Sergeant Theo Baker had the job of holding Andrew Walterss hand and keeping him from calling every few minutes for an update. McBride understood the mans anxiety all too well, but he didnt need that distraction.
Some of the task force members were canvassing the area where Debra Walters had died, hoping for witnesses who might have seen something on Friday morning. Some were fielding calls from tipsters, most of them crackpots and attention seekers.
Others were monitoring Friday morning footage from the handful of traffic cams scattered throughout the city of Borland, hoping they could track Debras movements from the time shed left her home to the time shed stopped on the side of the road to meet her death. McBride didnt hold out much hope for that angle; where shed died was a lightly traveled back road without any camera surveillance.
How long do you plan to hold me? Apparently having a cry put the steel back in Paul Leonardis spine; he met McBrides questioning look with a steady gaze. I know my rights. You can only hold me for so long before you either have to charge me or let me go. Unless you think Im a terrorist or something.
McBride was tempted to toss him in the cages just to make a point, but he quelled the urge. Im going to be checking out your alibi, Mr. Leonardi. If everything pans out, no problem. But you shouldnt leave town anytime soon.
Im not going anywhere, Leonardi said. At least, not until after Debbies funeral. Do you know when itll be?
McBrides eyes narrowed as he stood and motioned for Leonardi to follow him out of the interview room. Either the guy was really innocent or he had cojones of titanium. Check with her ex-husband. Hes handling the arrangements.
Back at his desk a few minutes later, McBride grabbed the bottle of antacids on his desk and downed a couple to ease the fire in his gut.
His captain, Alex Vann, chose that moment to pop his head into the office. He eyed the bottle as he sat down across the desk. You eat too many of those things.
Ignoring the remark, McBride gave him an update on his interview with Leonardi. I dont know if hes good for it or not. He has all kinds of motive, but he just doesnt feel right for this thing.
And the nutso schoolteacher angle?
McBride arched his eyebrow at the description of Lily Browning. He didnt really react at the sight of her photo. Nothing beyond the furrowed brow, which could simply mean he was wondering why McBride was flashing Lily Brownings picture.
Why dont you take a break, McBride? Go get some lunch.
Ill order something in.
Not good enough. Vanns jowly face creased with concern.
McBride didnt pretend not to notice. He put down the papers and looked up at his captain. Im fine.
Maybe you should work another case. Take your pick.
I want this one.
Vanns gaze darkened, but he didnt comment as he walked out of the office.
McBride didnt expect the captain or anyone else to understand. Working the Walters case was like rubbing salt into an open wound, but McBride couldnt let it go. He had to follow it to the bitter end. Find the child. Capture the kidnappers.
See justice done this time.
THE DOOR IN LILYS MIND flew open without warning, catching her in the middle of grading papers in her classroom while her students played outside at recess. Her pencil dropped from her shaking fingers, rolling to the floor and disappearing in the silvery fog that washed over her in the span of a heartbeat.
Instinct urged her to fight off the battering ram of images, but at the first glimpse of Abby Walterss tearstained face, her resistance fled. She gave in to the visions relentless undertow and let it sweep her into the haze.
The mists parted to reveal Abby Walters on the other side, knees tucked to her chin, blue eyes wide and unblinking.
Abby, Lily breathed.
The misty void deepened. Abby huddled in the looming darkness, covered with something musty-smelling. A blanket? She was trembling. Her teeth chattered.
Lily shivered, goose bumps rising on her arms.
Cold.
She tried to touch the little girl. Her hand felt as if it moved through cold molasses. Abby, where are you?
Lily smelled the musty blanket they huddled beneath. She felt vibrations under her, the carpet-covered hump of a drive shaft hard against her left hip. They were in a car.
Theyre moving you, arent they? Lily felt the tremble beneath her fingers and realized she was finally touching the girl. Abby, can you feel me here?
The little girl went still. Mama?
Lily felt a surge of excitement. No, Abby, Im a friend.
Help me! she cried.
Shut up! A harsh male voice boomed in front of them.
Lily tried to get her bearings. She and Abby shared the floorboard behind the front passenger seat. The voice had come from there, so someone else was driving. There were at least two kidnappers. Did McBride know that?
