Did You Miss Me? (27 page)

‘I don’t know. We didn’t find . . .’ He hesitated, swallowed hard. ‘A body.’

Daphne jerked out of his arms and ran for the washroom.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, December 3, 7.55
P.M.

‘Daddy?’ Laurel Gargano jumped up from the coffee shop table where she’d been sitting when Trooper Gargano rushed in, Jessica’s hand tight in his. Clay was right behind him. Alec was looking for a spot to park his car, Gargano having slid his aging Toyota into the last parking place on the street.

Laurel’s face was tight with fear. ‘What’s wrong? Is it Mom?’

‘No,’ Gargano said. ‘Your mother’s fine. I just needed to talk to you.’

Laurel pressed her hand to her heart. ‘You scared me. Your text said that it was urgent.’ She shot her father an indignant look. ‘Who is this man?’

Gargano took her arm. ‘He’s a PI from Baltimore. He has a few questions for you. It’s important, honey. Really important. He might be able to help us.’

‘Okay, Daddy,’ she said, still wary. She let her father lead her back to the table, glancing sideways at Clay. ‘What’s this about?’ she asked when they were seated.

‘Do you know a girl named Kimberly MacGregor?’ her father asked.

‘Yes. I know her from Chinese school. You know her too, Dad. Her father’s the veterinarian. You met him at one of the picnics for the adoptive families.’ When her father still didn’t remember she crunched her eyebrows, thinking. ‘Oh, I know. Her dad is the one you lost the bet to, the one I wasn’t supposed to tell Mom about.’

‘Which bet was this?’ Clay asked.

‘I have no idea,’ Gargano said.

‘You bet him that the Lightning would never take home the Cup.’

Gargano frowned. ‘What?’

She sighed patiently. ‘You were mad that they scheduled the annual social during game seven of the Stanley Cup, but when we got to the MacGregors’ house all the dads were in the TV room watching the game, and you let me come in and watch with you. You bet Kimberly’s father a hundred bucks that Tampa wouldn’t take it.’

‘Honey, that was in
2004
. You could have come up with something more recent.’

She shrugged. ‘We stopped going to the socials after you made SWAT in 2004.’

He looked away. ‘I’m sorry about that, baby.’

‘That’s okay.’ She patted his hand. ‘I didn’t like them anyway. I went for Mom.’

He kissed her forehead, then looked at Clay. ‘That family is wealthy. Nice house, nice part of town. He had one heck of a man-cave – three different beers on tap.’

‘Which was why you bet him the hundred to start with,’ Laurel said affectionately. ‘And why I wasn’t allowed to tell Mom.’ Her brows crunched again, this time in concern. ‘Is this about Kim’s sister, Pamela? The one who went missing last night?’

‘Possibly,’ Clay said. ‘There’s been an AMBER Alert since last night.’

‘I didn’t know. I wasn’t on duty today.’ Gargano turned his attention back to Laurel. ‘Was Kimberly ever in our house?’

‘Yes,’ Laurel said, her wariness returning. ‘Why?’

‘When, Laurel?’ Clay asked quietly.

‘Last winter, before Christmas. It was a sleepover for my birthday. My mom invited all the girls from the Chinese school. I was a little surprised Kim came. She and I were never really close and she’s two years older than I am. She was home from college for the break. I figured she’d have better things to do than have a party with kids. Why?’

‘Where was the sleepover?’ Clay asked.

‘In the basement. We have a rec room downstairs,’ Laurel explained.

‘Did you notice if Kimberly left the party at any time that night?’

‘I don’t remember, but she could have. There were ten girls and only one bathroom downstairs.’ Laurel looked at her father. ‘Daddy? What’s going on here?’

‘It’s possible that Kimberly could have been involved in the burglary,’ Gargano said. ‘Mr Maynard’s associate found a camera in the ceiling vent. Whoever put it there may have been watching me dial the safe’s combination.’

Laurel was shaking her head. ‘Kimberly wouldn’t do that.’

‘She’s been caught for stealing before,’ Clay said gently. ‘In Maryland.’

‘Why would she steal?’ Gargano asked. ‘Her father is loaded.’

Laurel shook her head. ‘Not anymore. Her father’s practice got hurt in the recession. She used to drive a BMW, but I heard her parents sold it. When she came to the party she got dropped off by her boyfriend.’

Clay had to remind himself to breathe. ‘Did you see him?’

