by Rita Herron
She’d let him get closer to her than anyone had in years.
Still, she hadn’t totally given him her heart.
That heart had been shattered by the loss of her daughter and her husband and would never be whole again.
Kurt’s text still disturbed her.
She heaved a weary breath. Now what?
Jacob...he’d assured her that the FBI hadn’t given up on finding her daughter. She’d promised to drop off sketches for his brother to distribute.
She set her coffee aside, rose and went to retrieve the ones she’d pulled the night before. She traced a finger lovingly over each drawing, her heart swelling with love as she imagined finally pulling her daughter into her arms for a hug.
Although her therapist’s voice haunted her. What will you do if you find her and she’s in a happy home? Will you upset her world by telling her that you’re her mother?
How could she not tell her if she found her? Her daughter deserved to know that her mother hadn’t given her away, didn’t she?
She placed the sketches in her tote bag, then checked the clock. Too early to go to the sheriff’s office, so she made herself another cup of coffee and took her stationery back to the porch. She settled on the glider and began to write another letter to add to her collection.
Dear Alice,
Today is the first day of summer break. The kids I taught were so excited yesterday. They drew pictures depicting their plans for the break. Some were going swimming. Others are taking vacations to the beach. One little girl is going to Africa with her parents.
I wonder what you’re doing this summer. Are you excited that school is out? Or will you miss your friends?
She paused to wipe at a tear, her heart aching. She didn’t know one thing about her daughter or her life now. Did Alice have friends at school? Did she like music or gymnastics? Was she learning to ride a bicycle? Did she have a pet?
Did she live with two parents who loved her?
Cora swallowed hard and put her pen back to paper again.
I know you’re five now and that this year you were in kindergarten. I wonder if you like arts and crafts or sports, and if you’re learning to read. One day when I see you again, you can tell me everything.
I still live in the house in the mountains. The flowers are starting to bloom and the wind is whistling off the river this morning. It reminds me of a lullaby I sang to you before you were born. Of all the lullabies I wanted to sing to you when I brought you home.
You’re too old for lullabies now. But maybe you like to sing songs you learned at school.
I’m sitting on my back-screened porch thinking about what we would do today if you were here. There’s a park close by with a swing set and jungle gym. That would be a fun way to start the day.
We might even take a picnic lunch. Then we can go and get ice cream. There’s a cute little ice cream parlor in town called Sundae Heaven, where you can make your own ice cream sundaes. I like vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce or fresh strawberries. And my favorite ice cream flavor they have is peach cobbler. It’s so yummy!
I wonder what your favorite flavor is or what toppings you’d choose. Do you like sprinkles or chocolate sauce or chocolate chip cookies?
I’ll tell you a secret. I would love to try Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream, but I’m allergic to peanuts! Yikes, I hate those shots!
I’ll keep you close to my heart until I see you again.
All my love,
Mommy
The clock struck the hour, and Cora decided it was time to shower and take the sketches to Jacob. The sooner his brother got them into the database, the sooner someone might recognize Alice.
* * *
JACOB’S PHONE WAS ringing as soon as he stepped from the shower. He dried off, yanked on his clothes and hurried to answer it.
It was his brother Griff. “I thought you’d want to know what we found last night.”
Jacob walked to the kitchen, poured himself some coffee and nuked a frozen sausage biscuit. “Yeah, I do.”
“The fire was definitely arson. The accelerant—gasoline. Point of origin, the man’s office. I found traces of gasoline there. Once it was lit, the fire spread quickly.”
No surprise. “Any cigarette butts, matches or a lighter in the office?”
“No, why?”
“Philips’s ex is a smoker.” Jacob hesitated. “How about prints or other forensics?”
“Still working on that,” Griff said. “But we did recover a cell phone. I sent it to the lab and just talked to the analyst.” He cleared his throat. “The man’s last phone call was to Cora Reeves. Looks like it didn’t go through. Then he sent a text.”
Jacob gritted his teeth. Cora hadn’t mentioned a phone call or a text. “What did it say?”
“He said the lead didn’t pan out. He was giving up her case.”
Jacob’s hand tightened around his phone. Cora probably hadn’t taken that news well. “Anything else?”
“That’s it. Do you think it’s important?”
“I don’t know yet,” Jacob said. “But I’ll talk to Cora.” He didn’t tell his brother that he had already questioned her, and she’d omitted details about her relationship with the man. “Keep me posted.”
His brother agreed and hung up. Jacob poured his coffee into a to-go mug, snatched his breakfast sandwich and carried it to his car. Ten minutes later, he was in his office reviewing the original files for the missing Westbrook baby case.
He’d been young and green at detective work at the time. And he’d been grieving for his father. Worse, there were so many people traumatized in the fire. Three lives, other than his father’s, had been lost. Several more people had been injured.
He’d enlisted county resources to interview all the parties involved, which had been a nightmare. More than one person in that hospital had enemies.
