Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

in storage so that they wouldn’t have to pay for the insurance and on-campus parking. She hadn’t taken that well. A month into the school year she wanted a new laptop and her parents told her she’d have to get a job. The next thing they knew she’d been arrested for stealing the diamond ring.’
    ‘That’s consistent with what I’d noted in my file,’ Daphne said. ‘She was caught trying to trade the ring to a pawnbroker for the laptop. I might have dealt her down to a misdemeanor, but she was disrespectful to me and to her parents. They’d hired an expensive attorney and paid her bail and she treated them like crap.’
    ‘Well, they sold her BMW to pay for the bail and the fancy attorney,’ Deacon said. ‘And Mrs MacGregor said Kim cussed you out to anyone who’d listen. The MacGregors hoped the experience would teach Kim a lesson. They were devastated to hear she’d had a hand in Ford’s abduction. They kept telling me to tell you how sorry they are.’
    Daphne looked like she was struggling for the right words. ‘Um, tell them thank you and that we’re working to find both their girls.’
    Joseph understood her hesitation. ‘I think it will be much easier to accept their apology once Ford is home safely.’
    She smiled gratefully at him. ‘Exactly.’
    Joseph lingered on her face another second, then dropped his gaze to his notes. ‘Lieutenant Ciccotelli, can you send us a photo of the man in the parking garage?’
    ‘Sure. We’ll make some stills of him in the wig and in the hoodie,’ Ciccotelli said.
    ‘Thanks. The objective is to find Doug, whoever the hell he is. Recapping – JD’s got property searches, Agent Coppola and Detective Rivera continue to be primary security for Daphne’s family. Ciccotelli’s sketch artist will continue working with the five-year-old witness who saw Doug’s face and his IT will try to route the webcam Doug used in Gargano’s house. Deacon, I’d like you back here unless you think you’re needed there.’
    ‘I think they’ve got it covered up here,’ Deacon said. ‘I’ll head home tonight.’
    ‘Good. Anything else?’
    ‘Yes,’ JD said. ‘Where’s Agent Lamar?’
    ‘He’s working with the ATF on finding the origin of the rifles that were found in Odum’s houses. He’ll keep us updated as he’s able. Everyone good with the plan?’
    Heads were nodding – and then the cell phones began to buzz, up and down the table. A group text had been sent, resulting in considerable whooping and clapping. Grayson’s eyes grew moist and he wasn’t the only one. Joseph found himself blinking at tears as well and JD didn’t even try to hide his.
    Joseph leaned into the speaker. ‘Hey, Maynard. You get that text?’
    ‘Yeah.’ Clay cleared his throat. ‘Stevie woke up. I’ll be home as fast as I can.’
    Joseph looked down the table at Daphne, who sat with her eyes closed, her lips soundlessly moving. Praying, he thought. Giving thanks or begging for equal mercy.
    Or both.
    ‘On that note, we’re adjourned.’
    West Virginia, Tuesday, December 3, 8.30 P.M.
    Ford choked down a few bites of the old man’s beef jerky and ate a few mouthfuls of the snow, tossing the remainder to the ground before his lips touched the filthy glove he’d taken from the cabin. At least he wouldn’t get dehydrated.
    He’d freeze to death first. There were no stars, just a blanket of white, falling snow. There were no lights anywhere. This was the blackest night he’d ever experienced.
    Ford hunched his shoulders against the wind. One foot in front of the other . He had to keep walking or he’d end up dead. For the first time he entertained the notion that he might.
    I don’t want to die . So move . Move your feet . One foot in front of the other .

Chapter Thirteen
    Baltimore, Maryland, Tuesday, December 3, 9.15 P.M.
    ‘ H ome or hospital to see Stevie?’ Joseph asked when she was buckled in the front seat of his Escalade.
    ‘Home,’ Daphne said. ‘I think Stevie needs to rest.’
    ‘And so do you,’ Joseph said, waving to the car behind them. Rivera and Coppola took their place behind the Escalade, escorting her home. ‘Parents of missing kids don’t remember to take care of themselves. It’s like they believe if they slow down they’re betraying the child.’
    Daphne turned in her seat to study him. Here in the quiet she could finally think. And she did not want to think. So she talked. ‘Did you slow down when your wife was missing?’
    He