Frozen in Time

By Laura Burke

Dating sites were supposed to be safe and reliable, or so they thought...
Detective Masson and his partner Tara have teamed up to find out the truth about the disappearance of four career driven men. All four men went missing after they had taken a chance on finding their true love on a popular dating site.

Using the same popular dating site, Detective Masson looks for clues as to who might be targeting lonely and vulnerable men. As he slowly begins to put the pieces together, his world becomes a nightmare when the love of his life, his partner Tara, is attacked and left in a coma.

Masson partners up with Agent Wright from the FBI and together they set out to uncover the truth about the missing men, and hunt down the person that attacked his beloved Tara. Can Masson and Agent Wright find out who is behind the attack on Tara and the disappearance of the four men in time or will they strike again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Burke
• Release date: Jan 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311546425

Laura Burke

I have always been and always will be a storyteller. Since childhood, I have dreamed of becoming an author. Now, as I see my stories in print, my dream has become my reality. Since I was eight years old, mysteries have been my passion, especially murder mysteries. So much so, that after working as a nurse for twenty years, I became a Private Investigator. I worked in close contact with police officers and detectives on several closed-case files with amazing results.

Book preview

Chapter One

Detective Masson went back to Chicago with Tara. He knew he still had some healing to do. He wanted to spend time with her. They hadn’t had much time alone while in Florida. His stitches had been removed in his shoulder, and it felt pretty good. The burns he sustained had healed very quickly. He was jubilant. There weren’t going to be any real scars.

Tara and Masson had been working hard to get her place in Chicago cleaned and painted since the break-in a month before. It would be good to have some time off and help Tara since it had been a month since they left Jacksonville, Florida. She knew the building would sell fast if she could get it clean and presentable. Tara had several offers on the place when she was refurbishing the building.

Eric Masson was very handy with his hands and tools. He didn’t mind working alongside Tara. He enjoyed helping her. They had accomplished a lot in a very short amount of time.

Eric Masson, Agent Wright sent a package by Fedex yesterday. I’m sorry, I forgot all about it.

That’s all right; it’s probably the paperwork. You know that case he was talking to us about before we left Jacksonville? Where did you put it?

Over there, on top of the refrigerator. I figured I’d put it up there so I wouldn’t forget about it.

Masson looked up and began to laugh. So you wouldn’t forget, huh?

Well, the thought was there!

It’s okay; it was a good idea. We’re in and out of the refrigerator at least fifty times a day. It’s funny because I usually look up there every time I open the frig, and I didn’t see it. Masson walked over to the table with the envelope in his hand.

You’re not going to open it now, are you?

No, I thought I’d wait until we get cleaned up and then we can look it over together. We also have to get your CC license, under me being your superior, so you’re legal.

My CC license? What is that?

A CC license is what a private detective, when they first start, gets when they are working with a private license detective, like me. You will be in training with me. Unless you’ve been a formal police officer. Or if you had some training in law enforcement.

Oh, so I won’t be able to carry a gun until when?

Hey, no gun until you have a C license and that takes two years.

Oh, you don’t trust me? She had a frown on her face.

No, it isn’t that. I do trust you. You have to do things the right way and follow the rules. Masson took her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

I believe I could get a carry permit, just as a private citizen, right?

Yes, you would have to take a course and pass it. Then fill out the paperwork, send it in, and they would send you a wallet size permit to carry in your purse. But, I have to ask, what is it about you carrying a weapon all of a sudden? Is someone bothering you that you haven’t told me about?

No, it’s just that I remember when Agent Wright said you had been shot. I couldn’t stop shaking from being so scared, afraid I wouldn’t get to Florida in time.

Get to Florida in time? What are you talking about?

Well, Agent Wright said you were shot and in surgery. He didn’t tell me how bad you were, just that you were hurt and in surgery.

So, what does that have to do with you wanting to carry a gun?

If I need to protect myself or you I would have a gun, well, I’d be prepared, right?

Look, it isn’t just carrying a gun. Being able to pull it out and pulling the trigger, well, it’s a lot harder than you think. I’ll make a deal with you.

Okay, what kind of deal?

