Missing
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He made another phone call and Lacey heard him trying to arrange with his boss to be officially on the case. Finding fugitives was only one part of a marshal’s duties. Would the powers that be let him search for a missing teen who hadn’t done anything wrong and had possibly been kidnapped? Would they let him search for the person who’d left the pictures?
He hung up.
“Well?” The word popped from her mouth. She noticed he didn’t tell his boss it was his own child he wanted to look for. Interesting. He was probably still in shock.
Frustration chiseled his features into a block of stone. “My boss won’t officially assign me the case, although he can’t dictate what I do with my time off the clock. Technically, I’m not cleared to go back to work for another couple of weeks, but that doesn’t matter. Bethany will have my full attention until we get her home. And in spite of the fact that you didn’t think the cops took you seriously, they did their job and filed her as a missing person.”
“They did?” Tears clogged her throat and she cleared it. “I really didn’t think they’d do anything. I thought they probably just stuck her information on a desk somewhere and figured she was a runaway who’d come home later.”
A grim smile crossed his lips. “They may have thought about it, but they’re taking it a little more seriously now. Especially when I explained about the two pictures. We’ll turn them over to the investigating detectives as soon as we get there.”
“How did you get them to do that? To listen to you?”
He slanted her a glance. “I’m a marshal, Lacey, I do have some pull in law enforcement, you know.” He sighed.
“Catelyn’s going to ask to be assigned to Bethany’s disappearance and doesn’t think it’ll be a problem. Her husband, Joseph, is FBI and an expert in finding missing people. She’s contacting him, too. Before we go to the high school, she wants to talk to you.”
He paused and Lacey looked at him suspiciously. “That’s great. Finally, we’re getting some attention. So, what’s wrong?”
His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “Catelyn has a new partner.”
At the brooding look on his face, she knew. Swallowing the sudden surge of nausea, she asked, “Daniel Ackerman?”
“Yes,” he clipped out, then blurted, “Is Bethany why you left town?”
She froze. Did she want to get into this now?
“Lacey?”
His tight tone warned her this wasn’t going to be easy. She sighed and looked at him. At his strong hands curled around the steering wheel. What was easy was remembering how much she’d loved him.
How it felt to have those fingers curled around hers, pulling her along behind him down by the lake where they used to sneak off to trade sweet kisses.
How cherished she felt when he cupped her chin to bring her lips to his….
She blinked against the rush of tears. “Yes. Mostly.” But also because she’d been forced into it by parents who were ashamed their only child had gotten pregnant, that she had become a statistic her father preached against with alarming regularity.
So, yes, she’d left because of Bethany and Daniel and what Mason had believed her capable of. She’d also been devastated, crushed.
And so lonely, she’d wanted to die. She’d missed him so much, especially in the first few years of Bethany’s life. But the fact that he’d dismissed her love so easily, had believed lies about her so readily, had nearly destroyed her.
She clamped her lips together and looked out the window. Since being back in town, she’d managed to avoid running into Daniel. She’d had a couple of close calls, but each time had spotted him before he’d spotted her and she’d escaped undetected.
Now, none of that mattered. None of it. Bethany was all that mattered and finding her was where she’d keep her focus.
He simply grunted and much to her relief said nothing more.
The drive to the station ended a tense silence. Lacey looked up at the building and prayed the people inside had the ability to find Bethany…alive.
As she walked into the building, Lacey felt hope tremble inside her. Please, God, she silently prayed. Please use these people to lead us to Bethany.
The air-conditioning was a blessed relief from the June heat, and she relished the coolness blowing across her skin.
Then she felt guilty. Was Bethany hot? Sweating and dreaming of a glass of water? Was she in pain? Did she need a doctor?
Was she even alive?
Once again tears sprang to the surface and she quickly shoved those thoughts aside.
“Come in here. It’s an interrogation room, but we can use it,” Mason said as he motioned her in. “Catelyn said she and Joseph would meet us here.”
“So they’re officially investigating everything, right?”
“Yes. And so is Daniel, of course.”
