Ghosts From the Past Ch. 4

Caz’s mind was spinning as he walked his way back to Heidi’s desk. Any hope that his and Jackson’s shared past wasn’t connected to this case was gone. He needed to get some more information before talking to the Captain though. Once the administration found out, he would likely be pulled from the case.

Caz had looked at the files on the cult he’d been raised in once before. His father had brought them home when he was preparing for the trial against Joachim Amsel. Caz had snuck into his room to read them, what he learned had shocked him. How had he lived in the midst of these terrible things, being done by those who he had called his family, and not realized.

He had known about the thefts and burglaries, he had been granted the “privilege” to be part of some of those assignments. All children in the Family from the time they were eight were sent out into crowded places to pickpocket the unsuspecting masses. He had started at six, after proving himself to be adept. Papa had caught him slipping off his watch after dinner one night. When Caz showed him the wallet he had taken from his back pocket an hour earlier, he beamed with pride and declared Caz ready.

Caz had not known, however, about the kidnappings, extortions, assaults, rapes, or murders. From that point, he had decided to focus his attention on moving forward in his new life. The life with his father and mother. They had given him an opportunity to do good. He chose to let the past be and to look towards the future.

Now though, he didn’t have a choice. He would have to dive back into his own history to understand why, after so long, it had come back and taken the life of Jackson Montgomery.

“Heidi, I need access to any files we have on Joachim Amsel and the Family cult,” Caz said quietly, looking around to see if anyone else was listening.

“I can do that Caz, but are you sure you want them?” Heidi asked with a look of concern. Heidi was one of the few people still at the station who had been there when Caz and the other children were recovered.

“They are not for personal curiosity,” Caz answered. “I think there could be a connection between that incident and my current case. I am hoping the files can help me find out exactly what it might be.”

“Okay dear,” Heidi said, still looking concerned. “There’s quite a bit so it will take me some time to gather them all. I’ll let you know when they are ready.”

“Thank you, Heidi. And, if you could keep this quiet for now, I would be grateful. Just until I figure out what the connection is.”

Heidi pinched her finger and thumb at the corner of her mouth and dragged them across her lips, as if zipping them closed. “Just be mindful while you’re reading through those files,” Heidi answered. “I don’t want you getting caught up in what those people did. You were just a child back then, remember. You aren’t responsible for their actions.”

Caz felt his phone vibrate as Heidi finished speaking. “I will remember that, Heidi. Thank you again.” Caz pulled his phone from his pocket and saw there was a text from Dr. Ross.

Caz! Here is the information you asked about. His parents were divorced and have separate addresses. Hope it helps.

Maria Gonzalez –

213 Baltimore Ave, Seaview

Geoffrey Montgomery –

423 Beaumont Pl

Caz went back to his desk to grab his things. It seemed Jackson’s father, Geoffrey, was living here in the city now. He would speak to him first.

Caz got to his car and sat in the driver’s seat. He realized his heart had started racing. He focused on his breathing to calm himself down. After a moment, he turned the key and pulled out of the parking lot.

Beaumont Pl. was part of a suburb well away from downtown and the noise of the city, but close enough for an easy commute. Caz passed flower gardens in well-manicured lawns, surrounded by white picket fences. Clean and polished Mercedes, Lexus, and BMWs occupied the cement driveways in front of the two and three story houses.

Caz parked in front of number 423. It was a white, three-story house with a red Miata and a blue BMW in the driveway. He followed the walkway which had path lights on either side. It was still too early for them to be on. He made his way to the steps leading to the front door. There were rose bushes lining the front of the house on either side of the steps, the windows behind them all had their curtains pulled closed.

He climbed the steps and knocked on the door. After a moment he could hear footsteps approaching. A woman opened the door, she wore a black dress cinched at the waist by a thin black belt with a gold buckle. Her short brown hair was just beginning to show gray at the roots. She looked Caz up and down severely as he stood on the steps.

