She returned her attention to him. “I’m learning more and more about you. I didn’t realize you did search and rescues.” The tension in his expression when talking about his mother was erased from his facial features. That was a taboo subject while Pals wasn’t. When she’d stopped by the center during the daytime, she’d met his Belgium Malinois, a beautiful black and brown dog.
“It’s where I met Nick and his dog when I first moved back here. We often go to the same search and rescues.”
“How long have you and Charlie been together?”
“Since I was in the army. I was his handler. He can sniff out explosives, and he’s saved my life a few times, not to mention the lives of other soldiers. Give him something to smell, and he’ll find it. We retired from the service at the same time, and I was allowed to have him.”
“How old is he?”
“Eleven.”
“I know the kids at the center love seeing Charlie. Have you talked to Nick about his ranch? Maybe the groups from Pals can go to Nick’s ranch. I’ve thought about the abandoned animals coming to our classes. I could use a couple of cats and dogs for the girls to hold while sharing their problems and concerns.”
“Good ideas.” Brody stood and held out his hand, which she grasped. “I need to contact Nick and let him know what happened with Ada.”
“Is he still at Piper’s apartment?”
“Probably.” He slipped his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. “Let me find out.”
“While you make the call, I’ll check with the nurses’ station about Ada’s personal belongings. She had a necklace around her neck that Piper…” If we can find her. Emma swallowed several times to relieve the dryness. “Piper might want the piece of jewelry as well as the ring on her mom’s left hand…” Her throat swelled again as though a large cotton ball was stuck in it. “Possibly a wedding ring.”
“We’ll find her. I intend to protect every kid at the center. I started it to give them a safe place, and that’s what it’s going to be.”
“And you’ve made it that in the short time it’s been open. Nothing happened at the center, but like you, I intend to find out what’s going on at the Harrison Apartment Complex.” Emma released her grip on his hand and headed for the hallway, meaning every word she’d said to Brody. Years ago, one of her good friends in high school had disappeared. There was a massive search for her. They found her remains a couple of years later, and there had been signs of abuse. An investigator said Kay must have met someone who did that to her when she ran away. Emma never felt that she would have run away. To this day, she still felt Kay wouldn’t have left home without at least leaving a note or calling to let her parents know she was all right. Kay never talked about running away. She would have told Emma, and Kay never did. They didn’t catch Kay’s murderer, and her parents never had any closure. Kay was one of the main reasons Emma became a child psychologist.
Could she have been taken like Piper possibly had? The idea popped into Emma’s mind and weaved its way deep into her thoughts.
At the nurses’ station, Emma inquired about the necklace, the ring, and any other personal items of Ada’s. The nurse told her that the patient’s belongings would go with her to the morgue, and the family could pick them up there since a relative wasn’t at the hospital.
She thanked the woman and walked away a few feet. Was there a clue on Ada that could help them figure out what happened today? She would ask Nick about that.
“I hope there will be an autopsy on Ada,” she said when Brody joined her.
“I agree. We need to know exactly what occurred, especially in light of the disappearance of Piper. It could be connected.”
“Is Nick at her apartment?”
Brody started for the exit. “Yes. He’s still processing the apartment, but he’ll be through soon. I’m swinging by my house and picking up Charlie. He wants to see if Charlie can pick up a scent trail.”
“I’ll follow you. I want to help. I can’t sleep knowing Piper may be in trouble.”
He held open the door for her. “I told Nick you would say that. Why don’t we ride together? Your house is between here and my home. You can drop your car off at your place, and I’ll drive you the rest of the way.”
“I can’t. I may have to leave before you and Nick are finished. I have a seven o’clock appointment.”
“You start your day that early? How many hours do you work a day?”
Outside under the security lamp, she sent Brody a smile. “I adjust my schedule according to when the children are available. Yes, I usually see some kids before they start school and, of course, after school, too. Then there are the ones I see at the hospital, in detention, and when they come to see me during their school day. It’s also why I work half a day on Saturday. My schedule is flexible and always changing.”
“I can let you know tomorrow what Nick and I find.”
She needed to be more involved. “No! I have to be in on what’s happening with Piper’s disappearance.” She still felt she could have done something to change the situation with Piper. “On second thought, I’ll leave my car at my house and go with you. I would never get any sleep if I didn’t know what was going on with Piper.”
“I understand. I’m just like you. I want answers right away, or I’ll keep digging until I get them.”
She felt the same way. Brody was someone who was easy to talk to. Being with him made her feel safe.
* * *
When Brody pulled into a parking space near Ada Nelson’s apartment right next to Nick’s SUV, Brody glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Ten forty-five. His attention shifted to Emma. Even in the dim light from the interior illumination, he could see the toll this evening had on her. Her beautiful features were set in a worried expression, her eyebrows slashing downward, her upper teeth nibbling on her lower lip. Her tightly clasped hands in her lap shouted to the world she was anxious. She didn’t think they would find Piper. That thought flitted through his mind, demanding that he make sure she was wrong.
Lord, please help us to find Piper and Maria. To find out what’s happening to the children at this apartment complex.
