Her relationship with Mike further complicated the situation. He was a small-town guy who was happy being a small-town cop. But she also knew, mainly because he’d brought it up on more than one occasion, that he would move here to D.C. with her in a heartbeat. It was a decision she wasn’t ready to make on that front either.
Right now, though, it was difficult to think about either of those major life-altering events. Her thoughts turned to Colton Talbot and Emily Aldrich; two kids who she desperately wanted to find before it was too late. And she knew all too well that “too late” may have already passed them by.
She walked out of her bedroom in an oversized t-shirt and gym shorts. The time showed eleven p.m. and she wondered if Nick had made it home yet. He had changed so much over the past few months. The likes of which she’d never seen in him before. His breakup with Georgia must have really taken its toll, but she suspected it was more than that too.
In the few years that they’d become close, she had learned to read him pretty well—and vice versa. And something in him changed after the Durham investigation ended. She recalled the change very early on. In fact, it was only days after her confrontation with Durham that she’d felt it. Distant, almost, but not quite, cold. Kate figured he just needed time to get over Georgia and get back on his feet after the struggles with ASAC Campbell. But it had gone on longer than she’d anticipated and her fears about him crept back up to the surface.
Maybe now she could help get things back to normal and stabilize their friendship once again, because when they worked together, they were virtually unstoppable—feeding off one another’s instincts. And this time would be different. This time, they would find those kids—alive. And rather than sit on her couch, absorbed by things that, in light of the current situation, seemed self-centered, she would do something useful. Sleep might eventually find her, but for now, she was reinvigorated and would not follow the advice of her superior.
Kate retrieved her computer and logged into the server. Nick wanted to search hotels and motels within a hundred-mile radius, and that was where she would start.
Two hours had passed and Kate finished the last drop of wine in her glass. She’d compiled an extensive list based upon Nick’s instructions. Lodging off the beaten path, cheap, and she narrowed it down further to include only those on a single level. Stroud wouldn’t stay somewhere where he had to walk inside a lengthy corridor or ride an elevator with a kid who could draw attention. No, he would stay in a cheap motel, park his car right in front of the room, and take the kid inside, unseen by anyone.
Still, the list was large. She wanted to reach out to Nick, run it by him and get his thoughts; bounce ideas on how to tackle the enormous task. But it was one a.m. and given his recent change in attitude toward her, perhaps it was best to wait until morning.
Kate looked at her cell phone, held it in her hands, and again considered it. “No. It’ll have to wait.” She set it down, uncurled her legs from the sofa, and took to her feet. “I’ve got to get some sleep.”
SIX
T
he sunrise burned
just ahead as Kate made her way into the office for an early start. Her excitement about the investigation fueled her brain for much of the night and now coffee fueled it as she worked her way through downtown D.C.
A call rang through on her cell and she pressed the Bluetooth button to answer. “Hey there. Good morning. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so early.”
“You’re a tough lady to get a hold of, so I figured I’d give it a shot this morning. You busy?” Mike’s voice sounded pleasant through the car’s speakers.
“We had a meeting last night about a new case.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Unfortunately, it’s the one Nick’s been working on for his friend. It wasn’t really a BAU case. Well, it is now. Long story short, we’re working to find a parolee who’s responsible for not only taking the boy, but also a girl not far from where he lived.”
“Jesus.” Mike’s voice turned somber.
“So we’re going to be running on this thing full bore.”
“That probably means this weekend is out?”
Katie sensed his disappointment. “I’m afraid so, hon. I’ll be buried in this for a while.”
“I understand. No problem at all. Just keep me updated, okay?”
“I will. Thanks for this.”
“For what?”
“For letting me do my job and not making me feel badly about it.”
“Give me some credit, Kate. The important thing is that you guys find those kids. I’d better run and let you get to it. Talk later?”
“Definitely.”
“Love you.” Mike’s words almost came across as a question.
“You too, babe. Bye.” Kate ended the call just as she pulled into the parking garage. Minutes later, the elevator doors opened and she was back inside the bullpen. Seven a.m. on the dot. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Agent Vasquez always went in early.
Kate logged into her email and retrieved the list she’d sent to herself late last night. “So I was checking into some things last night and I came up with a few places we should check out.”
Vasquez rolled over to her. “Whatchya got?”
“Hotels and motels within a hundred-mile radius of where Colton Talbot was abducted. Scarborough figured he’d be staying somewhere off the beaten path, paying by cash and probably places that are cheap.”
“Okay. So how many did you come up with?”
