“Does Lexi attend services there?”
Mandy shook her head. “No. I guess she doesn’t attend church unless she goes somewhere out of town. Faith Community is the only church we have here in Gator Bayou. Our community is small, you know. I’ve invited her before, but so far she hasn’t come. I wish she would. It would be good for her and for Anna.” Mandy sputtered another gasp. “I–I mean when you find her, that is.” Her shoulders slumped and she shook her head. “I can’t imagine going through something like this without God to lean on.”
Emotion clogged his throat. Now that he knew the Lord on a personal level himself, he couldn’t imagine dealing with a situation like this without God either.
Yet, he had.
The day his brother was killed.
Ace swallowed hard. “I’ll let Lexi know.”
* * *
Lexi rearranged Anna’s multi-colored, three-tiered toy shelf for the third time in as many hours: Snakes and Ladders, Candyland and Operation stacked on the bottom beside a neat row of picture books, three Barbies and a talking dollhouse on the middle shelf, plus the baby doll or two staring back at her from the top shelf.
Lexi reached for one of the books. The Gingerbread Man. A lump formed in her throat as she flipped through the worn pages. The words blurred before her tear-filled eyes. But it didn’t matter. She knew them by heart. And so did Anna.
“How are you holding up?”
Lexi started at the soft-spoken words. Book clutched to her chest, she spun around only to find Ace a few feet behind her with one hand shoved into his trouser pocket and a pair of concerned brown eyes studying her.
“As well as can be expected.” She was afraid to find out the truth, but she had to ask. “Did you find something?”
Ace shook his head. “Nothing concrete. We do have a few more leads.” His eyes darted from the bed to the toy shelf. “Nice room.”
Lexi attempted a smile, but she was sure it came off as more of a grimace. “I finished decorating it the day Anna was taken. This is why I don’t have an alibi. I was here working on the wallpaper.” A choke clogged her throat. “I thought it was time to give Anna a big girl room, but she didn’t even get to see it.”
Ace knitted his brow. “You redecorated her room by yourself?”
“Four days ago. It was supposed to be a…” Lexi hiccupped on a sob. “A surprise.” She nodded toward the top of the wall where a pink border with purple stars stopped halfway along one of the walls. “The hardware store was out of the border, but they ordered some more for me.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “It’s probably in now. I forgot to go pick it up since … since Anna ... disappeared,” she finished softly.
An odd light flickered in the inky darkness of Ace’s eyes.
Surprise? Compassion? Admiration?
Lexi couldn’t be sure.
Ace lowered himself to the toddler bed and sat down. It creaked beneath his weight. “Tell me about Anna.” He patted the edge of bed beside him.
If she hadn’t been so worried about her baby, Lexi would have found the scene amusing. Ace’s strong muscular physique and strikingly handsome features seemed completely out of place on the hot pink and light-purple comforter with princess designs sprinkled throughout.
A very masculine man in a little girl’s domain.
Lexi blinked. Masculine? Strikingly handsome? Where had those thoughts come from?
Yet he was. In a charming, safe sort of way. He had an honest face. A face one could trust and depend on.
Lexi’s chest squeezed. She needed someone she could trust. Someone who would be in her corner, but was Agent Valdez the one? Somehow she didn’t think so. Not while he still suspected her of being involved with Anna’s abduction.
For now, she’d have to stay on her toes. Watch what she said and how she acted. She couldn’t afford to have any more suspicion cast her way. But it was exhausting being on guard all of the time while the FBI followed her every move when all she wanted to do was let go, grieve and let someone else share her burden. But she couldn’t. Not while she was the prime suspect in her own daughter’s abduction. Every action, every word she uttered was under federal scrutiny.
Lexi’s lips thinned. She ignored his invitation to sit. Instead she remained rooted to the spot. “Anna is my pride and joy. I don’t know what I would have done without her after Carl died. She is my reason to live.” Watch it, Lexi. Don’t let him know you were so close to the edge a few months ago.