I’ll buy you a gun and teach you to shoot. Then, we’ll sign you up for a class. Once you have the class behind you and we practice, not a little but a lot, we’ll see how you do. If I feel you’re responsible enough then I’ll let you carry. Is that fair enough?

Perfectly, and you’ll see I’m a fast learner. When can we go to get my gun? There is a gun store about ten blocks from here. They even have a gun range. So, will you show me how to shoot it? Let’s go now. We can clean up when we get back.

No, we’re going to clean up now, have some dinner, and then go through the package Agent Wright sent. We can go tomorrow to look at guns, okay? Masson looked at her square in the eyes and could see the disappointment.

All right, I guess you’re right. The store isn’t going anywhere. And we will have all day tomorrow. Finally, we'll be finished with this mess. The realtor is coming by tomorrow afternoon at three. She said she might have a buyer.

Have you given any thought to where you're going to live?

No, but I'm sure we'll find a place here in the city. We’ve been so busy getting this place cleaned up and ready to put on the market, I forgot about a place to live. What are we going to do?

I suppose we should get a paper and see what’s out there. Maybe we could just rent for a while till we know what we’re going to do, how about that?

Masson, you always have the answers, don’t you.

We don’t know exactly where we’re going to be at any given time with Agent Wright sending you from one place to the next. If I’m going to be your sidekick, I really don’t think we need a permanent address, do we? Tara looked up at Masson to see what his reaction to her statement.

I guess you’re right. My apartment in New York, well I'm still paying rent on it. I’ve not been there for over six months now. So, yes, I guess we don’t really need a permanent address. But, don’t you want to have one particular address you can call home and have your belongings at?

Eric, look around here. He took everything I owned and destroyed it. I have only a few things left. What I do have, I can put in storage until I decide what I’m doing. Meanwhile, we have a job which will probably have us going from one state to another. So we can stay at one of those Stay Inns that has a little kitchenette and all. How does that sound to you?

You know, Tara, I like the way you think. Let’s get cleaned up and go get something to eat, what do you say?

You have a deal.

You know, Tara, I really want to thank you for standing by me when I was hurt. Also, the fact you played my nurse when I got burnt. Not many women would have stuck it out.

Look, I’m not like a lot of women out there. I think we have something good, and I really want to see where it goes.

Masson pulled her over to him and sat her down on his lap. He began kissing her gently, and she returned his passionate kisses. They both forgot about going to dinner. Masson picked her up in his arms and carried her over to a mattress on the floor. The arousal he felt just from her touch drove him wild.

Masson began undressing her, slowly, and her breathing became deep and she began to moan. He could tell her longing would peak. She would become overwhelmed. He began undressing but Tara started tearing at his clothes to get them off quicker. Both were overcome with desire and their passion so heighten, there was no turning back.

Their lovemaking so complete, they reached climax together. Holding each other, they lay quietly upon the mattress both out of breath. Tara looked at Eric and then began to laugh. He also started laughing. They were both so comfortable with each other; it was like they had known and had been with each other forever.

Tara, we need to shower, get dressed, and get dinner.

Oh, gee, do we have to move? Tara groaned.

Yes, we have to eat, and besides that we have to go over the report Agent Wright sent to us.

Okay, I guess you’re right.

Come on, we’ll shower together.

I love that idea. Let’s go.

After their shower they dressed and decided both weren’t that hungry, so they went to a small diner just down the block from her building. It seemed to be the best place to grab a quick bite to eat. Masson had the envelope on his mind and couldn’t wait to open it. He wanted to see exactly what Agent Wright had sent them.

Agent Wright had been the soul instrument in getting him into the private sector, and he really admired Agent Wright for trusting in him. They worked well together. He was curious as to why Agent Wright hadn’t tried to recruit him for the FBI to become an agent. Maybe it was because he was helping him finally clean up cold cases that would have never been solved otherwise. There weren’t enough man hours or men to go over each case and address them. This way Agent Wright won, and so did Masson.

Eric, I’ve been thinking, about what we were talking about earlier, and I think we should look around here in Chicago for a condo. It would be a place we could come back to after a case, and even if we had a case here in Chicago we’d be right here. What do you think?

