Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

the bet to, the one I wasn’t supposed to tell Mom about.’
    ‘Which bet was this?’ Clay asked.
    ‘I have no idea,’ Gargano said.
    ‘You bet him that the Lightning would never take home the Cup.’
    Gargano frowned. ‘What?’
    She sighed patiently. ‘You were mad that they scheduled the annual social during game seven of the Stanley Cup, but when we got to the MacGregors’ house all the dads were in the TV room watching the game, and you let me come in and watch with you. You bet Kimberly’s father a hundred bucks that Tampa wouldn’t take it.’
    ‘Honey, that was in 2004 . You could have come up with something more recent.’
    She shrugged. ‘We stopped going to the socials after you made SWAT in 2004.’
    He looked away. ‘I’m sorry about that, baby.’
    ‘That’s okay.’ She patted his hand. ‘I didn’t like them anyway. I went for Mom.’
    He kissed her forehead, then looked at Clay. ‘That family is wealthy. Nice house, nice part of town. He had one heck of a man-cave – three different beers on tap.’
    ‘Which was why you bet him the hundred to start with,’ Laurel said affectionately. ‘And why I wasn’t allowed to tell Mom.’ Her brows crunched again, this time in concern. ‘Is this about Kim’s sister, Pamela? The one who went missing last night?’
    ‘Possibly,’ Clay said. ‘There’s been an AMBER Alert since last night.’
    ‘I didn’t know. I wasn’t on duty today.’ Gargano turned his attention back to Laurel. ‘Was Kimberly ever in our house?’
    ‘Yes,’ Laurel said, her wariness returning. ‘Why?’
    ‘When, Laurel?’ Clay asked quietly.
    ‘Last winter, before Christmas. It was a sleepover for my birthday. My mom invited all the girls from the Chinese school. I was a little surprised Kim came. She and I were never really close and she’s two years older than I am. She was home from college for the break. I figured she’d have better things to do than have a party with kids. Why?’
    ‘Where was the sleepover?’ Clay asked.
    ‘In the basement. We have a rec room downstairs,’ Laurel explained.
    ‘Did you notice if Kimberly left the party at any time that night?’
    ‘I don’t remember, but she could have. There were ten girls and only one bathroom downstairs.’ Laurel looked at her father. ‘Daddy? What’s going on here?’
    ‘It’s possible that Kimberly could have been involved in the burglary,’ Gargano said. ‘Mr Maynard’s associate found a camera in the ceiling vent. Whoever put it there may have been watching me dial the safe’s combination.’
    Laurel was shaking her head. ‘Kimberly wouldn’t do that.’
    ‘She’s been caught for stealing before,’ Clay said gently. ‘In Maryland.’
    ‘Why would she steal?’ Gargano asked. ‘Her father is loaded.’
    Laurel shook her head. ‘Not anymore. Her father’s practice got hurt in the recession. She used to drive a BMW, but I heard her parents sold it. When she came to the party she got dropped off by her boyfriend.’
    Clay had to remind himself to breathe. ‘Did you see him?’
    ‘No. I don’t even remember what he drove. I’m sorry.’
    ‘Don’t be,’ Clay assured her. ‘You’re doing great. I’m asking all these questions because the tasers taken from your dad were used to kidnap a young man about your age. Kimberly’s new boyfriend. We’re trying to bring him home.’
    A tap on his arm had him looking down. Gargano’s younger daughter looked up at him with intelligent eyes. ‘Do you have a picture of her?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘I do.’ Clay checked his cell phone and found the photo of Kimberly that had come up with her background check. As he was about to show Jessica the picture, his phone rang, the caller ID sending the photo to the background. It was Paige. He’d call her back in a second. He hit decline, then showed the photo to the little girl. ‘Do you remember her?’
    Jessica took his phone and stared. Then nodded. ‘I’d gone downstairs to get some cake before the girls ate it all. She was standing in front of the bookshelves, talking on her cell phone and smiling like she was getting her picture taken. Looking up, you know? Like when you take a picture of yourself.’ She frowned. ‘But she was talking on the phone. So how could she be taking her own picture at the same time?’
    ‘What happened next, honey?’ Gargano asked.
    ‘Nothing. When she saw me, she hung up fast and went back to the party.’ Her lower lip trembled, her eyes