Missing Justice (The Justice Team Book 7)

by Adrienne Giordano

  Assistant Director Cunningham would never stand for that. “I understand.”

  Taylor had still been finishing her degree in criminal justice when Felicity Jarvis had disappeared. Her husband claimed she’d been kidnapped, that she’d noticed a man in a truck following her for several days before it all went down, and had actually called him from a store to say the man in the truck was outside in the parking lot. The senator had told her to stay inside and he would come get her, but by the time he’d arrived, she was missing.

  She’d been eight months pregnant with their first child, and the case of the beautiful, young, pregnant wife of a freshman senator had made national news.

  The case had played well for Walt Jarvis, his popularity rising exponentially as he repeated his story over and over again in the press. His grief from not telling his wife to call 911; his remorse in not assigning her a bodyguard in the first place. His plea to her supposed kidnapper to let her and the baby go.

  The million-dollar reward he’d posted for her safe return hadn’t hurt either.

  But there were plenty of things about the disappearance that hadn’t added up. No one at the store had seen Felicity exit the place or any man in a truck who might have been following her. There was nothing on the security video from the store, whose parking lot camera was conveniently on the blink. Other things about the senator’s story bothered Taylor too. One of the reasons she’d used her car’s Bluetooth to call Justice Greystone that morning on her way into the office.

  Had Grey told Meredith she’d called? Didn’t seem like him. Was Taylor’s car or her phone bugged?

  God, she was getting paranoid, but really, there was no other way her boss could know about that phone call unless the woman had ESP.

  Which was possible.

  “This will be a feather in my cap if we solve this,” Meredith said. “Yours too.”

  Taylor nodded. Meredith was one of the candidates next in line for the assistant director’s job. The director had already tapped her, and Cunningham was less than six months from retiring. “I won’t let you down,” she said. “I will solve this case.”

  Meredith smiled. “I know you will, mi hija.”

  Mi hija. Only when it was just the two of them did Meredith call her ‘my daughter’. Since Taylor’s own mother rarely called her anything, it was nice to be thought of by her mentor in such a way. Hers spent her time with friends, reliving the awful night Isabel had been taken. At least she had friends to share her grief with.

  Fifteen minutes later, Meredith pulled into the senator’s curved drive, the two-story colonial rising above them. By the matching Beamers out front, Taylor guessed the senator and the new Mrs. Jarvis were both home. After Felicity had been gone seven years, Walt could legally file to have her declared dead and he had. He and Ann had tied the knot a year ago. “You didn’t tell them we were coming, did you?” Taylor asked.

  Meredith parked near the front door. “No, why?”

  Hmm.

  “I’d like to take lead on questioning the senator, if that’s okay,” Taylor said as she got out of the car. “I have a list of things I’d like to ask him about that don’t add up.”

  Meredith got out as well and shut her door, giving Taylor a nod over the hood. “You’re in charge of cold cases, Taylor, so this is your baby, but watch your step. Besides, you probably know more about the details of the case than I do after consulting with Greystone.”

  Another dig about her going to him. Just a little rivalry between old friends or was it more? “Did you have a thing for him back in the day?” she teased.

  “Justice Greystone?” Meredith rolled her eyes, then smirked as she diverted her gaze to the sidewalk. “Maybe a little,” she admitted, “but so did half the women in the department.”

  “Grey is easy on the eyes, and definitely the best profiler I’ve worked with.”

  “Until he screwed up his career and got fired.” Meredith’s voice held a hint of warning. “You have Leo now. He’s easily as good as Grey.”

  That was debatable, but whatever. The sidewalk wound around to the front door, elaborate topiaries edging the steps and ferns hanging from pots on the porch. Flower boxes hung under every window and looked as if they were straight out of a Martha Stewart magazine. “I’m not going to screw up my career, Mer.”

  “Good. I haven’t put all of this work into you for you to blow it on something stupid.”

  Something stupid could translate to a dozen different things. No matter how many cases Taylor closed, there was always another. Some of them, like this one, were potential land mines because of the people involved.

