Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

said. ‘I’ve heard of this before, but usually when the safe contains high value goods, like trade secrets or diamonds. Whoever did this went to some trouble. They knew you’d have something they wanted.’
    ‘But why me?’ Gargano asked, bewildered.
    ‘We’ll ask Kimberly – if we find her,’ Clay said. ‘For now, this explains a lot.’
    ‘It does,’ Gargano said, new hope in his eyes. Footsteps clattered down the stairs and Gargano met his daughter with a huge smile, swinging her in a circle that had her squealing with delight. ‘Let’s go for a ride, MeiMei . We need to talk to your sister.’
    Baltimore, Maryland, Tuesday, December 3, 7.30 P.M.
    The conference room was silent except for the sound of Daphne’s boots as she paced. Paige was out in the hallway, doing a kata , one of the ways she relaxed.
    Daphne stopped pacing long enough to watch her. It was a little like ballet, Daphne thought, lithe and fluid. Powerful.
    And then Daphne saw Grayson at the other end of the hall. He was watching Paige, his expression intense. Paige saw him watching and came out of a spinning kick, landing gracefully in front of him and walking straight into his arms.
    Daphne turned away, her throat suddenly too tight to breathe. I want that . I want someone to look at me like I’m everything . That can’t be too much to ask . Can it?
    She closed the door to the conference room and walked to the window. Resting her forehead against the cold glass she tried not to fall apart. But the walls she’d built in her mind had broken down and all she could think about was Ford.
    Where are you? Are you still alive? Are they hurting you? Please don’t be hurting . She opened her eyes to stare at the snow that had started to fall. Please don’t be cold .
    The door opened and Grayson and Paige came in together. In the glass Daphne could see that neither of them smiled. Her blood suddenly colder than the glass, Daphne turned to look at them. She opened her mouth, but no words emerged.
    The floor began to shake. Someone was running. The shaking slowed and Grayson moved away from the door. Joseph was walking toward her. His eyes were bleak.
    Hector and Coppola were leaving, Grayson motioning them out. Daphne took a step back and hit the window, the cold a jolt to her body. ‘No.’
    This isn’t happening . Wake up, dammit . Wake up, because this isn’t real .
    ‘Daphne.’ Joseph’s voice was rough. Real .
    Unable to run, she stared up into his face as he walked to her and took her into his arms. ‘No,’ she whispered.
    ‘We found a crime scene at Odum’s house. We found Ford’s watch. Some of his other personal effects.’ He drew a breath. ‘He could still be alive. But we found blood. A lot of it. We have to face the fact that he could be . . . in trouble.’
    She wanted to look away. Run away. Cover her ears and not hear. But her body wouldn’t move. Trapped, she stared up at Joseph. ‘Where is he? Where is my son?’
    ‘I don’t know. We didn’t find . . .’ He hesitated, swallowed hard. ‘A body.’
    Daphne jerked out of his arms and ran for the washroom.
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, December 3, 7.55 P.M.
    ‘Daddy?’ Laurel Gargano jumped up from the coffee shop table where she’d been sitting when Trooper Gargano rushed in, Jessica’s hand tight in his. Clay was right behind him. Alec was looking for a spot to park his car, Gargano having slid his aging Toyota into the last parking place on the street.
    Laurel’s face was tight with fear. ‘What’s wrong? Is it Mom?’
    ‘No,’ Gargano said. ‘Your mother’s fine. I just needed to talk to you.’
    Laurel pressed her hand to her heart. ‘You scared me. Your text said that it was urgent.’ She shot her father an indignant look. ‘Who is this man?’
    Gargano took her arm. ‘He’s a PI from Baltimore. He has a few questions for you. It’s important, honey. Really important. He might be able to help us.’
    ‘Okay, Daddy,’ she said, still wary. She let her father lead her back to the table, glancing sideways at Clay. ‘What’s this about?’ she asked when they were seated.
    ‘Do you know a girl named Kimberly MacGregor?’ her father asked.
    ‘Yes. I know her from Chinese school. You know her too, Dad. Her father’s the veterinarian. You met him at one of the picnics for the adoptive families.’ When her father still didn’t remember she crunched her eyebrows, thinking. ‘Oh, I know. Her dad is the one you lost