Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
“Just so you know, your memory is spot on with what we’ve found. This is Micah Abbott. He was killed in an automobile accident in Coronado. At the time, we of course did not know his connection to Julian. He was killed while driving under the influence of alcohol and narcotics in the early morning hours. As the pieces have come together, we now know he was within a few blocks from your apartment when the accident took place.”
As Detective Ryan spoke, he continued to turn photographs, letting Julian see the pictures of the accident. Julian lifted a single hand, stopping at one photo. He moved it closer for a better look. He stared at the smoke-colored Charger that had triggered his memory.
“I saw this car. It was my first flashback,” Julian said, pushing the photograph toward Beckett. “He must have known where I lived.”
Beckett nodded as a cold sweat beaded across Julian’s forehead. Nausea bubbled. His emotions were all over the place.
“It wasn’t until last week that we found the connection between you two,” Detective Ryan continued.
“What do you mean?” Beckett asked, his hard tone commanding attention.
The female investigator reached over and flipped the next several photos. Their content caused Julian’s heart to stutter violently in his chest. She scattered them around so Julian could get the full scope of what he’d been up against.
“Abbott rented a small apartment in San Diego a few months ago. When the rent wasn’t paid, the owner walked in to find this and called us.”
Julian inched his upper body away from the table as Beckett leaned in closer for a better look. The apartment had a wall filled with pictures of Julian. And not just recent photos. They spanned from the time he was a young boy to more recent as he walked from Escape to Reservations.
Beckett moved the police photos around, showing a collection of Micah’s loose images of Julian walking into his apartment and others with Julian taking Woofer out for a walk. Beckett kept searching through the photographs that chronicled Julian’s abduction. Several showed the faces of men involved in his rape.
A shiver raced down Julian’s spine and bile rose up in his throat as he shifted his gaze away, not wanting to see anything more.
“He was tracking Julian.”
Detective Ryan nodded his confirmation, even though Beckett had made a statement more than asked a question. The evidence painted the whole picture easily. Julian felt in his bones that Micah had planned to finish what he’d started. What a sobering reality.
“We believe he left the area after your abduction then came back about two months ago, per his lease and his cell phone records. His family has since verified our findings.”
“He must have thought I died that day,” Julian said, staring down at his and Beckett’s joined hands. That touch had become a lifeline to reality, keeping him grounded. “And then found out I hadn’t. He was coming back for more.”
“Yes, we believe so,” she explained. Julian looked at the table as she slid her business card across to Julian then one to Beckett. Marcia Bates. Julian reached for the card, placing it on the table right in front of him.
“So, it’s over now?” Beckett asked, his words penetrating the horror circulating through all of Julian’s thoughts.
“We’re keeping the case open. There’s information in these pictures that tells us where you were held and who else was involved. These men will be held accountable for their actions,” Marcia said firmly. She was comforting and reassuring. Julian deeply appreciated the care she used in speaking to him, and the conviction that they would provide him justice.
He nodded, letting go of a deep sigh. “Thank you.”
“We tried to call you,” Detective Ryan said as he shuffled the photos into a pile. “But didn’t have current contact information. We sent an officer by your home then over to Reservations last night, but you weren’t there.”
“No, I was here in LA,” Julian confirmed and sat back in his seat. All the worry and fear he’d lived under all this time seeped out of him, leaving him exhausted.
“So, you believe the others were part of the abduction?” Beckett asked abruptly.
“We don’t know, but most likely not. They committed other crimes, as evidenced in these pictures. But all indications are that they were opportunists rather than fixated on Julian specifically,” Detective Bates answered. “Micah left a…manifesto of sorts. He had it out for Julian. Blamed him for his past problems as a young man that ultimately led him to a life of crime.”
“Can Julian see the full report?” Beckett asked.
“I don’t need to.” Julian shook his head. “We grew up in the same Southern Baptist church. Last I heard before I left home and never looked back, was that Micah had been sent away to undergo extensive conversion therapy.”