“No, ma’am.” Conner shifted uncomfortably. “We’ll only take a few moments of your time.” The look he shot Sarah said it had better turn out that way.
“Well.” Rachel stood in the middle of the room as if she wasn’t sure what to do next. “All right.”
“Ms. Appleton, have you received any gifts?” Sarah shrugged offhandedly. “Flowers?”
Rachel’s head bobbed enthusiastically as if she were glad to have a question she could answer. “Oh, lots.”
Sarah moistened her lips. “May we see them?”
Confusion lined the older woman’s brow, but then she gestured to the hall behind her. “They’re in Lici’s bedroom.” She managed a shaky smile. “That’s what we call her.”
Sarah nodded. Lici, pronounced “Leecee.” Cute. Rachel Appleton’s next hesitation had Sarah ready to explode with tension.
The lady finally turned and led the way to her missing daughter’s room. She opened the door. The light was already on inside. As with the exterior of the Gerard home, Alicia’s room was filled with flowers and cards and stuffed toys. Sarah scanned the vases, her heart thumping harder and harder as she moved from one to the next. Dozens of mixed bouquets of pastel colors, some richer, bolder colors like purple and orange. Lots of whites and creams. Rows of pink, lavender, and yellow tulips.
If the roses had already been delivered ...
Sarah’s heart stumbled as her gaze lit on the next vase. The long-stemmed roses stood tall and proud amid the less revered varieties. The water level in the vase was barely an inch from the top. No fallen petals, no bowed heads.
These flowers were fresh ... newly delivered.
“The red roses,” Sarah said, barely resisting the impulse to run over and look at the card, “when did you receive those?”
“This morning.” Rachel faked a smile. “They’re very beautiful, but the sender forgot to sign the card.”
“May I?” Sarah gestured to the flowers.
“Newton,” Conner admonished.
Rachel blinked, the confusion was back. “It’s all right.” She swallowed with effort. “Alicia will love them. She loves flowers. We always got her pink ones on her birthday.” Rachel’s voice quivered as she said the last. “But the red is pretty, too.”
Sarah heard Conner say, “They’re very beautiful.”
She dropped to her knees in front of the vase that sat on the floor amid the other arrangements. Her pulse thundered, had her blood rushing. The card wasn’t in an envelope. Just tucked loosely amid the greenery and baby’s breath.
Her fingers cold as ice as if the blood wasn’t making it that far, Sarah used her fingernails to grasp the very corner and lift up the card just enough to see the written note.
Deepest regrets . . .
No signature.
She released the note, let it settle back amid the foliage, and pushed to her feet. “Ms. Appleton, do you recall which floral service delivered the roses?” Sarah’s gaze connected with the lady’s.
Rachel thought a moment, then shook her head. “They were on the stoop when my husband and boys were leaving. I’m not sure anyone rang the bell. I called Deputy Brighton like I was supposed to. She said it was okay to keep them.”
This could be nothing. Sarah knew that for certain. Just because Marta Hanover recalled red roses from twenty years ago, and because a dozen had been delivered to Valerie Gerard’s family more than a week ago ... meant nothing.
But it didn’t feel like nothing.
Conner sent her a firm look. “We should go.”
“Did you see?” Rachel asked. She moved across the crowded-with-gifts room. “Alicia’s senior portrait arrived yesterday.” She admired the large portrait that sat on an elaborate stand. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Sarah studied the image in the portrait. The girl was stunning. She wore a delicate necklace that sported a small shimmering crown. “She’s very beautiful. The necklace is lovely, too.”
“That was a Christmas present,” her mother explained, clearly excited to talk about something besides the fact that her daughter was missing. “She’s won so many beauty pageants, her friends nicknamed her the queen.” Rachel touched the flawless portrait, smiled.
“I can certainly see how it would be difficult to choose anyone else standing on a stage next to her. She is stunning.” Sarah felt sick to her stomach.
