Keri watched both of them closely as they spoke. Marielas hand was in Eds and he was gently stroking the back of hers with his thumb. He waited until she was done, then spoke up.
And even if she did forget, for the first time ever, she wouldnt have gone this long without getting in touch or replying to any of our texts or calls. Between us, weve texted her a dozen times and called half a dozen. In my last message I told her I was calling the police. If she had received any of those, she would have reached out. And as I said to your lieutenant, the GPS on her phone is turned off. Thats never happened before.
That unsettling detail hung in the room, threatening to overwhelm everything else. Keri tried to squelch any movement in the direction of panic by quickly asking the next question.
Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell, may I ask why Sarah wasnt in school today? It is a Friday.
Both of them looked at her with surprised expressions. Even Ray appeared taken aback.
Its the day after Thanksgiving, Mariela said. Theres no school today.
Keri felt her heart drop into her gut. Only a parent would know that kind of detail and for all practical purposes, she no longer was one.
Evie would be thirteen now. Under normal circumstances, Keri would have been negotiating how to ensure child care for her daughter so she could work today. But she hadnt had normal circumstances in a long time.
The rituals associated with school breaks and family holidays had faded away in recent years to the point where something that used to be obvious to her no longer registered.
She tried to respond but it came out as an unintelligible cough. Her eyes got watery and she lowered her head so no one could see. Ray came to her rescue.
So Sarah had the day off but you didnt? he asked.
No, Ed answered. I own a small paint store in the Westchester Triangle. Its not like Im rolling around in money. I cant take many days off Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years thats about it.
And Im a paralegal for a big law firm in El Segundo. Normally Id be off today but were prepping a huge case for trial and they needed all hands on deck.
Keri cleared her throat and, confident that she had control of herself, rejoined the conversation.
Who is this friend Sarah was meeting? she asked.
Her name is Lanie Joseph, Mariela said. Sarah used to be friends with her in elementary school. But when we moved here from our old neighborhood, they lost touch. Frankly, I wish it had stayed that way.
What do you mean? Keri asked.
Mariela hesitated, so Ed jumped in.
We used to live in South Culver City. Its not very far away from here but that area is much more hardscrabble. The streets are rougher and so are the kids. Lanie had an edge that always made us a bit uncomfortable, even when she was young. Its gotten worse. I dont mean to be judgmental, but we think shes headed down a dangerous road.
We scrimped and saved, Mariela jumped in, clearly uncomfortable at casting aspersions among strangers. The year Sarah started middle school we moved here. We bought this place just before the market exploded. Its small but wed never be able to buy it now. It was tight even then. But she needed a fresh start with different kids.
So they lost touch, Ray prodded gently. What made them reconnect recently?
Theyd see each other a couple of times a year but that was about it, Ed answered. But Sarah told us that Lanie texted her yesterday and said she really wanted to meet that she needed her advice. She didnt say why.
Of course, Mariela added, because shes such a sweet, caring girl, she agreed without hesitation. I remember her telling me last night, What kind of friend would I be, Mama, if I didnt help someone when they needed it most?
Mariela broke off, overcome with emotion. Keri saw Ed give her hand a little squeeze of support. She envied these two. Even in a moment of near-panic, they were a united front, finishing one anothers sentences, backstopping each other emotionally. Somehow their shared devotion and love was keeping them from falling apart. Keri remembered a time when she thought shed had the same thing.
Did Sarah say where they were meeting? she asked.
No, they hadnt decided as of noon. But Im sure it was somewhere close maybe the Howard Hughes Center or Fox Hills Mall. Sarah doesnt drive yet so it would have to be somewhere with easy bus access.
Can you give us a few recent photos of her? Keri asked Mariela, who immediately got up to get some.
Is Sarah on social media? Ray asked.
Shes on Facebook. Instagram, Twitter. I dont know what else. Why? asked Ed.
Sometimes kids will share details on their accounts that are helpful to investigations. Do you know any of her passwords?
No, Mariela said as she pulled a few pictures from their frames. Weve never had cause to ask for them. She shows us posts on her accounts all the time. She never seems to be hiding anything. Were even Facebook friends. I just never felt the need to ask for that kind of thing. Is there no way you can get access to those?
