“I’ll get started on it right away. Do you know when you’re coming back?”
“Tonight. I know I need to get back to the office, and I told Jake I’d do what I could from there. In the meantime, the detective here, Mason, she’s got a good handle on things. I just think we can do more.”
“Understood. I’ll see you later, then.”
“Thanks, Kate. And, just keep this quiet for now.” Nick ended the call and turned to Jake.
“I’ll get what I can. I’ve just put one of my agents on it.”
The two began to walk out into the back yard while Rachel and her mother talked in the kitchen.
“Can you believe this shit, man?” Jake lit up yet again. “Some ex-con, in jail for sexual assault of a minor. Fucking figures.” He puffed hard, nearly burning half the cigarette. “They aren’t going to find him. He took my boy and now he’s gone.” He turned to Nick. “How the hell are we gonna get through this? Rachel’s at her wit’s end. I know she hasn’t slept. I haven’t slept. Scott sits in his room, playing video games or some shit. He thinks this is all his fault.”
“I’ll figure something out, Jake, I swear to you. And I’m not trying to dismiss the work Mason and her team are doing, but I can do more and I will.” Nick thrust his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry I have to leave, but I’m not far and if you need me, just call.”
“I understand. You got a job to do, I get that. I’m just grateful you’ve been here, helping us get through this. I know we don’t get a chance to see each other much anymore. Shit, you’re a big-time federal agent and I’m some grunt computer engineer.” Jake peered over his shoulder toward the kitchen window and regarded his wife. “But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love my family, Nick. I love my kids. You just don’t know what it’s like.” Jake trailed off, embarrassed by his remarks.
“You’re right. I don’t know what it’s like to have a wife and kids to care for; to love. I envy you for that, I really do.” It seemed only now to truly occur to Nick that he had desired a family of his own. For years, it just seemed impossible, given his chosen career. But as he looked into the eyes of his friend and the awful pain behind them, he realized what was at stake when you wore your heart on your sleeve. Nick had seen much suffering in his years as a federal agent, too much suffering. But this was different; worse somehow.
“I promise you, Jake, I’ll do everything in my power to help you find Colton. And we’ll catch the son of bitch who took him.”
THREE
N
o sooner had
Nick returned to his office than ASAC Campbell appeared in his doorway, looking ready to jump down his throat for the time he’d been taken away from his usual duties. “You’re back?”
Nick turned away from his computer. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. How’s the investigation going? They have anything yet?” Campbell’s tone softened when he noticed Nick’s haggard appearance.
“They have a suspect, an ex-con, but no leads as to his location yet.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I realize you want to jump in on this, and I don’t have a problem with you offering guidance to the local authorities, but please remember that this isn’t our territory. I know you wouldn’t want to jeopardize their case, so be mindful to stay at arm’s length.”
“I understand and I know we’ve got a lot on our plates anyway. I won’t let this deter me from my work here.” The confirmation of his dedication was really just for Campbell’s benefit. He wouldn’t let anything interfere with his job, but he also knew that he was more than capable of handling both.
“Glad to have you back.” Campbell turned on his heel. “I’ll let you get to it.”
Nick watched his boss walk away and felt that their relationship was on the mend. The trust they’d shared for so many years was returning and it was a good feeling. He would heed the warning and take care not to cross the jurisdictional line, at least, not enough that anyone would notice. But if they asked for help, that would be a different story. Jake was still his friend and Nick had access and resources to more than the Fairfax County police ever would. In fact, this brought to mind Kate. He raised the receiver of his desk phone and dialed Kate’s extension. “Morning. You turn up anything on what we discussed yesterday?”
“Some; and if you’ve got a minute, we can go over it. I’ll be right there.”
“Great. Thanks.” Nick had become hesitant to reach out to her as often as he used to. It was his attempt to cut the cord, as it were. Which was difficult because he’d grown accustomed to having her there whenever he needed her. And it had taken him a while to realize he was doing her a disservice.
Moments later, Kate arrived. “How you holding up?” She found her seat.
“A little tired, but that’s nothing compared to what the Talbots are going through.”
“I’m sure.” She opened the folder in her hands. “To that end, I was able to retrieve some additional information that I’m not sure if the local police have received or not.” She pulled out the background check. “Employment records show Lyle Stroud was mostly a seasonal worker, unable to really hold down anything permanent.”
“It’s pretty tough to get a good job with his type of background.”
