Manhunt

“So, what now? Do you want me to go talk to him? I can try to—”

Thatcher held up his hand to silence her.

“Right now you need to answer some questions about your sister.”

“Fine.”

They were able to slip into the civil roles of detective and citizen as Thatcher asked a series of questions that would help him form a “psychological profile” on Lisa. Even though they believed Lisa hadn’t disappeared on her own accord, Thatcher had to still get a feel for the woman’s mental and emotional states as well as any health issues she might be experiencing. Sophia did her best to answer each question in an objective manner, but, the truth was, she couldn’t be sure how happy Lisa had been before the disappearance. Nor could she tell the man in full confidence that her sister had been upset.

“In general Lisa has always been an optimist,” she confessed. “She always smiled and had something nice to say growing up—compliments on the tip of her tongue at all times. It’s part of the reason why she charms everyone she meets.” Thatcher raised an eyebrow but lowered it before she continued. “Like I said before, the times I did talk with her she seemed genuinely happy while here in Culpepper.”

“Was there a particular reason she moved to Culpepper?” Sophia sent him a questioning look. “I only ask because you said the two of you were very close until this past year.”

A smile crept across her lips before she could stop it.

“Her moving to Culpepper had nothing to do with our relationship. Lisa and I were the best of friends—annoyingly inseparable.” Sophia hesitated on the past tense and sobered. “But Lisa hated Atlanta. I couldn’t blame her for leaving. She was passing through Culpepper on the way to a wedding almost two years ago when she said she fell in love with the town. She moved a few months later.”

“And you didn’t follow?”

“No, but she tried really hard to get me to.” Lisa had in fact boxed up Sophia’s room while she’d been at work. She’d just smiled when Sophia had started yelling.

I’m not moving, Lisa!

Why not? Your stuff is already packed! she’d reasoned. Sophia had found it annoying then, but now she couldn’t stop the ache in her heart.

“I don’t blame her,” Thatcher said under his breath.

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry, I meant I don’t blame her for not liking the city. I’m not a big fan, either,” he said with conviction.

“It’s not too bad,” Sophia defended. “It can be lonely at times and the traffic leaves more to be desired, but the opportunities are great.”

“Lonely, huh? I take it you aren’t married, then.” It wasn’t a question and his eyes stayed down on his notes. Sophia picked at invisible lint on her pant leg and tried to keep her voice even.

“Not that it matters to this investigation but, no, I’m single.” A blush rose fast to her cheeks. Thatcher looked up. She had only meant to say she wasn’t married, not divulge that she was single and had bouts of loneliness.

“What about you?” Sophia wanted to stick her head in the sand. She had blurted the question in an attempt to save face. She had to give it to the detective, he answered without skipping a beat.

“No, I’m not married. Now, are there any health issues Lisa has that we should be worried about?” The change in subjects left her speechless for a moment, but still able to feel the heat in her cheeks, she finished the rest of his questions without any more awkward outbursts.

“The other two women who are missing...” she started after he closed his notebook.

“Amanda and Trixie.”

“Are their families being asked the same questions?”

Thatcher nodded.

“Amanda’s mother and Trixie’s boss are in the other rooms with Tom and Cara.” His cell phone started to vibrate against the desktop. The noise made Sophia jump. He didn’t notice as he read the message.

“What happens now that I’ve answered your questions?”

“Now we are going to go to each missing woman’s house and place of work.” He stood and stretched, his biceps rippling at the motion.

“All right.” She started to stand but he stopped her.

“By ‘we’ I mean Detective Langdon and myself. You can’t come this time and that’s final.”

“Then what do you want me to do? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs?”

“We have an all-points bulletin out on all three women. We have good men and women on the job, Miss Hardwick. You need to stay out of Lisa’s house until we’re done with the search but after that you can go wherever you please. There’s a diner down the road that has a great dinner special or you can stay here until we’re done with each search. It’s really up to you at this point.”

Sophia chewed the inside of her lip. Thatcher took her silence as compliance.

“I’ll let you know when we’re done at Lisa’s.”

The detectives left soon after while Sophia remained behind. She wanted to snoop to fill the void of helplessness within her but decided against it—she was in a police station after all. Cara, as she was told once again to call the officer, showed her to the restroom and then the break room. Unlike the many cop-related clichés found on TV, there were no doughnuts or cream-filled pastries. Instead she walked a block over and ate a burger at Sal’s Diner, all the while fighting the heat and humidity. Worry had taken her healthy eating habits and thrown them clear out the window. The walk back was more sluggish but she couldn’t deny she felt better having eaten.

An unfamiliar car was parked two spots next to her own when she rounded the station, though it didn’t take long for her to guess it belonged to Richard’s attorney. The BMW was black and slick and probably worth more than she made in two years. She hurried inside to see the new suit but was stopped by another man she hadn’t seen until now.

“Miss Hardwick,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Captain Jake Westin.” They shook—his hands were rough and large.

“Nice to meet you, sir.” The man wasn’t much taller than Sophia, but he exuded authority through his uniform and impeccable posture. She placed his age in the upper fifties.

“I wanted to let you know that we’re doing everything we can and we’ll find your sister.” His small smile wasn’t charming but it was infused with confidence. She nodded and thanked him. “I’m afraid I can’t talk long. I have a meeting with Mr. Vega and his attorney.”

“I understand,” she said before shaking his hand once more. Though his grip was solid, she couldn’t help but compare it to Detective Thatcher’s. “Let me know if I can do anything to help.”

“Will do.” He turned and then disappeared into the conference room—all blinds were closed over the windows. If Cara and another cop hadn’t been in the room with her, Sophia would have pressed her ear against the door to listen.

The Florida sun raged on as the hours dwindled into night before Sophia finally left the station. She had stayed around to see what would happen with Richard, but Captain Westin hadn’t come out of the room by the time Thatcher had called to give the okay to go back to Lisa’s house. She had even waited another half hour but decided it was a lost cause for the moment. With Richard’s attorney in there, the man had probably not even spoken yet. She said a quick goodbye to Cara and headed to her car.

Sophia’s adrenaline from the day’s events was also on the decline. She hadn’t lost her drive to find Lisa, in fact it felt stronger than ever knowing even Captain Westin was personally involved, but she couldn’t deny the weight of exhaustion settling on her shoulders.

She was practical enough to realize that she was no help to her older sister if she was constantly battling the droop of her eyelids.

Lisa lived in Pebblebrook, a neighborhood on the outskirts of town. It was a community of nice brick houses, man-made ponds and flowers galore. There always seemed to be a mother and her children walking the seemingly unending sidewalks—geared up to lose weight and release toddler-induced stress. When Lisa had moved into the neighborhood two years before, she hadn’t been able to hide her happiness. It was a giant leap above her last apartment.

Sophia drove on autopilot deeper into Pebblebrook’s belly with the soft sounds of a local talk radio show in the background. Since she didn’t have as much to contribute in the ways of police detection, she was already forming a proactive to-do list in her head.

Check Lisa’s house more thoroughly.

Go to Lisa’s work and search for a work schedule or appointment books.

Get an update from Detective Thatcher—

Her train of thought derailed. Thatcher’s voice when he promised to find her sister blanketed the ever-present fear inside her, comforting Sophia for the moment. She believed his sincerity—it was strong and determined. His blue eyes had pierced her own with a ferocity to undo all of the bad and replace it with the good. The reaction had been a lot more than Sophia had expected from the small-town detective.