Tara, I know you are excited about being a private detective, but you might not want to be one after you work with me on a couple of cases. As you know from the Jacksonville case, it isn’t as easy as most people think.

Eric, anything with you has to be interesting and exciting. I enjoyed every minute of working with you and Agent Wright. I know there is a lot to learn, but I’m a very fast learner.

We’ll see how you do. Are you ready to go back? We really need to get back. Agent Wright, he’ll be looking for a phone call this evening.

Let’s go. Oh, wait a minute, you said we’d go to the gun store, can we still go by?

Why don’t we wait until tomorrow. We’ll have more time and while we’re there, I can give you a couple of lessons on shooting.

Okay, that sounds good. Besides, like you said, Agent Wright will be waiting for a phone call from us.

Once they returned to Tara’s building, they walked up the stairs to her apartment. Masson picked up the envelope to open it. The first page from Agent Wright was a brief letter to the two of them.

‘Hello, you two.

Hope you both are doing well and still getting along. One of my agents said he ran into you two at a hardware store picking out paint. Is the clean up coming along all right? From what I understand the building wasn’t hurt structurally, but the inside completely demolished.

Let’s get down to business, enough of the niceties.

You’ll see the following case is a cold case; it is five years old. We did an investigation which didn’t lead anywhere as you will see.

Talk to you later, waiting for your phone call. Oh, they have agreed to your usual fees and willing to give you a bonus if you can close this case within one month.

Agent Wright’

They pulled the other papers out of the envelope, and Masson started to read over them. As he finished a page he would hand it to Tara so she could read it also.

It appeared a gentleman in his fifties from Gary, Indiana had lost his wife four years earlier. She had cancer and died leaving him alone. They had two daughters, and they had talked him into looking for a companion since he seemed to be so lonely. In four years he had never dated once, nor did he go out with his friends. He would just sit at home, watching television, or sitting outside in the backyard doing nothing.

His daughters kept hounding him so he finally took a couple of women out from his hometown. It appeared he had a good time each time, or the face he put on for them made it look like he had a good time. He only went out the one time with each of them. His daughters said he told them he felt uncomfortable, and it really wasn’t for him.

They knew he needed someone, so they talked to him about going online. This way he could try to find a companion on the dating sites without taking anyone out. There wasn’t any mention of what sites he’d signed up on. We know he had joined three or four, and there wasn’t any mention if he had met someone out of town. The police had gone through his computer and noted they didn’t find anything. They had turned the computer over to the FBI, but that didn’t help either for most of the emails had been deleted, and the computer appeared to have been scrubbed.

Agent Wright suggested we go to Gary, Indiana since it was right next door to Chicago and talk to his daughters. He wanted to see what they have to say about their father. There’s a statement in here from both of them so we can go off that when we meet them. Agent Wright said they have been calling him every month wanting to know if he had any news about their father.

Well, I guess we’re going to Indiana. I’ll call Agent Wright and make sure the addresses he sent for the daughters are still the same. Tomorrow, we’ll call both of them and let them know we’re coming to Gary to talk to them.

When do you think we’d go?

We should be done here in a couple more days, and you have to talk to the realtor. So we should be able to leave next week, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, what do you think?

Sure, in fact I can call her tonight. What do you want to do about an apartment here in the city?

Well, why not here in Chicago? I like the idea of having a home base. What if you decide you don’t want me around any longer? Masson was fishing.

Tara looked at Masson as if he had two heads. She came around the table and sat on his lap. Listen, you know that could go the other way also. You might decide you don’t want me around any longer.

Okay, that’s fair. So let’s just play it by ear for now. We’ll move in together and see where it leads. Right now, I couldn’t imagine being without you by my side. In fact, you find a place to rent, and I’ll go on the lease with you.

I was thinking of buying a place, not leasing. It just makes more sense to buy. The values are going up every day, and it would be a sound investment.

Oh, I see you have given this more thought than you let on.

Yes, I guess I have. I’m just thinking about the resale if I, or we, want to move somewhere else. The investment would be worth it.

