Vendetta (14 page)

“If you're right about Miller, that means we're back to square one. Again.” Nikki reached up and touched the tender spot on her head where she'd hit it against the rock, and frowned. “I want to go in there one more time. We can use this new information as leverage to make sure he wasn't involved with Bridget's disappearance.”

Jack nodded. “Okay.”

Back inside the interrogation room, Nikki sat down across
from Miller. “We have some updated information on you, Mr. Miller, starting with the fact that you lied to us.”

“I wasn't lying. I said I didn't kidnap that girl.”

“Maybe not, but there's something else.”

“What are you talking about?” Miller slammed his hands against the table. “I was in the park—”

“Doing what? Poaching? Because we have evidence suggesting you weren't exactly in the park on an afternoon drive. I suggest you tell us the truth unless you want to be charged with kidnapping.”

His gaze shifted as he weighed his answer. “I was hunting.”

“Where?”

“On the border of the park.”

“Were you with anyone?” Jack asked.

“I was by myself.”

“Mr. Miller, I suggest you stop and think before you tell me another lie.”

“I was with a client last night. I bait the bears with food, luring them to return repeatedly to the same spot, then when they come back, I can guarantee a kill for my client. Their behavior is pretty easy to predict.”

“And then you sell the bear parts?” Jack asked.

Miller avoided their gaze. “I've got a few buyers.”

“The money must be pretty tempting. Money from your clients for every kill. Additional money to sell the parts your clients don't care about.” Jack leaned forward, bracing his arms against the table. “I want names. You can either go down for hunting violations, or we'll press on with the kidnapping charges.”

“No way. I know what the fine is. I'll go with the hunting violations. I was poaching.”

“That's a smart choice, I suppose. Most violations are classified as criminal misdemeanor and come with a two-thousand-dollar fine and a two-year hunting license revocation.” Jack
leaned forward again, smiling. “But here's the thing. You were caught on federal land with bear parts in the back of your car, which means we can see that your charge is elevated to a federal crime. That, along with what you did to my partner here, will get you a whole lot more prison time.”

Miller's face paled, but the victory was hollow. The man might be going to prison for a long time, but that meant they were back to square one with Bridget.

Nikki stood in front of the whiteboard, staring at the sketch of their suspect while trying to connect the dots in her mind. Missing persons cases meant continual revising of their plan of action as the investigation developed. Coordinating with other agencies—including now the FBI, notifying all of the missing persons registries, utilizing the media, investigating family and witnesses, and monitoring volunteers. And at the same time continually praying they weren't missing something.

Gwen handed her the updated media report. “You look tired.”

“It's been a long day, but I'm fine.”

“Have you eaten yet? If you wait too long, that Chinese takeout someone just brought in is going to be gone, and let me tell you, it's good.”

Nikki tapped the file against her palm and laughed. “Hungry or not, I have a feeling Tyler's going to make sure I eat something.”

Gwen glanced across the small space to where Tyler was working while listening to music with a pair of earphones, then leaned forward, her voice lowered. “I know I'm being nosy, but
are the two of you dating? I noticed he doesn't wear a ring, and if he happens to be single . . .”

“We're just friends.” Nikki pressed her lips together, wondering what Tyler would think about the question. As far as she knew, dating wasn't even a blip on his radar. “He lost his wife a year ago in an accident. We planned to spend the day together remembering her. Katie was my best friend.”

“Oh. Wow. I'm so sorry.” Gwen took a step back and shook her head. “That was completely out of line of me. I know they're out there, but sometimes decent men are so hard to find. He seems like a really great guy.”

“He is a great guy. Don't worry about it. There was no way for you to know.”

“Still . . . I know you're handling a lot. To have to deal with a friend's death on top of everything else today. We all know this is personal for you.” Gwen's smile faded. “You've met my sister, Raine.”

Nikki leaned back against the desk. “Yeah, she's what . . . fourteen?”

“Thirteen going on twenty-one.” Gwen laughed. “But I keep thinking about how I'd feel if that were my sister out there. Even with our job, I honestly can't imagine what it would really be like to not know where she was.”

“It's hard not to worry, isn't it?” Nikki said.

“I worry about her all the time. If something happened to her like what happened to Bridget . . . and to your sister. Because of this job I know the statistics. I see the families' reactions and what they have to cope with, but I know that doesn't make it the same as being in your shoes as someone who's been there.” Gwen hesitated. “I'm just not sure how you do it. How you do
this
every day.”