“Agreed. Anyway, his last place of employment was at a dairy farm from January through April of this year.” She looked at Nick. “I guess that’s a busy time for dairy farmers.”
“So where’s he been for the past month? According to Detective Mason, he never missed an appointment with his parole officer until a few weeks ago. What was he doing between the end of April and now, three weeks later?”
“Planning? Anyone check out the employer? See if there were any disciplinary problems with him?” Kate asked.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” Nick appeared to be considering an idea as he placed his thumb and forefinger beneath his clean-shaven chin.
“What is it?”
“I’m just racking my brain trying to figure out how we can justify turning this into a federal investigation.”
“Well, he’s obviously violated parole, but it wasn’t a federal parole. And now he’s suspected of kidnapping and he’s presumably no longer at the residence where he was registered.” Kate looked on in search of an answer.
“It’s not a stretch to hand it over to us,” Nick continued. “I can run it by the prosecutor. Problem is, I don’t want to side step Detective Mason. She seems fairly protective of her territory, but maybe I can convince her she needs our help. We’re all after the same thing—finding Colton Talbot.”
“What about Campbell? What’s he got to say about all this?” Kate asked.
“He made it clear earlier that this wasn’t WFO material. Then again, he did say I could offer assistance if they asked.”
“He’s given you some leeway, then. Look, I’m finished with the Ackerman files. Maybe we can run it by Campbell first, but I think we need to make a trip to this dairy farm and talk to the owner. We need a sense of what this guy was doing or planning and what his behavior was like. It seems strange that he’s been on parole for a year and all of a sudden drives eighty miles to kidnap a kid, or worse.”
“I think that’s a good idea. We’ll get the okay and then talk to Detective Mason. She may want in on it while her team continues to vet other leads.”
“I’ll wait to hear from you.” She started to leave.
“Thanks, Kate.”
“For what?”
“For helping me see a path.”
» » »
Lyle Stroud pulled into the gas station. His ten-year-old Ford pickup truck was coasting in on fumes and with the kid in tow, he needed to avoid car trouble of any kind. He pulled alongside one of the pumps and peered over his shoulder. “I’m telling you now, you try anything at all and I’ll kill you, you understand?”
Colton still shuddered with fear and nodded his agreement.
“Put the hat and sunglasses on now.” Lyle stepped out and walked around to the other side, opening Colton’s door. “Let’s get this over with.”
The boy slowly pushed off the rear passenger seat of the extended cab, wearing the disguise, including a hoodie, which was unusual considering the heat.
Lyle walked beside Colton, squeezing his left arm enough so that he knew who was in charge.
The cashier behind the counter smiled. “Good evening.”
“Twenty on pump 5.” Lyle tossed a twenty-dollar bill onto the counter.
The cashier opened the register. “Can I get anything else for you?”
He peered behind the counter to the cigarettes and mini liquor bottles. “Three of those Jim Beams and a pack of Marlboros.”
Colton stayed completely still and stared through the sunglasses at the cashier, but the man seemed unconcerned. He spotted the camera in the far back corner and raised his eyes to it.
Stroud noticed the gesture and glared at the boy, who immediately returned his gaze to the floor.
“That’ll be thirty-five sixty, please.” The cashier cast a brief glance to the boy. “How you doing, son?”
“Fine,” Colton replied with fear in his voice he hoped would be perceived.
“Come on, son. Let’s go.” Stroud grabbed him by the arm again before any more exchanges between him and the clerk.
“You two have a nice night.”
The clerk had been oblivious. The problem was that Colton looked like any other middle-schooler; sulky, indifferent, even wearing a hoodie in the middle of a heat spell. This was what Stroud had counted on.
They made it back out to the pumps and he opened the passenger door. “Get in.” He slammed the door behind Colton and he began pumping gas.
This man had taken him three days ago. Colton was walking home, texting his friends as he walked from baseball practice. It was a clear day, but he remembered how sweaty he was and that he’d poured some of his water bottle over his head to cool him down. He remembered smiling at his friend’s texted reply to some lame joke when it happened. And now Colton began to feel as though he might never make it back home. He wondered where his parents were; where the police were. Why hadn’t anyone found him yet?
Colton wasn’t a big kid. In fact, he would probably be considered a little on the small side for his age. Lyle Stroud wasn’t a big man either and Colton thought, on more than one occasion since this nightmare started, about trying to fight him. But he’d had a gun and kept him tied up most of the time. Sometimes Colton was forced to wear a gag. After the first two days of struggling, he realized wearing a gag was something he didn’t want to do and so he quieted down since then.
