Trumped Up Charges

“All I know are the basics.” The terror was not only etched in her eyes but echoed in every syllable.

“The twins and I stayed here alone last night because Mother had to check in the hospital yesterday afternoon. She’s in surgery now, having a malignant tumor removed from her stomach. When I woke up this morning, the girls weren’t in their bedrooms. We searched the house frantically, calling for them, but they weren’t here.”

“You said we,” Adam noted. “Who was with you?”

“Matilda Bastion, Mother’s housekeeper. She got here just after I realized the girls weren’t in their room. Someone broke into the house and carried them off, Adam. I should have heard them. I should have saved....” She choked on the self-incrimination, swallowing the end of her lament.

“Except, technically there’s no sign of a break-in,” Lane said as he reentered the room.

“What exactly does that mean?” Adam questioned.

“According to Ms. O’Sullivan, the doors and windows were still locked this morning. The alarm system wasn’t set, and it didn’t go off during the night.”

“I don’t remember setting it last night,” Hadley said. “I had so much on my mind.”

“But the abductor would have expected it to go off, unless he had the code to disarm it before it did.”

“Or the technical ability to disarm it from the outside,” Adam said.

“That’s possible,” Lane admitted. “But the evidence still suggests that whoever took Lacy and Lila either had a key or was let in and out by someone on the inside.”

“No one let him in,” Hadley said. “I was the only one here.”

“Which leaves us with an abductor with a key to the house.”

That added a multitude of new layers of complexity to the situation, Adam decided. On the positive side, it narrowed the field of suspects. They just had to figure out who had a key to the house and the means, opportunity, motive and perhaps a rap sheet.

Other than the arrest records, the information would have to come from Janice O’Sullivan. He was certain Hadley would hate dragging her mother into this so soon after surgery, but she’d have no other options—unless they found the girls first.

Adam listened as the detective went back to his questions for Hadley. Most dealt with her search for the girls and anything unusual she or Matilda had noticed. A few dealt with Hadley’s personal relationships and whether anyone had stalked or threatened her.

There was no mention of Hadley’s husband. His whereabouts and their relationship had likely been covered before Adam arrived on the scene.

This time it was a call on Hadley’s cell phone that interrupted the conversation. She yanked it from her pocket and checked the caller ID. Disappointment furrowed deep grooves into her forehead. Clearly this was not the kidnapper.

“It’s Matilda, calling from the hospital,” she said.

“Answer it,” the detective said, “but don’t stay on the line long. We don’t want to miss a call from the kidnapper.”

Hadley talked for only a few seconds, but Adam could tell from her side of the conversation that the call wasn’t good news. He didn’t get a chance to ask before she lit into the detective.

“Matilda was in tears,” Hadley said. “A cop just left there and he treated her as if she was involved in the girls’ disappearance.”

“I’m sure he didn’t accuse her of any criminal involvement.”

“Perhaps not directly, but he definitely insinuated it.”

“Everyone who has a key to this house is a person of interest, Ms. O’Sullivan. Everyone.”

“That’s ridiculous. Matilda has babysat the girls since they were only a few months old. She’d never hurt them. She loves them.”

“I hope you’re right, but I can’t afford that kind of trust in this case and frankly, neither can you.”

Adam agreed, though he didn’t comment.

“That’s enough questions for now,” Lane said. “I need to check on a few things with headquarters. Why don’t you and Adam go have that coffee?”

“What if my phone rings and I don’t know the caller?”

“Don’t answer it without finding me first so I can listen in. I’ll be in my car.”

She nodded her agreement.

Lane stood and left the room, leaving Adam and Hadley alone. Awkward tension swelled, almost as tangible a presence as the detective had been.

Adam struggled to think of the right thing to say and do. He’d take action over dealing with emotions any day.

Finally, Hadley broke the stalemate. She squared her shoulders and turned to face him. “I didn’t expect to ever see you again.”

“I kind of figured the same.”

“So why did you come?”

Good question, and he wasn’t even sure he knew the real answer. “I knew you’d be devastated and desperate,” he said, settling on an obvious truth. “I’d really like to help if I can, but if my being here makes it worse, I’ll leave.”

Hadley stared at the floor for long seconds, her arms hugged tightly about her chest, before she finally looked up and met his gaze. “I’m not sure what I want, Adam. I’m not sure of anything right now.”

“It’s still your call.”

“Let’s discuss it over coffee.”

It wasn’t the warmest welcome he’d ever received, but he could work with it. There was no time to waste. Every second the girls were missing made it less likely they’d be found alive. Hadley wasn’t stupid. Deep down, she had to know that as well.

The clock was ticking. The cops had their way of doing things. Adam had his, honed through his years of active duty when he’d learned not to trust anyone except his fellow marines and to always have a plan of action.

And right now, he had no plan.

* * *

HADLEY WATCHED AS ADAM picked up a framed photo in the room the girls had shared last night.

“This has to be the twins,” he commented.

A knot formed in her throat as she nodded.

“Which is which?”

“The one on the right holding her doll by the hair is Lila.”