“Sometimes, I'm not sure either.” Three months of working together had taught Nikki to not only respect Gwen's skills
as an agent but trust her as a friend as well. “But I always appreciate it when people don't assume they know how I feel. Though to be honest, most of the time I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. Like in this case, I'm not the victim, and yet things are hitting way too close to home. When I took this job, I thought I could handle the emotional part. I thought that helping families would somehow make up for the loss, but then on days like today . . .”

“It doesn't make up for it, does it?” Gwen said.

“No. Not completely anyway.”

Nothing would ever be able to completely make up for losing Sarah.

Jack walked into the room from outside, his eyes still looking bloodshot from his allergies, and sneezed. “Sorry. Kyle's doing another interview with someone in the local media in about ten minutes. He asked if he could speak to us about a couple of ideas when he's done.”

“Of course,” Nikki said. “Has he spoken to his mother yet?”

“As far as I know, he hasn't.”

In the end, it was Kyle's decision, but it was going to take a considerable amount of effort on both sides, especially with the added strain of Bridget's abduction, to mend their relationship.

“We've just received an initial report from the forensic team who went through Bridget's house. It should be available for you now. They're still evaluating the contents of her room and computer and will let us know if they come up with anything new. So far there's nothing much there.”

Nikki's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID. Ryan. “I'll be back in a minute.”

She headed outside, hesitating before answering Mr. Perfect's call. She'd meant what she'd said to Tyler while hanging off the side of that cliff. Three dates, and she still wasn't sure what she thought about Ryan. Not that there was anything so far
not
to
like. Her parents liked him. Her brothers even approved. And as far as she could tell, they were all right.

Maybe that was the problem. Tyler was always calling him Mr. Perfect. But no one was perfect.

“Ryan . . . hey.”

“You sound tired. Bad timing?”

“No . . . well . . . yes, honestly. I'm working a case.”

“A case? I thought this was your day off.”

“It is. Or rather, it was.” Nikki couldn't help but chuckle. Some day off. Twelve hours ago she'd been hanging off the side of a mountain wondering if her rope would hold her. Add to that all that had happened while searching for Bridget, and even for someone who was an adrenaline junkie, she'd had enough excitement for one day. “I got called in. A young girl went missing near the Smoky Mountains.”

She hadn't told Ryan where she was going or that she'd planned to spend the day with Tyler. Not that he expected her to tell him everything. It was one of the things she disliked about the awkward first stages of dating, when they were still getting to know each other. Explaining her relationship with Tyler would just . . . complicate things.

“I saw it on the news this morning,” Ryan said. “Any good leads?”

“A few, but nothing substantial yet, unfortunately.”

“I won't keep you then. I just wanted to tell you that I had a really good time last night.”

She smiled. He'd taken her to dinner, then to the Nashville symphony, something she hadn't been to in years. The night had been romantic, even magical. But finding a way to balance her personal life with her professional life had never been easy. Somehow both sides had a way of tangling themselves together at the most inopportune times. She found that out with the last guy she'd gone out with. Ryan, though, was . . . different. He'd
somehow managed to get her to actually consider the possibility of a relationship with him.

She gnawed at the inside of her lip and felt the flutter of butterflies in her stomach. “I had a good time too.”

“I'm glad to hear that, because I'd like to do it again. Soon.”

She paused again. Yes, she enjoyed spending time with him and even knew he was someone she wanted to get to know better. Then why the hesitation? She was being silly. It wasn't as if she were leading him on. There was nothing wrong with getting to know the man better. They were simply two people with similar interests who enjoyed spending time together.

Then why did she feel as if something was missing? That certain unexplainable spark she'd seen in her parents' marriage. The same spark she was looking for in her relationships. She rubbed the back of her neck. Today was not the day to make any significant decisions. Once this case was behind her she knew she'd regret not giving him another chance.

“Nikki?”

“Sorry . . . I'd like that too. What did you have in mind?”

“I thought we could do something different this time. You mentioned how much you liked climbing. I've got a friend who owns an indoor rock climbing gym, if you're up for it.”

She started walking across the parking lot—empty except for a scattering of law enforcement vehicles—needing to stretch her muscles. The visitor center was already closed, and all the volunteers had gone home for the day. Normally, she'd jump at the chance at hanging on the side of a cliff, man-made or not. After today's accident, though, she wasn't exactly clamoring to get up there again. But neither did she want to put him off.

