Deadly Image

by Tamelia Tumlin

  Lexi stilled. Would every sordid detail of her life be open for discussion? Really, was it any of his business? Whatever happened to doctor-patient privilege?

  After an uncomfortable pause, Lexi realized he was still waiting on her answer. Might as well get it out in the open. “I have panic attacks.”

  “How long have you been having them?”

  Anna’s cheeks warmed. “Ever since I was a little kid. I’ve always had extreme anxiety. Shortness of breath, cold sweats, chest pains. The works.” Anna narrowed her eyes. “Just because I have a medical condition doesn’t mean I hurt my child.”

  Ace flashed her another smile. “Didn’t say it did, ma’am. Just covering those bases.”

  “Oh.” She leaned across the table toward Ace. The delectable scent of pure male mingled with Old Spice cologne sent flutters through her stomach. Carl had worn the same cologne, but somehow it hadn’t smelled nearly as wonderful on him as it did on Agent Valdez. Lexi’s pulse galloped, and this time it had nothing to do with her panic attack. “Mr. Valdez, do you think it’s possible Mrs. Jenkins did something to my daughter?”

  Ace held her gaze for a moment, his brown eyes seeming to study every crevice of her face before answering. “I don’t know. What I do know is that both of you can’t be telling the truth. One of you knows something about Anna’s disappearance, and I intend to find out which one.”

  * * *

  Ace watched Lexi exit the interrogation room, hug a stylishly dressed, gray-haired woman – presumably her mother – and walk out of the precinct with her hand tightly clasped on the woman’s arm.

  A sure sign she was on the verge of crumbling.

  A twinge of guilt tweaked Ace’s conscience. He’d been tough on her hoping she’d give away something – anything – that would help him find the missing child. His persistent questions, rephrased sentences and deliberate baiting should have exposed something relevant if Lexi were indeed guilty as the Plaquemines Parish sheriff believed.

  So far it hadn’t.

  He’d worked with the FBI long enough to pick up on even the smallest of details, and though the Gator Bay Police Department seemed to have already pegged Lexi as the prime suspect in her daughter’s disappearance, Ace had wanted to get a feel for the case himself first before making a determination.

  As an expert in the field of child abductions, one of the first lessons he’d learned was to never assume anything. Facts, minute details and forensics were much more important than the assumptions or opinions of pompous local law enforcement officers.

  His training in behavioral analysis guided him through his interrogations. He could usually pick up on mannerisms to help determine a suspect’s credibility. Unfortunately, what he’d picked up on with Lexi wasn’t so cut and dried. Sure, she appeared as jittery as a cat at a dogfight. But was it because she had something to hide like the GBPD believed or was it because her child was missing?

  Ace flipped through the folder and pulled out a picture of a smiling three-year-old girl. With the same honey-blonde hair, creamy skin and wide, sparkling blue eyes as Lexi, Anna was a little replica of her mother. The only difference was the infectious smile plastered across the little girl’s face where Lexi’s full, pink-glossed lips had remained tight and worried throughout the entire interrogation.

  A normal reaction to the situation.

  Only there wasn’t anything normal about this particular case. The daycare worker claimed Lexi had picked up Anna at two and there was nothing in Mrs. Jenkins’ statement that indicated she wasn’t telling the truth. The elderly woman had seemed genuinely distraught over the incident when he’d questioned her earlier. No shifting eyes or nervous chatter. No unusual hand movements or shady details. Just concern and anguish over the missing child. Mrs. Jenkins’ story had remained the same throughout the interrogation. She didn’t deviate from her original statement, nor did she sound flustered. On the surface, Mrs. Jenkins appeared to be telling the truth.

  But Lexi’s story was equally compelling. Past her immaculately French-manicured fingernails, tailored white capris with a matching navy-and-white sailor top and the Gucci handbag she had kept a death grip on in her lap, Ace had felt her grief. His gut told him she really believed someone had taken her child.

  Baiting her had proven pointless. Instead of slipping up and revealing something crucial to the case, she had turned the table on him. Lashing out at him where it hurt the most.

