Maisie glanced back and forth between him and the building. “I guess she won’t mind if I come right back.”
“Of course you can. I’ll even tell her you’re with me. Go ahead, and I’ll meet you.”
She burst into a run for the sidewalk. Nobody batted an eye.
He waited a few moments, which felt like a few eternities. Then headed toward his car, taking a path around the building, so they wouldn’t be seen leaving the same way.
When he reached his car, Maisie was jumping up and down, looking inside. “He’s in the kennel?”
Tony nodded, then remote unlocked his car. “Climb on in.”
Urgent
“Okay, kids, time to get ready for bed.” Nick glanced at the time, more than ready to get some shut-eye.
Hanna groaned and Ava glared at him. Parker didn’t look up from his game.
Nick’s phone rang. The ringtone told him it was someone from work. If it was anyone else, he’d ignore it. But he couldn’t ignore work.
He accepted the call. “Fleshman here.”
“It’s Garcia. There’s a kidnapping a few towns over. The missing girl matches our guy’s MO.”
Nick’s head snapped up. “Are you sure?”
“Right age. Blonde little girl.”
“Little girl?” Nick asked. “How little? Many of the vics were teenagers.”
“She just turned nine. The most recent ones are all under twelve. There hasn’t been a teenager in over a decade—not that’s been identified yet, anyway. He seems to go for younger ones each year.”
“Sick bastard,” Nick muttered.
“Language, Dad.” Ava smirked at him.
Nick stepped outside. “I’d better get down to the station.”
“I’d say so. If this is our guy, he’s going to kill her. No question about it.”
“How long ago was she taken?”
“A half hour ago, from her church. I just heard about it.”
“I’ll be right down.” Nick ended the call, then called his parents to let them know he’d be dropping the kids off for the night. He went inside. “Pack your things. You’re spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa’s.”
“Yay!” Hanna skittered down the hall to her room.
Ava groaned. “I’m old enough to stay home alone. I can watch them.”
“You mean Hanna.” Parker shoved her. “I can watch myself.”
She shoved him back.
Nick was about to tell them to knock it off, but he was too grateful that they were back to annoying each other again after everything they’d been through. “I’m not going to argue. If you want anything tonight or in the morning before school, pack it. You’re spending the night. I’ll probably be driving you straight to school from there.”
They grumbled, but headed to their rooms.
Nick wandered around the house, making sure nothing was plugged in or turned on that shouldn’t be. He’d likely be gone all night, catching only a little sleep on the couch in his office.
Twenty minutes later, he was kissing his children and thanking his parents. At least they understood the demands of his job and were always happy to have their grandkids over.
Another fifteen minutes, and he was at work. The air in the station was buzzing with news of a new abduction. Most everyone was in one of the conference rooms, sweets or coffee in hand. Nick glanced at the table and took a maple bar.
Anderson and Garcia stood at the front of the room, scrawling on the whiteboard as fast as they were talking.
Nick made mental notes until he finished his dessert, then made actual notes in his phone’s app. They had no description of the assailant, but several pictures of the little girl. She was adorable, and her big eyes tugged on his heartstrings.
The media would be all over this, especially in light of the killer who had buried so many bodies in Walter and Brenda’s yard.
Garcia invited Nick up to the front of the room.
Nick shoved his phone into a pocket and marched up. “The likelihood of Maisie being killed is high. We need to have several people at the Foster household. But more than that, we need eyes everywhere. With any luck, the abductor will bring her to our town alive. Our first priority is getting her safe and sound. I want extra patrols out, looking for any man with a young blonde girl—or any hair color. He could change it. Not a second is to go by without an eye on the house. The rest of us are going to pore over the previous case files like never before. No clue is to be missed. Tell me about everything you find, no matter how insignificant.”
They discussed the details before everyone hurried out of the conference room.
Nick went straight to his office, leaving the door open so he could hear everything. He went through his files, paying attention to details he missed before because they weren’t important then. Now with a girl they could save, the case took on a whole new urgency. Sure, there was the possibility that the two cases were completely unrelated, but he had a gut-feeling that this was their guy. And that feeling had yet to be wrong.
Vindication
Alex sipped his peppermint mocha, then started his car. It was one of those nights he wanted to sleep in the dorm. The physical training had felt more like punishment than anything else, and everything hurt.
But Zoey really wanted to see him, and there was no way he could say no to her, especially while she was on bedrest with their child growing inside of her.
He was still trying to wrap his mind around the whole situation. One of the babies was his and one wasn’t. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Regardless, this was his life. He would have married and supported Zoey even if both of the babies had been Dave’s.
Alex was about to pull out of the parking spot when his phone rang. He was tempted to let it go to voicemail, but he needed to answer in case it was Zoey.
It was Nick. What did he want?
“Hey, Nick. I’m just about to hit the road.”
“I won’t keep you. Will you stop by the station tonight?”
Alex’s stomach dropped. “Why?”
