“What do we do now?” asked Beth when they were back in the living room.
The detectives gave her some pamphlets to read and advised the couple to contact the National Center for Missing Kids for extra support and assistance while they continued to search for Lainey.
“They have a lot of resources to help families cope with situations like this,” Detective Dubov said.
“Thanks,” said Tom, peering over Beth’s shoulder at the pamphlets while she searched through them.
“Do you have any suspects at all?” William asked.
“Unfortunately, not yet,” Samuels said. “We’re working on it though.”
“Have any recent sex offenders been released from jail?” Helen asked.
William cringed but didn’t say anything.
“Not recently, but we are certainly checking on offenders in that area and surrounding neighborhoods,” Dubov replied.
Beth’s phone rang. She saw that it was Mike and sighed in relief.
“I’m at the airport. I’m going to stop at my place quickly and then head over,” he told her. “Have you learned anything new about Lainey yet?”
“No, unfortunately,” she said sadly.
Mike sighed. “Don’t worry, Beth. I’m sure they’ll find her.”
Beth had learned that each hour Lainey stayed missing meant the chances of finding her became slimmer, but she refused to accept it. Tears filled her eyes again. “I hope so.”
“Has anyone called about a ransom?”
“No,” she replied, although if the kidnapping was about money, at least it would offer her more hope of getting Lainey back. Even if they had to borrow money from her father. He’d already offered to lend her whatever was needed.
“Is Tom with you?”
“Yes,” she replied, looking over at her ex, who was still talking with the police.
“Are you sure he didn’t have anything to do with it?”
Beth wiped the moisture from under her eyes. Why was everyone asking about Tom being involved? “He would never do something like that,” she said in a low voice.
“I just…” he sighed, “was thinking that…he is a gambler. I mean, what if he owed a large sum of money to some bookie and decided that a ransom was the only way to go?”
“Now that makes no sense at all,” Beth said, the idea of Tom being involved sounding ludicrous. She would know if her ex-husband was capable of that and Tom wasn’t. “Besides, I have no money and he knows that.”
“Maybe not, but your parents do and I’m not exactly struggling with finances.”
Beth knew that Mike, and his brother Mitch, were very well off. He lived in an expensive house in Wayzata, drove a Porsche, and owned a large boat. Although she hadn’t yet been on it, she’d seen pictures of his Carver and knew it cost more than her home.
Beth stepped out of the living room and into the kitchen for privacy. “Mike, he would never do this. I know Tom. He might have a gambling problem but he’d never put his own daughter in danger or use her to pay a gambling debt.”
“Even in a matter of life or death? If he owed the wrong people money, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t take an IOU.”
“He didn’t do this,” she said firmly.
“Okay,” he replied. “You know him better than anyone, I guess. Or, at least you must have thought you did before marrying him.”
She couldn’t argue that point. If she’d known how bad Tom’s gambling habit had been, she might not have married him in the first place. Still, kidnapping his own child and thinking that he could get away with it? That wasn’t Tom. Besides, in her own way, she still loved the man and the thought of him doing something so sinister wasn’t anything she wanted to consider.
“Okay, Babe. My ride is here,” Mike said. “I’ll see you soon.”
They hung up and Beth returned to the living room. She stared at Tom as he spoke to Samuels and found that although she’d protested his innocence, she was beginning to wonder why he was being so pigheaded about the lie detector test.
Chapter 8
Four Days Later
Carissa
CARISSA JONES FOLLOWED the hostess to the booth, where Dustin Frazer was seated and waiting for her. Noticing her arrival, he stood up.
Carissa thanked the woman and sat down across from him. She breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne and realized how much she’d missed it. Along with the man who still took her breath away.
“Hi, gorgeous,” Dustin said, sitting back down. “It’s great seeing you again.”
“You, too,” she replied, noticing the tiredness in his eyes and the new sprinkle of gray in his sideburns. It had been a few months since they’d last seen each other and his appearance concerned her. He was only thirty-four and his job as a private detective was definitely affecting his health. But, it shouldn’t have been a surprise to her. Dustin threw himself into his work and some of his cases were nasty. Including the one he wanted to talk to her about.
Dustin grinned. “I know. You don’t have to say it,” he said, as if reading her mind. “I look like shit.”
“Shit? Not at all,” she said honestly.
Even as tired as he looked, Dustin was still the most attractive man in the room. In any room, as far as she was concerned. She’d missed looking into those gray-blue eyes. Running her hands through his curly black hair. And seeing his adorable dimples, which still made her swoon. Carissa was just glad that he wasn’t the psychic in the booth. He’d know that just seeing him made her heart ache.
“You look like you haven’t slept in a while, though,” she said to him.
“The bed is cold without you,” he said in a low voice. “What can I say?”
