Forgotten Secrets

by Robin Perini

  “What the hell are you doing in Singing River, Wyoming, Riley?”

  “Hello, Tom.”

  “Am I correct in the assumption that you connected a kidnapping in Singing River to your sister’s abduction? Did you or did you not receive specific orders not to investigate your sister’s disappearance?”

  “I’m not investigating Madison.”

  “You just happen to be visiting?”

  “The sheriff’s daughter is missing. The family asked for my help. How could I say no?”

  “No is a pretty simple response,” Tom bit out. “The Denver field office is already on the case. I checked. How did you get involved?”

  She sighed. “I visited a year ago right before I accepted the profiler position. I was on vacation, and I got to know the sheriff and his family.” He didn’t say a word. She cleared her throat. “I was doing a little personal research.”

  Tom let out a sharp curse. “I’ve got the special agent in charge of the Denver field office ready to fly to DC and hang me up by my balls, Lambert. I warned you. You’re suspended without pay, pending a full investigation into all your activities. Get back to DC, Riley. You are hanging on by a very thin thread. It might take intervention from the president himself to save your job, and I think he’s a little too busy to bother with an FBI special agent on probation.”

  Tom ended the call before she could even try to defend herself. Not that she had a defense. She’d known the moment she’d agreed to come to Singing River that she’d face this choice. Maybe somewhere inside she’d wanted the showdown.

  Thayne’s brow rose. “Your boss has a loud voice. Is it true? I knew you weren’t sanctioned to be here, but you actually defied a direct order?”

  Riley avoided his all-too-knowing look.

  “You sacrificed your career for us?”

  “Don’t make me out to be some kind of martyr, Thayne. I came because I wanted to help you find your sister. I couldn’t bear to sit in my apartment alone for two weeks twiddling my thumbs. But I came mostly because the only time I’ve ever felt like I belonged anywhere was the week I spent with you last year.”

  She slipped her badge from her satchel and turned it over and over in her hand.

  “You joined the FBI to find your sister,” Thayne said. “Go back to DC. You got us a long way toward finding Cheyenne. We can handle it from here.”

  “You want me to leave?” Riley couldn’t believe how much his words hurt.

  “Well, hell.” Thayne gripped her shoulders and raised her to her feet. She winced, and he released her right arm. “You’re the reason we found that fingerprint, and when we know the identity of the person, I don’t want just any field agent investigating. I want you here, more than anything.” He looked into her eyes. “But Riley, what happens if you lose your job? What about your sister?”

  Riley bowed her head, avoiding his gaze. “I want to find my sister, Thayne, but I know in my heart she’s dead. Cheyenne could still be alive. If I have to make a choice, I’m going to make the choice I hope any agent would have made fifteen years ago when my sister was taken. I’m not leaving.”

  A sharp rap sounded on the door. A man in a pressed suit flipped open his badge. “I’m Agent Nolan from the Denver field office.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve been instructed to confiscate your badge and gun, Special Agent Lambert, and to escort you off the premises.”

  Riley didn’t hesitate. She pulled her weapon from the holster and shoved the gun and badge at him.

  Thayne stepped between them. “I don’t think so, Agent Nolan.”

  “Look, Deputy—”

  “You’re in my jurisdiction right now at the request of the Singing River sheriff’s office. I’d walk away if I were you. We need her skills more than we need yours.”

  Riley grabbed Thayne’s arm. “Don’t cause trouble. You need the resources. I don’t matter. Only Cheyenne does.”

  Nolan shook his head. “Man, sometimes the job sucks,” he groused, placing Riley’s badge and weapon in a bag. “I’ll have to report this . . .” He looked at his watch. “It’s after five. I’ll have time to write the report tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Nolan,” Riley said, unable to believe anyone would take a risk for her, especially someone she’d never met.

  “I don’t know what you did, Lambert, but I’ve never seen so many upper brass so pissed off.” He winked at her right before he walked out the door. “Congrats.”

  Riley dropped her head in her hands. “Now I’m really on my own.”