“We don’t buy from door to door salesman, we already donate to charity, and we are quite happy with our current religion. Thank you and goodbye.” She was already stepping back to close the door.

“Wait!” Caz said, before she could shut the door in his face. “I am Detective Caz Donovan with the Denton Police Department. I’m here to speak with Mr. Geoffrey Montgomery about his son Jackson.” The woman stood with the door nearly closed for a moment, then she opened it enough for Caz to see her face.

“Now’s not a good time. If you could call later, we could schedule a more appropriate - -”

“Who’s at the door Kathy?” a male voice interrupted. A hand gently pulled the door the rest of the way open, revealing a tall man with thinning gray hair. His red rimmed eyes met Caz’s for a second before he turned to the woman who had answered the door.

“He’s a detective from the Police Department Geoff. I just told him now wasn’t a good time for us and we could reschedule.” The woman’s severe expression didn’t change as she spoke to Geoffrey.

“No…” Geoffrey sighed. “Now is as good a time as any. Excuse my wife, this has been difficult on us. If I can tell you anything that will help catch the bastards - -” Geoffrey’s voice broke in a single, short sob. He looked down and cleared his throat. “If it will help catch the bastards who killed my son, I’d like to do this now.”

Caz followed them into the house. Geoffrey led him to the dining room where he sat down at a table. He motioned to a chair across from him for Caz to sit.

“I’ll go make some coffee then,” Kathy said, walking out of the room.

“You’ll have to excuse her,” Geoffrey said. “I don’t think the reality of what happened has hit her quite yet. She’s putting on a brave front for me. How can I help you detective? I’m not sure I can tell you much, but I’ll do whatever I can.”

“Thank you, Mr. Montgomery. I would like to start by asking when the last time you saw your son was?” Caz asked.

“We met for lunch in town about two weeks ago,” Geoffrey answered. “But… I just talked to him on the phone about four or five days ago.”

“So, you kept in touch with him regularly?” Caz asked pulling a small notebook from a pocket.

“No… not as regularly as I would have liked anyway,” Geoffrey answered. “I didn’t even know he was living in the city until about 8 or 9 months ago. We ran into each other in town. He told me he was trying to get sober and straighten out his life. He was even going to a support group and had started taking classes at the community college. He wanted to finish his GED and maybe even start some college classes.”

“So, there was not much contact in the years after he was recovered?” Caz asked.

“For a while,” Geoffrey sighed. “Maria and I had divorced. Our marriage was already pretty rocky before Jackson was taken. And after, we just couldn’t hold it together anymore. By the time Jackson was found, I had already married Kathy. I moved here to be closer to my company.”

“And what is it you do, Mr. Montgomery?” Caz asked.

“I started an investment and accounting firm,” Geoffrey answered. “It was really starting to take off when they recovered Jackson. Maria wasn’t in the best position to take on a kid, especially since Jackson was in such rough shape mentally and emotionally. I thought we could give him more stability and get him the help he was going to need. The court seemed to agree, they gave me custody and Maria allowed visitation.”

“So, Jackson lived here with you and your wife? I was under the impression he grew up in Seaview.” Caz said, remembering most of his involvements with the police came from there.

“Only for a while unfortunately. He lived with us for a year. I underestimated how badly he had been affected,” Geoffrey said, looking down at the table. “Not long after we got him settled, houses started getting broke into. People’s things were being stolen, pet dogs were going missing, damage to cars and houses were being reported. Everyone in the neighborhood started accusing Jackson of being responsible. There was never any proof it was him though. I was trying to get him the help he needed, and I would have kept going until he got it. But, out of the blue, he came to me and said he wanted to go live with Maria. I think all the accusations and dirty looks got to him,” tears were rolling down his cheeks now.

Kathy entered the dining room and set a cup of coffee in front of Caz and Geoffrey. “Excuse me,” she said, “I have some things to attend to around the house,” then she turned and walked back out of the room.

