Tea it is. I pull out the pitcher of sweet tea and pour three glasses as I talk. “I wasn’t expecting you, Detective. They told me it would be someone else.”
When I sit down, I uncover a plate of cookies and set down a stack of napkins. “Thank you for coming. I’ll sleep easier. Has there been any news about the Rover?”
“We have some news about Walter,” he says, taking a sip. “We found him.”
All of the tension in my muscles releases at once. Thank goodness. Walter might be able to tell us more about theBig, Mean Man. We need to find him.
Daniels sets his glass down, his mouth tightening into a frown.
“We found him just a little while ago. Behind the old Cooper Motel.” He pauses. “Shot through the head.”
For a heartbeat, my brain goes numb.
What?
“I know you want more answers, Mrs. Glassier, but to be honest… I think Walter acted alone.”
I’m trying to listen. But I can’t. Walter was in this house a few hours ago, and now he’s dead. Murdered. Which means the man who tried to take Natalie is a murderer.
Daniels continues. “We don’t have any evidence that this other man is dangerous. The park video didn’t show him taking Natalie, and we know for a fact Walter did. I think thisBig, Mean Manis just some poor guy who became involved in this because he was there at the same time.”
“But Natalie said—”
“A child has a big imagination,” he says. “Especially in a scary situation. Do you think it’s possible she thinks he exists because Walter told her so? A protective mechanism her mind built to help her manage her fear while Walter had her?”
No. I don’t. I know my daughter, and she knows what she saw.
“But Nathan… he found the Land Rover.”
“Yeah, we ran the tag. It’s not in the system. Maybe Nathan was off by a few digits? Whoever he was chasing may have gotten spooked by being followed by a stranger.”
That’s not possible. None of this makes any sense.
“Mrs. Glassier?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just…” I glance toward the hallway, afraid Natalie may be listening. “You’re still going to stay with us tonight, right?” I force myself to push aside my rising panic.
“Yes.” He tips his head toward his partner. “Bill will be right outside all night. But try not to worry.” He gets up and rests his hand on my shoulder. “I really think it’s over.”
I know that’s not true.
CHAPTER 28
The Stranger
Jamie is alive.
By the time Finn and I reached the Adeline, they had Jamie, and the SEAL pulled out. The SEAL was trapped in a pinch point in one of the offshoot tunnels, and Jamie couldn’t get him out by himself. They’d used a couple of the staging bottles to breathe while they waited to be found. They’re physically fine, just shaken up.
Instead of going home, we’re on our way to an emergency briefing on Finn’s ship.
After a grim-faced Commander Nicolaus enters the ship’s conference room, he gives Finn a short nod to begin.
“Today’s tragedy underscores the danger of the Drop,” Finn says. “We must use trained cave divers.”
The DARPA liaison seated to the side of the commander asks to speak. Nicolaus inclines his head once.
The liaison looks around the table, making eye contact with each person before he speaks. “First, I want to acknowledge the work this team has done. Seeing the DS100 prototype operate in real conditions is exactly why we’re here. The people on this mission are the best at what they do.”