“Sixty-eight that fit the criteria, but if we don’t get anywhere with that, we’ll expand the search.”
“Great. How about we divvy this up and get started?”
“Thanks.” Kate felt someone approaching them from behind and when Vasquez turned back to see, her expression returned hardened.
“Can I see you for a minute?”
Dwight’s face raised the hairs on Kate’s neck. Something had happened. “Of course.” She immediately followed him.
Nick sat behind his desk, staring at his computer screen. He noted their arrival. “Morning, go ahead and sit down.” He swiveled his chair to face them. “I got a call around four a.m. from Detective Mason, who got a call from Frederick County Sheriff’s office. Emily Aldrich’s body was found in a park about thirty miles from her home.”
Kate’s heart sank. This was an expected outcome, given the length of time that had passed. Nonetheless, she maintained hope that it would not be the case this time. She was wrong. “What does this mean for our investigation?”
“We need to determine how and when she died,” Dwight began. “We need to establish a timeline from when she was abducted to her death.”
“This will help give us an idea as to roughly how much time we have to find Colton before he ends up dead too,” Nick added.
He was nothing if not blunt and while Kate sometimes disliked that quality about him, he was almost always right. “I did some research last night.” She half-expected a disapproving glare for disobeying his direct order to get some rest, but she would get no push back today. “I found sixty-eight hotels that fit the criteria of where we think Stroud would have been likely to stay. Vasquez and I were about to get started on making some calls to see if any of the proprietors recognized Stroud or Colton.”
“That’s a big list. I’ll pitch in. We need all hands on deck right now.” Dwight looked to Nick. “Are you going to tell Colton’s parents?”
Nick turned his gaze downward in search of an answer. “I’ll have to. All right. Let’s get on this hotel search.”
As the two made their way out the door, Dwight pulled Kate aside in the hall.
“Thanks for jumping on that hotel thing. I think that’s our best shot right now.”
“This is really hard on him, isn’t it?”
“It would be for anyone. I’m just afraid he’s going to lose sight of things. Lose his perspective.”
“I wouldn’t blame him, just so long as it doesn’t piss off Mason.” Kate patted Dwight on his broad shoulder. “I’ll get to work. Let me know if you need anything else. Otherwise, I’ll keep you posted on my progress.”
» » »
Detective Mason’s urgent call shortly after his meeting prompted Nick to make the drive to Springfield. He entered the busy precinct and headed straight back to see the detective. The officer at the front desk called out to him and when Nick continued without answering, the officer sprinted to catch up to him, her hand resting on her gun; hackles raised by the security risk.
If Mason hadn’t heard the commotion and stepped into the hall, Nick might’ve had a situation on his hands. “It’s okay.” Mason waved to her officer. “He’s here for me.” She turned to Nick. “Maybe next time, just check in up front first. Thanks for coming down.”
Closing the door to her office, Mason walked around to her desk while Nick sat down and jumped right in. “Are you sure it’s him?”
“A call came in just minutes before I phoned you about a sighting.” Mason leaned in, her slender arms, bare from the sleeveless blouse, folded on her desk. “A man matching Stroud’s description was seen with a boy matching Colton’s at a rest stop along 95, heading north.”
“Did they get a plate? Was it the same Ford truck?”
“Yes. We ran the plates and they’re registered to Stroud.”
Nick leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “At least there’s some God damn good news after learning about the girl. He doesn’t realize we know who he is and what he drives. Do you have people heading in that direction? We don’t have much time.”
“I am well aware of that, Agent Scarborough, and yes, County Police and State Troopers are flooding the area. The call came in some time after he left the location because the caller had the good fortune to be listening to the Amber Alert and remembered the truck. I just don’t know how much of a head start Stroud got.”
“What about Emily Aldrich?”
“I spoke with the detective at Frederick County earlier. He said the ME should be able to determine time of death relatively quickly. Possibly even by late today.” Mason studied Nick with dark, inquiring eyes. “You didn’t need to come all the way down here for this. I’m sure you all have your hands full. But I want you to know that we appreciate the help. We all want the same thing and that is to find Colton Talbot quickly.”
Nick didn’t need to drive the forty minutes for a conversation that could have happened over the phone. But he was who he was and despite what Dwight would say about it, he needed to be sure Mason and her team were doing everything in their power to find Colton. “Thank you. And you’re probably right. It’s just that sometimes, I prefer to be hands-on, you know?”
