Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

filling with tears as she returned Clay’s phone. ‘I’m sorry, Daddy. If I’d remembered before, the police wouldn’t have been so terrible to you.’
    Gargano lifted the child to his lap. ‘It’s all right, MeiMei . None of this is your fault.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘You remembered now and that’s the important thing.’
    ‘Absolutely,’ Clay said. ‘Laurel, what day was your party?’
    She checked the calendar on her phone, scrolling back a year. ‘December 20.’
    ‘Great. And Jessica, what—’ His phone buzzed. It was Paige again. There must be news . Carter should have been at the Timonium house already. Please . Please let it be good news . ‘ I need to take this,’ he said to Gargano, then answered. ‘Paige?’
    ‘Don’t you dare decline my calls again,’ she stormed. She was crying. Oh no .
    Dread settled on his shoulders. ‘What’s wrong?’
    ‘Joseph’s here. Oh, God, Clay.’ She was sobbing so hard her words slurred.
    ‘Slow down. I can’t understand you.’ But he did understand. He just couldn’t accept. I was too late .
    He heard Grayson’s voice, faintly. ‘Give me the phone, baby.’ A long pause. ‘It’s Grayson. Joseph found a crime scene. No body, but lots of blood and signs that a body had been dragged to the garage. There was a message to Daphne on the wall, written in blood.’ His voice broke and he cleared his throat. ‘ “Now you know how it feels. ” ’
    The air left Clay’s lungs. ‘We were too late,’ he said numbly.
    ‘Joseph’s in with Daphne now. Where are you?’
    ‘Philadelphia. With Trooper Gargano.’ Clay exhaled, trying to think. ‘I found the link between Kim and the weapons taken from Gargano. Check her cell records for the night of December 20.’ He looked at Jessica. ‘What time did you see her, honey?’
    ‘After midnight. Maybe one or two?’
    ‘Look at her calls made between midnight and three. There’s a camera in Trooper Gargano’s duct work. Maybe it can be traced to this Doug guy you’re looking for.’
    ‘Okay. I’ll check those records now. Thanks.’
    His throat was so tight he couldn’t breathe. ‘Is Daphne . . . ? Forget it. Of course she’s not all right. Tell her . . . I don’t know what to tell her.’
    ‘This isn’t your fault, Clay,’ Grayson said soberly. ‘Novak’s up there somewhere. Where can I have him meet you, so he can check out the camera?’
    ‘I’m at a coffee shop.’ Clay gave him the address. ‘I’ll wait here for him. Then I’ll get home as fast as I can.’ He hung up and closed his eyes, fighting the tears that burned his throat. Another little tap on his arm had him looking at Jessica again.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, her little face pinched with sorrow.
    ‘Thanks, honey. I appreciate it.’
    Gargano sighed wearily. ‘Should I go home and wait for the creepy Fed?’
    ‘That’s probably best.’
    Baltimore, Maryland, Tuesday, December 3, 7.55 P.M.
    She hadn’t cried. Not a single tear. Joseph sat on the floor of the washroom, Daphne curled up on his lap. She clutched his shirt in a white-knuckled grip, the strength of her hands the only indication she wasn’t asleep.
    He stroked her back, saying nothing. What could he say? They’d been too late. All he could do was watch helplessly as she knelt in front of the toilet, rubbing her back as her body convulsed. Then he’d washed her face and pulled her into his arms.
    He rested his cheek on the top of her head and exhaled, bone weary. A noise had him looking up. Paige and Grayson stood in the doorway. Paige’s eyes were swollen and red. She’d cried, a lot. She knelt and put her arms around Daphne.
    ‘He could still be alive,’ Paige whispered fiercely.
    But even though Joseph had said that himself, he didn’t believe it was true. If Ford had been alive when he was dragged from that basement, he hadn’t lasted long. Not with all the blood they’d found in that basement room.
    So much blood . He’d been on autopilot, helping Brodie with the scene. Not even realizing that he himself had grown pale as they’d examined each piece of clothing.
    When he’d stood, he’d actually stumbled, nearly falling into the pool of the boy’s blood. He’d quickly recovered, blaming his lightheadedness on not having eaten all day, but Brodie wasn’t fooled. She’d sent him out of the house to get some air.
    Joseph clenched his jaw, thinking about the moment he’d exited the Timonium house. The