“Of course,” she murmured. She prayed she could keep her cool when Daniel appeared in front of her. Prayed she wouldn’t say anything she shouldn’t.
Mason pulled out the chair for her and she slid into it. The spicy scent of his aftershave tugged at her. Just breathing it in brought back memories that caused both joy and pain.
A light tingling at the nape of her neck caused her to turn and look up at him. The flush on his cheeks gave him away. He’d reverted to an old gesture he’d had when they were dating. Pulling her hair up from her collar, brushing his fingers against her neck.
Her breathing hitched and she almost couldn’t look away from him. Then he broke eye contact as the door opened and Catelyn stepped into the room.
She smiled at Mason. “Glad to see you’ve recovered.”
“For all intents and purposes.” He gestured to Lacey. “This is Lacey Gibson.”
Catelyn smiled a sympathetic welcome and shook Lacey’s hand. “Joseph and Daniel will be here soon.” She sat opposite Mason and Lacey.
No sooner had she taken a seat when the door opened again and the man she assumed to be Joseph entered. Dark hair and dark eyes set off his Italian features. Lacey thought she could understand why Catelyn had fallen for the good-looking FBI agent and married him.
Then they were asking her for her story once again. She repeated exactly what she’d told Mason, leaving nothing out and then added the information about the note that had appeared on his car.
Mason took over from there. “I want to be in on this.”
Joseph studied him then nodded. “Sure. How much time do you have before you have to be back at work?”
“Long enough to help y’all find Bethany.”
Lacey wondered why he hadn’t told them Bethany was his daughter. Should she mention it?
Immediately, she decided not to say anything. That would be Mason’s call.
Catelyn leaned forward. “Daniel Ackerman is my partner now and he’ll be helping, too. He got called away right before you arrived so I’ll fill him in later. Do you have a recent picture?”
Lacey nodded and reached into her purse. She’d hoped she wouldn’t need the five-by-seven print. The one she’d chosen just in case she needed to have flyers printed up. Chilled, she shivered. Never in a million years would she have imagined she’d be in this situation.
Just looking at the photo choked her throat and brought an overwhelming longing to wrap her arms around her girl.
Catelyn took the picture out and she felt Mason shift so he could see it. His gasp sent her heart thudding.
THREE
Mason felt the breath leave him.
He no longer wondered if Bethany was his. A feminine version of himself smiled back at him. A full-body shot, the picture showed a girl who was tall and lanky, with reddish-blond hair and vivid blue eyes. She was beautiful. He could see some of her mother in her, too, like the light dusting of freckles across her nose and the shape of her face, but there was no doubt she was his.
Somehow having that confirmed made it all the more real.
He had a daughter. He wondered if she liked the same things as he did. What kind of talents did she have? What were her hobbies? What…
“Do I need to get flyers printed?” Lacey’s shaky voice dropped him into the present with a thud.
Joseph nodded. “It would probably be best. You’re new in town—or at least Bethany is—so it would help to have her face plastered on as many surfaces as possible.”
Mason saw Lacey swallow hard. Her hand trembled as she took the picture back. Her eyes lingered on the photo before returning it to her purse.
“All right,” Catelyn said. “Here’s the game plan. Lacey, you said the last person to see Bethany was probably Georgia Boyles. She’s who we need to start with.”
Mason glanced at the wall clock. “Summer school’s almost over. If we get over there within the next thirty minutes, we can catch her.” He looked at Lacey. “Does she walk, drive or ride the bus?”
“She drives. A blue Mustang, I think.”
Joseph blew out a breath. “All right. I’ll work on things from this end.” He looked at Mason. “You and Catelyn can work the field if you’re willing.”
“Oh, I’m willing.” He was more than willing. In fact, no one had better try to stop him.
And if the look on Lacey’s face was any indication, she wasn’t going to be left behind, either. Her arguments with Catelyn proved him right. “I’m going.” Her jaw jutted and she narrowed her eyes. “I’ll just follow you, if you won’t let me go.”
Catelyn sighed. “I could have you arrested for obstruction.”
At this, Lacey’s throat bobbed. “Then I’ll post bail and keep going.” She sighed. “Look, I promise I won’t be in the way. I just have to do this.”