  “Hardly.” Thayne tilted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Look around you. We have all the support we need. You’ve even got Underhill convinced behavioral analysis might actually work. You provide a hell of a lot more value than a few databases, Riley.”

  “You don’t understand.” She looked away. “What I do is a team effort. I can see now I should’ve brought in Tom at the beginning. He’s more experienced than I am. Maybe he would have seen evidence or patterns I didn’t see. I put your sister at risk by not telling you everything the moment I deplaned.”

  He pulled her close. “You and I both know your unit wasn’t going to come out here to help. They would’ve contacted Denver if they even responded to us. At the beginning there was nothing to tie this scene to anything other than a one-off abduction. What could your team have done?”

  “That’s the problem. I don’t know! Maybe found Cheyenne.”

  Thayne bit back a curse. “Fine, then we start from here and double our efforts. We have more information now than at any time since Cheyenne was taken.”

  His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and picked up. “Hudson, is everything all right?”

  “Not really. Gram’s missing.”

  Dusk had hit. Two days ago at almost this exact time, Cheyenne had vanished. Now Gram was gone. Thayne flicked the fob, and the SUV unlocked.

  Riley slid into the passenger side.

  “You don’t have to come,” he said, slamming the door shut. “They could get a hit on the prints at any time.”

  “And they can reach us at a moment’s notice. I’m going with you.”

  Thayne turned on the air conditioner to full blast. Hot air raced out. “It’ll probably be cool once we get to the church,” he said with a worried frown. “Where could she be?” he muttered.

  “Alzheimer’s patients wander,” Riley said. “Even I know that much.”

  “Gram hasn’t. At least not yet.”

  “But she’s getting worse.”

  “Obviously,” he snapped. “Alzheimer’s is not something you get better from.”

  Riley didn’t say a word. Thayne let out a curse and slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “Sorry.”

  “You don’t have to apologize.”

  “Yeah. I do. It’s just . . . she’s vulnerable. I hate this damn disease.”

  Thayne pulled into the church parking lot and rolled down the window. The entire area surrounding the building was filled with parishioners cupping their hands, calling his grandmother’s name, where over the last forty-eight hours they’d been calling Cheyenne’s.

  Feeling like his entire world was imploding, Thayne yanked the gearshift into park and jumped out of the vehicle. He caught sight of Pops near the tents. He hurried over to his grandfather, knowing Riley was by his side. “Anything?”

  His grandfather’s face was pale. He didn’t look good. “Nothing. She’s never done this before,” he said. “Does Carson know?”

  “Dad’s still at the press conference. I left word with Michael Ironcloud. He’ll let Dad know.”

  “Hopefully by the time we have to tell him what happened we’ll have found her.”

  Thayne scanned the church grounds. “Where could she be?”

  Riley bit her lip. “I don’t know her that well, but would she go into the woods?”

  Thayne shook his head. “I doubt it. It’s not her normal routine. Did she say anything, Pops?”

  “Not really. She was muttering som
ething about a redheaded kid, though. Seemed really upset about him. Then she said she had to go to the ladies’ room. It seemed like another memory that she couldn’t escape from, so I let her go by herself.” He bowed his head. “I should never have let her out of my sight.”

  Thayne squeezed his grandfather’s arm. “We’ll find her.”

  Riley leaned over to Thayne, her lips near his ear. “She mentioned red in her statement to you just after Cheyenne was taken.”

  Thayne looked at her, his eyes widening. “Two nights ago. About this time.”

  “Cheyenne’s clinic.” The words came from Riley and Thayne at the same time.

  “We may know where she is, Pops.”

  “I’m coming,” he said.

  Thayne shook his head. “It’s only a hunch. She could just as easily come back here. If we find her, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “I hope you’re right, Thayne.”

  He’d never seen his grandfather look quite so vulnerable. Within minutes, he’d peeled out of the parking lot and set the sirens and lights screaming.

  “Do you think she remembered something and that’s why she went back to the clinic?” Riley asked.

  “Maybe. Or she could simply be looking for Cheyenne.”

  The few cars on the road pulled to the side, and within minutes Thayne stopped in front of the clinic.