Lily put her arms around Abby and concentrated on planting the sensation of touch in the childs mindskin to skin, warm and soft. Suddenly, the little girl jerked out of her grasp, all contact between them disintegrating into gray mist.
As Lily tumbled into the void, she saw a hand smack Abbys face. The girl whimpered in terror. Lily cried out as the door in her mind slammed shut, cutting her off.
She came back to herself with a jerk. It took a second to reorient herself. She was in her empty classroom. A glance at her watch confirmed that only a few minutes had passed.
A rap on the closed classroom door jangled her nerves. Lily? It was Janet, the teacher whose class was next door. The door cracked open and she poked her head in. Everything okay? I thought I heard a shout.
Broke a nail, Lily fibbed, forcing a sheepish expression, though her whole body seemed to be vibrating with tension. Sorryit was my longest one.
Janet laughed politely, although wariness darkened her eyes. Just checking. She closed the door again.
Lily buried her face in her hands, unnerved by the close call. She wasnt used to her visions attacking without warning. What if one hit her while class was in session?
She waited for the tightening bands of a migraine, but they didnt come. She should be in agony after such a powerful vision. Why not this time? Because she hadnt had time to fight it off? Was the answer really that simple?
She replayed the vision in her mind, trying to pick up more clues. Shed made contact. Beyond everything else shed learned, that fact stood out. Never before had she made actual contact with someone in a vision.
But Abby had heard her. Maybe even felt Lilys arms around her. Though shed been frightened this time, maybe it was possible to make Abby understand Lily wanted to help her. But that meant letting the visions come, whatever they might bring.
Panic bubbled in her gut, tempting her to retreat again, to lock the door in her mind and hide the key forever. Visions were bad things. Shed learned that lesson long ago. She wasnt like Rose, with her happy gift of predicting love matches, which shed channeled into a successful job as a matchmaker and wedding planner. Nor like Iris, whose gift of empathy helped her ease peoples pain and despair.
Lilys gift was darkness, terror, blood and death. She didnt want to explore her visions. She wanted to end them.
Lilys gift was darkness, terror, blood and death. She didnt want to explore her visions. She wanted to end them.
But the memory of Abby haunted her. Maybe she could make a difference in this case. If time didnt run out.
She just had to make someone believe her.
AS MCBRIDE HAD SUSPECTED, Paul Leonardi had caused at least one incident at Westview Elementary, near the beginning of the school year. Unfortunately, if Lily Browning had any connection to Leonardi, neither the principal nor vice principal knew anything about it.
I doubt it, Carmen Herrera told McBride in her office a little before noon. Lilys something of a homebodyshe doesnt socialize that much, even with other teachers. I doubt shed have any reason to know Mr. Leonardi.
A loner with secrets, he thought, remembering his earlier assessment of her. Apparently hed been spot on. And there was only the one incident? he asked.
Yes, just the one. It wasnt really that big a dealhe didnt resist when security asked him to leave. I didnt get the feeling he was really dangerous. Just heartbroken. Carmen flashed a rueful smile. Weve all been there once or twice, havent we?
He thanked her for her time and headed for the exit, slowing as he reached the half-open door to Lily Brownings classroom. Today, it was full of children, who sat with rapt attention as they listened to Lily reading.
He wasnt familiar with the book shed chosen, but as she told the rollicking tale of a girl and her pet cat braving a violent thunderstorm to reach the girls injured father, he found himself seduced by her musical voice.
He paused outside the doorway to get a better look at her. She was perched on the edge of her desk, legs dangling. Today she wore her hair up in a coil, with wavy tendrils curling around her cheeks and neck.
It was soft, he remembered. Sweet-smelling, like green apples. He could still recall how she felt in his arms, trembling from her nightmare.
Thats it for today, ladies and gentlemen, Lily announced as she reached a shocking cliffhanger at the end of the chapter. She closed the book, came around the desk and slid it into her top drawer. Scattered groans erupted.
Aw, Ms. Browning!
Cant we read one more chapter?
If we finish the book today, what will we have to read tomorrow? Laughter tinging her voice, she rose from her desk and started passing out sheets of paper. Besides, Mrs. Marconi is waiting for you in the library. Lets go, single file.