We can, Keri told her. But without the passwords, it takes time. We have to get a court order. And right now we dont have probable cause.
What about the GPS being off? Ed asked.
That helps make the case, Keri answered. But at this point everythings circumstantial at best. Youve both made a compelling argument for why this situation is so unusual. But on paper, it might not look that way to a judge. But dont let that upset you too much. Were just starting out here. This is what we do investigate. And Id like to start by going to Lanies house and speaking to her folks. Do you have her address?
I do, Mariela said, handing Keri several photos of Sarah before pulling out her phone and scrolling through her contacts. But I dont know how much help it will be. Lanies father is out of the picture and her mother isuninvolved. But if you think it will help, here it is.
Keri wrote down the information and everyone made their way to the front door. They shook hands formally, which struck Keri as odd for people whod just been discussing something so intimate.
She and Ray were halfway down the path to his car when Edward Caldwell called out after them with one last question.
Im sorry to ask this but you said you were just getting started. That makes it sound like this might be a long process. But my understanding is that in the case of a missing person, the first twenty-four hours are crucial. Is that wrong?
Keri and Ray looked at each other and then back at Caldwell. Neither was sure who should answer. Finally Ray spoke.
Thats not wrong, sir. But we dont yet have any indication that anything suspicious has happened. And in any case, you reached out to us quickly. That helps a lot. I know this is hard to hear but try not to worry. I promise well be in touch.
They turned and walked back to the car. When Keri was sure they were out of earshot, she quietly muttered, Good lying.
I wasnt lying. Everything I said was true. She could turn up back home any minute and this will be over.
I guess, Keri conceded. But all my instincts are telling me this one isnt going to be that easy.
CHAPTER THREE
Keri sat in the passenger seat on the way to Culver City, quietly flagellating herself. She tried to remind herself that she hadnt done anything wrong. But she was wracked by the guilt of forgetting something as simple as today not being a school day. Even Ray hadnt been able to hide his surprise at it.
I wasnt lying. Everything I said was true. She could turn up back home any minute and this will be over.
I guess, Keri conceded. But all my instincts are telling me this one isnt going to be that easy.
CHAPTER THREE
Keri sat in the passenger seat on the way to Culver City, quietly flagellating herself. She tried to remind herself that she hadnt done anything wrong. But she was wracked by the guilt of forgetting something as simple as today not being a school day. Even Ray hadnt been able to hide his surprise at it.
She was losing touch with the parent part of her and it scared her. How long would it be before she forgot other, more personal details? A few weeks ago, shed been given anonymous clues which led to a photo of a teenage girl. But Keri, much to her shame, hadnt been able to tell if it was Evie.
True, it had been five years and the picture was grainy and taken from far away. But the fact that she just didnt immediately know if the photo was of her daughter or not had shaken her. Even after the units resident tech guru, Detective Kevin Edgerton, had told her that his digital comparison of the picture to photos of Evie at eight years old was inconclusive for a match, her sense of shame lingered.
I should have just known. A good mother would have known if it was real right away.
Were here, Ray said quietly, snapping her out of her reverie.
Keri looked up and realized they were parked just up the street from Lanie Josephs house. The Caldwells had been right. This area, while less than five miles from their home, was much rougher-looking.
It was still only 5:30, but the sun had already mostly set and the temperature was dropping. Small groups of young men in gang attire were gathering in driveways and on stoops, drinking beers and smoking what didnt look like cigarettes. Most of the lawns were more brown than green and the sidewalks were cracked everywhere, with weeds fighting their way through the spaces. Most of the residences on the block looked to be townhouses or duplexes and all of them had bars on the windows and heavy metal screen doors.
What do you think should we call Culver City PD for backup? Ray asked. Technically, were out of our jurisdiction.
Nah. Itll take too long and I want to stay low profile, get in and out. The more formal we make this, the longer its going to take. If something did happen to Sarah, we dont have time to waste.
Okay, then lets get to it, he said.
They got out of the car and walked briskly to the address Mariela Caldwell had given them. Lanie lived in the front of a two-unit townhouse on Corinth, just south of Culver Boulevard. The 405 freeway was so close that Keri could identify the hair color of passing drivers.
