A bright smile, along with a tinge of puzzlement, had shot across Kennedy’s face, and she’d rushed over to hug Maureen and jump into the taxi. Maureen had hugged her back, saying only that Caitlin had an unexpected late-day work conflict, and had asked Maureen to pick her up. She then went on to tell Kennedy how much fun they’d have on this impromptu get-together, chatting and watching a “girls’ choice” movie with her great-uncle Colin.
An exuberant child by nature, Kennedy had been super-excited, and not at all alarmed by the explanation Maureen provided. Her daddy’s being at work till dinnertime was the norm. Her mommy worked virtually all days but Wednesdays, but it wasn’t the first time she’d been called into the office for a last-minute meeting on a different day.
So the ride from school to the Bronx was filled with fun chatter, along with Kennedy’s proud announcement that she’d gotten an A on her social studies project.
She had no way of knowing how hard Maureen’s heart was pounding, nor how lost she felt being totally in the dark.
They’d been halfway home, when Fiona called her mother from the subway.
“Hey, Mom,” she’d said, keeping it short and sweet, since she obviously knew that Kennedy was in the taxi, all-ears. “Claire thought you might need some help getting ready for Sunday’s family dinner. So we’re on our way to your place.” A pause. “Hi, Kennedy,” she called out, loud enough for Kennedy to hear.
“Fiona! Are you coming to Aunt Maureen’s house, too?” Kennedy asked eagerly.
“Sure am. Be there soon.” Fiona made a kissing sound, and then disconnected the call.
Maureen’s chest had constricted. She understood Fiona’s implicit meaning only too well, as well as what had prompted it. Or rather, who. It was Claire, God bless her. She was more attuned to Ryan than anyone else in his life. Given that fact, combined with her metaphysical gift, she’d clearly picked up on the dark energy surrounding him—maybe even sensed filaments of what had happened. She was on her way to help, and she knew that bringing Fiona would help distract Kennedy from whatever anxiety she might start feeling.
Shortly after they arrived home, Colin had walked in the door, brow furrowed with worry. He’d received his wife’s terrified text at the Bronx School of Science, where he taught, and had left for home the instant he’d read it.
Seeing his wife’s drawn expression, he’d kissed her forehead, and then joined Fiona and Claire, who were sprawled on the living room rug, beginning a competitive game of Monopoly with Kennedy. Claire met Maureen’s gaze only long enough to give a sensitive shake of her head, meaning she knew nothing definitive.
They’d have to wait to hear from Ryan.
Maureen had needed some space to deal with her emotions before Kennedy could pick up on them. She also wanted to be alone when Ryan’s call did come, so Kennedy couldn’t overhear it. As a result, she’d excused herself, then retreated to Fiona’s childhood bedroom.
There, she’d braced herself for the worst.
Not ten minutes later, it came.
Maureen’s cell phone rang. Seeing the number, she simultaneously accepted it and pressed the phone to her ear. “Ryan. Tell me what’s happening. Please.”
“I will.” Ryan’s voice was hoarse and ragged. “Are you alone?”
Maureen squeezed her eyes shut. Ryan never sounded so broken. Whatever he was about to say was going to be even more severe than she’d imagined.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m in Fiona’s old bedroom. Dad, Claire, and Fiona are playing a game with Kennedy in the living room.”
A heartbeat of a pause. “Claire sensed something,” Ryan realized aloud. “That’s why she and Fee are there. Thank God for her insights. I’ll text her now. Somehow she’ll find a way to tell Dad and Fee what happened without alerting Kennedy.” He swallowed, hard. “Mom, I need you to be strong. For me.”
Maureen didn’t hesitate. “I will be.”
“Shane is dead,” Ryan managed. “He was murdered in his house. Marc and I found the body. And Caitlin is missing—I have no idea where she is or who she’s with. We tried calling and texting her, but no response.”
“Oh, dear Lord, no.” Tears welled up in Maureen’s eyes. “You’re sure Shane is…?”
“Yes.” Ryan made a choked sound. “The paramedics and the ME were there. He was pronounced dead and taken away by ambulance. The local police showed up right away. But Marc also called Casey’s husband, Hutch, who’s the head of all violent crimes at the Bureau’s New York field office. He jumped in his car and checked in with his Assistant Director in Charge during his drive to New Rochelle. This case is now under FBI jurisdiction, with Hutch at the helm.”
Ryan took a sharp breath, words just tumbling out of his mouth. “Hutch showed up at the scene in less than an hour, and began running the show. The FBI is all over this, since Shane was one of their own. The Bureau’s evidence response team sealed off the house, and did a full sweep, setting a perimeter that kept everyone else out. Marc and I had already gotten a good look at most of the first floor, which was empty and undisturbed. My guess is the rest of the house was the same, given that this was no robbery. I’m sure the agents will question a slew of people, including members of the NYPD, since Shane was with them before he joined the Bureau. Between both organizations, who knows how many enemies he’s made?”
Maureen absorbed the gist of what Ryan was saying, and she fought back her tears. “But to kill him? What kind of sick person would do that? And Caitlin—are we sure she’s alive? Could Shane’s killer have taken her?”
“I don’t know, Mom. Both her car and Shane’s car are parked outside the house. That’s all I know.” Ryan drew another shaky breath. “I’ll get a copy of the locals’ crime scene report later. Right now, I’m having a hard enough time accepting the fact that Shane is gone. I keep waiting for him to call and ask me to meet him somewhere to shoot hoops.”
Ryan’s voice broke. “But I know Shane. He’d order me to focus on Kennedy. Hutch instructed me that we shouldn’t say anything to her. He’s sending SA Darren Barkley, the case agent, along with an FBI victim specialist, Dr. Sheryl Abel, to your house. Dr. Abel has a lot of experience in this area. She and Special Agent Barkley will speak with you first, explain their procedure. I don’t know the details, but I do know they’ll want you to be with Kennedy when she’s told. That will offer her the emotional support she needs.” Ryan knew the answer to his next question even before he asked it. “Will you be able to handle that?”
Instantly, Maureen called on her stoic core, stemmed her tears. “Without question. I’ll hold Kennedy’s hand and give her my strength.”
“She’s going to be devastated.” Ryan was a hair’s-breath away from losing it entirely. “I don’t see how she’ll ever recover.”