  Ace’s chest tightened. Lexi’s snide remark about his heritage hit home more than he cared to admit. Ten years with the FBI should have eradicated his hang-up about his Hispanic lineage.

  It hadn’t.

  He still felt the same blow to his ego whenever someone – especially someone like Lexi with obvious wealth and prestige – looked down on him for being Hispanic.

  Poor spic from the Bronx.

  The taunt from his childhood tumbled through his mind. Ace clenched his fist. Even after years as a special agent, finally making a moderate living and giving his life to the Lord a few years back, he still struggled with the feeling of not being good enough.

  Just like his father hadn’t been good enough for his mother.

  Which was precisely why he kept all relationships at a distance. He didn’t plan on letting anyone – especially a woman – hurt him the way his mother had hurt his father. But there was something about Lexi’s pleading blue eyes that tugged at his heart.

  Something that made him want her to be innocent.

  Ace pushed back his chair, pulled out another caramel and popped it in his mouth. He walked to the doorway, propped his foot on the baseboard and watched the everyday activities taking place inside the precinct.

  Two of the local cops drank coffee at the small round table in the corner of the office. The dispatcher spoke quietly on the phone while the receptionist handed someone a complaint form to fill out. The sheriff and one of the deputies, Rob Owens, had left with his federal partner, Zach, to pick up Lexi’s computer.

  Ace swallowed the candy, his lips tightening. Someone knew what had happened to the little girl.

  He closed his eyes briefly. Lord, please protect this child from harm and show me the way to find her. He hesitated for a moment, then added, And please give Lexi Yates the strength to endure whatever we find.

  Ace opened his eyes and stepped out of the interrogation room. If Lexi were indeed innocent, she was going to need all the strength she could get to make it through this trying time.

  But if she were guilty...

  A knot formed in Ace’s stomach. He steeled his mind against his personal feelings and focused on the case.

  If she were guilty, then she’d need God’s strength to endure what he had in store for her. Anyone who deliberately harmed a child was fair game as far as he was concerned.

  Ace curled his hand into a tight fist. Somebody was going to pay for taking Anna. And if the child were hurt in any way, that somebody would live to regret it.

  He would make sure of it.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “You really should eat something, hon.”

  “I’m not hungry.” Lexi sat cross-legged on her couch, hugging the over-sized stuffed yellow duck to her chest.

  A spasm arrowed through her stomach. Had her baby girl cried herself to sleep last night without the comfort of her favorite toy? Could she even sleep at all without Mr. Quackers? What if she was hungry? Were they feeding her? What if…?

  “You can’t help Anna if you don’t keep your strength up.” Victoria Carlisle held a foam plate with two sandwich halves toward Lexi. “Just a few bites, hon. Please.”

  Lexi dragged her eyes from the hallway leading to Anna’s room to look at her mother. “What if Anna’s not eating, Mom? How can I eat something if my baby is going hungry?”

  Victoria sat down on the couch beside Lexi, sympathy filling her dark brown eyes. She held the plate in her lap, her red-painted thumbnail contrasting with the white edge of the plate. “I know this is hard, but you have to t
ake care of yourself. Anna’s going to need a strong mother right now. We’re going to find her, Lexi. You have to stay positive.”

  Lexi sniffed back a tear, set Mr. Quackers to the side and took the plate from her mother. She bit off a tiny piece of the sandwich.

  Ham and cheese. One of Anna’s favorites. The kind with little pieces of cheese sprinkled through the meat. Anna used to get a kick out of picking each piece of cheese from the ham and leaving tiny holes she could peek through.

  Lexi’s chest squeezed again. Where was her baby? Were the kidnappers feeding her? Wiping away her tears?

  She bit the inside of her cheek to chase those thoughts from her mind. Thinking the worst wasn’t helping.

  Focus, Lexi. Focus on something else.

  “Where’s Dad?” Lexi took another small bite and swallowed. Her body was so tense she couldn’t even taste the salt in the ham much less anything else. But to appease her mother she took a few more bites.

  “He’s out with one of the FBI agents.” Victoria patted her daughter’s leg. “They’re checking abandoned houses, barns and such.”

