“Judge,” I rasp.
“Dr. Adams. I heard your plea on The Morning Show.”
“I didn’t take you for a daytime TV watcher, John.” My knees bent, I’m rubbing the sweat from my face as I’m keeled over.
He chuckles. “It’s my one vice, I promise, in between court sessions.”
Now that almost makes me chuckle, even at a time like this. Given that there was a cover-up of Judge Watson hitting the casino with no less than three sex workers when he visited Las Vegas. It took a lot of money and a lot of favors to hush that one up. Especially since the photos showed him with a suspicious white substance around his nostrils, the same white substance that was resting on the cleavage of one of the women he was with. A woman, I should note, was not his wife.
“Are you calling about Mia?”
“In a way. The patient I referred to you—I have some more information which I think is critical.”
I shake my head. “I spoke to Nate’s new doctor last night. He doesn’t think he had anything to do with Mia’s disappearance."
“I’m talking about another patient.”
My brain short-circuits. “Then who?”
“Sean Sanders.”
“John, he’s never even met Mia. Their schedules clashed, so she was never in the office when he had his sessions.”
“All the more reason I think he’s your man.” He sighs heavily. “I had an update in the case, which calls into question my verdict. A police officer from Utah called our detective here that was investigating Sanders. Sent him a photo of the accused, but he was using a different name.”
“Okay? I don’t understand what that has to do with Mia.”
“His real name is Carter Corbin. Sean Sanders is an alias he uses in Washington. Each state varies, but he’s known by others as well. I only mention the name Carter because I believe that’s the name he used in Texas, where Dr. Sinclair is from.”
“I still don’t underst—" My heart thuds against my chest. I’ve heard that name before, haven’t I?
The judge helps. “Your girlfriend was in a relationship with a teacher when she was in high school.”
Fuck me sideways. His words start to make sense. I think back to everything I knew about Sean Sanders. Could his profile fit a teacher who grooms his students?
“I’m aware of the situation.”
“Good. I didn’t want to have to break that news to you. By all accounts, this man is a predator, but I think Mia was special to him. He never stayed somewhere very long after he lived in Berry Brook. He was there for years and, from what Mia’s testimony stated, he gave her special attention from when she was thirteen. The sexual relationship began when she was around sixteen, seventeen.”
“Jesus.” I push my hair back before pinching the bridge of my nose under my glasses. “Are you telling me you think this man has her?”
“It’s possible. He’s been on the run for a while now. Your last report suggested that he had been looking to rekindle a past relationship. Is it possible he means Mia?”
The notes…the notes stopped after I had the session with Nate, and he shouted so loudly that the waiting room could hear. The waiting room where Sanders was sitting, listening. The notes stopped, not because Nate left, but because Sanders lost his fall guy.
A stinging sensation works its way through my chest, and I feel like I’ve swallowed nettles.
I felt confident I could deal with Nate. But Sanders, or Corbin, has been lying consistently from the start. Even about his own name. Not only that, but he’s smart. He’s two steps ahead every time, and we’re playing catch-up.
“John, I need to go. Thank you.”
“Good luck, Alfie.”
I hang up, formulating a plan in my head. I don’t want to waste another minute relying on the police to find out where she is.
“Alfie?” Jonesy’s voice booms through the phone. I hear Katie in the background, her voice high and worried.
“I need your help.”