Okay, I still have the apartment in New York. I think I’ll keep it for now, this way we’ll have a place there if we need it. I’m going to have to go see the Captain and put in for my retirement if I’m going to keep doing the private detective thing. I really like being my own boss, and actually haven’t given much thought about going back to the department.

Then it’s settled. I’ll call my realtor and ask her to find us an apartment here in the city and to go ahead and call her clients about buying this place. Now, you have to call Agent Wright.

Yes, I’ll call him right now and let him know we’re going to head out there.

Good, I’m going to get us a glass of wine.

Masson picked up the telephone and dialed Agent Wright’s phone number. It only rang twice when he picked up.

Agent Wright, he never said hello, just his name when he would answer.

Hello, Masson here. We just finished looking at the file, and I have a couple of questions for you.

Fire away.

The addresses for his daughters, are they still the same as in this file?

Yes, as far as I know. The telephone numbers are the same. I just spoke to them last week, and they did confirm the phone numbers were the same. I didn’t ask for their addresses.

Well, we’re going to head over there probably on Tuesday or Wednesday. We’re finishing up here, and in the next couple of days we should be finished. It has been a real chore getting this place ready for market. He really did a number on it. Tara may have a buyer so it had to be presentable.

What are your plans, with Tara that is?

Well, I’m going to get her a CC license, and she wants to learn so that will be the first step. We’ll see how she does. We’re going to move in together and hopefully that will go well also.

Congratulations, I wish you two the best. Tara is a very smart woman, and she did very well down in Florida so she should learn fast. Do you want me to push the paperwork through for you?

Yes, that would be great. I’ll Fedex the paperwork to you tomorrow. She also wants to buy a gun. She’d have to take the course so she can carry, and I told her I’d teach her how to shoot. I’d like to see how she does before we give her a license to carry.

Gotcha, when you’re ready I’ll do the paperwork for you. I’ve told the daughters about you and that you’d probably be calling them to set up an appointment. They said they would look forward to your call if you decided to take this case. So, I’ll call them in the morning and tell them you’ll be coming to see them next week. They know you are a private detective and you work with me.

They understand they are on the hook for the fees?

Yes, they don’t have any problem paying you. They just want to know what happened to their father.

Great.

While I'm thinking about it, how did it go with Mr. and Mrs. German’s in Orlando?

They were very happy they could finally get closure. Tara gave Mrs. German the cross we found, and she remembered it. Said she had given it to her daughter when she left home. All in all, they were pleased to finally be able to bury their daughter. It had been ten years; that's a long time for someone to wait. Ten years since their last contact with her. If Louise’s best friend hadn’t kept them updated, it would have been nearly twenty years since she went missing.

I received a card from them thanking us for taking the time to finally find her.

They were really friendly people. How are your burns and your leg?

The leg is fine, still in a cast, and the burns are still being dressed but healing pretty well.

That’s great, I’m glad you’re doing well. Maybe you’ll get to join us for this case, too. I’ll tell Tara you’re ready for round two.

No, this one, you’re on your own. I’m still attached to the desk until the cast comes off and that won’t be for another month, they tell me. Listen I have to go, so tell Tara I send my love and to take care of you. I’ll talk to you next week after you talk to the daughters.

Sounds good to me, we’ll be in touch. Masson hung up the phone and started looking for Tara.

Tara had changed into her nightgown and had a black and white movie on the television. Masson walked over to the refrigerator, took the bottle of wine from it, and joined her on the bed. Tara smiled up at him as he filled her glass and his. Then he pulled her close and put his arm around her.

Agent Wright sends his love.

I hope you told him I miss him?

I did, and he said you’d better take good care of me.

Take good care of you? You need to take care of me! While you were on the phone I called the realtor, and she said she’d get with her clients tomorrow. She’ll call me tomorrow night. She also said she had a couple of apartments in the city she could show us right away. So, I thought maybe we could look at them tomorrow afternoon.

Let’s see if we can get finished tomorrow and then see the apartments. That is if we get done, okay?

Okay.

Chapter Two

Masson looked around the room to make sure he hadn’t forgotten any areas on that Friday afternoon when he spotted Tara, and he began laughing at her. It was a scene out of a movie, but he couldn’t remember which one.

