Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

‘Let her have the tree, Daphne. It’s keeping her sane right now.’
    ‘You’re right,’ she whispered, then cleared her throat. ‘Hal, this is Joseph Carter. He’s with the FBI. Joseph, this is Hal Lynch, a very old family friend.’
    Hal shook his hand, his eyes wary. ‘Do you have any leads?’
    ‘A few,’ Joseph said, trying not to sound terse and aware he’d failed utterly.
    ‘But you can’t discuss them,’ Hal said. ‘I understand. I do hope you can answer a few of my questions, though. Both Nadine Elkhart and I got visits from the FBI tonight, looking for Travis.’
    ‘That’s because we’re looking for Travis,’ Daphne said.
    ‘Why? Has something happened to Ford that no one’s telling us about?’
    ‘Oh, no,’ Daphne said. ‘I’m sorry you thought that. The FBI wants to find Travis so that we can get a list of criminals he’s sentenced or represented in the past. It’s routine.’
    Joseph kept his expression bland, even though he frowned inside. Brodie had told them that the blood in the basement matched Odum’s, but Daphne had still been worried that it was the same type as Travis’s. She hadn’t mentioned that and Joseph wondered if she had a reason.
    Hal was frowning. ‘I thought those Millhouses were responsible.’
    ‘They may be,’ Daphne said seriously. ‘But they’re not narrowing the focus just yet. The girl who was with Ford when he was kidnapped was one of my first cases. I cut a deal with her. It’s possible she had nothing to do with Ford’s disappearance, but it brought into the light that both Travis and I have jobs that make enemies. We’d be foolish not to track those possibilities. Did you see Travis?’
    ‘No. I talked to him on the phone this afternoon. He was very upset when you told him about Ford. But I don’t know where he is right now.’
    ‘At what time did you talk to him this afternoon?’ Joseph asked. ‘And was he calling from his cell or home phone?’
    ‘It was at about three. Maybe four. And neither. I called him and he was at the office. Which I already told the other FBI agents. Don’t you guys talk to each other?’
    ‘They do, Hal,’ Daphne soothed, ‘but it’s been a very long day. If you don’t mind, I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep now. If you talk to Travis again, please tell him that the police need his cooperation. For Ford’s sake.’
    ‘I will. For Ford’s sake. And yours.’
    Daphne slipped her arm through Hal’s, leading him to the front door. ‘I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything. I promise.’ She paused with her hand on the doorknob, looking around as if she’d suddenly realized something. ‘Where is Tasha?’
    ‘In the solarium,’ the lady with the Christmas lights said. ‘When Hal arrived she became a bit . . .’
    ‘Vicious,’ Hal said, disgruntled.
    ‘Agitated,’ the lady corrected.
    ‘Tasha’s not a vicious dog, Hal,’ Daphne said. ‘She’s just protective. You said yourself that you worried about me by myself, so I got a protection dog. Plus she’s got to be on edge. So many people coming in and out.’ She handed Hal his hat and coat from the entry table. ‘Be careful. The roads are slick.’
    Hal nodded, searching Daphne’s face. ‘Are you really all right?’
    ‘No,’ she said, very seriously. ‘I’m falling apart, inside. I have been terrified every minute of this horrible day. But I want my son back and if that means staying lucid and not being hysterical, then that’s what I’ll do.’
    ‘Then get some sleep.’ Hal pulled her to him and for a moment Daphne clung, looking like she was fighting tears. ‘You’ll call me if you need me?’ he whispered.
    ‘I will.’
    Hal finally left and Joseph let out the breath he’d been holding. Daphne bowed her head, resting her brow against the closed door, her face intensely still.
    ‘Daphne?’ he said softly.
    ‘Just . . . a panic attack. I’m okay.’
    She was not okay. Joseph went to her, put his arms around her. She was trembling from the strain of holding herself together. ‘What can I do for you?’
    ‘Just stay here for a minute.’ She turned her face into his chest and breathed, deep even breaths that slowly grew shallower. Finally she stepped back. ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Anytime.’ They turned to find her mother and the light lady staring at them.
    Daphne braved a smile. ‘Show’s over, girls.’
    The woman who’d been working on the lights approached him, extending her hand. ‘I’m