  “Guilty or innocent?” Taylor asked as she punched the doorbell and dug out her badge. It was a game they liked to play right before questioning a suspect.

  Meredith had her credentials out as well. “Innocent,” she said, then quirked an eyebrow at Taylor.

  Taylor had reread the file on Felicity Jarvis for the dozenth time while waiting for Meredith to get out of her morning briefing. She had no doubt. “Guilty as hell.”

  The eyebrow went higher. “Based on what?”

  “Gut feeling.”

  Another eyeroll. Meredith didn’t believe in gut feelings.

  Taylor grinned and reached over to ring the bell again but the door swung open before she could do so.

  An older, petite woman in a maid’s uniform barely glanced at their IDs before stepping back. “Señor and Mrs. Jarvis are expecting you in the library.”

  “I knew it.” Taylor shot Meredith a look. “Someone tipped them off we were coming.”

  As she stepped across the threshold, the SAC murmured, “The senator has friends inside the Bureau. Tread lightly.”

  Taylor called bullshit. That little tip-off had cost her the element of surprise. “I’m going to the director about this.”

  Meredith gave her a knowing look that said the director wasn’t going to care. The maid closed the door. “Follow me, please.”

  The house’s interior matched the exterior. Wood floors, elaborate staircase, pretty antique chandelier in the entryway.

  As they followed the maid to the library, Taylor tugged on Meredith’s sleeve. “If you have a chance to get the wife away from Walt,” she said under her breath, “I’d like to question him alone.”

  Mer nodded at the divide and conquer request.

  Innocent until proven guilty, Taylor reminded herself as they continued down a long hall. Regardless of what her gut said, she had to believe in the system and do her job. She was about to tell a man that his first wife and unborn child were most likely killed and left to rot in a scrapyard. Even as callous as she’d become over the years from having to deal with kidnappers, rapists, and murderers, the horrible reality made her sick to her stomach. Telling a family member news like this was the worst part of her job, even when it brought closure.

  The maid stopped in front of double French doors and opened them, ushering Meredith and Taylor inside. “The FBI are here,” was the only introduction.

  Cozy, with the typical dark woods, plush carpeting, and heavy drapes that stuffy rich people in DC liked. A man at one of the far windows turned and a willowy blonde thanked the maid from a couch near the fireplace, dismissing her.

  The second Mrs. Jarvis uncrossed her legs and made her way across the room to shake Meredith’s, then Taylor’s hand. “Ann,” she said. She motioned toward the senator making his way over. “And I’m sure you’re familiar with my husband, Walt.”

  Senator Jarvis came up beside his wife and shook their hands as Meredith introduced them. “Meredith Sardana, Director of Missing Persons, and this is my lead investigator of cold cases, Taylor Sinclair.”

  Walt’s shake was firm and he gave Taylor a brief, sad smile. He was older than Ann, handsome. “I understand you have news.”

  “Shall we sit?” Taylor said, motioning them to the couch.

  Walt and Ann sat side by side, Ann taking one of the senator’s hands and holding it between both o
f hers.

  “Is it Felicity?” he asked. “Did you find her?”

  “Senator,” a familiar voice said. “I’d be very careful what you say without a lawyer present.”

  Taylor whirled and her stomach dropped.

  You’ve got to be kidding.

  What the hell was he doing here?

  * * *

  Matt stood in the doorway staring at the woman he’d only hours before stripped naked and licked parts of her his mother would slap him for. At least when his mother was sober.

  He’d take that slap and a dozen others if it meant another spin—or twenty—with Taylor Sinclair.

  Even if she was a federal agent. And a damned good one to boot.

  Something Matt had never achieved. The failure to be accepted into Quantico still stung, but he wasn’t one to wallow in the nastiness. Still, he couldn’t deny the shot of envy over Taylor’s success.

  Or the irritation he still felt over her earlier boundary-setting lecture.

  “Hello, Agent Sinclair,” he said. “Interesting coincidence seeing you here.”

  Not one to be intimidated—atta, girl—she lifted her chin.

