She didn’t seem super convinced by Jax’s inference that she could break the case.
Kenna had nudged Ryson earlier about getting a rush on the forensics from the murder scene in Marcus’s apartment. Hopefully, ballistics from the weapon used or some other DNA evidence would be discovered that matched a suspect.
“You think he had some kind of vendetta? More likely, he ripped someone off, and they killed him.”
Kenna said, “He’s the father of Crystal’s son, Abe, isn’t he?”
Denise’s expression softened. “My grandbaby. Light of my life.”
“You get to spend time with him often?” She didn’t know if Denise was aware that the family was missing. Kenna might need to break this to her gently.
“Crystal calls if she needs help with the kids, like picking up Abe if she’s gonna be late from work.”
Kenna asked, “What about Ellayna?”
“That child has always been older than her years,” Denise said. “I’m sure you’re aware of what happened to her.”
Jax looked at Kenna, but she just nodded.
Denise continued, “Doesn’t want a babysitter. Thinks she can watch her brother, no problem, as if she’s a little adult trapped in a child’s body.”
“I remember being twelve. Thinking I was so grown up.” Kenna smiled. “Were you aware that no one has seen Crystal, Ellayna, or Abe, in a couple of days?” She paused to give Denise a second to absorb that and watched the older woman’s eyes flare. “I’m worried about them. I think someone might have taken them.”
She’d asked Zeyla to go to their house and have a look around, given that the police were barely beginning these missing person cases. And there was currently no reason to believe they’d been kidnapped, even.
Denise shook her head, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What do you meantaken?”
Jax said, “They haven’t shown up at any of their usual places in a few days. This morning, we discovered their phones are switched off, and none of Crystal’s debit or credit cards have been used.”
“What about the car?” Denise glanced between her and Jax. “Crystal could have taken them on a trip.”
“Any idea where they might have gone?” Kenna asked. “A favorite place, or someone they might’ve gone to visit?”
Denise looked at the ceiling and shook her head slowly. “It’s not like Crystal has a vacation cabin somewhere. She doesn’t even take trips. She has two jobs and two kids, and Lord knows Marcus never helped her with any of it.”
Kenna needed to figure out if his death was connected to their disappearance or not. Otherwise, it might be two completely unrelated cases.
“How much did he see Abe?” Jax asked.
Denise shrugged. “He’d show up once in a while. I think Crystal didn’t really like to tell me because she probably thought I’d get upset. But he’d come over late, after Abe was in bed, and expect her to wake him up so he could see his son. He’d ask her for money.”
Kenna didn’t want to think ill of the dead, let alone speak it, but this guy could’ve been a better human, and father, in a lot of ways—or so it seemed.
“If he was killed because someone took them, then I hate to say it, but he was probably involved.” A look of disgust crossed Denise’s face. “Who knows what he got himself into. I don’t even want to think that a son of mine would put his family in danger, but he turned out far too much like his father for my taste. He never would listen to reason. Always had to do things his way.”
She drew in a shuddering breath and continued, “I hope you’re able to find them, whatever happened.”
“We hope so, too.” But hope was something that seemed flimsy until the concrete answer made itself known.
Hope seemed almost like something that might not pay off. The push and pull between taking action herself and waiting onGod—trusting Him for the outcome—was probably something it would take her whole life to figure out.
Right now, the stakes of not finding them were far too great. Three lives snuffed out. Three reasons to doubt the goodness of God, even though sheknewin her soul that the two didn’t cancel each other out.
Kenna curled her hands into fists on her knees, wanting to do something that would get her a step closer. But how? It seemed impossible when there were no answers at hand.
Kenna had one final question to ask. “Denise, have you ever heard of a group calledDominatus?”
Denise flinched a little. “What is that?”
