Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

pretty basic. She bought it as an investment, but her old tenant moved out. Now she keeps it for when she works too late to drive home. Ford uses it when he needs to study and the dorm is too loud. It’s next to the Inner Harbor.’
    Whoa . Those places weren’t cheap. Joseph owned a few investment condos there himself. His own apartment truly was basic – just a place to lay his head, it was located close to his family’s home. ‘Those condos on the harbor aren’t what I’d call “basic”. They rent for a couple thousand a month.’
    Maynard turned to look at him. ‘From a security standpoint, I meant. The building provides a lot of the security, so I don’t worry so much about her there.’
    ‘Oh. They’d have a record of Ford coming and going then. Even if he’s not there now, I can call and see if he and Kimberly have been there.’
    ‘They haven’t. I called the desk to ask while you were talking to Novak. Last time the condo was used was last week. Daphne crashed there after working most of the night.’
    Did security tell you that or were you there with her? The question danced on the tip of Joseph’s tongue, but he swallowed it back. ‘What other properties does she have besides her house, her mother’s condo, and the condo on the harbor?’
    ‘She owns a farm in Hunt Valley, twenty acres. That’s where Maggie lives, along with the horses. Maggie takes care of the animals. The farm is the worst, security-wise. Too many entrances and outbuildings.’
    ‘Four properties. But she lives in the Roland Park house?’
    ‘Yeah. It’s a Victorian, built in the 1880s. It had no security system until the Millhouses started their threats. I installed one. Anyone comes or goes, I know.’
    ‘How?’
    ‘The system sends a text message to my phone.’
    Joseph was reluctantly impressed. Maynard was taking care of Daphne. That was good, right? Yeah , he thought glumly. Right . Then he shoved his mind back on track. Hunt Valley was a half hour northwest of her house. ‘Would Ford go to the farm?’
    ‘Probably not. Especially without a car. Did you check his dorm?’
    ‘Roommate says he never came back last night,’ Joseph said. ‘I need you to text all of Daphne’s addresses to my boss.’ He dialed Bo on his cell. ‘It’s Joseph. We need uniforms at the kids’ dorms and all of Miss Montgomery’s properties. Her security manager is texting you with the addresses. I want to preserve any evidence while we sort through all this.’
    ‘So it’s what you thought?’ Bo asked. ‘Abduction?’
    ‘Looks that way.’

Chapter Three
    Tuesday, December 3, 10.45 A.M.
    D aphne gripped the sides of the sink in the ladies’ room, grateful that it was deserted – at least she’d have a little privacy to clean up after losing what little she’d eaten for breakfast. And possibly last night’s dinner.
    She rinsed her mouth with a grimace. I’d kill for a toothbrush right about now . She shook some Tic-Tacs into her mouth, the minty burn making her feel human again.
    The adrenaline crash had hit five feet from the washroom door with violent trembling and nausea. She was still trembling, but the heaving had passed.
    She’d gotten accustomed to controlling her nausea during chemo using both medication and meditation, but this episode had caught her by surprise. There’d been no time to prepare. No time to get her zen going. Just . . .  bleh .
    I look a fright . Her wig had stayed in place during her tussle with Cindy, but the post-fight worship of the porcelain goddess had knocked it askew. The sleek blond French twist was sliding halfway down her forehead, her real hair a tangled mess that defied every attempt to crimp, curl, or straighten it into submission.
    Seven years since chemo and her hair was still not smooth and silky like it had been before. It had been so lush and gorgeous – and stylable – once. It probably never would be again.
    Don’t worry! everyone had told her when it had all fallen out. It’ll grow back! And it had, which was the problem. At the beginning, the new growth made her a walking ad for salon perms – Just say no to home perms or this could be you! Over time the curls had become less coarse, but her hair wasn’t the same.
    Looking at herself in the mirror no longer brought tears to her eyes, but her hair was still an ongoing source of annoyance. She never knew which way the waves would choose to go. Taming it into anything remotely court appropriate would sap