Read Online Vanished by Margaret Daley - Free Book Online Page B

lips. With an effort she remained seated and touched the same area on her face, saying, “You’ve got something there.” While he used his white paper napkin, she shifted her gaze to her food, forcing herself to concentrate on it rather than his mouth. “Not anything yet, but it shouldn’t be long with the partial plate number and color.”
    â€œBy the time we got that it had been half a day. In twelve hours they could be six or seven hundred miles away.”
    She again looked across the desk at him. “Then I’ll make sure the information goes out across the country. So you think we should assume she’s been removed from the vicinity?”
    â€œIf it’s an ex-con I crossed, I can’t see him staying around here. If it’s Eric, he may still be near. However, Eric doesn’t drive a metallic blue car.”
    â€œIt could be stolen.”
    â€œNothing’s been reported stolen.”
    â€œNot here but what about somewhere around here like Central City?”
    Interest sparked in his eyes. “Yes. We’ve had a few kids from Central City take cars then ride around before dumping them here at the lake.”
    â€œI’ll do some checking on stolen cars in the surrounding counties. Maybe Eric drove to Central City, or somewhere like that, took a car and came back and kidnapped Ashley.”
    J.T. shook his head. “That seems too elaborate forEric. It would be more likely he would use his own car and hide somewhere nearby.”
    â€œThat’s what Rachel thinks. She said he could be holed up in some cave around here. How extensive is the cave system in the area?”
    â€œThe K-9 dogs from Central City will be back tomorrow to do some checking of places like that where someone can hide. But I don’t think that search will yield anything.” J.T. finished his coleslaw and put his fork on his plate. “I know Eric is a sex offender, but his victim was a nineteen-year-old female. He was peeping into her house and watching her. Then he went the next step and tried to force himself on her.”
    â€œMaybe he’s progressed to little girls.”
    Jaws clenched, J.T. crushed his paper napkin into a tight ball, then tossed it into the trash can by her feet. “I don’t think so, but we have to check everything out. Frankly, though, I think this kidnapping is too complicated for someone like Eric.”
    â€œStill, until we find him, we won’t know anything for sure.”
    â€œI’ve been wrong in the past. With this case I can’t be wrong and I can’t ignore anything.”
    The fervent way he said that last sentence reaffirmed her own determination to make sure he was right. Silence fell between them while he folded his paper plate and it followed the napkin into the trash. His jerky movements highlighted the exhaustion she saw in his face.
    Glad to see he’d eaten almost half of the chicken and all the slaw and bread, she also threw her empty plate away. “You’re convinced it’s someone from your past?”
    He stabbed her with his sharp gaze. “Yes. A gut feeling, you could say.”
    Somehow she had to get him to rest and possibly sleep some or she would see him fall apart before her eyes. That thought pierced her heart. “I can start on the list Rachel’s drawing up. Why don’t you go see your kids and get some rest?”
    Anger slashed deep lines into his face. “No. You think I can sleep knowing that Ashley is out there somewhere wondering where I…”
    The force of his words died as his sentence came to a halt. She’d known he wasn’t ready to admit he needed sleep, but she had to ask. “At least go see Kim and Neil. Kim wanted me to talk to you about assisting with the search. She needs to do something to help. She’shurting.”
    His eyes narrowed. “I don’t need you to tell me that.”
    â€œThen go talk to her. Let her help do