“I do love climbing, but listen, can I get back to you about it when I get back to Nashville? I'm not sure when I'll finish up this case, or even when I'll be back in town, for that matter.”

She wasn't ready to tell him that this case had become per
sonal. That she was staying because she was going to find this guy.

“Not a problem,” Ryan said. “Just give me a call when you're back and are free, and we'll make a plan.”

No pressure? No trying to persuade her? Maybe he
was
perfect.

“Thanks, Ryan. I'll do that.”

“Before I let you go, though, I did want to say that I . . . I hope you feel what I'm feeling. Like there's this connection between us. And no, you don't have to answer.”

Nikki pressed her cell phone against her ear. Maybe she'd spoken too soon.

“Especially not over the phone,” he continued. “It's just that I haven't met a woman like you in a long time. Too many of the women I meet seem to be on this fast track to becoming—I don't know—some sort of trophy wife, but you . . . you're different. I've seen the compassion you put into your work and your determination to ensure justice wins. I guess the bottom line is that I want you to know that I'm enjoying getting to know you.”

Nikki felt the emotions of the day tug on her. Juggling her past with current responsibilities and family and then somehow trying to find a way to add someone like Ryan to the mix . . . Sometimes she simply didn't know how to do it.

“Nikki? You still there?”

“Yeah. I'm still here.” Nikki smiled. “Thanks, Ryan. I appreciate the compliment. I'll be in touch once I'm back in Nashville.”

Nikki hung up the call and stared out across the darkened parking lot, wondering if she'd made the right decision. Or if she was simply leading Ryan on. Marriage and family were definitely something she wanted. Someday. Not that Ryan was probing for a commitment. Not yet. But she'd seen how he
looked at her, and read between the lines of some of the things he'd said. He wasn't just looking for a casual relationship. He was thirty-six and ready to settle down with the right woman. And at the moment, it was beginning to look like he believed that woman was her.

Tyler walked up to her carrying two containers of Chinese takeout, pulling her away from her thoughts. “I wondered where you'd gone. Gwen told me you hadn't eaten yet, so I decided to grab some before it was gone.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” Nikki laughed, dropping her phone into her back pocket. “I told her you'd make sure I ate.”

“Someone's got to keep you in line.” He led her over to an empty wooden bench in front of the entrance of the visitor center. “Chicken cashew or crispy beef?”

“Switch halfway?” she asked, reaching for the chicken cashew and a pair of chopsticks.

“You bet.”

Chinese takeout was Tyler and Liam's Friday night dinner of choice. Nikki couldn't remember how many times she'd brought their favorites from the Chinese Garden, then ended up staying to watch a movie or play Wii with Liam.

“You're smiling,” Tyler said, digging into his beef. “Good news?”

“No news.” Nikki bit the inside of her lip and searched for a piece of chicken with her chopsticks. “Just a phone call, then Kyle wants to speak with us. He has some ideas on working with the media.”

“Then that's not why you're smiling.” Tyler sat back and looked at her. “I know. Mr. Perfect called.”

Nikki stared down at the patch of stones beneath the bench and felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. “Why would you say that?”

“You bite the inside of your lip when you're nervous. Couple
that with the grin on your face, I put two and two together. Am I right?”

Nikki stabbed at a piece of chicken. “You're impossible. I'm not nervous talking with him. Especially considering the fact that at this point, he's just a . . . friend.”

Tyler took another bite. “If you say so.”

“I do say so.”

“But you're telling me you don't like him.”

“Fine.” She looked up at him. “Maybe just a little.”

“Why?”

“Why do I like him? He's . . .”

“Perfect?”

“Stop. No.” Nikki set the box in her lap. “He's not perfect. Sort of, but I don't know. Maybe that's the problem.”

“I don't see why it's a problem. He makes you smile.”

Nikki let out an exasperated breath. Why did Tyler—why did anyone—care about her dating life? “It's just been awhile since I've received compliments . . . besides you, of course.”

“Then tell me how Mr. Perfect is a problem.”

“His name is Ryan, and no one is perfect.” Was that really the core of the issue? Fear she was going to find out he wasn't perfect? “He has to have at least one bad habit. One annoying characteristic that drives me crazy. But he doesn't. Or at least I haven't found it yet. I like being with him. He makes me laugh. He compliments me enough, but not too much for it to seem fake. I like him.”