“I need you to see something.”
“What is it? I’m at least an hour out, and Zoey’s expecting me.”
“This won’t take long. I just need you to see something.”
“You’re not going to tell me what?”
“No. I want your honest reaction when you see it.”
Alex’s curiosity was piqued. “Okay. Like I said, it’ll be about an hour.”
“See you then.” The call ended.
Alex took a gulp of his coffee, not that he needed it now. His mind was racing with possibilities, his curiosity about to drive him crazy.
The drive seemed to take twice as long, but he finally pulled into the station. He texted Zoey before going in, so she’d know he was running late.
When Alex entered Nick’s office, his friend didn’t even look up from his stack of paperwork.
Alex cleared his throat.
Nick glanced up. “Oh, good. You’re here.”
“What do you want me to see?”
“Have a seat.” Nick gestured to the couch, then grabbed a file and a tablet. “Have a look at this.”
Alex’s pulse pounded. Had he been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to? He’d been careful not to do anything stupid since starting the academy. Was it something old? Or something else altogether that had nothing to do with him?
Nick flipped through papers in the file, then handed one to Alex. “Look at this guy.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat as soon as he saw what was on the paper.
He was staring at a fuzzy image of Flynn. The same man who had been following Alex, but everyone else swore was in prison. “Where’d you get this?”
“Who do you think that is?” Nick asked.
“It’s Flynn. Exactly like I’ve been saying. Longer hair, tan, and blue eyes—but it’s him.”
Nick nodded. “That’s what I thought.”
“Now
you believe me?”
“I never thought you were crazy.”
“But now you know I’ve been seeing Flynn. Where’d you get this?”
Nick slid his finger around the tablet’s screen. “We believe he’s the one who took a missing nine-year-old girl.”
Alex stared at him. It all made sense, except for the fact that Flynn usually took older girls.
“He’s been following her family for a week. Look, here’s footage of him trailing Maisie and her mom in a mall. And here he is at their church.” Nick moved over to another picture. “Then he even watched them at their home on at least three nights. He was captured on two different neighbor’s security cameras.”
Alex’s mind spun. Not only had he been right about Flynn being free, but now there was actual proof. His future coworkers would have no more reason to question his sanity.
“But that’s not all.”
Alex turned back to Nick. “It isn’t?”
He shook his head. “The family recognized him. He introduced himself at church and took them out for lunch on Sunday.”
A chill ran down Alex’s spine. “Creepy much?”
“It doesn’t stop there. He bought a kitten. We think that’s how he finally lured Maisie away.”
“What a sick piece of crap.”
Nick nodded. “So, you think it’s Flynn Myer?”
“Yeah, but everyone says he’s at Walla Walla.”
“Someone’s there.”
“Didn’t you go there?” Alex asked. “You talked to him.”
“Briefly, yes. But we all saw him in court. That was him, yet this appears to be him, too. It looks just like him.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying all along!” Realization struck Alex. “Twins.”
“What?” Nick exclaimed. “Flynn doesn’t have a brother. We looked into his family history when he was arrested.”
“There has to be an explanation. Separated at birth? I don’t know, but it makes too much sense not to be true.”
Nick looked deep in thought, then shook his head. “I saw his records myself—there were no other siblings. We need to get to the bottom of this. Now.”
Alex pulled out his phone and went over to the texting conversation with the anonymous texter. “Flynn—if that’s who’s in prison—wants me to visit him.”
Nick took the phone and read through the entire conversation. “Let’s go.”
“Now?” Alex exclaimed. “Zoey needs me. And it’s going to take hours to get there. I have academy in the morning.”
“I’ll buy you a mocha. Can you have her mom or Macy check on her? There’s a missing girl on the line.”
Alex chewed on his lower lip. Was this his future? Running to solve crimes when his family needed him?
“Alex?”
“I’ll check.”
Nick rose and hurried to his desk. “And I’ll let the prison know we’re heading over.”
Vigil
Genevieve moved the curtains and glanced out the window. Again. There was another undercover cruiser outside her parents’ house. That made five that she could see. There were probably more behind the house on the other road.
She went into the room that Tinsley had claimed for herself. The girl was reading her novel. She looked up and smiled.
“How are you, kiddo?” Genevieve sat on the end of the bed.
“Tired.” Tinsley yawned.
“Let’s get you ready for bed.”
“What about the vigil?”
Genevieve’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t told Tinsley about the latest missing girl or the vigil scheduled at the little girl’s church in an hour. “You know about that?”
“Yeah. I want to go.”
Genevieve took a deep breath. Was it a good idea if Tinsley went? It was a school night, and she had already been exposed to way too many abductions.
“Please.” Tinsley set her novel down. “Maybe it’ll help.”
Genevieve bit her lower lip.
“I want to help. Mom.”
Genevieve’s heart skipped a beat. Mom?
Tinsley gave her a shy smile. “Is it okay if I call you that?”