What are you laughing about? With her hand on her hip and a paint brush in the other, she started shaking it at him.

You should see your face!

Why, what’s wrong with it?

Look in the mirror. You have paint smeared from your chin to the top of your head. You better go take a shower. Then we’ll go to the gun store.

She walked to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and began laughing at the sight. He was right; she had paint smeared all over her face. She looked down at her sleeve. She had been wiping her face with her arm. That’s how she painted her face.

They took a taxi to the gun store. Tara was like a child getting an ice cream cone, she couldn’t contain her excitement.

They walked inside; her eyes became very wide as she looked over all the handguns in the cases. She pointed to several and then would move on to the next case.

Eric, what about this one, no, how about that one, oh, there are so many to choose from. Which one do you think suits me the best?

He looked over at the clerk and motioned for him to walk over to where they were standing.

Let’s see this one and that one. Maybe the other .38 caliber revolver in the other case, you know the one with the pearl handle.

Yes, sir, is this for you?

No, it’s for her.

Okay, sir, maybe the pearl handle one would suit her hand better. The clerk agreed with Masson.

Tara, you need to hold the gun out in front of you and hold it there for a couple of minutes.

Tara picked up each one carefully and held out her arm with the gun in her hand. Within a few seconds, Tara’s arm would drop, the weight of the revolvers were too heavy and her wrist and arm too weak to hold them up.

Why am I doing this, can’t I just point and shoot?

We have to see which one is most suitable for you.

The first one, as she held out her arm, the weight of the gun made her hand shake. Then her arm started to tremble after holding it out for a few seconds. She put the pistol down and shook her hand. It was a 9 MM and more in the style for a man, not a woman.

Boy, are they all this heavy?

Pick up the next one, Masson ordered.

She picked up the next one and put her arm out. It was a .38 MM automatic. This one heavier than the first. She had a hard time holding it out at all. She put that gun back on the counter. She walked over to the .38 revolver with the pearl handle. Tara started to pick it up but changed her mind.

Eric, why can’t I get one like that? That one is cute. She pointed to a small Saturday Night-Special they called a .22 pistol.

Look, if you’re going to carry a gun you will have to learn you need something with stopping power. A .22 is like a pea shooter, now pick up that .38 and see how it looks on you.

She did as she was told. This time, she didn’t have as much trouble holding it out. The clerk spoke up. Would you like to try it out on the gun range?

Masson shook his head. They walked to the back. They put on ear protectors and eye protection. Masson loaded the clip with bullets and laid it on the counter. He put the target up on the clips and pushed the button to move it out to the back of the range. He picked up the pistol and showed her where the safety was located. Then he gave her instructions on how to keep the safety on at all times unless you are using it.

Pushing the safety off, he raised his arm and began squeezing the trigger and firing at the target. After emptying the clip, he put the safety on and removed the clip to reload it. Tara brought the target up and looked it over. She couldn’t believe he had put all the rounds right in the center of the target.

Okay, Tara, now it’s your turn. Keep your finger off of the trigger. Take the safety off and now pull backward on the top of the barrel. This will load a bullet into the chamber, and the hammer will be in the back position ready to fire.

She did as she was told. Masson could see she was really nervous. Relax, Tara, now extend your arm and put your left hand under your right hand. Now, you need to take a deep breath through your nose and let it out slowly through your mouth. Next put your index finger on the trigger and pull back gently.

Tara did exactly as he had instructed, pulling the trigger slowly and the gun fired. When it went off, Tara jumped, for the gun when she fired recoiled backward. She let out a squeal then quickly laid the gun down on the counter. The loud sound and the jerk back when she fired were different from when Masson shot the gun. It actually scared her. Tara backed up from the counter for she started to have second thoughts about having a gun.

You know on second thought maybe I don’t need a gun after all. Let’s go, okay?

No, it isn’t okay. You’re going to pick it up, and you’re going to fire it again. Do exactly like you did before, this time aim at the target. Take a deep breath, and as you let it out squeeze the trigger.