They’d ended their relationship on a bad note and it had nothing to do with lack of love or desire. The problem had been Dustin’s unwillingness to take her psychic premonitions seriously. At least when they involved him. In a couple of her visions, she’d seen him get shot and had implored Dustin to make a career change. Stubbornly, he refused to even consider it. That had started a wave of arguments and eventually, it ended their relationship. But, Carissa knew that he still had feelings for her, as she did for him. Unfortunately, his passion for his job overrode everything else, even his love life. Part of her understood, especially since he was driven by the fact that his sister had been abducted many years ago and never found. He’d spent most of his career trying to find answers, which even Carissa couldn’t provide. Now, after leaving a career in law enforcement, he was a private investigator and specialized in missing persons.
“Not fair. And we’re not here to talk about us, if I remember correctly.”
He sighed. “No. But, for the record, I miss you.”
Their eyes met and she smiled. “I know.”
They both laughed.
The waitress took that moment to check on the couple. Carissa ordered an iced tea and Dustin, a beer. When they were left alone again, she asked him about the case.
Dustin pulled out a manila folder. He took out a picture of the missing girl and told her everything he knew about the investigation.
“The police haven’t had any luck and that’s why Lainey’s grandfather, William McKenzie, called me.”
“And you haven’t made much progress either,” she said, staring down at the photo. Lainey reminded her a lot of Chloe, the last girl she’d helped locate, with her long blonde hair and blue eyes, only a little older.
“No.”
She closed her eyes. Carissa had asked Dustin not to tell her too much so she could feel out the case with an open mind. All she really knew was that the girl had been taken from Walmart while shopping with her mother.
“Do you think she’s alive?” he asked softly, breaking the silence after several seconds.
“Yes,” replied Carissa, feeling it in her gut. “She’s…valuable to her kidnappers.”
“Trafficking?”
She opened her eyes. “I think so.”
“Did you happen to c
atch the news about the missing eleven-year old boy? Sammy Johnson?”
“No. When did he go missing?” she asked, saddened to hear that another child was missing.
“Last night. Around seven-thirty. Apparently, he was last seen leaving a friend’s house on foot. He never made it home.”
News like this made her sick to her stomach. Children were so innocent and the world was filled with such wicked, wicked people. Most of them having been victims themselves at one point, repeating patterns. “So, there weren’t any witnesses?”
“No.”
Carissa sighed.
“Do you think it’s related to Lainey’s case?”
She frowned. “To tell you the truth, I’m drawing a blank. Where did he disappear?”
“By Lake Calhoun.”
Carissa chewed on her lower lip. “I just… Unfortunately, I’m having a hard time concentrating here.” She put the photo back into the folder. “It’s too hectic in the restaurant.”
Dustin’s eyes twinkled. “We could go back to my place. Turn off the lights. Put on some soft music. Hell, I’d even be willing to give you a massage if it will help you relax more,”
“Yeah, I bet,” she said with a small smile. “I think we should go to where Lainey was taken, Walmart, and the sooner, the better. Maybe something will come to me about Sammy, too.”
His face became serious again. “Okay. Let’s just grab a quick bite and head over there. I haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
“Why does that not surprise me? You need to start taking better care of yourself.”
“This case has made me lose my appetite,” he said, staring down at the menu.
“I can imagine.” Carissa opened up her menu and decided on a cup of chili and a grilled cheese sandwich. It was supposed to snow and the case was already chilling her to the bone. She needed warmth and comfort food. “So, did you mention to Lainey’s parents that you were seeking advice from a psychic?”
“Not yet. I’m not sure how they’ll react. I figured if you are able to pick up something important. Something that could help. I’d go from there.”
“I understand.” Carissa was used to skeptics and cynics. Most people thought she was a fraud or a nut-job. Hell, sometimes she wondered if she was a little crazy. But, there was no denying her visions or dreams. Especially, when they came true.
The waitress returned with their drinks and they ordered food.
“How did things go up north?” he asked her. “You found that missing girl, right?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, he killed another child, though, and got away. It was a mess.” Carissa told him what had happened in Castle Danger.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You did what you could and saved Chloe’s life. There’s no shame in that. You should be proud of yourself.”
Carissa’s smile was humble. “I know. I just hope he doesn’t go after her again.”
“Do you think he will?”
“I really don’t know.” She sighed. “It’s so frustrating… only getting bits and pieces of things. I mean, I really don’t have a clue whether or not he’s going to go after her again. But, I’m pretty sure he is going to keep looking for the daughter he lost. Which means more victims. It’s upsetting. I wish he hadn’t gotten away.”
“I’m sure. You haven’t had any other premonitions about the guy?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Although, it’s only been a few days. Anyway, ever since you called me, I keep thinking about Lainey and she’s the priority at the moment.” Carissa opened up the folder again and stared down at the picture again. Frowning, she looked at Dustin.
“What is it?”
“I almost feel like that her abductor isn’t the real threat.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
Carissa stared off into space and was silent for a few seconds. She was suddenly struck with a premonition that made her sick to her stomach. Carissa closed her eyes to try and see more. “Her captor isn’t going to hurt her but… someone else will. Someone who enjoys…” She envisioned a man in a tuxedo. She couldn’t see his face but noticed something that made her shudder.
