Here ya go. He handed them the bags, eyeing them again in a way that was somehow creepy. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, when another customer interrupted, strolling up to the counter to make his purchase. So whatever hed been about to say remained unsaid. He turned away, directing his attention to ringing up the next order.
The girls werent sorry to get away from him.
They made their way back to campus, chatting as they walked.
How sketchy was that Barry guy? Marie asked with a slight shudder.
Totally sketchy, Kendra agreed, grimacing. I was happy to get out of there.
Yeah, me, too.
I think Ive seen him before, Kendra mused. It must have been at this store, although I didnt make the connection. Anyway, hes a creeper. I hope theres someone else at the counter when I go back.
Marie nodded. What time do you want to meet tonight? she asked. And where?
Why dont we meet up outside the frat house. Say, nine oclock.
Works for me. Marie nodded. I live closer to the frat house than you. Ill take the booze back to my dorm and bring it with me later.
Perfect. Kendra handed Marie the bag shed been carrying.
Ive got a take-home exam, Marie said, rolling her eyes. I cant wait to finish it. Then Ill pick out something to wear.
Kendra grinned. This should be a cool party. The two girls split up and went their separate ways.
And once again, a pair of eyes followed their motions.
Chapter Five
Holly Stevenss police report arrived at the Forensic Instincts office late that afternoon. The contents were immediately scanned and stored on the server. Pages were printed out for each team member, all of whom stopped what they were doing to read and analyze it. Then they had a brief meeting to see howand whocould best utilize the information gleaned from the two-page report.
Ryan was elected as the starting point. Hed already run a basic timeline search on Jan Olsons life. Now hed cross-check it with Hollys.
Before heading down to his lair, Ryan swiveled his chair toward Marc.
I found Brenda Miller, he informed him. Shes married, listed under the name Brenda Reins and living in Greenwich, Connecticut. He passed along a three-page printout. I got a basic rundown on her, as well as digging up her address and phone number. Shes a typical suburban mom, juggling a job at a nonprofit organization with raising three kids.
Marc glanced at his watch. I can make Greenwich in a little over an hourmaybe longer, if I get caught in rush hour traffic. He took the printout. Ill get on the road now.
Since I know you like to go for the element of surprise, I called ahead to make sure you wouldnt be wasting your time, Ryan said. A tween kid answered. I pretended to be a telemarketer. I heard a woman in the background. So Im guessing shes home.
Marc shrugged. Even if she wasnt, she probably would be once I showed up. Theres nothing like dinnertime to bring the family together. And if she happens to be out, Ill wait.
She drives a dark green SUV. Ryan gave Marc the year and the model, along with the license plate number. So if you see the car in the driveway or the garage, youre in luck.
Gotcha. Marc glanced across the conference room table at Casey, whod been unusually quiet during this minimeeting. Does that work for you or do you need me here?
It works. And Im going with you. Casey set down Jan Olsons date book, which shed been studying for the past hour. We need to really probe the boyfriend angle with Brenda. Whether Jan was seeing one guy or ten, I want as much info on them as possible. And Brenda is more apt to be open with another woman than with a man. You can question her about everything else, Marc. But Im taking the boyfriend route.
Okay. Marcs eyes narrowed quizzically. He knew that expression on Caseys face. She was focused on something in particularsomething she thought might be significant. Want to share?
Casey pointed at the date book. Daniel Olson was right. Jan was a typical teenage girl, who made typical entries in her date book. One of the most common notations is something a father would never notice. She pointed at one page, then another, and finally a third.
What are we looking for? Ryan asked.
Dots. Claire spotted them in an instant. Each of those pages has a dot on it.
And the dots show up every four weeks, almost to the day. Casey indicated a few more pages. Jan was keeping track of her periods. Most women do. And hers came like clockwork, right up until two months before her disappearance. Then they stopped altogether.
You think she was pregnant, Ryan concluded.
I think the timing is too coincidental to be ignored. No period for two months, followed by an inexplicable disappearance? Casey frowned. That connection definitely requires investigation.
Makes sense. Marc looked thoughtful. Although it feels like a reach. A single young woman becoming pregnant, even fifteen years ago, wasnt an eyebrow-lifter. And it wouldnt be difficult to take care of quietly, especially on a college campus. Health services would be right there to give her a hand, no matter what she decided. And theyd keep it confidential, by law.
True, Casey agreed. But the Olsons are a very traditional church-going family. There were childhood photos of Jan receiving her First Communion in the living room. And Mr. Olson mentioned that hed donated Jans clothing to their church. If religion factored heavily into their lives, maybe Jan couldnt cope with a pregnancy emotionally, even if she could take care of it physically.
Which brings us to the babys father.
Exactly. Casey nodded. Who is he and how far would he be willing to go to make this pregnancyand the mothergo away?
Marc still seemed pensive. Did your friend Holly ever mention a boyfriend?
Casey knew just where he was headed with this. No. She definitely wasnt seeing anyone. We were pretty close. She would have said something to me if there was a guy in her life.