With tears in her eyes, she did as he had told her. This time being scared was replaced with anger at Masson talking to her that way. She wanted to quit, and he wouldn’t let her.

Taking careful aim, she pulled back the hammer, took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and pulled the trigger. It hit the target and she did it again and again until the clip became emptied.

Did you see that? I hit the target almost every time. I did well, didn’t I? She put the safety on and laid it on the counter.

Masson pulled the target up close and counted the holes. Four out of six hits not bad for the first time. Now do you want to give up?

No, I guess I was beleaguered. When it jerked back and almost hit me in the face, it scared me. I’m sorry I told you I didn’t want a gun. There’s so much to know and learn. I guess taking that course is a good idea.

Then it’s settled this is the one we’re going to buy. Masson walked back to the front. He called the clerk and told him to start the paperwork.

Sir, you know there is a three-day waiting period before you can take the gun, right?

Yes, and the gun is for Tara Gibons. Tara, he needs you over here. He needs your driver license and other information. He will hold the gun for three days to make sure you’re not a wanted criminal. Then he’ll contact you so you can pick it up if you’re clean.

Come on, Masson, you know I’m not wanted. Why can’t I take it home today?

Because that’s the law, and besides you need a few more lessons before you are really ready to handle that gun.

There was a hardware store on the way back to Tara’s place, and they needed to pick up a couple of things. Tara’s confidence went through the roof. She became very proud of herself for the way she had handled the pistol after she had wanted to quit. Also, the fact Masson hadn’t yelled at her. They only had a few more things to fix and it would be ready. She could hand over the keys to the new owner.

Masson, we have to finish these things today. How long do you think it’ll take?

Well, let’s see, we have to clean out the elevator of the debris. We have to finish installing the drain on the bathroom sink downstairs. You have to mop the hallway. I believe that’s all. Can you think of anything else?

No, I think that’s everything. I’ll call the realtor and tell her we’ll be able to see those apartments this afternoon. If she has time, and if that’s okay with you? Tara didn’t want to push him but wanted to get it over with so they could start this new case.

Sure, it shouldn’t take us but an hour maybe an hour and a half. It’s ten- thirty now so say around two this afternoon.

Great, this way we can shower, have some lunch, and meet her at the first apartment. She said it’s near here. She gave me the address last night. Maybe we could get in a little—

Masson cut her off before she could finish. Hey, come on now, let’s get busy, we’ll play later.

Okay. Tara put a frown on her face playing with him.

It didn’t take long for them to finish up. Masson headed for the shower. Tara had the mop in her hand finishing the hallway. Hearing the shower running she quickly stripped down and ran to jump in with him before he could get out.

He took her in his arms. He began kissing her face and her neck. He held her tight against his body and slowly massaged her back. They let the cool water run down their skin. It made her cling to him even closer. He wanted to take her right there. He was having a problem keeping himself steady on his feet. Tara didn’t know he had a problem. She wanted Masson to have sex with her right there.

His arm was still a little weak from his gunshot in the shoulder. It had healed well from the second gunshot, but he knew it would take awhile longer and exercise to get his full strength back in his arm.

Picking her up with his good arm, he threw her naked body over his shoulder then carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently. Their wet bodies entangled together made slow passionate love. Their cool, wet bodies from the shower had now turned to hot and steamy. They both climaxed together and let out a long sigh. Masson rolled over to one side and closed his eyes.

Hey, don’t you go to sleep, mister. We have to get ready. It’s nearly one o’clock. If we’re going to have lunch, we have to get a move on.

Okay, okay, you go shower first. I’ll wait here until you’re done.

He wasn’t fooling Tara; she knew he wanted to take a nap. This would give him a chance to get a couple of minutes to shut his eyes. She just smiled at him and headed for the shower. As soon as she finished she called for Masson.

They managed to shower and dress. Tara took the address of the apartment where they were going and she remembered there was a small diner not far from there. They could get lunch and meet the realtor by two.

They had their lunch and then walked over to the apartment building. It seemed to be rather small for Tara’s taste. Masson thought it would be perfect but knew by the expression on Tara’s face she wasn’t pleased.

"This is a little too small. It only has the one bedroom and one bathroom? We