“Don’t you have a job?”
“Yes, but I’ve already called and requested some time off. Finding Bethany is all that matters. I have my cell phone. If she calls, she’ll call that.”
Catelyn finally gave in, albeit grudgingly, and the three of them headed for their cars. Mason didn’t want to leave his vehicle behind so Catelyn drove separately. Lacey rode with him. Interesting—he’d have thought she’d have taken the opportunity to put some space between them and climbed in with Catelyn.
Then again, she had come to him for help. To find her daughter. His daughter. He was having a hard time wrapping his mind around the fact, but the picture cinched it for him. Bethany was his.
Mason followed Catelyn to the high school. As it came into view, memories he thought he’d buried hit him. Hard.
He pulled into the office parking lot and turned off the engine. Lacey bolted from the vehicle as though she couldn’t get out fast enough. She must have been flooded with the same memories.
Then she paused, her eyes locked on something in the distance.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Across the street, there’s a photo shop. If I hurry, I could get some flyers printed and get back to hang them around the high school before the bell rings.”
“That might be a good idea.”
She fixed him with a determined stare. “But you’ll tell me everything Georgia tells you?”
“Everything. I promise.”
She nodded. “All right. I’ll try to be back within thirty minutes.”
“I’ve got my cell phone. Just call and I’ll tell you where we are. You want a ride?”
“No, it’s not that far.”
He shrugged. “All right. If we get done before you’re ready, I’ll pick you up at the shop.”
She nodded and her gaze softened as she opened her mouth to say something else. She must have thought twice about it because she snapped her lips together, turned on her heel and headed across the street for the photo shop.
Lacey wanted to hurry. She wanted to get back and find out what Georgia had to say about Bethany. But she knew the faster she got these flyers printed, the faster she’d have Bethany’s face plastered around the city. And beyond if necessary.
She pushed open the glass door that had enough flyers taped on it to wallpaper her bathroom and entered the store. She jumped when the bell rang to announce her presence. A clerk who looked to be in his mid-fifties and needing a shave came to the counter. “Can I help you?”
“I need to print some flyers. My daughter is missing and I need to get the flyers put up as soon as possible.” She pulled the picture out and handed it to him.
He frowned down at Bethany’s picture. “I’m sure sorry to hear that. I’ll be glad to get these printed. You want to add her name and a contact phone number on here?”
Of course, why hadn’t she thought of that? She was so frazzled! “Um, yes. That would be great.”
Get it together, Lacey, Bethany’s counting on you.
“Won’t take me a minute to scan it into the computer, add the information and then get everything printed up. I’ll do it as a rush job for you.”
Lacey felt tears mist her eyes. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
She gave him the information to add to the flyers and while the clerk went to work in the back room, she paced back and forth in front of the counter, thinking of the different locations she could put the flyers. Locations that offered the best traffic where the most people would see it.
A shadow passed by the door and she turned, expecting to see someone enter.
No one did.
She went back to her pacing.
Again, movement by the glass door caught her attention. Strange movement, like someone bobbing up and down.
Thinking someone needed help opening the heavy door, she walked over to it, and pulled it open. No one was there.
Huh, that’s odd.
Just to make sure, she stepped outside to look to the right.
Nothing.
As she looked to the left, something slammed into her lower back propelling her against the wall. The breath left her so fast, she couldn’t even scream. In shock, she felt her face scrape the side of the building.
Before she could gather her stunned wits, a voice whispered in her ear, “She’s mine now and you’ll never find her.”
Fear careened through her and she struggled to turn around on legs that felt like jelly. Her face burned and her back felt bruised.
The blue sky turned dark and for a moment she was afraid she would pass out.
Running footsteps echoed back to her, mocking her, letting her know she was helpless. With a frustrated and angry cry, she slid down the wall to sit on the ground and weep for her lost child.
Mason ground his teeth in frustration at Georgia’s refusal to cooperate. The fact that she even had to attend the summer session due to a flunking grade in English had already spiked her attitude. Being questioned about a wreck she claimed to have nothing to do with sent it skyrocketing.
