“Yeah,” Avery said. “That was about the time I pulled up. I’d been trying to call your cell, but there was no answer. Frank came over to my car, explained who he was, and said he’d lost you and Jeremy. I can tell you, after what I’d learned in Sacramento, I thought for sure Jeremy had taken you somewhere to kill you.”
“Why?” Rachel asked. “I mean, we were both suspicious of Jeremy, but I never felt like he’d hurt me.”
“I’d found out that the same years Jeremy and Archie attended Sacramento State University, there were four rape and murder cases exactly with the same MO as the ones here,” Avery said. “I assumed it was Jeremy, not Archie.”
“So that’s why you told me to get away from Jeremy,” Rachel said.
“Yes. Boy, was I off on that one.”
Frank spoke up. “When Avery couldn’t contact you, we both thought the same thing. Jeremy had taken you somewhere. So, I said we should try the most logical place. The river path at the park.”
“It made sense,” Avery added. “He’d want to finish off what he’d started all those years ago.”
“And Archie almost did,” Rachel said, feeling chills rush up her spine. “Thank God Jeremy and you both showed up.” Rachel repeated to them everything that Archie had told her. “I think if you can get the bloody fingerprint tested,” she said to Avery, “it will prove that Archie killed your mother.”
“I think so too. It won’t make the pain go away, but I’m glad I’ll finally have answers. And hopefully, the right person will be put away for it.”
Rachel remembered the other news she’d learned. She turned to Frank. “I think I figured out why you identified the body as me. It was the string bracelet, wasn’t it?”
Frank’s face looked pained. “Yes. It was. I saw it on the arm of the little girl, and that’s all I needed to see. They’d already told me her face was unrecognizable. But the size and hair color, plus the bracelet, made me think it was you. I was so distraught, and you were missing, so I really believed it was you.”
Rachel moved over closer and placed her arm around her father. “I understand. It makes sense. At least now I know that it was all a mistake. Julie and Gordon had nothing to do with the girl’s murder, and you didn’t misidentify me on purpose. I didn’t think any of you could do such a thing, but it was in the back of my mind.”
“I had no idea Julie and Gordon had taken you. But now, I’m glad they did. I’m sure they gave you a wonderful life,” Frank said. He looked into her eyes. “You know the truth now. Gladys told me. You know that Julie and Gordon are your real parents.”
“Yes, I do,” Rachel said. She smiled at Frank. “But I’ll always think of you as my father, too. You were always kind to me.”
He kissed her forehead. “Thank you, dear. You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
Rachel’s heart warmed at being close to her father again. It was one of the best things to have come out of this whole mess.
“So, who do you think the girl was?” Avery asked Rachel.
She told them about her visit with Luna and about Luna’s cousin, Leticia. “Now, all we need is to make sure the DNA matches. I have a feeling it will.”
Frank shook his head. “So many tragedies. So sad.”
Rachel’s phone rang, and she saw it was Jeremy. “Hello, Jeremy,” she said.
“How are you doing?” he asked, sounding genuinely concerned. “I should have insisted you go to the hospital, but everything was so crazy, and it seemed like you were in good hands with that FBI guy of yours.”
She laughed. “I’m fine. Shaken up a bit, but at least I’m alive.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” Jeremy said. “Archie is in surgery, but he’ll make it. I’m hoping he told you enough to put him behind bars for the rest of his life.”
“He did,” she said. “And I’m sure there’s physical evidence, too.”
“Good. I hear everyone is in your room. Do you mind if I come over there to take your statements? I could use a break from the press.”
“Yes. Come and join the party. We’re all here,” she said.
The three watched the news as they waited for Jeremy. Rachel yawned. It had been a long, traumatic day, and she was starting to come down from the adrenaline rush of a couple of hours ago.
“You okay?” Avery asked, placing his hand over Rachel’s. “You can put off talking to Jeremy until tomorrow.”
“I’m fine. I just want to get it over with while it’s fresh in my mind. I don’t want to forget anything.”
“I doubt if you will, for a long time, unfortunately,” Avery said.
There was a knock on the door, and Avery went to answer. Jeremy came inside.
“The press is all over the front entrance of the hotel,” Jeremy said, looking disgusted. “And a few cars were following me too. Leeches.”
Avery chuckled. “What’s the matter? Can’t you handle a little press?”
Jeremy pointed at him with the pen he was holding. “I’ll get to you later, Mr. FBI. Nice of you to tell me you were in the area.”
“Don’t get your shirt in a knot,” Avery said. “I was undercover. No one was supposed to know I was here, not even law enforcement.”
“Well, that doesn’t make me any happier. But we have Archie under arrest and hopefully enough evidence to put him away for life. By the way,” he said to Avery. “I already sent word to have the evidence from the three rape and murder cases reexamined
