Detective Ava Locke 0.5-Vanished by Clara Lewis (reader novel txt) 📗

Murphy mumbled a few choice words as he carried Ellie into one of the rooms, Ava following closely behind him. He settled her down on one of the beds as he rummaged in the cupboards for medical supplies. Ava looked around as she followed him. For someone who was a serial kidnapper, she really expected more eerie décor. She expected keepsakes from the previous victims or even a splash of blood on the walls. No, his house looked normal. The furnishings were hideous though.

“You got your furniture from your grandmother?” Ava asked bluntly.

Murphy said nothing, but she noticed his shoulders tense. He was such a joker at work that she never would have thought this was his true self. Angrily, he turned to face her. Ava raised her arms in a show of surrender and Murphy silently picked Ellie up again.

Ava looked to the side and saw that they were standing directly next to a mirror. One look and Murphy would notice Ellie’s hands snake around his neck to unclasp the keys. Ava walked into the living room again.

“Follow me, I want to tell you something.”

Murphy adjusted his hold on Ellie and followed Ava. She sat on one of the ancient couches and patted the seat next to her.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

Murphy placed Ellie onto an armchair then he sat next to her making sure to keep his distance as far as he could from her on the small couch. This was her moment; she’d distract Murphy and at the same time get answers.

“So, you’re a bona fide kidnapper now? White van, creepy basement and ransoms?”

Murphy scowled.

“I needed the money,” he gritted out.

“Enough to kidnap and hurt young girls? You needed money that bad?” Ava pushed.

Murphy scoffed at her, causing Ava to lean in a little closer. Uncomfortable with her closeness he leaned back.

“You wouldn’t understand it.”

“Try me,” Ava said, looking straight at his eyes.

Murphy gestured around the house and Ava’s eyes followed his hand.

“This belonged to my family for generations. I inherited it and it was so run down that it drained my pockets faster than I can make money. I needed money to keep this place. I had no choice.”

Ava wasn’t made of steel; she felt emotions and responded to them more often than not. If it were anyone else, she would have felt sorry for Murphy’s situation, but right now, it all sounded like some poor excuse with Murphy expecting things to be handed down to him.

“That’s a terrible reason for what you did to those girls down there,” said Ava disdainfully.

“Like I said, you wouldn’t understand it.”

“No, no, I think I do. You’re a coward and you know what—I intimidate you, don’t I? Every single time I bring a bad guy in, I get a round of applause. Chief is willing to let me get away with anything because, like it or not, I am his favorite,” Ava said, aiming for his pride.

“Why do you always have to show off?” Murphy retorted.

“Are we in grade school Murphy?” Ava replied, watching Murphy clench his fists in anger.

Ava had a theory. She believed Murphy loved having power over others. She saw the pride in his eyes when the girls cowered in fear when he got angry. Ava had never shown him she was afraid, and that scared him. He didn’t know how to control her.

The moment she saw red creep up his neck and into his face, Ava had confirmed her theory. It angered and embarrassed him to be second rate. He was focused on her now. Ellie opened her eyes from behind Murphy in fear and met Ava’s.

“Don’t push him,” she mouthed.

Ava ignored Ellie and continued to goad Murphy.

“You always had to take the easy way huh?”

Ava laughed.

“Look, man, all you had to do was start pulling your weight at work. Then maybe you wouldn’t have to watch me step all over your little achievements. That, and you probably would have saved this farm if you hadn’t focused so much on researching who to steal from.”

“Shut up,” Murphy growled.

Ellie moved slowly as she tried to pocket the keys. Ava looked over to her and saw her struggling to keep the keys from jingling. One wrong move and Murphy would see and catch onto their little plan. Ellie met Ava’s eyes, pleading for another distraction.

Ava threw her head back and laughed as loud as she could. It sounded unconvincing, and Ava worried that she had been caught. She looked at Murphy’s face and then at Ellie. Murphy was too focused on Ava calling him incompetent that he didn’t notice Ellie slip the keys into her shirt.

Murphy lifted a hand and slapped Ava across the face. It hurt. Ava groaned in pain but continued her laughter.

“Did I hurt your feelings?” she asked him as she cradled her cheek.

Ava went still when her eye caught Ellie with a chair in her hands. She raised it high over her head and brought it crashing down on Murphy’s head. He slumped forward, unconscious.

“This wasn’t the plan!” Ava cried out.

“If we opened the door at night, he would have heard it anyway.” Ellie argued.

“Plus, if you carried on further, I think he would have killed you.”

Ava quickly ushered Ellie to the trapdoor.

“Free Kate and look for his truck keys. I’m going to look for Lena.”

With Murphy knocked out on the floor, they had about three to five minutes before he regained consciousness. To Ava, it was ample time to escape.

Ellie ran to the trapdoor and lifted it open. She called for Kate who emerged from the shadows with questioning eyes.

“Is it safe?” she asked.

“For now,” Ellie said, “but we have to hurry.”

Chapter 8

Ava ran out of the house