  “Yes,” she said. “Imagine that.”

  The brunette beside her wearing a near matching pantsuit to Taylor’s gave him a cursory glance. A pair of bookends these two.

  “Taylor, who is this?” the woman said.

  Recovering nicely, Taylor extended one hand. “Meredith Sardana, meet Matt Stephens. He’s a private investigator. Matt, this is my boss, SAC Sardana.”

  “Excellent,” the woman said. “Just what we need. A PI. Wait…Stephens? You’re the one who solved the Miller case, aren’t you?”

  A mighty federal agent and all her self-righteous bullshit. It wasn’t the first time he’d been on the receiving end of that sort of attitude. Wasn’t this the thing that ate at him from the inside out? “I did. I left the PD soon after. Now I work for Schock Investigations.”

  Senator Jarvis waved Matt into the room. “Matt, glad you could make it on such short notice. Come in.”

  “Thank you, sir.” He strode into the room, but kept his distance, moving to the chair by the window rather than inserting himself into the conversation.

  All players knew he was there, but if he stayed back, maybe they’d disregard him, get a little careless and allow him to pick up a fresh lead or two.

  Not likely, knowing Taylor and her bulldog instincts, but maybe the fact that he’d rocked her world a few hours ago might throw her off her game.

  To that end, he offered her a slow smile and a wink. Couldn’t hurt. And it sure was fun to rattle this woman.

  “Senator,” Taylor said, “we really should speak privately.”

  The senator shook his head. “It’s fine, Agent Sinclair. Before I filed Felicity’s death form, I hired Matt and the Schock sisters to help with the investigation. He signed a confidentiality agreement. Whatever is said in this meeting won’t be shared.”

  All of that was true. When the present Mrs. Jarvis came on scene and started putting the pressure on about a wedding, the senator had been forced into action regarding his first wife’s disappearance. For seven years, he’d hung on, hoping, praying to whatever god would listen, for the return of his wife and child.

  Like a lot of things in life, those hopes and prayers sunk like the Titanic and Senator Jarvis hired Schock Investigations to either find his wife or give him a reason to not declare her legally dead.

  When Matt and the sisters had been unable to locate Mrs. Jarvis, the senator, understanding the odds of finding her after so long were slim, took the legal steps necessary to make way for Mrs. Jarvis numero dos.

  In response to the senator’s refusal to bust Matt from the room, Taylor met his gaze for a few long seconds. She didn’t like it. Him being here. He couldn’t blame her. Not three hours ago she’d given him her rules of engagement. No sharing cases, no crossing lines, no work talk. That’s what she’d said.

  At the time, neither one of them could have known they’d be sitting here together.

  “Agent Sinclair,” the senator said, clutching his wife’s hand. “Please. Tell me why you’re here.”

  Again, she eyed Matt and he cocked an eyebrow. Whatever her intention upon walking in here, Senator Jarvis blew that away by requesting that Matt stay. But Taylor hadn’t become an ace FBI agent by not being fast on her feet. She’d rebound.

  She took the seat across from the Jarvises, Meredith dropping beside her. Both women sat erect, shoulders back and Meredith nudged her chin, silently giving Taylor the go ahead. Interesting.

  “Senator, we’ve had a development in your wife’s”—she glanced at Mrs. Jarvis—“Felicity’s case. Human remains have been found in a scrapyard not far from where Felicity went missing. Rings were found with the body.”

  The air in the room went still and a painful silence ensued. Matt cut his gaze to the senator who’d dipped his head, his shoulders slumping as if his spine has been hacked out of him.

  Matt sat still, refusing to move or draw attention. But he watched. Moments like these, the brutality of them, often gave unlikely clues. The senator was his client but husbands got a hard look when it came to their wives suddenly vanishing.

  Everyone remained quiet, even Mrs. Jarvis number two, while the senator absorbed Taylor’s words. After a long minute, Mrs. Jarvis stroked her husband’s back and whispered something Matt couldn’t make out. Whatever she’d said, the senator responded by lifting his chin and circling one hand, urging Taylor on.