  Nausea gripped Lexi’s stomach. The few bites she had eaten threatened to rush back up. She set the plate with the uneaten half of the sandwich on the coffee table in front of her. “I should be out there looking too. I should be doing something.”

  Victoria’s dark eyes darted toward the den a few feet away where Agent Valdez and the local sheriff had set up a command post. Beeps and crackling from some of the surveillance machines drifted through the doorway. “Didn’t you say the FBI thought it would be best if you remained close to the phone in case there was a ransom call?”

  “It’s been three days, Mom. Wouldn’t they have called by now if it was money they wanted?” Lexi tried to keep the fear out of her voice. If it wasn’t money they wanted, then what? What could they possibly want with her daughter?

  Images of child smugglers and seedy-looking predators popped into her mind. Lexi bit back a cry. No! Please, no! Not that!

  “Maybe they’re just biding their time.”

  Lexi didn’t miss the doubt in her mother’s voice. Another wave of fear clutched her throat. What if she never saw Anna again? What if…

  “Are you still taking your medicine?” Victoria asked gently. “With everything that has happened, the added stress could be a setback for you if you aren’t careful.”

  Lexi jerked her wandering mind back to her mother’s question. Focus, Lexi. Stay strong for Anna.

  Lexi swallowed hard and nodded. She glanced toward the den and hoped the FBI couldn’t hear their conversation. That’s all she needed. The FBI thinking she was a nut-case on meds. Keeping her voice low, Lexi whispered, “I’m taking them. Not that they are helping much right now.”

  Victoria took Lexi’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “It would be so much worse without them, hon. I can’t bear the thought of you having a relapse like when Carl died.” Her mother’s voice quivered. “We nearly lost you that time.”

  “I know. I’m being careful.” The memories of those dark days following Carl’s death flooded her mind. She wouldn’t let her panic attacks win this time. She couldn’t. She had to stay strong for Anna. Lexi blinked and willed the unpleasant memories from her mind. “I won’t let that happen. I promise.”

  “Good.” Victoria offered a half-smile. “I can’t handle the thought of losing you too.”

  Lexi clutched her mother’s hand as if it were a life preserver. And in a way it was. “What do you really think, Mom? Why do you think someone took my Anna?”

  Victoria averted her eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe it was a woman who couldn’t have children. Maybe someone is upset with you about something. Maybe…” Her voice shook. “I can’t answer that for you, Lexi. This is why your father and I didn’t want you to move away from home. This–”

  Lexi rose to her feet, shoulders slumped. “You think this is my fault, don’t you?”

  Shocked, Victoria’s head snapped toward Lexi. “No! Of course not! I just meant–”

  “I know what you meant. If I had stayed in Texas like you and Dad wanted none of this would have happened.” Lexi’s throat clogged. “It’s all my fault.”

  How many times in the last three days had she thought the same thing? Guilt gnawed at her like a squirrel with a nut. This was all her fault. If she’d stayed in Dallas her daughter wouldn’t be missing. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have put Anna in this kind of danger?

  “Oh, Lexi, hon. That’s not what I meant. No one blames you.” Victoria sprang to her feet and hugged her daughter tight. “I just meant if you were still living near us, maybe we could have protected you from all of this.” She lifted Lexi’s chin with her thumb. “You’re still my daughter. When you’re hurting I’m hurting. I know you feel you’ve let Anna down. Just like your father and I feel we’ve let you down. This is not your fault, Lexi. We’re not blaming you. We want Anna back just as much as you do. She’s our baby too.” Victoria’s voice caught, tears filling her dark eyes. “But so are you, hon.”

  Lexi leaned against her mother’s shoulder, tears flowing freely now. She was so thankful to have two wonderful parents who cared. If it hadn’t been for them, she would have already fallen to pieces.

  The minute she called to tell them Anna was missing, they had called in the FBI without giving the local authorities a chance to follow protocol, driven straight from Dallas to Gator Bayou and jumped right into the search for Anna. They’d even contacted her employer to let him know she would be out indefinitely and called her close friend and co-worker, Lisa Rollins, who was out of town for a wedding for the week, to let her know what was going on. What would she have done without her parents? They were her rock. Always had been. Even after Carl’s death they had been there to pick up the pieces.

