather virginal. I probably shouldn’t say this but we, I, made a lot of mistakes the first time around. I’m just trying to avoid them this time.”

Jeanne shook her head and grumbled, “The chief ain’t gonna like this!”

Ted got nervous. Jackie touched his right arm, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. We’ll do it until we get it right. After all, I have my son. He’s safe and sound. That’s all I wanted. Now I’m here to make sure the correct party is punished and the innocent are left alone.”

He breathed a sigh of relief as he looked into her large brown eyes “Thank you.”