When Brody was apprehensive, he’d discovered the only way he could deal with it and keep moving forward was to turn to God. His presence always gave Brody hope. The Lord was the one who helped him survive some tough situations while fighting overseas.
He pushed open his door. “Let’s go.”
“I’m hoping Piper’s hiding somewhere, and Charlie can find her. It’s possible she didn’t know her mom passed out. She could have been angry with her and decided to go somewhere she didn’t have to watch her mother drinking.” Emma exited the vehicle and waited while Brody went to the back of the SUV and let his Belgian Malinois out of his crate.
Brody clicked the leash to Charlie’s collar. “I’m praying for that, too.” But in his gut, he didn’t think that was what happened.
“He’s a beautiful dog. Like a smaller German shepherd.”
“He may be smaller, but he makes up for his size with intensity in his dedication and resolve in fulfilling his assignment. Perfect for his former job and when we search for a lost person.”
“Can I pet him?”
“Sure. He loves people unless they’re a bad guy.” Brody started for the apartment where a police officer guarded the door, which meant that Nick was taking this case seriously as though it were a possible murder scene. He slanted a look toward Emma who pressed her lips together.
“I’m Brody Taylor with my SAR dog,” he gestured toward Emma, “and this is Piper’s child psychologist, Dr. Emma Reichs.”
“You both are on my list to let you inside.” Officer Winters opened the door.
Brody entered the apartment and paused a few steps inside with Emma right behind him.
A crime scene tech came into the living room. “Detective Davidson’s in the bedroom. You can go back there. Everything’s been documented and processed. Watch where you walk.”
Brody headed for the short hallway, noticing five markers placed on the floor by the crime scene tech. He made sure his dog walked right behind him, and he stopped before going into the room. “Stay, Charlie.” He moved inside with Emma following him.
Still wearing latex gloves, Nick squatted at the end of the bed, studying the foot-sized area between the bed and the wall. He switched his attention to them. “I think Piper tried to hide here.”
“Hide?” Emma asked. “From who?”
Nick rose. “That’s a good question. If I could answer that, I might know what really went down here.”
Brody walked to where Nick was and examined the space. “It looks like she tried to get under the bed. Someone was in the apartment when she came home from school. Or a person came in after she arrived home.”
Nick shook his head. “I think an intruder came after she arrived here. He could have been following her. I’ve just let my captain know that I think Piper was abducted. I’ve taken photos and sent them to him. It looks like a scuffle occurred when she was discovered. My captain agreed and put out an Amber Alert. I wish I had a photo of Piper.” Nick gestured toward the narrow open space near the wall. “There’s fresh blood on the floor near the bed’s left leg, hidden from view if you aren’t looking at it from the right angle.” He pointed to the spot. “A couple of drops here and another one on the carpet in the hallway. We need a good photo of Piper to help our search for her.”
“At the center on the bulletin board, I have a group photo she’s in. You can have tonight.” Emma slanted a look at Brody. “That is, if the owner of the center will let us into the building after hours.”
“I’ll text Stan and see if he can get it to the police. Stan lives two blocks from the center.” Brody pulled his cell phone out and messaged his second in charge about the picture.
“Good.” Nick release a long sigh. “You two know what she looks like, but I don’t.”
“Also, the school or her friends could have an individual pic of Piper. It most likely would be clearer and bigger. I’ll check with her friends first thing tomorrow morning. When Piper got off the bus today, she didn’t go right home. She went across the street to the Fun and Go.” Emma joined Brody at his side. “Someone could have followed her back to her apartment from the store.”
“I’ll check that out. They probably have surveillance cameras that I can view. See if anyone trailed behind her, but first, Brody, I’d like to see if Charlie can follow her trail. I know that can be a problem since Piper came and went all the time from here. I’d still like to see what Charlie comes up with.” Nick reached down, snatched Piper’s coat from the floor, and dropped it into a paper sack.
Brody took the bag from Nick. “He should follow her latest scent, which will be her strongest one although there probably will be at least one other not much older than her last scent trail. There wouldn’t have been too much time between her arriving from the Fun and Go and leaving, but at least we know she came from the store after school.”
Her teeth digging into her lower lip, Emma stared at Piper’s jacket in the sack with a narrowed gaze. “The girls came by the apartment before they walked to the center. That would have been around four-fifteen. School lets out at three, which probably means the bus let the kids off about three-thirty. I keep wondering what Piper saw when she came home from the store.”
“I agree. Was Ada drinking or already passed out?” Brody moved toward the closed bedroom door to retrieve Charlie.
“I think Piper would have tried to get help if she found Ada passed out.”
Brody stopped and turned toward Emma. “But something or someone stopped that.”
“That’s definitely possible. Give the bag to Emma while you take Charlie to the front door. I don’t want the scent trails Piper left in her apartment confusing your dog. Let him smell the coat on the stoop.” Nick followed them out of the bedroom.