  Her parents were the one thing she could thank God for, but with everything else she felt He had forsaken her. With Carl’s unexpected death and her already overactive anxiety, the little faith she had in God had been shaken to the core. Her faith had never been as strong as Carl’s and even though she had tried to be the perfect pastor’s wife, she always felt she had fallen short. Was that why God had let this happen? Because her faith had taken a nose-dive after her husband’s death. Or had God simply abandoned her?

  Panic slithered across her spine. Was this her punishment for not being as strong of a believer as Carl?

  She lifted her head and whispered in her mother’s ear. “The police think I did it. They’re blaming me for Anna’s disappearance.”

  Victoria squared her shoulders in a huff. “Well, I’ve never!” She narrowed her eyes toward the den. “I have half a mind to march in there and set them straight. Why, you would never hurt Anna. Never!”

  “Mom, no!” Lexi took a step back. She laid her hand on her mother’s arm and pleaded. “Please, don’t say anything to make it worse. I just want them to find Anna. I’m sure ruling me out as a suspect is simply part of their job.” Lexi’s voice quivered. “I just wish their accusations didn’t make me feel so guilty.”

  “Hmph!” Victoria shook her head. “That’s ridiculous! You’re not–”

  A light tap on the entryway leading into the den stopped Victoria’s indignant speech short.

  Ace stepped through the doorway into the living room. “I hope I’m not interrupting, but we need to speak to you for a moment, Ms. Yates.”

  Lexi shot a nervous look toward her mother before settling her gaze on Ace. A pink stain climbed her face. “No. You’re not interrupting. “And please call me Lexi.”

  Ace knitted his brow and looked from mother to daughter. Had he interrupted something?

  Lexi’s red-blotched face and suspiciously moist eyes made her appear even more vulnerable than she had yesterday at the precinct. Lexi’s mother, on the other hand, stood tall and proud in her custom-tailored pale yellow suit. With short, stylishly gray hair, squared-back shoulders and haughty demeanor, Mrs. Carlisle shot him a dark-eyed look that
pinned him with daggers.

  Ace bristled. Was her anger directed at him or at Lexi? Did she think her daughter was hiding something too?

  “Lexi…” Ace dipped his chin toward her. “Please come into the den.”

  “Lexi will not be answering any more of your questions without her lawyer present.” Victoria’s voice hardened as she turned to her daughter. “I’ll call Mr. Bolten. I’m sure he’ll make the trip to Gator Bayou if we need him to.”

  Ace’s stomach clenched. Did Mrs. Carlisle know something? Is that why she was insisting on an attorney?

  “No, Mom. That won’t be necessary.” Lexi cleared her throat.

  A shiver of unease worked its way down Ace’s spine. Lord, is she guilty after all?

  Victoria pursed her lips. “Lexi, I really think–”

  Lexi laid her hand on Victoria’s arm. “Really, Mom, it’s okay.” She turned to Ace, her blue eyes wide and frightened. “I’m ready.”

  Ace blinked.

  Ready?

  To tell the truth?

  His chest tightened, and he realized how much he wanted her to be innocent. A ridiculous notion considering he really didn’t know her, but still…

  “Agent Valdez?” Lexi’s soft voice slid over him like black velvet. “You had some questions?”

  Ace swallowed hard. Get it together, Valdez. Just because she seemed genuinely concerned for her daughter doesn’t mean she’s not guilty. Maybe there really had been an accident and maybe she was ready to come clean. Isn’t this what he was here for? To find out what had really happened to Anna. So why did he feel as if he’d been hit in the gut with a sledgehammer?

  “Agent Valdez?” Lexi’s blonde brows knit together.

  “Call me Ace.” Ace shook off the disappointment. He had a job to do.

  “Ace … then.” Lexi offered him a tight smile. “That’s an unusual name.”

  For a poor spic you mean.

  “It’s a nickname actually. My first name is Miguel, but everyone calls me Ace. Please, come into the den. We’d like to ask you a couple more questions.” He stood aside while she gracefully crossed the plush blue carpet and entered the other room.