As Ray knocked on the outer metal door, Keri glanced two houses over at five men huddled around the engine of a Corvette sitting on blocks in the driveway. Several of them cast suspicious looks at the interlopers but no one said anything.
The sound of multiple kids screeching came from inside. After a minute, the inner door was opened by a small blond boy who couldnt have been more than five. He wore holes-pocked jeans and a white T-shirt with a homemade Superman-style S scrawled on it.
He stared up at Ray, his neck craning all the way back. Then he looked over at Keri, and apparently viewing her as less threatening, he spoke.
What you want, lady?
Keri sensed that the kid didnt get a lot of sweetness and light in his life, so she knelt down to his level and spoke in as gentle a voice as she could muster.
Were police officers. We need to speak to your mommy for a minute.
The kid, unfazed, turned and shouted back into the house.
Mom. Cops are here. Want to talk to you. Apparently this wasnt the first time hed had a visit from law enforcement.
Keri saw Ray glance over at the guys around the Corvette and without looking herself, asked him quietly, We got a problem over there?
Not yet, Ray answered under his breath. But we could soon. We should make this quick.
What kind of cops are you? the little boy demanded. No uniforms. You undercover? You detectives?
Detectives, Ray told him and apparently deciding the boy didnt need to be coddled, asked his own question. Whens the last time you saw Lanie?
Oh, Lanies in trouble again, he said, a gleeful grin consuming his face. No surprise there. She left at lunchtime to see her smart friend. I guess she was hoping some of it would rub off on her. Dont bet on it.
Just then a woman wearing sweatpants and a heavy, gray sweatshirt that said Keep Walking appeared at the end of the hall. As she lumbered toward them Keri took her in. She was about Keris height but weighed well over 200 pounds.
Her pale skin seemed to merge with the gray sweatshirt, making it impossible to clearly tell where one ended and the other began. Her grayish-blonde hair was pulled back in a loose bun that was in danger of falling apart completely.
Keri guessed that she was younger than forty but her exhausted, worn face could have passed for fifty. She had bags under her eyes and her puffy face was dotted with gin blossoms, possibly alcohol-induced. It was clear that she had once been quite attractive but the weight of life seemed to have drained her and you could only see flashes of pretty around the edges now.
Whats she done now? the woman asked, even less surprised than her son to see police at her door.
Youre Mrs. Joseph? Keri asked.
I havent been Mrs. Joseph for seven years. Thats when Mr. Joseph left me for a massage therapist named Kayley. Now Im Mrs. Hart, although Mr. Hart cleared out without a proper goodbye about eighteen months ago. But its too much trouble to change the name again so Im stuck with it for now.
So youre Lanie Josephs mother, Ray said, trying to get her on track. But your name is?
Joanie Hart. Im the mother of five hellions, including the one youre here about. So what exactly did she do this time?
Were not sure shes done anything, Ms. Hart, Keri assured her, not wanting to create unnecessary conflict with a woman who was clearly comfortable with it. But the parents of her friend Sarah Caldwell havent been able to reach her and theyre worried. Have you heard from Lanie since about noon today?
Joanie Hart looked at her like she was from another planet.
I dont keep tabs like that, she said. I was working all day; 7-Eleven doesnt close just cuz yesterday was Thanksgiving, you know? I only got back about a half hour ago. So I dont know where she is. But thats not special. Shes gone half the time and she never tells me where shes going. That one loves to keep secrets. I think shes got some guy she doesnt want me to know about.
Did she ever mention this guys name?
Like I said, I dont even know if he exists. Im just saying I wouldnt put it past her. She likes to do things to piss me off. But Im too tired or busy to get angry so that pisses her off. You know how it is, she said, looking at Keri, who had no idea how it was.
Keri felt her anger rising at this woman who didnt seem to know or care where her daughter was. Joanie hadnt asked about her well-being or expressed any concern at all. Ray seemed to sense how she was feeling and spoke before she could.
Can we get Lanies phone number and a recent photo of her, please? he asked.
Joanie looked put out but didnt say so.