  She gave them the normal song and dance about how they needed DNA or dental records for confirmation, and then she pulled out her phone, poking at the screen before turning it so the senator could see the screen.

  “Do you recognize these?”

  Matt was too far back to get a good look, but it was definitely a photo.

  The senator sucked in a breath and jerked back as if someone had slapped him. “Oh, dear God.”

  Ann rubbed his back again and peered at the pictures as well. “Those are rings, aren’t they? Felicity’s?”

  The senator’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, then nodded. “I had them custom made… The hearts engraved on the side of the wedding band…” He swallowed, nodded. “They’re hers.”

  Taylor put the phone away. “While the bones were found several miles from the abduction site, I have to warn you, it is possible those bones are not Felicity’s. We’d like her dental records to confirm identity.”

  “Of course, of course,” the man said, tears welling in his eyes. “Anything we can do to help. Ann can call Dr. Lock.”

  “Not necessary,” Matt said. “I have them. And unlike some investigators, I’m happy to share.”

  Taylor gave him a look that should have incinerated him. Yeah, sweetcheeks, I went there.

  He held her stare, waiting for her to speak. To make a move. To challenge him.

  But, surprise, surprise, the corner of her mouth quirked and she licked her bottom lip, a small, knowing movement that brought him back a few hours to that last time he’d buried himself inside her.

  Damn the woman. She’d done that on purpose.

  She turned her attention to Jarvis. “Senator, I’m sorry to ask this at such a delicate time, but as long as we’re here, I wonder if I could go over a few details about the case with you?”

  Ann patted his knee. “I’ll get you a drink.” She hopped up and started for the door. “May I get you all something? Coffee, tea, water?”

  Matt’s gut fired at Ann’s sudden need to leave, but maybe the woman simply didn’t like discussing Mrs. Jarvis numero uno.

  The FBI twins shook their heads in unison and Matt smiled at Ann. “Water would be nice. Thank you.”

  Ann waved a hand, her large diamond sparkling in the soft overhead light. “No problem.”

  “Senator,” Matt said, “as a former homicide detective, I would urge you not to say anything else until you contact a lawyer.”<
br />
  Walt held his hands wide. “I have nothing to hide. You know that.”

  That’s what they all said. Right before the cuffs got slapped on. “I know, sir, but trust me on this one. You need a lawyer.”

  Walt’s mouth dipped into an uncharacteristic frown. As a popular senator that the Republican Party had earmarked for a presidential run, Walt squeezed every ounce of benefit from his good looks and flashing smile. The man, above all else, knew how to work a news cycle.

  After considering Matt’s suggestion, he nodded. “All right. Agent Sinclair, Agent Sardana, I’ll be happy to speak with you after I consult with my attorney. Can I call you later today?”

  “Sir,” Taylor said, “if I could just confirm a couple of things from your original statement, it would help tremendously in bringing a swift close to this case.”

  Time to get rid of the Feds.

  Matt finally stood, motioning to the door. “Agent Sinclair, Senator Jarvis has requested his attorney’s presence. Given the news you’ve just shared, you should respect his wishes.”

  Chapter Three

  “You go on ahead,” Taylor said to Meredith on the steps of the senator’s house. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Later?” Mer’s voice was full of warning. “Taylor, what are you up to?”

  “Mr. Stephens said he would share Felicity’s dental records. I need to catch up with him and give him my email, that’s all. I’ll grab a cab back to the office.”

  Her boss didn’t believe it for a minute. “Is there something going on between you and the PI I should know about? Besides the fact he closed one of your cases for you?”

  Ouch.

  “No,” Taylor lied. Seemed like she was doing a lot of that today. Guilt sat like a tart apple in her stomach. “We met at the conference and chatted. I didn’t realize he’d been hired by Senator Jarvis, but as long as he can provide the dental records, I might as well use him.”

  And maybe he has other information I can use too.

  Mer made her way down the steps and to her car, shaking her head. “Keep me posted,” she said over the hood, then climbed in and drove away.