‘No. I don’t even remember what he drove. I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be,’ Clay assured her. ‘You’re doing great. I’m asking all these questions because the tasers taken from your dad were used to kidnap a young man about your age. Kimberly’s new boyfriend. We’re trying to bring him home.’

A tap on his arm had him looking down. Gargano’s younger daughter looked up at him with intelligent eyes. ‘Do you have a picture of her?’ Jessica asked.

‘I do.’ Clay checked his cell phone and found the photo of Kimberly that had come up with her background check. As he was about to show Jessica the picture, his phone rang, the caller ID sending the photo to the background. It was Paige. He’d call her back in a second. He hit decline, then showed the photo to the little girl. ‘Do you remember her?’

Jessica took his phone and stared. Then nodded. ‘I’d gone downstairs to get some cake before the girls ate it all. She was standing in front of the bookshelves, talking on her cell phone and smiling like she was getting her picture taken. Looking up, you know? Like when you take a picture of yourself.’ She frowned. ‘But she was talking on the phone. So how could she be taking her own picture at the same time?’

‘What happened next, honey?’ Gargano asked.

‘Nothing. When she saw me, she hung up fast and went back to the party.’ Her lower lip trembled, her eyes filling with tears as she returned Clay’s phone. ‘I’m sorry, Daddy. If I’d remembered before, the police wouldn’t have been so terrible to you.’

Gargano lifted the child to his lap. ‘It’s all right,
MeiMei
. None of this is your fault.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘You remembered now and that’s the important thing.’

‘Absolutely,’ Clay said. ‘Laurel, what day was your party?’

She checked the calendar on her phone, scrolling back a year. ‘December 20.’

‘Great. And Jessica, what—’ His phone buzzed. It was Paige again.
There must be news
. Carter should have been at the Timonium house already.
Please
.
Please let it be good news
.
‘
I need to take this,’ he said to Gargano, then answered. ‘Paige?’

‘Don’t you dare decline my calls again,’ she stormed. She was crying.
Oh no
.

Dread settled on his shoulders. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Joseph’s here. Oh, God, Clay.’ She was sobbing so hard her words slurred.

‘Slow down. I can’t understand you.’ But he did understand. He just couldn’t accept.
I was too late
.

He heard Grayson’s voice, faintly. ‘Give me the phone, baby.’ A long pause. ‘It’s Grayson. Joseph found a crime scene. No body, but lots of blood and signs that a body had been dragged to the garage. There was a message to Daphne on the wall, written in blood.’ His voice broke and he cleared his throat.
‘
“Now you know how it feels.
”
’

The air left Clay’s lungs. ‘We were too late,’ he said numbly.

‘Joseph’s in with Daphne now. Where are you?’

‘Philadelphia. With Trooper Gargano.’ Clay exhaled, trying to think. ‘I found the link between Kim and the weapons taken from Gargano. Check her cell records for the night of December 20.’ He looked at Jessica. ‘What time did you see her, honey?’

‘After midnight. Maybe one or two?’

‘Look at her calls made between midnight and three. There’s a camera in Trooper Gargano’s duct work. Maybe it can be traced to this Doug guy you’re looking for.’

‘Okay. I’ll check those records now. Thanks.’

His throat was so tight he couldn’t breathe. ‘Is Daphne . . . ? Forget it. Of course she’s not all right. Tell her . . . I don’t know what to tell her.’

‘This isn’t your fault, Clay,’ Grayson said soberly. ‘Novak’s up there somewhere. Where can I have him meet you, so he can check out the camera?’

‘I’m at a coffee shop.’ Clay gave him the address. ‘I’ll wait here for him. Then I’ll get home as fast as I can.’ He hung up and closed his eyes, fighting the tears that burned his throat. Another little tap on his arm had him looking at Jessica again.

‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, her little face pinched with sorrow.

‘Thanks, honey. I appreciate it.’

Gargano sighed wearily. ‘Should I go home and wait for the creepy Fed?’

‘That’s probably best.’

Baltimore, Maryland, Tuesday, December 3, 7.55
P.M.

She hadn’t cried. Not a single tear. Joseph sat on the floor of the washroom, Daphne curled up on his lap. She clutched his shirt in a white-knuckled grip, the strength of her hands the only indication she wasn’t asleep.

He stroked her back, saying nothing. What could he say? They’d been too late. All he could do was watch helplessly as she knelt in front of the toilet, rubbing her back as her body convulsed. Then he’d washed her face and pulled her into his arms.