“They were so quick to throw the blame at him just because of what happened,” Geoffrey was looking back at Caz now. “You know he was kidnapped by a bunch of lunatics, right? Some crazy cult! He never wanted to talk about it, and I never pushed, but I think he and the rest of those kids were really abused. I bet every one of them needed intense therapy after being saved. Those people are just as much to blame for this in my opinion. I hope that damn Joachim Amsel rots away slowly and painfully in his cell.”

“I am aware of your son’s past,” Caz remembered his own years talking to a therapist. “I am looking into that as a possible avenue. You said there was an increase of crime in the area after Jackson moved here?” Caz asked.

“Yeah, but there was never any proof Jackson was involved. You don’t actually think that cult had something to do with this do you?” Geoffrey asked, a little confused. “I thought it dissolved after all the leaders involved were killed or arrested. Besides, Jackson was only 1 of so many kids that were found. Why would anyone from then target him?”

“At this point we are looking into all possibilities. As you said, most of the leaders were either captured or killed. The ones unaccounted for have not been seen or heard from in so long they have been presumed dead,” Caz told him. “I just do not want to discount it at this time.”

“Okay, better to check all options for sure,” Geoffrey sipped his coffee. “Between that and when we started talking again, there was only a handful of times I had any contact with Jackson.”

“What about these last times you spoke with him. Did he seem at all nervous or distracted about anything?” Caz asked.

“No, he seemed happy,” Geoffrey said. “Hopeful would be a better way to describe it really. With the drugs out of his system he said everything was so much more clear. He was excited when he talked about his plans and about bettering himself. He never mentioned anything that made me think he was in any kind of trouble. I’m sorry, I wish I could give you more.”

“You were able to give me some really good information Mr. Montgomery. Every bit I am able to find out is helpful,” Caz shut his notebook and placed it back in his pocket. “Please contact me if you remember anything else,” he stood and handed Geoffrey his card.

“I will detective. You’ll let me know if you have any updates?” Geoffrey asked.

“Of course,” Caz said.

“I’ll show you out,” came Kathy’s voice as she entered the dining room again.

Caz followed her back to the front door, which she opened for him. As he stepped out, Kathy followed and shut the door behind them.

“I know Geoff told you about the accusations against Jackson while he lived here,” Kathy said quietly. “How he was stealing from all the neighbors. He thinks Jackson left because they blamed him. That isn’t why he moved in with his mother, and I’m sure she will tell you once you talk to her, so I’d like to tell you first. The truth is Jackson was proud of the havoc he was creating. I would catch him smirking as people said they knew it was him but couldn’t prove it. I couldn’t stand back while he broke the trust and respect we had earned. Jackson left because I paid him to.”

“What do you mean?” Caz asked, surprised.

“Geoffrey wouldn’t believe Jackson was responsible for what was happening, but everyone else knew it,” Kathy continued. “I spoke with Jackson and we came to an agreement. I paid him $250 every month as long as he stayed with his mother and cut contact with his father.

“And you have been paying him all this time?” Caz asked.

“No,” Kathy answered, “I stopped when he turned 18. That was the agreement at the time, and by then Jackson was used to not having Geoff as part of his life so I didn’t worry about them reconnecting.”

“You must not have been happy that Jackson turned back up all of a sudden,” Caz said.

“You’re right,” Kathy said. “I was upset, at first anyway. But Jackson still kept his distance, they would only meet in town and only for a few hours. And, as far as I know, he never told Geoff about our arrangement, so I stopped thinking much about it. I figured sooner or later Jackson would go back to his old habits and disappear again.” Kathy opened the door and stepped back inside. “I just wanted to make sure you understood the truth about that. If you have any other questions, please call and schedule a time to meet.” With that, Kathy closed the door, leaving Caz on the front step.

Caz checked his watch as he walked back to his car. It was going to be about an hour and a half trip to Seaview to speak with Maria. He had already been cleared by the Captain to go, and had called Maria this morning to confirm she could speak with him today. Janus would be upset at having a late dinner, but there was nothing to be done about it.