Brody wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie headed toward the Fun and Go, but after he gave his dog a good smell of Piper’s coat, Charlie bolted toward the right side of the third apartment building where one of the security lights was out. This was where Bobby Joe stood earlier this evening. He could have seen something. “Nick, this evening I saw a large young man hiding around the right corner of this building. Amber and Melody told me he’s harmless and is always lurking around. According to the girls, he’s around nineteen and has special needs. I tried to talk to him earlier after escorting the girls to their places, but either he wasn’t at his apartment in the second building, or he didn’t want to talk.”
“Let’s see where Charlie takes us, but I definitely want to talk to this guy.” Nick pointed his flashlight where Charlie led them. “I’m going to tell the person running this place to fix the lights that are out.”
Brody and Charlie were at the front of the group. “I’m going to do the same, and if nothing is done about it, I’ll tell the television station about the situation. I know the producer of the news, and I think he’d be interested in this story, especially with Piper’s disappearance.”
“And there’s another female child from this apartment complex that’s gone missing. Maria Ramos, a twelve-year-old.” Emma said, hurrying to keep up with their long strides. “She isn’t involved in the center, but the other girls told me about her. She ran away from home after having a fight with her brother, who must be her guardian. She’s done this before, but she shows up by the next morning, according to some of the female teens I work with. She didn’t this time.”
“I’ll check into that, too.” Nick directed his flashlight toward the corner of the third building.
Brody glimpsed a large man duck back around the corner. “Bobby Joe?” Brody yelled out as he and Charlie increased their pace, unsure if it was the man the girls told him about.
Chapter Five
Emma followed Brody. Was it Bobby Joe who’d run when he saw them come out of Piper’s apartment. If this person was Bobby Joe who had special needs, a broad term used for many issues, they might need her to approach him. She’d dealt with youths with disabilities from autism to obsessive-compulsive to many types of disorders.
Brody kept up with Charlie’s fast pace. The dimness closed in on them as they rounded the corner. Charlie, slightly ahead of Brody on his right side, seemed in protective mode. “Bobby Joe, I need to talk to you.”
A light coming from a window illuminated the large man as he went around the rear of the building. Brody kept going with Nick catching up with him, his flashlight in hand.
“Brody, slow down. I’ll take the lead.” Nick moved in front and came to a stop at the corner, waving Brody to stay behind him.
Emma watched a few steps back, sweeping her gaze over the mostly dark terrain around her. If it wasn’t for a few apartments with a window on this side, it would be creepy with thoughts of something sinister hiding in the shadows.
As Nick headed where Bobby Joe went around the rear of the building, Emma hurried to keep up with both of them. When she spied the two men, she came to a stop. Nick must have given the flashlight to Brody because he held it as the detective crept toward a large bush against the back of the apartments.
Emma approached Brody with Charlie right at his side.
“I think it’s the same person we saw earlier, the one the girls said was Bobby Joe. What do you think?” Brody asked.
Emma took a couple of sidesteps and assessed the guy hiding under a large bush. The fright in the young man’s eyes made her think of a cornered prey too numb to flee. “I agree.”
Nick held up his badge. “I’m a police detective and only want to ask you some questions.” He shined the light into the cornered young man’s face.
The guy flinched and tried to curl into a ball.
Emma stepped forward. “I’d like to talk to him.”
Nick nodded. “Don’t go any closer than six feet from him.”
Emma squatted as near as she could. “I’m Emma. Are you Bobby Joe?” She kept her voice
even and quiet and a calm expression on her face as though nothing was wrong.
The young man lifted his head, gave a nod, then shrunk back into his safe place keeping his face buried against his folded arms resting on his knees plastered against his chest. The branches on three sides of him blocked him in with only one way to escape—right into their hands. He gently rocked back and forth.
Emma ignored Nick and Brody. It was just her and Bobby Joe. “It’s good to meet you, Bobby Joe. A couple of the girls I work with mentioned you’re a good guy. That’s why we need your help. Can you tell me if you’ve seen Piper?”
For a long moment, he didn’t move or say anything.
“I’m concerned something has happened to her. Do you know where she is?”
Bobby Joe shook his head without lifting it up.
“Have you seen her today?” Emma’s soft voice was the only sound in the quiet of the night.
He indicated yes with a brief nod.
“Where and when?”
A long moment passed without a word.
She stood and moved even closer, glancing back at Nick. “I’m fine.”
He frowned. When her attention swung to Brody, his expression was neutral, his eyes narrowed.
Emma crouched within several feet of Bobby Joe. “I need your help in finding Piper. Please. Where did you see Piper earlier today?”
He raised his head this time and looked at her for a few seconds before saying, “Gone now.”
“Where did she go?”
Bobby Joe resumed rocking more intensely, his mouth closed in a thin, straight line.
“It’s important. Piper’s mother died tonight. She needs to be told.”
His rocking motion sped up as he said, “No,” over and over, his voice getting increasingly loud. “No!”
What had Bobby Joe possibly witnessed? In her gut, she felt he knew something. Her chest tightened as though she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs. But how was she going to get him to disclose what went on earlier?
Missing (Everyday Heroes Book 6) Page 4