“Not doughnuts…that’s a cliché for a cop. But I’ll bring something for you,” he said, putting on his hat as he walked away.
She just watched him leave, smiling to herself. She liked him, which totally surprised her, because it had been a while since she’d really felt anything for a man.
Going to pick up Gracie from the day care, she bundled the baby up and headed home. Once again she thought she felt someone watching her but put it down to paranoia. After reading the police report with the details of how Fern was abducted earlier that day, Ava knew she was processing some leftover anxiety from when her college boyfriend had stalked her.
Just that sense of not being safe. The same thing had happened after she watched a psychologic thriller. It had been so creepy and chilling she had to sleep with her light on forweeks after that. Her mom had pointed out that thirteen was too young, but a boy that Ava had liked had invited her to go see it.
Woman, take warning.
But Chay wasn’t asking her to see a movie or really to do anything except help in his investigation. It was all on her.
That moment she’d held Gracie, something had shifted inside of her. A longing she hadn’t been aware of had sprung to life, and each time she rocked the little girl to sleep or went to watch her playing in her crib first thing in the morning, the longing grew.
She wasn’t going to struggle to give the baby to her forever home. Which Ava thought was a good thing. It reminded her she was alive. She’d been settling into just existence before she’d started fostering kids. It wasn’t all hearts and flowers or easy at all, but it was what she needed.
Getting home, she made dinner for herself then fed Gracie. “Ready to watch some reality tv?” she asked the little baby, whose eyes were getting heavy with sleep. Tucking Gracie close to her, she held her as she tuned into that castle in the Scottish Highlands and Alan Cumming with his outrageous outfits. This was exactly what she needed to clear her mind and get ready for tomorrow.
Chay was coming over again. He’d said “date,” but she knew it wasn’t adatedate. Still, she was looking forward to seeing him again.
More than she’d expected, too.
Chapter 3
Ava’s mom liked to call her first thing in the morning for a chat when she had something on her mind. The rest of the time they both sort of did their own things. She’d just put Gracie down for a nap, knowing that Chay was going to drop by for their date sometime today.
She should have been more specific about the time instead of just inviting him to stop by…
“Ava…you there?”
“Yeah. Sorry, was watching the baby monitor,” she lied. “What did you say?”
“Aw, I remember those days,” her mom said. “I asked if you’d heard that the Annie Ross’s murder might be related to the men who took Fern Hensley.”
Ava curled her legs up underneath her and shifted the phone to her other hand. “No, I hadn’t. How did you hear that? You know you shouldn’t listen to gossip, Mom.” Using the phrase her mom had used so many times when Ava and Ryan had been growing up.
“Ha-ha. Ryan was here for dinner. He mentioned it because of the connection to Fern. Seems that Annie had filed a missing-person report on her friend and roommate Camille Lancaster. Some of the details of her friend’s abduction match how Fern was taken.”
“When did they find all of this out?”
“Yesterday, I suppose. I’m not really sure. But it’s scary to think of all these women being taken and brought to our town,” Mom said. “You be extra careful.”
“It is scary,” Ava agreed. “But most of the women were taken elsewhere, right? I should be fine. You, too.”
Her mom huffed. “Of course I will. They’re going after young women.”
“You’re still young, honey,” she heard her dad say. The phone was muffled, and she suspected her parents were kissing before her mom came back on the line. “Still, I want you to stay vigilant.”
“I always do,” she said.
“Good. So when are you going to bring that cute baby over so I can cuddle her?”
She agreed to a day next week when Ava was off again and then hung up with her mom. The information her mom had given her would help Chay’s investigation, she thought. It would also give her some background to start questioning Fern on.
The other woman didn’t want to talk her abduction. Given that she tried to let Fern guide their sessions, she imagined the other woman didn’t want to talk about it.
Her street was quiet, as it usually was on a Thursday morning. Most people had gone to school or work, and there weren’t a lot of stay-at-home parents on her street. In fact, if it wasn’t for Gracie, Ava would be volunteering at the homeless shelter today.
She checked on Gracie, who was still sleeping. Standing over the baby, Ava had so many questions. Why had Annie Ross abandoned her at the fire station? Had she realized that her questions were leading men who were kidnapping women to her?