“Hands-on, like pulling the strings?” Mason smiled graciously, leaning back in her chair. Her thin, silk blouse revealing an outline of her satin bra.
She seemed to wield a power that triggered Nick to lower his defenses and he smiled, even chuckled at her comment. “Is it that obvious?” He ran his hand through his dark brown hair and hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry. It’s just—well, it’s my friend’s kid, you know? Since all this started, I haven’t felt quite useful enough.”
“I get that. But now you guys have all the power. We’re the ones who need to kowtow to you.”
He raised back up, bothered by her remark. “Please don’t think that’s the case. Really. I’ve never been one to muscle any jurisdiction out of an investigation. If that’s the way I’ve made it seem, please accept my apology.”
Mason shooed away his words. “No, it’s fine. We all get a little tense around here when the Feds get involved.”
» » »
The sounds of the tires on the road made Colton want to sleep. He hadn’t slept in days, save for a few hours here and there. The man made him lie down on the small bench seat in the extended cab of the truck and that was where he was now. His legs were too long as he’d hit a growth spurt over the winter and he was forced to curl them up to fit along the seat. His face clung to the tan vinyl both from tears and from sweat. Wherever they were headed, it was warm.
Colton only cried sometimes now, though. Only when he would think about how worried his parents must have been. He himself had reached the point that this was all there was left for him. He would not be found; at least, not alive.
The man had been in a hurry since this morning, but Colton didn’t know why. He’d pulled him from the closet by his arm, dragging him across the stained carpet, and tossed him onto the bed.
“Eat!” he had demanded. “We’re leaving in ten minutes.” And then he tossed a dry bagel onto his lap.
Colton nearly choked on it and was allowed to wash it down with water from the bathroom sink. Still, it was food and a luxury.
The ten minutes must have flown by because he hadn’t finished it before the man yanked him again by the arm and made him go outside to the truck. That was an hour ago.
He seemed to be slowing down and Colton felt the truck turn right and regain some speed, but not quite as fast as before. Maybe they were getting close to wherever it was he was being taken this time.
Soon, the truck rolled to a stop. The man turned back to him. “Stay here and don’t you even think about moving.”
When the man’s footsteps had gone out of earshot, Colton positioned his arms for leverage and slowly pushed himself up, just until he could see over the extended cab door. He saw a rooftop of a house. The man was walking toward that house. He ducked down, fearing the man would turn back, but soon, he regained his courage and tried again. This time, Colton peered left, then right. Wherever they were, no one else seemed to be around. He spotted a house on the left, but it was very far away. On the right was nothing but fields, that he could see.
This squelched any hope of escape. It became clear that there was no place to run. The man would only have to jump back in the truck and chase after him. He was sure the punishment for such an act would be severe.
Someone opened the door where the man waited. An old woman. She smiled; she must have known him. The two talked and Colton wished he knew what they were saying. For a moment, the old woman’s eyes shifted toward the truck and he dropped down. He froze, fearing she’d seen him. But maybe that wouldn’t be a bad thing. He couldn’t be sure, but it seemed her vision might have begun to fail her in her old age because no one came.
He assumed his previous position and waited. That was all he could do and all he had done for days or had it been weeks? Colton was losing track of time.
Moments later, the rear passenger door opened and the man towered over him. “Get up.”
Colton wasted no time. Delays made the man angry. He scrambled to sit upright.
“Come with me and you’d better stay quiet. You understand?”
The man grabbed his arm and Colton winced as it had grown tender from the squeeze he kept on it. Colton was pulled to his feet and followed along beside him. They walked into the house. It was cool inside and sent a chill down Colton’s overheated back. He didn’t see the old woman and wondered where she could be. If he could just see her, maybe she would help him.
Instead, the man led him down the stairs into what appeared to be a basement. It looked like a living room to Colton. A television, a couch, and tables. Old stuff but looked clean. Cleaner than some of the hotels they’d been staying at. He wondered where he would stay. Where was the closet? Would it be dark inside or was there a light? He didn’t ask.
“I don’t want to hear a peep from you, boy. If I do, you’ll sure as shit be sorry. You feel me?”
Colton nodded.
“Good.” The man walked to a door and opened it. “Get in.” He shoved Colton inside.
It was a bathroom; small and smelled like piss. Colton crinkled his nose.
The man closed the door and Colton turned on the light. There was no window and it would soon be hard to tell day from night. Based on the light of the sun when they were outside, Colton figured it had to be around noon, maybe one o’clock; a long time until dark. He didn’t like the dark. Bad things happened then.