Lexi closed her mind to the dark thoughts. “Anna loves Disney movies, finger painting and lightning bugs.”
“Lightning bugs?” Ace arched a dark brow.
A smile tugged on Lexi’s lips. “Yes. Actually they’re fireflies, but we call them lightning bugs down here. She has such a ball chasing them after dark. I can still hear her little giggles each time she’d grab for one.”
“Anna doesn’t have a bedtime?”
Heat singed Lexi’s cheeks. Was this a trap? A way of determining whether or not she was a fit mother?
She gripped the book in her hand. “Of course she does, but sometimes, if she’d had a long nap during the day, I’d let her stay up later and we’d go outside for a little while and look for them. Not very often,” Lexi added hurriedly.
Ace grinned. “Sounds like fun. Maybe I should try it. What else does she like to do?”
Lexi blinked again. Big shot FBI guy chasing lightning bugs? A mental picture of his tall body running behind Anna’s tiny one after the elusive nocturnal bug popped in her mind. But instead of seeming ridiculous, the image brought a lump to her throat. Anna needed a father figure in her life. Someone who would love her and treasure her as much as Carl had. Someone like…
Don’t even think it. Not for a moment! Lexi chided herself sharply. How could you betray Carl with such a thought?
No one could ever take Carl’s place in either of their lives and she should be ashamed for even contemplating it for one second.
Sleep deprivation. That’s what was causing such insane thoughts. That and the fact it was time for her anxiety meds. Why else would Ace’s handsome face be occupying so many of her thoughts?
Lexi shoved the image from her mind. “Anna likes for me to read to her.” She held out the book. It trembled in her hands. “This is her favorite story. I read it to her every night.” She lowered her lashes. “At least I used to until…”
Ace was beside her in two quick strides. “Lexi, you can’t give up hope.” He lifted her chin with his knuckle. Salty tears trickled down her cheek, past her lips and pooled between his fingers.
“I–It’s been four days. My baby has been missing for four days.”
“I know.” The softness of his voice surprised her. It was almost as if he understood. Almost as if he believed her.
“Why haven’t they called? I don’t understand what they want from me?”
“I’m sure we’ll know soon.” Ace removed his knuckle from her chin and patted her shoulder. From anyone else it would have seemed like an awkward gesture, but for some reason Lexi took comfort in it. She closed her eyes for a moment. It would be so easy to lean against his strong shoulders. To take strength from his broad form.
But she couldn’t. Not while he still considered her a suspect.
Lexi’s eyes flew open. “What if Anna’s hurt? What if she needs me? What if–”
“Don’t.” Ace squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t torture yourself with what ifs. We don’t know anything yet. And that includes the bad.”
“I don’t think I can do this much longer,” Lexi whispered. “I miss her so much.”
Blood pounded in her temples. Dizziness washed over her and her insides felt like a massive cocoon of butterflies had just hatched.
“You have to. For Anna.” Ace took her hand and held it between his. She could feel moisture collecting in hers as her body broke out into a cold sweat. But, somehow, Ace’s hands, firmly grasping hers, had a calming effect on her. “You’re not alone, Lexi. Your parents are h
ere for you and we have many, many people out looking for Anna. Something’s bound to turn up sooner or later. The whole community wants to help you.”
Lexi shook her head. Pain shot through her temples with each shake. “They don’t want to help me. Everyone thinks I did it. The community just wants justice. They’re hoping I’ll slip up so they can put me in jail and throw away the key.” Lexi’s hand tightened on the book. “I’ve seen the accusing looks and heard the whispers.”
“That’s not true. Mandy Whitman’s church is holding vigil for Anna Saturday night. She wants you to come. She wants you to know the church is there for you if you need anything.”
“I can’t go.” The words burst from her lips in a rush. “I just can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t deal with the accusations right now. I didn’t do anything to my daughter and I have no way of proving it. I can’t deal with that and with the fact my daughter is missing too.” Lexi’s voice caught. The entire ordeal was exhausting. “I–It’s too much.”
“You’re wrong. The church just wants to help. No one is accusing you.”
