Page 22 of Once Hidden
They exited their vehicle as Rawley and Captain Hodge approached them from their SUV.
“His car’s here,” Rawley said quietly.“That’s a good sign he’s home.”She turned to Riley.“How do you want to handle this?”
“Let’s keep it casual at first,” Riley suggested.“You know him, so you should take the lead.We’re just asking questions at this stage, gathering information.”
The four of them made their way toward the front porch.As they walked, Riley catalogued details of the property: trash bags piled by the side of the house, windows covered with blankets rather than curtains, empty beer bottles scattered near an overflowing garbage can.The place spoke of neglect—not just of the property, but of the man who lived there.
The wooden steps to the porch creaked ominously under their weight.Riley caught a glimpse of movement through a dirty front window—someone was home, and likely aware of their arrival.As Chief Rawley raised her hand to knock, Riley positioned herself where she could clearly observe the door opening, ready to read every body-language cue of the man they had come to question.
Chief Rawley knocked firmly on the door, the sound echoing through the house with a hollow finality that suggested emptiness.A flicker of movement behind the grimy front curtain confirmed someone was inside, watching them, deciding whether to acknowledge their presence.The seconds stretched longer, filled with nothing but birdsong and the distant growl of a lawnmower from a neighboring property.
Rawley knocked again, harder this time.“Marcus,” she called.“It’s Linda Rawley.We need to talk to you.”
More movement behind the curtain, followed by the sound of locks being disengaged.The door creaked open just enough to reveal Marcus Alstead’s face—unshaven, with dark circles under bloodshot eyes that suggested either poor sleep or substance abuse.His gaze darted between the officers, lingering on Riley and Ann Marie with unmistakable wariness.
“What’s this about?”he asked, his voice hoarse.The door remained mostly closed, his body positioned to block any view of the interior.
“Just need to ask you a few questions,” Rawley replied, her tone deliberately casual.“This is Captain Hodge from the State Police, and Agents Paige and Esmer from the FBI.They’re helping us with a missing persons case.”
At the mention of FBI, Marcus’s pupils contracted slightly—a physiological reaction to stress that Riley had learned to watch for.
“Can we come in?”Rawley asked, though her tone suggested it wasn’t really a question.
Marcus hesitated, then reluctantly opened the door wider.“Place is a mess,” he muttered, a perfunctory apology that didn’t sound remotely genuine.
Riley stepped into a living room that smelled of stale cigarettes and unwashed laundry.Empty fast-food containers littered a coffee table, and the blinds were drawn, casting the room in a perpetual twilight.A laptop sat open on the couch beside a tangle of blankets that suggested Marcus had been sleeping there rather than in a bedroom.
“We’re investigating the disappearances of two people,” Riley said, watching his face carefully.“One is Amanda Lindeen.”
Marcus’s eyes widened.“Amanda’s gone missing?”
“That’s right,” Riley said.“Where were you yesterday evening, about 7:00?”
Marcus shrugged, eyes sliding away from hers.“Here, probably.Or maybe out for a walk.I don’t exactly keep a calendar these days.”
“Anyone who can confirm that?”Captain Hodge asked.
“No,” Marcus snapped, then seemed to realize his tone was inappropriate.He moderated his voice.“I live alone.Keep to myself.”
“And last evening before that?”Ann Marie asked, citing the time of Cable Morris’s disappearance.
Marcus frowned, as if struggling to remember.“Same answer,” he said finally.“Here or out.Don’t really remember.”
Riley noted the vagueness of his responses, the convenient lack of specificity.“You know Amanda Lindeen personally, don’t you?”she asked, changing tack.
Marcus’s posture stiffened.“Used to.Haven’t talked to her in a while.”
“Her mother says differently,” Rawley interjected.“Says you’ve been getting pushy with Amanda.Says you’ve been following her around.Making her uncomfortable.”
A flash of anger crossed Marcus’s face.“Ida Lindeen doesn’t know what she’s talking about anymore.Half the time she doesn’t even remember what day it is.”
“When was the last time you spoke with Amanda?”Riley pressed.
“Weeks ago.Maybe a month.”Marcus crossed his arms.“We ran into each other at the gas station.Said hello, that’s it.”
“You didn’t approach her during her delivery routes?”
“No.”The denial came too quickly, too emphatically.