Whether or not they were strong enough enemies to commit murder had been the question. If targeting a single person, the perp had also endangered hundreds of lives and was now wanted for homicide.
That person had to answer for all the people he’d hurt and the lives he’d destroyed.
He skimmed notes from the deputies who’d assisted in the interviews.
Drew Westbook claimed he’d only stepped out of Cora’s hospital room for a few minutes, then the fire alarm had sounded. He’d tried to reach her and the baby, but the firefighters ordered him and everyone else to evacuate via the back stairs.
He’d rushed into the chaos on the lawn. A few minutes later, he’d heard Cora’s scream and run to her.
Jacob had to question Westbrook about Kurt Philips.
But first, he’d talk to Cora. She was supposed to drop by with those sketches this morning.
He had to know why she’d lied to him about her relationship with Philips and omitted to tell him about Kurt’s text.
* * *
CORA WOVE AROUND the curvy mountain road from her house toward town, her nerves on edge.
The phone had rung as she’d dressed, but the caller had hung up. Twice. When she stepped outside, she thought someone had driven by her house and slowed as if looking for her. But when she’d started down her porch steps, the car sped off.
She shivered and maneuvered the switchback, hugging the side of the road as a beige Pontiac car sped toward her. Some people drove way too fast on the mountain road. The narrow switchbacks were the downside to living on the mountain.
Dark storm clouds rolled across the sky, shrouding out the morning sunlight, shadows from the tree limbs dancing across the asphalt. She inhaled and forced her eyes on the road.
Seconds later, the sound of a car engine roared up behind her. She glanced in her rearview mirror as a dark sedan closed in on her tail. Rattled, she steered around the curve hoping he’d slow, but instead the car sped up
. She tapped the brakes, urging him to back off. He slowed slightly but sped up again, then rode her rear bumper.
Her heart hammered. Her hands began to sweat. She veered into a driveway leading to some new cabins being built. Finally the car raced by.
God. She must be paranoid. For a moment, she’d thought the car was going to run her off the road.
Breathing out, she dropped her head forward to calm herself. Last night Kurt had been murdered.
Was someone out to kill her, too?
Chapter Five
Worry knotted Jacob’s stomach as he finished reading the notes from the original investigation. Over the past five years, he and his deputy had spoken with Cora countless times.
They’d also received at least three complaints from women who claimed Cora was stalking their child. All were newer residents who’d moved to the area and had little girls the same age as Cora’s daughter.
He’d heard gossip in town about her being unstable, but he didn’t want to believe it. Although if his own child was missing, he’d probably go crazy with rage and fear himself.
His deputy called to confirm that he was canvassing local residents for information on Philips. Jacob was on the phone with ballistics when the front door squeaked open.
Cora stuck her head in the doorway, and he waved her in.
“Gun was a .38,” the lab analyst said.
Jacob thanked him and turned his attention toward Cora. She looked shaken and nervous, although that was nothing new. She always looked as if the threads of her faith and sanity were slowly unraveling.
Except when she was teaching. He’d visited the school a few times for safety programs and seen her with the children. She was animated, sweet, funny and loving with her kindergarteners.
A natural with children.
Jacob stood and offered Cora coffee, but she declined. Vera, his receptionist, arrived and Jacob said good morning. “Let’s go back to my private office,” he told Cora.
Cora followed him down a hallway into his office. “I brought those sketches,” she said.
He shuffled some folders on his desk, moving them out of the way, and she sank into the chair facing his desk. Her hand was trembling as she removed an envelope from her purse.
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, although her forced smile didn’t quite meet her eyes.
Maybe she was just upset about Kurt. Or about lying. “Something you want to tell me?” he asked.
She bit her bottom lip, then shook her head. “I labeled the sketches with the age projection.”
He accepted the envelope, then removed the pages. His heart squeezed at her detailed depictions.
She’d included at least three sketches per year, starting from her memory of her infant daughter to Alice at six months, then nine, then a year. She’d added wisps of hair and chubby cheeks and a pudgy belly as a toddler, then slowly captured the changes from toddler to kindergarten.
“These are amazing,” he said softly. “You’re talented.”
A blush stained her cheeks. “I figured you’d think I was crazy for doing them.”
His gaze locked with hers. “I don’t think you’re crazy,” he said. She was just a mother who missed her child.
He tapped the latest sketches, when Alice would have been four, then five. “I’m sending the more recent ones over. Maybe they’ll be of help to the FBI.”
* * *
CORA DIDN’T KNOW why she cared about Jacob’s opinion, but she did. Over the years, he’d always been kind and understanding. And he had tried to find Alice.
The memory of that car on her tail taunted her.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been following her. Watching her.
That she might be in danger.
She considered telling him but didn’t want him to think she was paranoid.
“Cora, I spoke with Kurt Philips’s ex-wife last night.”
Her heart stuttered. “I’m sure she was upset about her husband’s death.”
