“Anyway, when I get another free moment, I’ll work their alibi from a different angle.”
“Thanks, Eva. Maybe there’s a way we can figure out when and if they ever left Ridge.”
“That would be good, if you could be feet on the ground. I’ll give it as much time as I can. We’ve got two missing girls we need to bring home. Take care, River, and you, too, Lydia,” said Eva.
“Thank you.” A lump had formed in Lydia’s throat.
He started the engine and pulled out of the parking space, still looking around. “I’m not totally comfortable heading to the house just yet. Far as we know, my place is still safe for you, but we might be followed again.”
Always in the back of her mind, Lydia heard a ticking clock where Elsie was concerned. She knew the same was true for Mia. Eva was probably working extreme overtime already. Just driving around or even being confined at River’s house made her feel like she wasn’t doing enough.
“You know, Norm and Sheryl live about five miles outside of Ridge. Why don’t we just go by and talk to them and settle this once and for all?” Everything her in-laws had done since Elsie’s disappearance showed they were supportive grandparents. “You said to Eva that we should work to break their alibi from here in town. I can just say I wanted to talk to them in person about Elsie, and we can get around to asking about their visit with Debbie. You can probably tell when someone is lying.” Had Norm’s visit and the phone calls all been a way of cementing the ruse that they cared about her well-being? It just didn’t seem possible.
River’s jaw hardened. It was clear he didn’t like the idea.
She didn’t like just sitting on her hands while her daughter was still missing. What if they were totally off base about Norm and Sheryl? All this work could be wasted time they could have spent finding who had really kidnapped her little girl.
“They won’t try anything if you and Frankie are with me.” She took in a sharp breath. “Maybe they have Elsie there.”
River didn’t answer right away. He cranked the steering wheel and drove through the parking lot. He didn’t talk until he’d pulled out onto the street. “We’re not going there alone. Let me find out if someone from the task force is close.”
He must have felt as desperate as she did.
He parked the car and picked up his phone. It took only two phone calls before he got a positive response. Eli Blackwood was close by and could provide backup. River explained to Eli, “I’ll text you the address. I’ll have Lydia with me. The place is a short ways out of town.”
After Lydia recited the address, River followed the directions his GPS gave him.
Lydia spoke up when they were about to turn into the subdivision where her in-laws lived. “We’re about three minutes from where their house is.”
“Good. We’ll wait for Eli to get here. Wrangler is trained in suspect apprehension and protection. I hope we don’t have to utilize that training.”
Her stomach tied into knots. “Me, too.”
Once Eli pulled up behind them in his patrol car, they headed the short distance to her in-laws’ house. Lydia tensed as the house she’d been to hundreds of times before came into view.
* * *
River wasn’t so sure about this plan. Yes, they needed to follow every lead and having Lydia along, under the ruse of updating Norm and Sheryl, would mean that they wouldn’t know that they were possible suspects. But what if the plan put Lydia in danger?
The houses in the subdivision were large, each situated on what looked to be lots that were at least half an acre. He could see a golf course in the distance. Norm and Sheryl must be pretty well off.
“There.” Lydia pointed to a brown-and-white house that looked way too big for two people. Rosebushes bordered the edge of the yard. There were no cars in the driveway, and the house looked dark.
“It doesn’t look like they’re home unless their cars are in the garage.” She pushed open the car door. “I’m going to knock on the door anyway.”
“I assume Elsie comes here quite a bit?” If the dogs alerted to her scent, it would not be a surprise.
“We try to have a Sunday dinner every week. They canceled last Sunday because they were headed out to Debbie’s. Or at least that’s what they told me.”
Elsie had been taken on a Monday.
Eli parked behind River. Both officers deployed their dogs.
“Why don’t I check out the back of the house?” said Eli.
With Frankie by his side, River walked with Lydia to the front door. In light of all the attacks on Lydia, he found himself on high alert.
She rang the bell several times. The window by the door revealed no activity.