He rested his cheek on the top of her head and exhaled, bone weary. A noise had him looking up. Paige and Grayson stood in the doorway. Paige’s eyes were swollen and red. She’d cried, a lot. She knelt and put her arms around Daphne.

‘He could still be alive,’ Paige whispered fiercely.

But even though Joseph had said that himself, he didn’t believe it was true. If Ford had been alive when he was dragged from that basement, he hadn’t lasted long. Not with all the blood they’d found in that basement room.

So much blood
. He’d been on autopilot, helping Brodie with the scene. Not even realizing that he himself had grown pale as they’d examined each piece of clothing.

When he’d stood, he’d actually stumbled, nearly falling into the pool of the boy’s blood. He’d quickly recovered, blaming his lightheadedness on not having eaten all day, but Brodie wasn’t fooled. She’d sent him out of the house to get some air.

Joseph clenched his jaw, thinking about the moment he’d exited the Timonium house. The reporters had nearly come over the crime scene tape again, their instinct – and his own pallor – telling them something had happened. They started shouting questions. Then one of them took a gamble and shouted the right one.

Does SA Montgomery know her son is dead?

It had taken Joseph a few seconds to realize the reporter was baiting him, but a few seconds was all the vipers had needed. They rushed to get in front of their cameras so they could be the first to break the ‘development’.

And short of killing each one of them, there wasn’t a damn thing Joseph could do to stop them. But he could make sure Daphne didn’t hear it on the news.

Commandeering a squad car, he’d driven back to the city like a bat out of hell, his siren screaming, his only thought that he couldn’t let her find out that way. She deserved better than that.

He’d called Grayson on his way, warning him to keep Daphne off the computer, away from the TV, the phone, and anyone outside their team who might tell her before he got to her. But now she knew and Joseph didn’t have a clue of what to do next.

‘My mother,’ Daphne said quietly. ‘Does my mother know?’

‘Grayson and I were going to tell her for you,’ Paige said.

‘Thank you, but no.’ Daphne released Joseph’s shirt and pushed away from his chest, turning to face her friend. ‘Mama needs to hear it from me. But if you could go with me, I’d appreciate it. I’ll meet you outside. Give Joseph and me a minute.’

When they were alone, Daphne rose, then extended her hand, urging him to his feet. ‘We have things to do. I have to tell my mother. You still have to find that baby.’

‘I found her,’ he said. ‘She was a little dehydrated, but otherwise fine. She’s with social services now.’

‘Good. I’m glad.’ She walked out of the washroom and pointed to a white board, filled with notes. ‘We made a list of everything we knew about Doug.’

He read Coppola’s notes. ‘This is good stuff. It’ll help.’

‘Good.’ She dropped her chin to her chest. ‘Thank you, Joseph. For everything you’ve done for me today. I don’t know what I would have done without you.’

‘I wish everything had turned out differently,’ he said. ‘If it helps at all, I do know how you feel. A little anyway. When it’s your child . . . I know it’s different.’

‘Who was she? The person you lost?’

‘My wife.’

Daphne lifted her head slowly, stunned. ‘You were married?’

‘For a few days. A long time ago.’

Her eyes flickered. ‘You were on your honeymoon?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did you catch who did it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are they still alive?’

He shook his head slowly. ‘No,’ he said coldly.

Her lips trembled and she sternly firmed them. ‘Good. Now I have to . . . I have to go.’ But she didn’t move. She just stood where she was, lost. ‘Joseph.’

He put his arms around her again. ‘I’m here.’

She slid her arms around his waist, the second hand on the wall clock ticking away as she held on tight, her cheek pressed against his chest. They were standing that way when there was a light rap on the door and it opened a crack.

‘Agent Carter, it’s Fiona Brodie. I need to talk to you both.’

‘
Now?
’ Joseph asked.

‘Yes.
Now
.’ Brodie opened the door. ‘This will make a difference.’

Joseph felt Daphne swallow. ‘Okay.’ She released him, then grabbed her bag from underneath one of the chairs. ‘I need a minute.’ She disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door. Seconds later, water was running.

Brodie took the chair next to the one Daphne had been sitting in. And said nothing.

‘What the hell’s this about?’ he asked.

The look she gave him was one of reproach. ‘When you called me from the squad car, I told you I wasn’t ready for her to be told. You said you’d wait to tell her until I called you, but you didn’t. Now I’m here to talk to Daphne.’