“She was.” Jacob’s eyes narrowed on her. Studying. Probing. “She claims she hadn’t talked to him in a few days.”
“Did she have any idea who would try to hurt him?”
Jacob shook his head. “It’s possible he was working a case besides yours that landed him in trouble, but...maybe not. The firefighters recovered a phone and laptop. They’re trying to retrieve data from both, but with the fire damage, it’ll take time.”
Cora nodded.
His eyes darkened, lingering on her face. “However, the analyst was able to retrieve some information from Philips’s phone.”
Cora went still, her pulse clamoring.
“Apparently the last person he called before he died was you.”
She sucked in a pain-filled breath. “I didn’t talk to him,” she said. Because I was upset about losing my job. But if she admitted that, she’d have to explain the reason. Then Jacob would think she was unhinged.
“The IT analyst said the call didn’t go through.” Jacob leaned forward and looked into her eyes. “He did send you a text, though, saying that he was dropping your case.”
She pressed her lips together to stifle a reaction.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the text last night?” Jacob asked in a deep voice.
She shrugged. “I...didn’t think it was important.”
Jacob’s dark brows shot upward. “I told you Kurt was murdered, and you didn’t think it was important to mention that he’d dropped your case?”
She searched for a plausible explanation. “That’s right. How could it matter? If he was dropping my case, it was because he’d exhausted all leads. So he obviously wasn’t killed because he’d found something.”
She almost wished that were the case. Not that he was killed, but that he’d found something important enough that it meant he was close to finding her daughter. Because if he’d uncovered the truth, someone else could, and her hopes weren’t completely dead in the water.
“Cora, I can understand that you’d be upset with him for dropping the search.”
His sympathetic tone stirred her emotions, yet the implication of where he was headed with his questions slowly dawned on her. He’d hinted at this the night before, but asking a second time indicated he considered her a person of interest.
Anger shot through her. “Sheriff, you can’t possibly think I’d hurt Kurt,” she said, her voice rising an octave. “When you and everyone else, including my husband, gave up on finding my daughter, Kurt stepped in to help me. I would never have hurt him.”
She clenched the arm of the chair and stood, anxious to escape his scrutiny. “Now I have to go.”
“One more question,” Jacob said, stopping her before she could turn and leave.
She gritted her teeth. “What?”
“Mrs. Philips mentioned that Kurt wasn’t just working for you, that the two of you were involved personally.”
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her shoulder bag. “We were friends,” she said, unable to keep the emotions from her voice. “I’m sure you’re aware that I don’t have many of those. Either people think I’m unstable because I won’t give up looking for Alice, or like you, they look at me with suspicion.” She swallowed, tears threatening. “That hurts more than anything.”
“I never treated you like a suspect,” Jacob said gruffly.
Her gaze met his, and she lifted her chin. “You just did.” Determined not to cry in front of him, she stormed from his office.
* * *
JACOB HATED HURTING CORA, but his job required him to ask difficult questions.
He hurried after her and caught her at the door. “Cora, let’s go get some coffee and talk.”
Tears glistened in her eyes. He wanted to console her, but Vera was watching, so he kept his
hands to himself.
“Please, it’s about Drew.”
Her face paled, and he thought she was going to make a run for her car, but she gave a little nod. Together they walked to the local coffee shop The Brew, and claimed a booth.
God, she looked pale and thin. “Have you eaten anything?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I wasn’t hungry this morning.”
“How about a pastry?”
“I suppose I could have one.”
A small smile tugged at his mouth. He’d learned early on that she liked sweets, so he chose an apple pastry and a chocolate croissant and carried them to the table. She snagged the chocolate, then tore it into three pieces before taking a bite.
He inhaled his just to give her time to settle down, then took a sip of coffee. “I’m sorry I upset you, Cora, but I’m trying to find out who killed your friend. I’d think you’d want that, too.”
She squeezed her eyes closed for a minute as if composing herself. “I do.”
In spite of all she’d suffered, Cora was a strong woman.
“I have to consider all angles,” he continued. “With the timing of his text to you, I’m going to explore the possibility that his murder is related to your case.”
“But his message said he was giving up,” Cora said, her expression confused.
Jacob twisted his mouth in thought. “True. And I don’t want to give you false hope. But you said Kurt wouldn’t give up. What if he’d found a lead, and someone killed him to keep him from telling you? The killer could have forced him to send that text or sent it to you after they killed him.”
Cora’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Hopefully his computer will yield insight. Let’s talk more about Drew.”
Cora frowned and traced a finger around the rim of her coffee mug. “I don’t know what more I can add. I already told you that Kurt talked to him about Alice’s disappearance.”
“Did Drew know you and Kurt were involved?”
Her gaze shot to his, irritation sparking in her eyes. “He knew Kurt was working for me, but like I said, we were just friends.” She paused. “Besides, Drew wouldn’t have cared if I met someone else. All he talked about was that I should move on like he did.”
