Chapter 59

FIFTY-NINE

Rebecca calls for an update. Ronnie tells her, "We found Uncle Vinnie. Or rather he found us. Maybe don't tell Dad quite yet."

"What did he tell you?"

"We haven't asked many questions yet. I'll call you."

"Here's an idea. How about we FaceTime and I can meet my uncle. I'll go out back."

Ronnie says, "I'll put it on my iPad so we can all see each other. I'll call you back in a minute."

Ronnie tells Vinnie and me what she's decided, and we all gather on the sofa with the iPad on the stained coffee table. Rebecca accepts the call and her face comes up in a box on the side of the screen.

"Hi Rebecca," Vinnie says, and Rebecca gapes, speechless. She's never met this man in her life.

She finally says, "Uncle Vincent."

"In the flesh. I've always wanted to meet you and your sister. I'm so sorry for not being around to watch you two grow up."

I look at this man and he has tears in his eyes and the sisters are dabbing at theirs. I say, "I'll let you talk. I'm going to watch the street." That's why we were here. We've found Vinnie but the kidnappers could show up at any time. Ronnie starts to stand but I say, "I've got this. You visit. When you're ready to ask some questions, let me know."

The curtain is still open and I lean against a wall where I can see most of the street without being seen. If someone comes up and looks in the window, they're in for a nasty surprise. I just hope Vinnie is what he appears to be. If he hurts my friends, I'll make him pay.

They've talked for ten minutes or more when Ronnie says, "Megan."

"I'll watch and you can ask the questions." If she misses something, I'll ask it.

Ronnie says, "First of all, Rebecca, where is Dad, and have you gotten any more messages?"

"Dad went for a walk in the woods. He said he needs some space. He's got his phone and if I get a call, I can put you on hold."

Ronnie says, "If you get a call, don't forget to record it."

"Gotcha."

Ronnie asks, "Uncle Vinnie, are you ready to answer some questions?"

Vinnie is still wiping at his eyes with the back of his shirt sleeve. "Anything I can do to help, I'll do. Ask your questions."

Ronnie doesn't miss a beat. She's thorough and asks for clarification when there is any ambiguity in the answer. She ends with, "Did you go to Semiahmoo Resort to see Mom?"

"No. Did someone say I was there?" he asks.

Answering a question with a question is usually a sign of a lie, or a delay tactic. But my gut tells me he's telling the truth.

"Did you and Mom have nicknames for each other when you were kids?"

Good question.

"Is that important?"

"Answer, please, and when we're done I'll tell you what we know. Okay?"

He nods. "Sorry. I'm a little awkward sometimes. Yes. We had nicknames for each other. She called me ‘Luigi' like the character in the Mario Brothers video game. We played that every chance we got. Of course we didn't have anything like that at home but we had friends."

"And what was Mom's nickname?"

"Dinky. Because she was so little when we were kids."

"And you didn't go to the resort to see Mom?"

"Your dad owns the resort. I've never been there. I don't think I'd be welcome."

Ronnie pulls a picture up on her cell phone and shows it to Vinnie. It's the note left on Victoria's door when she went missing. She doesn't ask him if he wrote it. Good tactic. Let him talk.

"That's the nickname I called her, still do, but it looks like a child wrote that. What's that about?"

She ignores his question. "You were in Whatcom County Jail a few weeks ago. How did you get released?" she asks.

"I think you already know, but your mom bailed me out. We had lunch, talked about some things, and went our separate ways."

"What did you talk about?"

"Do I have to say?"

Rebecca, who has been quiet this entire time, says, "Uncle Vinnie, just answer the questions. Mom is missing and we don't have time to waste."

Vinnie's shoulders slump. When he looks up he says, "I don't know if Victoria would want me to talk about it."

For God's sake, spit it out.

"Well, I guess you'll find out eventually." Vinnie's eyes take on an angry look. "She said she was going to divorce Jack. She'd had enough. She asked me if I thought she should. She was worried about how it would affect you girls."

"We know about that," Rebecca says.

"Then you know that Jack and I don't get along. I don't like the way he treats her and she was kept from her own family. Sorry, but it's the truth."

No one speaks for several minutes, so I ask, "Do you think Jack could be behind her kidnapping?"

He doesn't answer right away. He thinks Jack could be involved. That doesn't mean he's right, but at least he's thinking.

"How long has my sister been missing?" he asks.

"Six days," Rebecca says.

"And she's missing from the resort and that's where you found the note you're asking about?" he asks.

"Did you leave it on her door?" Ronnie asks.

"No. I did not. I have never been to the resort. But something is starting to make sense."

Dragging things out unnecessarily must be a genetic trait in the Marsh family. They answer a question with a question, say "guess what" and "You'll never believe this," along with their innate intelligence. Maybe that's how geniuses think.

"I was on my way over here and saw Duke. Do you know Duke?"

Ronnie pulls up his photo.

"Yeah. That's him. He doesn't look like much but he's got an IQ that's off the charts. Dope and gambling are his Achilles' heel. Anyway, I saw him on the street getting into a black SUV a little while ago. I thought he was making a drug deal, but he didn't come out of the SUV."

I ask, "What about Duke makes sense to you?"

"Well, wherever Duke is, Thundercloud is nearby. They're thick as thieves. And that's what they do. Steal. Deal drugs. Rob people. And now that I think about it, it looked to me like that SUV was watching this place. I wouldn't put anything past Duke and Thundercloud. If they've hurt Vic, I'm going to kill them."

Ronnie asks, "Would either of them know your nickname for Victoria?"

Vinnie asks, "You think one of them put the note on Vic's door? To what? Frame me for her disappearance?" He doesn't need time to think about that. "Yeah. Duke knew I called her Dinky. She brought me money sometimes when Duke was around. The three of us were in jail at the same time. Duke, me, and Thundercloud. But I stayed away from Thundercloud. Completely crazy that one is. Everyone in the jail was afraid of him. We've butted heads a few times. He made some nasty remarks about Victoria and the guards had to break us up. What an asshole."

Vinnie makes fists. "Either one of them might have written that note to try and frame me. But I can't see Duke taking Vic. He's a coward. Thundercloud would be my bet." Vinnie gets a worried look on his face but he doesn't say anymore.

We hear a commotion in the background behind Rebecca, and Jack comes rushing out the back door, saying, "Rebecca. Come quick. Call Ronnie to come home."