“What is it?” Dustin asked, touching her hand.
She opened up her eyes. “I saw a wedding dress,” Carissa said grimly. “On Lainey.”
Chapter 9
Beth
“BETH, YOU HAVE to eat something,” William said, standing in her bedroom doorway. He looked around the dark room and fought the urge to open up her blinds and let in the afternoon sunshine. “You’re not doing Lainey any favors by starving yourself.”
She stared blindly at the television screen. “I’m not hungry.” Beth raised the remote control and began flipping through the channels. She wasn’t interested in watching TV but needed constant distraction to keep her sane.
William sighed and walked into the room. “I know you’re depressed and hurting. We’re all hurting. But, you have to stay strong for her and not give up.”
Beth knew he was right but her heart ached so damn badly. She could feel herself descending into deep despair and it wasn’t just depressing. It was exhausting. Even the thought of taking a shower seemed like too much work. Plus, with every hour she didn’t hear back from the police, the feeling of hopelessness debilitated her even more. If that wasn’t bad enough, Mike was heading out of town again, this time to view artwork from a painter for an upcoming show he was hosting. She understood that the world needed to go on, but for her, it couldn’t. Not without Lainey.
“Hey, I know. Why don’t we go out and hang more fliers?” he said, sitting down on the corner of the bed. “It will do you good to get out of the house and who knows, maybe the kidnappers have gotten less cautious with her? Someone might recognize Lainey from a gas station or a store. Maybe even a Mc. Donald’s.”
She didn’t say anything.
William sighed. “Okay, someone has to say it - stop feeling sorry for yourself. Lainey isn’t going to be found unless we all work together to bring her home. That means getting out of this house and doing something. Even if it’s just hanging up more damn posters.”
Beth looked at him. She knew he was right even though the last thing she felt like doing was getting out of bed. “Where do you propose we hang them? The kidnappers might not even be in the Twin Cities anymore.”
He squeezed her foot. “It doesn’t matter. We just need to do something and hiding in here isn’t helping.”
Beth turned off the television. He had a point. And she was feeling sorry for herself, which now made her feel ashamed. “I’ll go take a shower.”
Relief flooded his face. He smiled. “Now we’re talking. By the way, Tom is on his way over again.”
She nodded.
He and her father had finally put aside their differences. At least for the time being. Unlike her, Tom was harassing Samuels every day about updates and had even called some of the local radio stations, asking them to spread the news about Lainey. He’d also put together a meeting at Lainey’s elementary school, to let parents know what they could do to help as well as how to protect their own children. Beth was thankful for his determination and knew she should be doing the same things, but couldn’t seem to find the energy. It had gotten so bad that Mike had even suggested anti-depressants.
“Drugs aren’t going to bring her back,” she’d argued.
“No, but they might bring you back.”
Beth had brushed his advice off, knowing that it left him frustrated. But, she didn’t care. She knew that there was no way he could completely understand the turmoil she was going through. Although he loved Lainey, it wasn’t his flesh and blood who’d been kidnapped.
William told her that he’d keep an eye out for Tom and then walked out of the bedroom.
Beth dragged herself out of the bed, grabbed a towel, and took a shower. As the water slid down her head, she wept some more. Although she’d spent the last few days crying, it seemed like her tears were never ending. All Beth could think a
bout was Lainey. What she had to be going through. And… how her mother had failed her.
AFTER THE SHOWER, Beth threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, noting that her clothes were beginning to hang on her. Her father was obviously right. She needed to eat, at least for Lainey’s sake.
When Beth finally made it to the kitchen, she saw that Tom and her father were seated at the table and in deep conversation.
“Hi, Beth,” Tom said, looking up at her.
“Hi.” She walked over to the coffee machine and proceeded to make herself a cup.
“Have you told Beth yet?” Tom asked William.
Beth looked over her shoulder. “Told me what?”
“I hired a private investigator a couple of days ago. To see if he could help find Lainey,” said William.
Surprised, she walked over to the table. Like Tom, she felt as if the police weren’t doing enough and so this was good news. “Really? Has he found out anything yet?”
“No, unfortunately. But, he believes that the men who took Lainey were definitely traffickers. In fact, I just got off the phone with him while you were in the shower,” William said, before taking a sip of coffee.
Beth sighed. If it really was sex-trafficking, God forbid, then they’d need nothing short of a miracle to find Lainey. She’d been doing some research and knew that right now, her daughter could be anywhere in or out of the country. “Do you honestly think he’ll have a better chance of finding her then the police?”
“He’s focused on finding her, and nobody else. Plus, he used to be a cop. I have to believe that if anyone can find her, it’s Dustin. Although, I’m starting to question his methods,” William replied with a funny smile.
“What do you mean?” Tom asked.
“He has this female psychic friend who has helped him locate children in the past. He spoke with her and she’s agreed to help,” William said.
Looking for Lainey Page 4