As he peered through the passenger side view mirror, watching Stroud pump gas into the truck, he imagined killing him. Maybe if he could pry himself free in the night, he would murder him with his own gun. Every time the man touched him, he wanted to kill him. He was angry for being here. He was angry his parents hadn’t found him. But in the end, Colton felt helpless to do anything but sit back and take it. He turned away from the mirror, looking now through the windshield at the empty, darkening road ahead. He blinked to clear his eyes of the tears that had welled.
I want to go home.
» » »
“Hey.” Dwight stood outside Nick’s door. “Mind if I come in?”
Nick waved a welcoming hand.
“What’s the word from Campbell? Is he going to loosen the reins a little?” Dwight took a seat.
“He doesn’t want this to be an official BAU investigation, but he is willing to allow me to advise if I’m asked.”
“And did you mention this to Detective Mason?”
“It won’t change much. I’ve already been doing what I can for them. She wants to find Colton just as much as I do.”
“Don’t worry about things on our end. Kate and I can handle it. You should be turning your attentions to where you’re needed and right now, that’s in Fairfax.”
“I’d like us to do this as a team,” Nick said.
“Whatever you need us to do here, we’ll do.”
“Earlier, in speaking with the detective, I asked if she’d reached out to Stroud’s previous employer and his parole officer.” Nick leaned back in his chair. “She’d already spoken to the parole officer and yesterday sent a forensics team to his house. But with almost seventy-two hours having passed, she’s open to us talking to the dairy farmer, just to get it done sooner rather than later. So, how about we make a trip there this afternoon? Can you free up your schedule?”
“Absolutely. I’ll see what Kate’s got going on.”
“Actually, I think it’s best if you and I head over there by ourselves. I think she could be of more use here for the time being.”
Dwight studied Nick with some concern. “That won’t be a problem. Let me know when you’re ready to head out.” Dwight made his way back into the corridor and headed to Kate’s desk.
He tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hey, Dwight. What’s up?”
“Nick and I are going to drive out to talk to Stroud’s employer this afternoon. I think he wants you to hang back and help out from here.”
A vague sense of bewilderment flashed in her eyes. “You want me to stay here?” She turned back to her desk. “Okay, great.”
“I’m sorry, Kate. Nick just thinks you’ll be of more use from here. That’s all.”
“Sure, no, I get it. It’s no problem at all.” Kate’s smile was forced and she knew Dwight would see through it, but he appeared to have nothing more to say on the matter.
“I’ll let you know what we find.” Dwight hesitated but soon continued. “See you soon.”
First it was the Ackerman case and now this? Kate was beginning to feel slighted by Nick and while she knew that special treatment was out of the question, she thought that the three of them were still a team. Maybe she’d been wrong in that assumption. She was just a probie, after all.
Hadn’t Nick just offered her thanks for helping him toward a solution this morning? Her reward was to be shut out of yet another investigation? Kate rose from her chair and marched to Nick’s office. She’d already begun gathering information for him and now it felt like he was pulling the rug from beneath her. She needed to know why.
“Can I come in?” She walked inside his office without waiting for a reply.
He looked up from his computer. “What’s up?”
“I was just wondering why I’m not coming with you and Dwight to talk to the farmer? I thought you wanted me to work on this?”
“I do, but I need you here right now. There’s no point in all three of us going. I need you to keep Campbell happy and help with any research we’ll need.” He sat upright in his chair. “Are you pissed or something?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, I’ve been stuck in this office for the past few months. I’ve hardly been in the field at all and I just want to know why.”
“Kate, have a seat.”
“I’d prefer to stand, thanks.” She folded her arms and realized she sounded like an insolent child. Then again, he seemed to be treating her like one.
“Okay. Look, this is an off-the-book investigation for a start and I need someone here to manage anything else that might come up. Campbell’s allowing us to assist only and that’s what I intend to do and I thought that’s what you’d want to do as well.”
“It is. It’s just that I feel like I need to gain more field experience if I’m to be evaluated for full agent status. And besides that, I thought you would want me there, you know, to help out.” Her reasoning had been sound up until that last remark, which she now regretted.
“I’ve been trying to let you spread your wings a little. You and I both know that I can’t continue to hold your hand.”