Of course it was a problem for him to come into work on a Saturday night, but he’d done it for her, and she appreciated it. He was quickly becoming one of her closest friends and advisers.
“Thanks for coming in. Q has been doing an admirable job of running me around.”
“No problem, ma’am,” Q said.
Normally, she’d tell him not to call her that, but she couldn’t be bothered to care about such trivial things while Ethan was missing.
“Where to?” Vernon asked.
Freddie gave him the address for the missing girl’s house.
While Vernon drove them, Sam tried to process everything she’d learned so far. Most of it was too horrifying to be believed.
“Sam.”
She glanced at her partner.
“What’re we doing here?”
“I’m sorry. What?”
“We’re going to talk to the parents of a girl whose disappearance may or may not be related to Ethan’s when you were told to stay out of the investigation. So, I’m wondering what level of shit storm I’m getting into by going along with you. Not that I’d let you go by yourself, but…”
Sam’s emotions were all over the place, the primary one being panic the likes of which she hadn’t experienced in quite some time. “I think maybe you should go home.”
“That’s not what I was saying.”
“I know, but still… You’re absolutely right that I shouldn’t be doing this. I should’ve consulted with Ruiz about the missing girl. I should’ve told her what we learned from the superintendent about the kid who might be the Brecken we’re looking for. The thing is… I don’t trust her to do the right thing, and maybe that’s totally unfair, but my gut is telling me to bypass her. It’s quite possible I’ll get in trouble for doing that, and if you’re with me, you could, too. So that’s why I want you to go home.”
Freddie seemed to be pondering what she’d said.
“We’ll drop you at the Metro.”
“That’s okay. I’m along for the ride.”
“Freddie…”
“I’m aware of the potential consequences, and I’m choosing to participate in whatever comes next.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded.
“What’s the girl’s name?” Sam asked.
He consulted his phone to read the information sent from Dispatch. “Luna Ahern.” Then he glanced at her. “What’re you thinking?”
“I’m praying her disappearance isn’t related to Ethan’s.”
“I can’t believe we need to be concerned about that.”
“If it’s related to that incel shit…” Her voice caught. “I’m trying to picture our sweet Ethan involved in something sinister.”
“We don’t know anything about what Ethan may or may not be involved in. Don’t go to worst-case until we know more.”
“It’s hard not to. Where in the hell is he? He has to know his parents are frantic by now.”
“Maybe he’s being held by someone.”