“You are.” The two simple words trembled from her lips and hung in the air between them.
Ace inhaled sharply. “I won’t lie to you, Lexi. I have to investigate every possible lead. My personal feelings on the matter aren’t relevant. Only the facts.”
Lexi’s gaze caught his. “And what are your personal feelings? Do you think I did something to Anna?”
She held her breath as she waited on his answer, not realizing how important it was for him to believe her until she had asked the question. She needed him to believe her. Needed to know someone besides her parents believed in her. She needed it just as much as she needed oxygen to breath.
* * *
Questioning blue eyes stared up at Ace, pleading for an answer he couldn’t give.
Not yet anyway.
“Let’s get some coffee.” Ace took Lexi’s elbow and guided her toward the door. Her body deflated like four tires hitting road spikes, disappointment ebbing from every pore.
Ace tightened his jaw. No matter how many cases he was involved in or how many years he’d been on the force, this job never seemed to get any easier.
He knew better than to get personally involved with any case, but this time was different.
It felt personal.
Which was ridiculous since he knew next to nothing about Lexi. Yet, somehow, he felt a connection with her. Something he’d never experienced before with any other woman.
Dangerous ground there, Valdez. You know better than to let any woman get under your skin. Especially a case.
Ace pushed the thought to the side. He needed to focus on Anna and the facts. Not on Lexi’s china blue eyes begging him to help her. Or the way she seemed to be aware of him too. Like when her fingers barely brushed his when handing him a pen or when her shoulder touched him ever so lightly as they passed in the hall. The soft gasp from her lips told him she had felt something too.
Lord, please help me keep this case on a professional basis and give me the wisdom to determine Lexi’s innocence or guilt. And please keep Anna safe until we can find her.
Ace led Lexi into the hall. He finished his prayer as Zach strode toward them with a solemn look on his ruddy, round face.
Ace’s heart bungee-jumped to his toes.
The news couldn’t be good.
Zach stopped in front of them, eyes darting to Lexi then back to Ace. “Ace, I need to talk to you privately.”
Ace nodded and turned to Lexi. “Excuse me for–”
“No.” Lexi stiffened. “Whatever it is, I should hear it too.” Ace felt a sudden quiet strength take hold of her. He could almost feel the steel wall snapping into place around her, protecting her from what he knew would not be good news.
Guilt niggled at him. He wished he could have been the one to protect her from all of this. But he couldn’t. Not while she remained their key suspect.
Zach looked at Ace and shook his head sharply. “Ms. Yates, it would be best if I spoke with Ace in–”
“Whatever you have to say, Agent Cartwright, you can say it in front of me. I’ve waited for four grueling days to find out something – anything – about my daughter, and I don’t intend to let you tiptoe around it now.” The determination in Lexi’s voice surprised Ace. Other than a small quiver in her voice, it was apparent Lexi had more strength in her than he’d given her credit for.
Then again, he should have realized that. He’d seen flashes of it when he’d tried to break her in the interview room four days ago. Without success, he realized ruefully.
Lexi drew herself up to her full height. Probably no more than five six. Though he towered over her by several inches and Zach was a couple of inches taller than her himself, Lexi didn’t seem to notice. Or care. Twin blue lasers pinned Zach with a non- negotiable stare. “Where is Anna?”
Zach shifted his weight to his left foot and shot Ace a helpless look.
Ace nodded. “It’s okay. You can speak freely in front of Lexi. What did you find?”
Zach’s gaze zoned in on Lexi. “We have a credible eye witness who can place Lexi with Anna around three-thirty the day the child disappeared. An hour and a half after Anna was allegedly taken from the daycare.”
CHAPTER FOUR
That’s not possible. I was here. Wallpapering Anna’s room.
Ace pulled a hand through his hair as Lexi’s denial tumbled through his mind. She’d sounded so sincere he had almost believed her.
Yet here was the proof.
In black and white.
