Page 80 of Midnight Creed

Norwich nodded, glancing back at the massive four-car garage and scribbling another note to herself.

“I’m going to have you talk with one of my deputies. And we’ll need to see if Will’s bike is still here. You don’t happen to have anything of your son’s in your car with you? An article of clothing? Or a blanket he may have used?”

“I still have his old sneakers. They’re on the floor in the backseat.”

“Those would be perfect. Could you check and get those for me?”

Norwich looked up and waved at another SUV winding its way into the neighborhood. Taylor glanced, then did a double take when she saw Jason. She didn’t know whether to be angry or glad that he hadn’t listened to her.

The sheriff noticed Taylor’s expression and said, “I called them. Dogs can cover twice the ground my entire force can in half the time.”

That’s when Taylor saw Brodie in the passenger seat. A second, almost identical SUV turned in behind Jason’s.

51

Creed waited. He told Jason to do the same. Sheriff Norwich was introducing Taylor to one of her deputies. He knew Jason was already going against his first impulse to go to her and see how she was doing. It would probably be Creed’s impulse, as well. But the best thing they could do for Will right now was get to work. Comforting his mother wouldn’t speed that up.

Taylor pulled something from the backseat of her car. She handed it to Norwich. A deputy joined them, ready with a notepad and pen.

The sheriff gestured for them to park across the street instead of pulling into the circle drive. Three lots stood empty, ground dug up, excavator and backhoe parked at the rear of the properties where the woods began.

He left the Jeep running with the windows down and the fan sucking in the cool, fresh air for Grace. He met Norwich at the driver’s side of Jason’s Jeep. They were far enough away that their conversation couldn’t drift across the road to reach Taylor or Dora Ramsey. Although he hadn’t seen Mrs. Ramsey come out yet. Still, Norwich threw a look over her shoulder as though she needed to make sure.

“Dora Ramsey insists Taylor took Will and is hiding him.”

“Taylor told me that,” Jason offered.

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s crazy.”

“Even if her custody battle might be going south?”

Creed stood quietly and watched the exchange. Jason Seaver had struggled to overcome more challenges than men twice his age, but he was loyal and probably to a fault. Yet Creed knew he wouldn’t let his emotions interfere with the safety of a seven-year-old boy.

“Part of the reason she’s in a custody battle is because she thought she was doing what was best for Will by having him live with his grandparents.”

“So she wouldn’t take him?”

“No, she wouldn’t. Unless...” He paused. Gave it some thought. A long sigh, then he added, “Unless she believed he might be harmed or in some kind of danger.”

“Has she ever mentioned anything?”

“No. I just had lunch with the two of them yesterday. They were laughing and having fun.”

“Well, her mother-in-law is convinced that Taylor’s taken him and has hidden him. Whatever her reasoning, she’s not cooperating. I have to operate on the facts. I have a seven-year-old who didn’t show up at school this morning. With a child this young, the first two to four hours are crucial, and we’re already eight hours behind. The school said he didn’t show up. I’m waiting for one of my deputies to tell me what the bus driver knows.”

“But he was here this morning, right?” Jason asked. “Taylor took him back last night?”

“Dora said they had breakfast together, and he walked to meet the school bus at the entrance to the neighborhood.” She craned her neck to look in that direction. Houses and a couple of trees blocked the view.

“So PLS is the Ramsey’s house?” Creed asked. Place Last Seen. It helped to have a starting point.

“Yes, until we have a witness who says otherwise.” Norwich looked over at the Ramseys again. Creed could see Dora’s behavior wasn’t sitting well with the sheriff. “She couldn’t tell me what the boy was wearing. That’s not as critical as it sounds. Some people just don’t pay attention. Can’t even tell you what they had for their last meal. Minds get occupied. However, this woman is extremely hostile, not just to her daughter-in-law, but to me.”

“Do you two have a history?” Creed asked.

“Not that I’m aware of. I’ve seen her at a few different events, but this is the first time we’ve spoken to one another. For whatever reason, she doesn’t respect or trust our department. She’s already called an FBI agent she knows from the Jacksonville field office.”