  They jumped out onto the pavement. The door was cracked open, the crime scene tape ripped aside. Thayne unholstered his weapon, his entire being praying that Helen was here . . . and safe. “Damn déjà vu,” he muttered.

  Riley stepped to the side and silently pressed open the door.

  He walked into the clinic, and his heart eased just a bit. Gram’s small body was curled up in one of the waiting room chairs. Her head was bent over a large pad of paper, a slew of colored pencils at her side. Lead flew across the page. Immediately he lowered his weapon and motioned to Riley.

  “Gram?” Thayne whispered.

  She didn’t even glance up. “Just a minute, dear. It’s important I draw what I saw. Cheyenne needs me.”

  Helen’s voice was clear, logical, and in the present. Her little tongue stuck out. Thayne didn’t dare speak for fear she’d lose this precious moment of clarity.

  Thayne met Riley’s gaze, her astonishment clear. He understood. Those moments were always a surprising gift.

  Gram smiled up at Riley. “You draw, don’t you, dear? I seem to recall you telling me you sketch using a 4B to shade.” Gram bit her lip. “At least I think it was you. My memory plays tricks on me these days.”

  Thayne knelt in front of his grandmother. “You’re doing fine, Gram.”

  Her eyes widened, and tears welled in her eyes. “No, I’m not. I forgot about Cheyenne and those bad people.” She added a few final touches, then shoved the drawing pad into Riley’s hand. “What do you think? Does this look like the boy who stole my Cheyenne from me?”

  Riley grasped the page and stared at it. “Red. He has red hair.”

  Gram’s memory of red hadn’t been about his grandfather after all.

  “This is the person who took Cheyenne? Are you certain?” Thayne asked as he studied the image of a young man about sixteen, eyes wide with fright.

  “Of course. I was here, wasn’t I? Then someone hit me.” She pressed her hand against her forehead. Her eyes grew misty. “I couldn’t stop them. My poor Cheyenne. She fought so hard. Tried to help me. And I let her go.”

  “Them? Do you remember the others? You said there were three.” If she’d been able to draw them . . .

  “Gram, had you ever seen the boy before?” He took the sketch pad from Riley and laid it on his grandmother’s lap.

  “I don’t think so.” With a sigh, she sagged back in her chair and stared up at the picture hanging behind the office desk. “I painted that. It’s the swimming hole. I love going there with Lincoln.” Her cheeks tinged with red. “He’s such a forward man, trying to kiss me and hold me whenever we’re alone.” She leaned over to Riley. “I let him.”

  Gram chuckled and gave Riley a conspiratorial wink. “Grab hold of love now that you’ve found it, young lady. There’s nothing more worth holding on to.”

  Thayne had to try to get her back on track. “Gram, who else was here besides this boy?”

  “Who else was where?” She laid down the pencil and blinked in surprise at Thayne. “What are you doing home? I thought you were with your SEAL team?” She leaned forward and cupped his face with her hands. “I don’t like when you’re gone. You worry your father. I think you should come home for good. He misses you.”

  Gram stood, and the sketch pad fell from her lap. She walked over to the waiting room desk. “Cheyenne needs to do a better job of keeping her office clean. I’ll drag in Willow, Norma, and Fannie to do a spring cleaning next Saturday.”

  Without another word, she strode out of the clinic.

  “I guess she’s finished,” he said, rushing out the door after his grandmother and into the dim light of evening at the same time he snagged his phone and dialed Pops.

  “Thayne? Is she—” Fear laced his grandfather’s voice.

  “We found her at the clinic. She’s fine.”

  “Thank God. I’m on my way.” He hung up.

  Thayne strode up beside his grandmother and hooked his arm through hers. “Pops is on his way to pick you up.”

  She looked up at him. “That’s not right. I have to meet Cheyenne for dinner.”

  “There’s been a change of plans.”

  “Oh.” She frowned. “Cheyenne’s gone off with that Riverton boy again, hasn’t she? Nothing good can ever come of that. He’s not what he seems. He has secrets. He’s dangerous.”