Her wide gray eyes flicked back and forth between the three adults staring at her. Her lips clamped together in a tight snarl. Mason thought they might need a blowtorch to pry them apart.
The principal had asked to stay in the room. Since Georgia was over fourteen, they didn’t need parental permission to question the girl although they had given her mother a courtesy call.
She was on the way.
He briefly wondered how Lacey was doing, then focused his attention back to Bethany’s stubborn friend. Her body language and uncomfortable shifting when questioned about the wreck all suggested she was lying about not being there.
He leaned forward. “Look, Bethany’s missing. From all appearances, she wouldn’t run away. In fact, from what her mother says, she was scared of something, nervous all the time. She felt like her life might be in danger. That, coupled with her disappearance, sends up a big red flag. She might be counting on you to help find her.”
Georgia licked her lips. Some of the attitude faded as she finally looked him straight in the eye. “I don’t know where she is, I promise!”
Deflated, he realized he believed her. She didn’t know where Bethany was. But she sure knew something. “What are you afraid to tell me? To tell us?”
Georgia jumped to her feet. “Nothing! There’s nothing to tell!” Tears leaked down her cheeks and she palmed them away leaving black streaks of mascara behind. “If I could help you find Bethany, I would. But you’re right about one thing. She was scared of someone.”
“Who?”
The girl slumped back into the chair and slapped a hand on the table. “I don’t know! I wish I did, but I just don’t. But she can take care of herself. She’s got a first-degree black belt in karate, you know?”
Mason started. Lacey hadn’t mentioned that. “What?”
“Yeah, she’s like addicted. Does all kinds of competitions—and wins. So she can handle whatever comes along.” Frustration slid over her face. “But I don’t know where she’s hiding out. I promise.”
“Hiding out?” Mason jumped on those two words. “So she left on her own?”
Georgia groaned. “No! I don’t know! I don’t know what she’s doing or where she is. She didn’t say anything about leaving before she disappeared. That much I do know.”
Catelyn blew out a sigh and looked over at Mason. He shook his head. They weren’t going to get anything from Georgia. However, he had to ask, “Were you with Kayla the night of the accident?”
“No! Why do people keep asking me that? No! I wasn’t there, all right?” Her breath came in pants and sweat broke across her upper lip.
She was lying. But he wasn’t going to get her to admit it. Yet. “All right, thanks for meeting with us.” He slipped her his card. “But if you think of anything at all, will you please call me?”
“Sure.” She slipped the card into her back pocket.
Mason stopped her. “Do you feel like you’re in any danger, Georgia? Because I can help, if you do.”
“No,” she mumbled. “I’m not in any danger. Now I gotta go.” She escaped the room as fast as she could. Her mother hadn’t even arrived yet.
Mason looked at Catelyn. “She’s definitely scared.”
“But of what? Of who?”
“I don’t know, but I think Lacey may have been on to something when she said that Bethany’s disappearance had something to do with the car accident. Georgia was involved in it—no matter how adamantly she denies it—and she’s scared to death about something. Bethany was probably with the two girls, too, and now she’s missing.”
“Kayla is dead, Bethany’s missing and Georgia’s scared. I think I’m going to have an officer keep an eye on her for her own safety.”
Mason tapped his chin and watched Georgia disappear into the throng of students ready to get out of the building and go do something fun. “I think that’s a good idea. I also think we need to revisit that accident. Who was the lead investigator in it?”
“My partner. Daniel Ackerman.”
Mason felt his gut clench. He hadn’t spoken more than three sentences to Daniel since the day he’d caught Lacey kissing his friend. Even though it wasn’t Daniel’s fault that Lacey had come on to him, the man was a reminder of one of the most painful times of his life.
And even though Daniel had married and moved on, Mason couldn’t get the betrayal out of his mind.
“Fine,” he muttered. “Then let’s find Daniel and get all of the evidence about the accident back out. I want everything sent back to the lab. Since it was ruled an accident, the forensics people probably didn’t go over everything quite as thoroughly as they would a murder.”
