The microwave beeped, and Marty set down a bowl of food and some water for Dexter, who attacked both. Then he brought out a bowl of chicken salad, crackers, and some bread and fruit, placing it all on the table. “Eat, eat, eat,” Marty told him and added plates and a fork. “What do you want to drink?”
“I want a slug of whiskey, but ice water will be great.” Grant desperately wanted something to dull the frustration. They needed to catch this guy, and they needed to do it fast.
Marty brought the water and sat down. “So, what do we know about this guy, assuming it’s the same person?”
“Well, he seems to know the areas he picks up the kids, and he plans things well. Maybe he watches the school somehow to choose the kids he wants.” He told Marty about the note. “That means he planned ahead, but then again, it didn’t have Mikey’s name on it.”
“So he leaves himself open,” Marty said. “Luring the kid away from the school and cameras before taking them. If the pattern holds, then he’s going to keep him until Mikey does something he doesn’t like. Then he’ll dump him somewhere and forget about him.” The cracker Marty had in his hand shattered to crumbs, and he brushed them onto the plate. “Sorry.”
“I’m angry too,” Grant told him. “But I have to keep my objectivity or else I’ll be ineffective.” Maybe talking about this was a bad idea. He should just change the subject.
“Okay. So given the pattern, he’ll keep Mikey for a few days and then hide him somewhere. If the past is any indication, then it will be somewhere the police have already looked, and somewhere hidden. If logic holds, then be sure to look for hidden places in any building you go into. I can check the plans for the school itself to see if there are any hiding places. Have any other buildings been searched?”
“We’re getting permission to search the home where we found the backpack. The house is for sale and appears to be empty.”
“Then leave a camera behind when you do,” Marty suggested. “If someone enters, you’ll know. The school has plenty of cameras, so I doubt he’d try to get in there. It’s too risky.” Martyhmphed. “Also be sure to check the garages andattics. Those are great hiding places, especially if they have those trap-door entrances. There aren’t windows either, so a kid would be trapped and very hot.”
“I thought of that,” Grant said. “I’ll also make sure we check basements and root cellars.” He shook his head as he ate. The salad was great, but he barely tasted it, his mind on the case. “I can’t just wait until he decides he’s through with Mikey. What if he runs with him, or….” Grant couldn’t even say the words. “What if he changes the way he operates?”
“He could. But….” Marty sighed. “I wish I knew why he was doing this. It’s kind of freaky.”
“Yeah, well. If you heard some of the stories the guys have told me, you’d know that some people are really weird, especially when it comes to children. When Donald told us about his and Carter’s son, he only told part of it. I can tell you that there are places on the dark web where videos of Alex still circulate. Carter has spent years trying to get them removed, and he’s had quite a bit of success.” He continued eating. “The hardest thing to do is what I tell the parents—‘be patient and maybe Mikey will turn up.’”
Marty shook his head. “No. If you want my opinion, I’d say you put as much pressure on this guy as possible. Get pictures of him around town. Someone must know him. Get the parents to go on television and make a plea. Show images of Mikey on the news. Make Mikey too damned hot to handle.”
“Then what do you think is going to happen? Do you think he’ll revert to type?” Grant asked. He was so tired his mind was grinding to a halt, and he didn’t quite trust himself.
“Wouldn’t you? Something has worked for you before, so you keep doing it until it doesn’t work. He’s going to have to find a hiding place, and we’re going to find it first. There’s an exhibition of images of old Carlisle at the historical society. I’m going to take Cameron tomorrow. He wants to see the old-timeypictures, and while I’m there, I’ll see what I can find out about the buildings in that area. Maybe we can find his hiding place before he does.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Grant said after eating some more salad. “I should go home.”
“No. You’re too tired, so I’m taking charge tonight. Go on upstairs, get undressed, and get into bed. Tell me what time you have to be up, and I’ll make sure you have plenty of time to get to the station.” Marty put everything away before taking him by the arm and leading him upstairs.
Grant got undressed and fell into bed. He closed his eyes as Marty pulled the covers over him. “Thank you for looking after me.”
“Always,” Marty whispered and kissed him. Grant responded for a second, but he was so tired that sleep pulled him down. He didn’t know how much time had passed before the other side of the bed dipped, and then he was out like a light, too tired to react to the thought that Marty might be in bed with him. If he was, then Grant was safe and he could let go. Marty would see to it that he was up and back on the job. Right now all he needed was rest.
The bed was empty when he woke to the scent of coffee. He cracked his eyes open to a mug on the table next to the bed. As he sipped, he took stock and tried to figure out what had happened the night before.
Chapter 9
“YOU’RE UP.I was about to come get you in five more minutes,” Marty said as Grant shuffled into the kitchen. “Cameron and I are both early risers.” Cameron sat at the table with a plate of pancakes, eating and grinning. “Sit down. I have a plate for you too.”
Grant took a seat, and Marty put a steaming plate of soy sausage and pancakes in front of him. “Dang, this looks good. Mama always told me to find a man who could cook, because I sure can’t.”
“Mr. Marty cooks good,” Cameron said between bites.
“Well, thank you both.” He got himself a plate and took a chair after pouring juice for all of them. “I have a few more if you want them.” Marty placed his hand on Cameron’s arm. “Slow down. No one is going to take the food away from you, and there is more if you want it. I promise. You will not go hungry here.”
Cameron continued eating, but he did slow a little. He still looked a bit like a chipmunk, but he swallowed and drank some of the orange juice. Marty tried to relax and didn’t want to talk about the missing little boy in front of Cameron, so they sat quietly until Grant’s phone rang. He took a final bite and left the table.
“Where he go?”
“It’s work,” Marty answered casually. “You finish your breakfast, and then you can get dressed and we’ll go see the old-timey pictures.” He tried not to listen in and finished his own meal before Grant came back, looking as serious as a heart attack.
He said nothing but showed Marty an image on his phone. “We got this from the feed at the school.” It was a partially clear image of a man standing near some trees. Their shadow slightly obscured him, but with the enhancement that the department must have done, his face was pretty clear. Marty swallowed hard, because he knew Grant was asking if he could show the image to Cameron.
Marty shook his head. “Give me a few minutes.” He hoped Grant got the point, because he nodded and put the phone away. “Thanks.” He cleared the dishes away, taking care of Cameron’s last before sending him upstairs.