  Gram knew a lot more than anyone realized. Brett Riverton definitely hid a lot more than he shared.

  “I think Pops is expecting you for a date and dancing this evening.”

  “He’s planning more than that, boyo,” Gram said, with a twinkle in her eye. She patted Thayne’s face. “You could learn a thing or two about romance from Lincoln. I’ll tell him to have a talk with you.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Thayne said, biting back a smile. He let himself chance a glance at Riley, who shook her head in bemusement. He could relate.

  “You’re a good boy, Thayne. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

  A pickup screeched up beside them. “Helen!” Pops hurried over to his wife. He wrapped her in his strong arms. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Lincoln. Not until you kick me out.” She leaned her head against his chest and held him. She closed her eyes, resting there.

  Pops placed his cheek against her hair, the brightness of tears causing his eyes to sparkle. Thank you, he mouthed.

  Thayne simply nodded. Pops and Gram truly belonged together. They had that Blackwood kind of love. For better or for worse.

  Pops led her to his truck and lifted her slight body inside. She shifted in her seat closer to Lincoln, leaning her head against his shoulder.

  Without saying a word, Pops raised his hand, and the truck drove away.

  “You didn’t say anything about the drawing to him,” Riley said.

  “I didn’t want to get his hopes up. Not until we know more.”

  “How do you and your family keep up with your grandmother, Thayne? My head’s spinning with confusion.”

  Thayne recognized the feeling. When he’d first come home, he’d had trouble following Gram. “Her behavior changes every day, or even every minute sometimes,” Thayne said. “The trick is not having any expectations. Be thankful for the flashes of the Gram I know and remember and help her be comfortable whatever her reality is.”

  “I admire you all.”

  “We love her. That never changes, but sometimes it’s hard not to wish for her back. Like now. She’d be able to tell us everything.” He turned back to the clinic. “We need that sketchbook to put out an APB on the kid.”

  They walked back into the clinic
, and he grabbed Gram’s sketchbook and sat down.

  “Is that the only sketch?” Riley asked, taking a seat beside him. “I usually draw several versions.”

  Thayne flipped the page. “Oh, Gram.” He tilted the drawing toward Riley. The boy stood in front of the clinic’s desk, a terrified and sad expression on his face, his eyes staring at someone in the distance. A dark SUV was visible through the front window. Gram had even drawn exhaust from the tailpipe. In one hand, the kid carried a bottle and what appeared to be a rag. Cheyenne lay helpless on the floor, unconscious, with what appeared to be blood on her forehead. A girl stood over her, crying. A girl with long red hair down her back who was much too slim.

  Stunned at the detail, Thayne took in every stroke. “This is real,” he said in awe. “This is what happened Friday night. Gram knew all along, but she couldn’t tell us.”

  Riley pointed to the girl. “She could be the one we found at the waterfall, Thayne. She looks so familiar to me. That must be why.”

  Thayne’s phone rang. He picked it up and pressed the speakerphone.

  “Blackwood,” he barked out.

  “We got a hit on the print,” Pendergrass said.

  “You’re kidding. So fast?” Thayne could hardly believe the good fortune. Maybe their luck was changing.

  “He was in the NCIC database.”

  “A felon?” Riley asked. “Is there a warrant?”

  “Not even close. The print belongs to a kid named Brian Anderson. He went missing six years ago.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The clinic faded into white nothingness, and Riley fell back into the chair, unable to comprehend what Deputy Pendergrass had just said.

  She stared at Thayne’s cell phone. “Let me get this straight. You’re telling me the young man who broke in to the hospital pharmacy, possibly murdered Nurse Crawly, and left a fingerprint was a missing child?”

  “Yes, ma’am. He was ten when he was kidnapped.”

  “Which makes him sixteen now,” Thayne said. “Still a kid.”

  “A kid who’s now our prime suspect,” Pendergrass added.

  Riley’s heart hurt, because she’d spoken with too many kidnap victims over the years, including long-term captives. Their lives were never the same. “He’s also a victim,” Riley snapped. “Do you have a picture?” she asked, flipping the sketchbook to the close-up drawing Helen had completed.