“If that car wreck wasn’t an accident, then it was murder.”
“Yeah.” His phone rang and he saw Lacey’s number pop up. His heart squeezed. “Hello?”
“Mason?” Her shaky voice put him on instant alert.
“What is it, Lacey?”
“I was attacked.” She sobbed. He heard her trying to catch her breath. “But I think I have something to add to the investigation. Can you come?”
Heart in his throat, he promised to be there in less than a minute. He looked at Catelyn. “Come on, this is a police matter.”
He raced from the room, Catelyn following along behind him, his mind looping with Lacey’s first three words, I was attacked… and realized with some surprise that he wanted to hurt the person who’d hurt her.
Forty-five seconds later, when he saw her sitting against the side of the building with an ice pack on her cheek, the rage inside him tripled and he knew without a doubt that past or no past, betrayal or no betrayal, he was going to fall for Lacey Gibson once again.
And wondered how he was going to keep his heart from being ripped in two when it happened.
FOUR
Lacey pressed the ice pack to her head and stood. The feel of Mason’s solid grip on her upper arm scrambled her brain more than the knock against the side of the building.
He and Catelyn had arrived almost immediately, the poor store owner having time only to offer his help and fix the ice pack, which she insisted she didn’t need.
He insisted she did.
The print shop owner stood with the pictures of Bethany clutched in his left hand as he attempted to answer Catelyn’s questions. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see anything. I don’t usually have any problems around here.”
Lacey shook her head and winced. “It wasn’t your fault. Whoever it was knew exactly who they were attacking.”
“Why do you say that?” Mason frowned.
“Because he specifically said, ‘She’s mine now.’ Who else would he be referring to except Bethany?”
His frown deepened. “Did you see him? What was the voice like?”
Squinting against the throbbing in her head, she replayed the scene in her mind. With a shudder, she swallowed. “No, I didn’t see him. Just a glimpse. And his voice was low, raspy, like someone with a bad cold….” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sure the person disguised his voice.”
Mason sighed and guided her over to the car. “We need to get your head checked out.”
She waved him away. “It’s fine. Just a bump and a scrape.” It hurt, but she didn’t have time to deal with it now. She scrambled back out of the car. “I forgot the flyers.”
Before he could stop her, Lacey made her way back up the store owner. He handed the package to her. “Take them.”
Lacey reached for her wallet—another indication the attack had had a specific purpose. He’d left her purse when he could have easily snatched it.
A hand on her arm brought her gaze up and she looked into the man’s kind eyes. “No, ma’am. This is my gift, my part to help you find your daughter.”
Tears choked her once again and she stared at him through the blur. “Thank you.”
Mason placed an arm around her shoulders and steered her back toward the car. “Now, let’s get you checked out.”
Weariness tugged at her now that the adrenaline had faded. However, Bethany came first. “I’m not going to a doctor.” She shivered. “Somehow, deep down in my bones, I feel like time is running out for Bethany. We need to find her now.”
A frown creased his brows. “All right, but if you start feeling sick, I want you to tell me. Promise?”
His concern set off all kinds of warm sensations in the depths of her being. She swallowed hard and steeled herself against the longing just being around him stirred up. “Promise.”
Catelyn joined them at the car. “All right. I think we’ve done all we can do here. I’m going to see if any of the security cameras around here picked up anything.”
Mason nodded. “I want to look at the investigation file from the wreck.”
“You’ll have to talk to Daniel. He was the lead investigator on that one and will be able to help you out there.”
Lacey bit her lip and shot Mason a look even as she thought that Daniel might be able to help them, but would he?
Mason cleared his throat. “I’ll talk to him.”
A ringing phone made her jump. Then she realized it was hers. Bethany? Yanking it from her pocket, she glanced at the caller ID and bit her lip as a wave of grief nearly knocked her over. Not Bethany. “Hi, Mom.”
“Have you heard anything?”
Her parents had accepted both of them back into their lives with open arms. As always, guilt pierced her. She’d been so wrong to keep Bethany from people who would have loved her. And yet, they’d been the ones to send her off in the beginning and it had taken her a long time to get past that.