Silent Run

Titel: Silent Run Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Barbara Freethy

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that I know of. I called you later that night, and you told me everything was fine, but you might take Katie and go away for a few days to visit some relatives."
    âWhen exactly was that?"
    âTuesday. Wednesday morning when I knocked on your door you didnât answer."
    âWerenât you worried about her?â Jake challenged.
    âOf course I was,â Amanda said defensively. Looking back at Sarah she said, âI called your cell phone, but it went to voice mail. I called the place where you work, but they said you werenât scheduled to be there, so I assumed youâd left town."
    âI didnât say where my relatives lived?"
    âNo. You were very cagey about your past."
    âSo I left Wednesday morning and went somewhere,â Sarah murmured, her initial hope beginning to fade again. âWhere did you say I worked?"
    âFor a janitorial service, cleaning commercial office buildings at night. The name of the company is Gold Star Cleaners. Itâs over on Fifth Street, a few miles from here."
    âWho watched Caitlyn for Sarah when she was at work?â Jake asked.
    Amanda hesitated. She seemed more willing to answer Sarahâs questions than Jakeâs. âSarah took Katie along with her. It was night, and no one cared if Katie slept in her car seat while Sarah cleaned. She said it was a perfect setup. No one was around when she did her job, and she didnât have to pay for a babysitter."
    It was also a great job for someone who wanted to live in the shadows, Sarah thought. Since sheâd left Jake, sheâd lived like a ghost in the night.
    âAnd she never told you anything about me -- the father of her child?â Jake asked, his voice edged with impatience and frustration.
    âShe didnât say one word about you. I thought you were probably the one she was running from, some kind of abusive boyfriend or husband situation. Maybe thatâs still the case, and she just doesnât remember."
    Amandaâs challenging statement hung in the air between them.
    âThatâs not what went down,â Jake said. âI didnât hurt Sarah. She left of her own free will."
    Amanda didnât look convinced, but Sarah didnât have time to wait for Amanda to trust Jake. âI have to find Caitlyn,â she said, bringing the conversation back to the single most important truth. âI must have left her somewhere, and I need to figure out where."
    âMaybe with those relatives you mentioned,â Amanda said. âWhere did you have your accident? That could be a clue."
    âUp north, about two hours from here, by Santa Barbara.â As she answered the question, Sarah wondered if sheâd made a mistake coming to LA. Instead of getting closer to her daughter, she might be even farther away. âCaitlyn could still be up there somewhere,â she said to Jake.
    âMaybe, but we need to check your apartment. There could be a clue there that will lead us in another direction."
    âI didnât realize youâd gone so far away,â Amanda said thoughtfully.
    âI guess that means I didnât tell you about any place I knew of up north?â Sarah asked.
    âYou once said you loved San Francisco. Perhaps you were going there."
    âThatâs where she was with me,â Jake said.
    Had she been running back to Jake and just hadnât made it? But no, Caitlyn hadnât been in the car. Would she have gone to Jake without their daughter? That didnât seem right.
    âI wish I could help.â Amanda offered her a compassionate smile. âI feel so bad that you donât know where Katie is. You must be dying inside. You love that kid more than life."
    âI am dying.â Sarah swallowed hard, a knot of emotion choking her throat. Amanda was the first person whoâd actually felt empathy for her situation that was not tainted by anger or a sense of betrayal. It was nice to know that not everyone hated her, and some people actually knew she was a good mother. It helped to rekindle her faith in herself. âI canât stand not knowing where Caitlyn is. I have to find her. I have to make sure sheâs all right."
    âIâm sure sheâs safe. Youâre a really good mother. You must have left Katie with someone you trust."
    âI hope so. Can I have the key to my apartment, please?"
    âAll right."
    âWait,â Sarah said quickly. There was something about