Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

an hour. When I saw the wig heads it made sense.’
    ‘Didn’t you want to know why?’
    ‘Of course I did. I still do, because I’m nosy. I figure it has something to do with your having cancer. I also figure you’ll tell me when you’re ready.’ She lifted a shoulder. ‘Or if I ever “accidentally” knock it off your head in self-defense class.’
    Daphne hiccupped a laugh, but whatever she’d been about to say fled her mind as her phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was from Joseph. One word. Believe .
    She exhaled in a rush. ‘Oh.’ Thank you, Joseph . I needed that .
    Paige leaned over to look. ‘Huh. Brother Joseph finally got off his damn stick.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Oh, come on.’ Her black eyes widened. ‘You’re serious. You never noticed?’
    ‘Obviously not,’ Daphne said stiffly. ‘Noticed what?’
    ‘Joseph has been watching you for nine months, Daphne.’
    ‘He has not.’ Daphne stared at his message. ‘He’s just doing his job.’
    ‘What ever . I’m just sayin’ that Peabody’s got nothing on Joseph Carter in the puppy dog eyes department.’ She stepped back, crossed her arms over her chest. ‘You do know why he transferred from Homeland Security to VCET, don’t you?’
    Daphne met Paige’s eyes in the mirror. ‘For . . . ?’
    ‘Little old you. Yeah.’ Paige tilted her head. ‘Do you wear that hair to bed?’
    Daphne’s cheeks heated. ‘No.’ She closed her eyes. ‘Oh God. Thanks for putting that worry in my head.’ But for a few moments she hadn’t been out of her mind with worry for her son. Her friend was smart that way. ‘I mean that. Thank you.’
    ‘Part of the service. Come on. The others are downstairs waiting to see you.’
    Daphne’s eyes flew open. ‘Others? Who’s here?’
    ‘Clay, Alyssa, and Alec.’ She met Daphne’s eyes, hers resolute. ‘They stopped by on the way into the office. But Clay needed to see you first.’ She hesitated. ‘If you’re angry with him, I’ll tell him that you finally fell asleep. He’s terrified to see you.’
    ‘Tell him I’ll be down in a few minutes. I need to freshen up.’
    Paige left with the dogs and Daphne picked up her phone, staring at Joseph’s text.
    I wonder what he did when she was stolen, whoever she was . Daphne was pretty sure he hadn’t sat around his house crying. Neither will I . I have the entire Millhouse file . And it was stuffed full of financials, friends, neighbors, associates, business partners . . .
    She gave herself a stern stare in the mirror. ‘I’m going to do more than believe, Joseph Carter. I’m going to find my son.’
    Tuesday, December 3, 2.30 P.M.
    When Joseph entered the conference room Bo gestured to the vacant chair at the head of the table. Joseph had Bo on his right and BPD Homicide Lieutenant Hyatt on his left. Hyatt was crusty, tending to make enemies when he didn’t need to, but Grayson liked him, which said a lot.
    Rounding out the table were Brodie and her BPD counterpart, Drew Peterson; Deacon, who sat munching his deli sandwich unapologetically; and JD Fitzpatrick, who sported one hell of a shiner received during Bill Millhouse’s resisted arrest.
    JD gave him a grim nod. ‘I’m on temporary loan to your team.’
    ‘Good to have you. I’ll keep this as brief as possible so we can get back to the investigation. We’ll connect with Detective Hector Rivera, who’s heading up the team guarding Ms Montgomery, and SA Grayson Smith by speaker phone,’ Joseph said, dialing the phone as he spoke. ‘The ME said he’d call if and when he found anything.’
    On the speaker, Hector answered. ‘Rivera here. I’m at SA Montgomery’s home.’
    ‘Grayson Smith here,’ Grayson said through the speaker. ‘I’m calling from my office, where I’m preparing the charges against a hell of a lot of Millhouses.’
    Eyes narrowed around the table, the tension palpably increasing.
    ‘Then let’s get moving,’ Joseph said, ‘so we can grant them their right to a speedy trial. Before we begin, I have a few medical updates. Deputy Welch is out of surgery and in good condition. The cameraman is also out of surgery, but in serious condition. I don’t have anything new on Detective Mazzetti, so I assume she’s still in surgery. My last voicemail from her parents said the doctors were saying there was extensive damage to her femoral artery and that it would take a while to repair.’
    If they could repair it , Stevie’s mother had added