“Stop. Pause it right there.” Ace leaned over Sam’s shoulder and studied the security tape. “There.” He pointed to the grainy picture on the monitor in the Gator Bayou Police Department. “Is that a scar on her left shoulder? Or maybe a tattoo?” It was hard to tell what was on her shoulder beneath the tank top.
“I don’t see anything.” Sheriff Dawson adjusted his glasses and peered closer. “I think it’s just poor quality video. I’m sure Bill’s Best Burgers doesn’t use top-notch surveillance to monitor fast food theft. Do you see anything, Deputy Owens?”
“No. Just looks like the Yates woman to me.” Rob Owens leaned over Ace’s shoulder to get a better look. “I say it’s her.”
“Could be, but you’re right. The image quality isn’t very good, so I can’t be a hundred percent positive.” Ace was just thankful the teenage girl working behind the counter four days ago had remembered seeing Anna. She’d recognized her from the news report and had called the station. The sheriff had secured the security tape from the manager of the hamburger joint located a few miles south of Gator Bayou. Luckily, the manager, Bill Walker, had been more than happy to give it to him. Another plus of small towns. Most of the townsfolk were usually willing to help each other any way they could.
“Doesn’t matter.” Sheriff Dawson looked over his shoulder at Ace. “That’s definitely Lexi and Anna at the counter. The time stamp on the tape is 3:32. We have enough now to bring her to the station for formal questioning.”
Ace studied the picture on the screen. Sheriff Dawson was right. The grainy image of the woman on the tape did look like Lexi. Same light-colored, shoulder-length hair. Same build. Same upturned nose. And even though the image wasn’t perfectly clear, the woman’s resemblance to Lexi was remarkable. He couldn’t see the color of her eyes since the video was in black and white, but if he were a betting man, he’d stake his career on the fact they were china blue. Nor was there any question that the young child with her was Anna.
But something wasn’t right. Anna appeared frightened and she kept pulling her hand from Lexi’s.
Ace frowned. The child seemed to be crying. “Hit play. I want to see the rest of it.”
Sheriff Dawson pressed the play button. The rest of the footage lasted only a few minutes. Lexi tapped her foot impatiently while she waited on the order. She kept a tight grasp on Anna’s hand and every few seco
nds she looked around nervously as if worried someone was watching her. Then the African-American teenager behind the counter handed Lexi a bag. She took it without a backwards glance and pulled a reluctant Anna toward the door.
Ace blinked. Was Lexi limping? He leaned closer to the monitor. Yep. Definitely favoring her right foot.
Only Lexi didn’t have a limp.
“You ready to bring her in?” Sheriff Dawson leaned back in the chair and rubbed his chin.
“I want to talk with the teenager first.” Pressure squeezed at Ace’s temples, and he fished a caramel from his jacket pocket. He didn’t care for the smug tone in Sheriff Dawson’s voice. Something didn’t feel right about this and his gut instinct told him something didn’t add up.
* * *
The scent of grilled onions and burgers greeted Ace when he pushed open the glass door to Bill’s Best Burgers less than an hour later. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he’d skipped lunch.
Ace glanced at his wrist watch. Two-fifteen. The dining room was nearly empty since the lunch crowd had cleared out.
Good. Maybe the teenager would have time to talk.
Ace walked up to the counter.
“Can I help you?” A robust woman with bright red hair and a pen stuck behind her ear greeted him from behind the register. She smiled broadly.
Ace flashed his badge. “I’m Special Agent Valdez. I’d like to speak with Tenesha if she’s here.”
The woman – whose name tag read Louise – lost her smile. “Is she in some kind of trouble? I’m the assistant manager and I don’t put up that sort of thing on my shift.”
“No, nothing like that. I just have some questions for her.”
Louise stared at him for a moment as if deciding whether or not he was trouble, then she finally nodded and turned to holler over her shoulder. “Tenesha! I need you up front.”
Moments later a slender, light-skinned African-American girl emerged from behind the shake machine carrying a wet rag in one hand. Puzzled, she looked around the nearly empty dining room. “You needed me, Miss Louise?”
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