She swallowed, a mixture of both pride and fear coursing through her. “Of course.”
“Then will you take me, Mom?” Tinsley scooted closer. “Please? I can go to bed later.”
Genevieve nodded. “Okay. Why don’t you get ready, and I’ll let my parents know we’re going.”
“Grandma and Grandpa,” Tinsley corrected, her eyes sparkling.
“Right.” Genevieve’s mind swam as she headed for the living room.
Her parents were watching the news. The coverage was on the missing girl. The image moved from a picture of the girl at her recent birthday party to the Foster’s house.
It had taken the media no time at all to figure out the possible connection between the two cases. There was even a livestream set up at the house. It made Genevieve all the more eager to get out of the house. She and Tinsley were still staying at Nick’s condo, and so far, nobody seemed to notice.
She intended to keep it that way.
“Is everything okay?” Her dad arched a brow.
“Tinsley wants to go to the vigil. Do you want to go with us?”
“You’re not staying here?”
“I don’t need my every move live-streamed for the curious masses. We’re going back to the condo.”
Her mom frowned. “I wish you’d stay here. You’re safe with all the police watching this place.”
Genevieve lowered her voice. “Because they expect a serial killer to come here. Do you really want to be here?”
Her dad crossed his arms. “We’ve been here before when he’s come here to do his dirty work.”
“Actually, I’m quite certain the ‘dirty work’ was done elsewhere. Obviously, it’s your choice what you do. But Tinsley and I are going to the vigil to show our support. It would probably look good if you did, too.” She spun around and went back to the bedrooms.
Fifteen minutes later, the four of them pulled out of the driveway in two cars. Her mom and dad in his car, because they insisted on returning to the house afterward, and Genevieve and Tinsley in the other car to go to the condo later.
If she didn’t know better, she might think it was just a normal night driving down her parents’ street, but all she could see were cars with people watching them. Especially the van responsible for the livestream.
Now the world knew her parents’ home was empty. Hopefully, everyone also knew how many officers were watching it.
The drive was peaceful and quiet, other than the undercover car following them. Her parents probably didn’t notice, but Genevieve couldn’t not notice. Not with her training.
When she arrived at the church, the parking lot was full. They parked on the street a few blocks away.
“Is this really safe?” her dad muttered. “With a killer on the loose?”
“We’re fine, Dad. It’s a crowd.”
“A little girl was taken from here last night.”
Genevieve glanced at Tinsley, then glared at him. “Would you stop? Everything is fine.”
He shrugged, and at least kept quiet for the rest of the short walk.
Once they arrived at the church, someone handed them candles and Missing fliers. Someone spoke about the little girl, then prayed. The group sang several songs before others spoke.
Genevieve put an arm around Tinsley, who rested her head against Genevieve’s shoulder.
Someone handed out warm drinks, then the girl’s parents spoke, pleading with everyone to find their only daughter.
The pain in their voices broke Genevieve’s heart. She tried blinking back tears, but couldn’t.
A few more people spoke and prayed before one last song. Hardly anyone moved, speaking quietly with those around them.
Tinsley yawned.
Genevieve turned to her parents. “I’m going to get her home.”
“You mean to the condo?”
Her dad lifted a brow.
“Right. You guys should go straight home. No fishing.”
His expression tightened. “I know. I’m staying within sight until all of this is over.”
They said their goodbyes, then Genevieve and Tinsley headed back to her car.
Someone followed them.
She met his gaze, and he showed his badge.
Hopefully it was real. The man at least kept his distance.
When they got to the car, Genevieve pulled out her keys. The phone fell out, and she caught it. It showed a voice message.
Her first thought was, maybe it was Nick. But that was unlikely. He would be swamped with the case. Close to half his force was parked outside her parents’ house.
Once locked inside the car, she checked the message.
“What is it?” Tinsley asked. “You look happy.”
“I am.” She’d just been offered a job at a nearby precinct. Once this case was over, they would be in the clear to date. It would be smart to give it a little more time before announcing anything, but they could soon tell the world how they felt about each other.
Spiral
Maisie sat curled in a ball on the couch, crying and clinging to the kitten. She’d been doing that most of the day.
Nothing Tony did helped. She had no interest in any of the toys or games he’d bought for her. Didn’t care about the pretty, girly room just for her. None of that mattered. She barely appreciated the cat.
Neither one of them had eaten or slept since arriving at the cabin. In a full day.
He took a deep breath. “Come on. You’ve got to eat.”
She shook her head and rubbed her tear-streaked face.
“I thought you’d love it here. Nobody to bother you or make you feel bad. You didn’t have to put up with those brats from school. How many of them got to spend the day with such a cute kitten?”
Tears ran down her face and her lips trembled. “I want my mommy.”
“No, you don’t!”
She sniffled and buried her face into the cat’s fur.
“You’ll feel better after you eat. I’m going to warm up the food you refused earlier.”
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