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Unable to contain our frustration any longer, Chase and I confronted Carter about his lack of action on his investigation. "Why haven't you interviewed Blackwood yet? This is the first break we've had in the Rosedale Tech case," I demanded, trying to keep my voice in check.
"Yeah," Chase chimed in, his tone equally as tense. "Giuseppe's men had to track this dude down and then called the police to insist someone come and make the arrest. So, you should be on top of this!”
Carter sighed, rubbing his temples as he tried to explain. "I understand your frustration, but we've been swamped with cases. The sheriff's office is understaffed, and I've been stretched thin trying to manage everything."
His words did little to quell our anger, but Chase and I had to keep things civil for Amy and Meagan's sake. They were already upset enough, and arguing would only make things worse.
"Fine," I said, clenching my jaw. "We just want to make sure justice is served. As you know, we are more than ready to put this nightmare behind us."
Carter nodded, his eyes solemn. "I promise you, I'll do everything I can to ensure it is. To avoid any bias, Amy and Meagan will view the lineup separately.”
Amy went first, with me accompanying her into the observation room. In total, there were six men in the lineup, each of varying heights, builds, and hair colors, dressed in similar plain clothing. They stood facing forward, waiting for instructions.
Amy studied each individual carefully, her eyes narrowing as she tried to recall the harrowing encounter on the beach. Finally, when Carter had them repeat a phrase twice, she stepped away and grabbed my hand, “It’s #4. I can tell by his voice!”
Carter had the women exchange places but I was allowed to stand at the door while Meagan repeated the same process as Amy.
When person #4 recited the phrase, Meagan stepped forward and touched the glass as if receiving a vibe. Then, after a pause, she stepped back, covered her mouth with her hand, and whispered, "That's Alex. He's gained weight and has had his nose fixed, but that's definitely Alex!"
Chase pulled her close and indicated for Carter to close the curtain. "That's enough. We've done what we came to do."
Agent Carter's response to their identification was somewhat unexpected. Instead of displaying relief or satisfaction, his expression seemed to flicker with a hint of unease. "Alright," he said, his voice conveying a subtle tension. "I'll note your identification, but we still have a lot of work to do in this case."
Chase and I exchanged concerned glances, trying to decipher Carter's reaction. It felt as if something was amiss, but we couldn't put our finger on it. Yet, despite our suspicions, we knew it was essential to focus on supporting Amy and Meagan through this ordeal.
As we left the observation room, Meagan suddenly broke down, sobbing into Chase's shoulder. "I never thought I'd have to face him again," she cried. "I just want to move on and forget what happened. But remember how, after my therapy session to help my memory, I recognized the voice I had heard inside the car while locked inside the trunk..."
"Didn't you think it was the guy named Alex you dated a few times a long time ago?"
"Yes, but none of the guys looked like Alex at first, but when he said, 'slow down, you're driving too fast,' it was the exact same voice I heard while locked in the trunk." Chase comforted Meagan by stroking her hair while Amy and I stood nearby to support her. Even though today progress was made, Meagan and Amy had a long way to go in their emotional healing journey. The traumatic events of their abductions had inflicted profound wounds that would take time to heal completely.
"So, since we both recognized him, that means there is a good chance the guy that kidnapped me in Vail was Alex!" Amy whispered as the realization of what they had discovered was sinking in.
“Yes, I guess so. But why?" Meagan sniffed.
As we prepared to leave the police station, Agent Carter joined us in the hallway. "I want you all to know that we're doing everything we can to bring this case to a close," he said, his eyes betraying a hint of the turmoil he seemed to be working to control. "But there's still a long road ahead. You've shown tremendous courage today, and you'll need that strength as we continue to pursue justice."
"We understand that," I said. "We've been living in this horror story for how long now?"
"I've lost count of the fucking years and months," Chase hissed.
As Chase drove us away from the police station, the atmosphere in the car was a mixture of relief, exhaustion, and lingering anxiety. Meagan's breakdown reminded us of the trauma she and Amy had endured, and realizing there was still a long way to go before they could truly move on was sobering.
Suddenly my phone buzzed with a text from Guy. "Guy's asking if we're on our way home yet!" I said, texting him back that we were. "He's excited. He says Ariel and Elana are fixing a massive Italian dinner that will be ready when we get to Casa Palacious."
"I love this family," Amy said. "Looks like Mum and Papa do too. I hope Mum has made some tiramisu."
Chase pulled the Escalade into the driveway of Casa Palacious, the warm glow of the lights from inside the house radiating a welcoming atmosphere. The delicious aroma of Italian food greeted us as we entered the front door. We could hear laughter and conversation coming from the kitchen.
Martha came out to greet us, her face lighting up with relief at the sight of us. "Oh, thank goodness you're back," she said, hugging each of us. "The twins have been asking for you non-stop, but they're finally asleep and so is Ava.”
"We really appreciate you watching them, Martha," Meagan replied, her voice filled with gratitude.
“Yes, we do. It's been a long day,” Amy added.
Elana and Ariel emerged from the kitchen, their arms laden with steaming pasta dishes, garlic bread, and fresh salads. They set the table with a flourish, inviting us to sit and dig in.
As we gathered around the table, the tension and anxiety of the day seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of comfort and camaraderie. Knowing that Alex was behind bars and Giuseppe had assured us the FBI would handle the investigation instead of Carter, it felt like a weight had been lifted.