McBrides lips curved. Years passed, things changed, but teachers still lined their students up single file. He backed away, hoping to make a quick exit without being caught eavesdropping, but he hadnt made it down the hall more than a couple of steps when Lilys voice called out to him.
Lieutenant McBride?
Busted.
Chapter Four
Anxiety rippled through Lilys belly. Why was Lieutenant McBride here? Had something happened? Is there news?
The single file line of students flowing out the door behind her began to devolve into chaos. Tamping down her fear, she quickly brought them back into order, glancing over her shoulder to make sure McBride hadnt left while she was distracted. Please wait hereIll be back in just a minute.
She headed up the hallway with her brood, quelling small mutinies with a firm word or a quick touch of her hand on a troublemakers shoulder. Once they were out the door in the custody of the librarian, she hurried back to her classroom, afraid McBride would be gone. But she found him sitting on the edge of her desk, his expression unreadable.
Is there news about Abby? she asked.
No. I was just following another lead.
She cocked her head to one side. Here?
Ever met a man named Paul Leonardi? His gaze focused like a laser on her face.
She frowned, searching her memory. Not that I remember.
He had to be escorted from the school grounds a couple of months ago, near the start of the school year.
Oh, that guy. It had caused a big stink, generating a dozen new security policies. Yeah, I heard about it, but I didnt see it happen.
He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. You never saw this guy?
She glanced at the paper. It looked like a drivers license photo. The man in the picture was nice-looking in an ordinary sort of way. She shook her head. Do you think hes one of the kidnappers?
One of them? You think theres more than one? McBrides eyes changed color, from smoky brown to mossy green. Why do you think theres more than one kidnapper?
She licked her lips. I had another vision. Abby in a car, huddled under some sort of blanket. One of the kidnappers hit her. McBrides hard gaze made Lily want to crawl into a hole, but she pushed ahead. Whoever struck Abby was in the passenger seat, so someone else had to be driving.
He rose from the edge of her desk. If you remember anything about Mr. Leonardi, let me know.
She caught his arm. I can help you if youd let me.
He looked down at her hand, contempt in his eyes. Im up to my eyeballs in help, Ms. Browning. Every crackpot in the state seems to know what happened to Abby Walters.
She dropped her hand quickly. Including me?
Some of my people are handling the crackpot calls. Ill tell them to expect yours. He headed out to the hall.
Torn between irritation and humiliation, Lily watched him reach the exit and step outside. He couldnt have made it any clearer that he didnt want to hear what she had to say.
Shed have to deal with her visions of Abby her own way.
LILY HATED FUNERAL HOMES.
The newspaper had listed the time and place for the pre-funeral viewing. Her stomach churned at the thought of crashing the wake, but if she was going to find Abby, she needed to start with the people closest to her. Her father. Family and friends. Proximity to people who knew the subjects had always made her visions stronger in the past. It was one reason Lily had become something of a recluse in her personal life. Avoiding people was self-defense.
But this time, she needed the visions to come.
She spotted Carmen Herrera getting out of her car. Lily stepped out of her own car and met the assistant principal halfway to the door. I was afraid Id missed you.
Carmen smiled sadly, putting her hand on Lilys arm. Thanks for volunteering to come with me. I hate wakes.
Me, too. She followed Carmen up the steps to the funeral home entrance, distracted by a spattering of camera flashes.
The press. Carmen grimaced. Ghouls.
More flashes went off as they entered. The foyers faux marble floors and gilt furnishings gave the room a cold, austere feeling. Funereal, Lily thought with a bubble of dark humor. She tamped down a nervous giggle.
The small viewing chapel was packed with a combination of mourners and a few people Lily suspected were reporters whod hidden their agendas along with their notepads to get inside.
Not that Lily could quibble about hidden agendas.
She signed the guest book and went with Carmen to the front, forcing herself to look at the body in the coffin.
Had Debra Walters been as lovely in life as the powdered, waxed and beautifully coiffed body in the casket? Seeing her now, Lily realized she did look a bit familiar. Maybe Mrs. Walters had been at a parent-teacher event earlier in the year. Or maybe it was just the resemblance between mother and daughter that struck a chord.