Then if your theory turns out to be true, youve probably scratched the idea that were dealing with a serial killer. The motives in Hollys and Jans cases would no longer match. Jans situation would be a personal, not a random, crime. For all we know, she took a fat check from the baby-daddy and disappeared. Or, at worst, he killed her. Either way, it dashes your hopes of linking this to Hollys death.
I realize that. Casey met Marcs gaze. And, no, it doesnt make me happy. But I told you from the beginning that my first priority was to find out what happened to Jan Olson. And thats what I intend to dowhether or not it links to Holly.
Fair enough. Then lets interview Brenda together. Between the two of us, well get everything she knows about her best friend.
* * *
Brenda Reins was just popping a casserole into the oven when her doorbell rang.
She wiped her hands on her apron, glancing at the clock with more than a little annoyance. It was rare that her family was all together for dinner. Between Daisy Scouts, Little League, music lessons and sleepoversnot to mention Ronalds endless hours at his law officeit was a battle to get the five of them home and gathered around the table at the same time.
Shed planned tonight for a week, synchronizing all the schedules so they could enjoy a fun evening at homeright down to the popcorn and the movie. The kids were already upstairs, finishing their homework. And Ron was wrapping up a meeting and heading home.
If the person ringing that doorbell was one of her younger kids friends, she was going to be one very irritated mom.
Determined to get rid of whoever was on her doorstep, Brenda marched into the foyer and flung open the front door.
Whoever she might have expected, it wasnt the couple standing there. Can I help you? she asked, brows drawn in question.
I hope so, the woman replied. Im assuming youre Brenda Reins?
I am. And you are...? She waited for an answer.
My name is Casey Woods. Casey held up her New York private investigators license. This is my associate, Marc Devereaux. Were from the investigative firm Forensic Instincts. Weve been hired to look into the disappearance of Jan Olson.
Jan? Brenda was taken aback. She vanished over fifteen years ago. Why are you checking into this now? Have you learned something new about what happened to her?
Were not sure, Marc said frankly. But the investigation has been reopened. We understand that you were her closest friend. We were hoping you could take a few minutes to talk to us, to tell us more about her.
Brenda hesitated. You say the case has been reopened. By whom? Who hired you? she asked.
Technically, the NYPD hired us, Casey responded. They dont have the resources to devote to such a long shot. We do. If youre asking who requested the investigation, the answer is Jans father. Hes gravely ill. Hes desperate to find some closure to his daughters disappearance before he dies.
Sadness clouded Brendas face. Mr. Olson was such a kind man. He used to take a bunch of us out to dinner whenever he visitedand he always included the kids who lived far away and couldnt get home to see their own families. Im so sorry to hear hes ill. Please, come in.
Thank you. Casey preceded Marc into the house. It was a richly appointed colonial, with a grand foyer and French provincial furniture to match.
Brenda led them into the living room and gestured for them to have a seat on the sofa. Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Water?
Casey waved away the offer. We appreciate your taking the time to talk to us. Well make this as brief as possible and then be on our way. Could you give us some insight into Jan Olson? Her personality, state of mind, friends, interests, classesanything the two of you shared or that you were aware of?
Brenda let out a long sigh. It feels like a million years ago. Yet it still stuns me to think about it. Jan was a sweetheart with a heart of gold. I cant imagine anyone whod want to hurt her. She was shy and studious, with just a small circle of friends.
Did you know most of those friends? Marc broke in to ask. Would you able to compile a list?
Sure. Although, with the exception of our mutual friends, I have no idea where the others are now.
Finding them will be my problem, Marc said, whipping out a notebook. I just want you to detail every part of Jans life that you recall.
She wasnt all that social. She spent most of her time buried in her textbooks, trying to decide between premed and nursing. There was a lot of academic pressure, enough to make her quit the swim team. The only thing she kept doing to clear her mind was her morning run.
What about guys? Casey brought the subject right around to where she wanted it. Did she have a boyfriend?
A nostalgic smile touched Brendas lips. Chris Towers. The two of them met at freshman orientation. They really, really liked each other, and hung out from day one in the fall. They were definitely a couplebut not the kind who were all over each other or who isolated themselves in their own little world. Chris was in prelaw and on the debate team. He invested as much time in his schoolwork as Jan did.
No other guys in Jans life?
None. Brenda stated that definitively.
Casey cleared her throat. Do you have any idea if Jan was pregnant?
Pregnant? Brenda did a double take. Absolutely not. Why would you ask that?
Because her father gave me her date book. And she kept meticulous track of her periods. Every month there was a dot marking the date. There were no dots the two months prior to her disappearance.
That was stress, not pregnancy. Brenda shoved a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Like I said, the academic pressure was crushing, especially in Jans area of study. She was a wreck for weeks before she vanished. I remember her complaining that shed missed her period. She went to health services. They confirmed that it was stress-related.
Youre sure? Casey asked. You said she was shy and quiet. She might have kept it to herself if she was pregnant.
Very sure. Jan was reserved, but she and I confided in each other. Besides, she came from a very religious family. She and Chris werent even sleeping together.
Okay, then, tell us about her behavior during the last weeks before she disappeared. Marc took over from what he was obviously convinced had to be a dead end. You said she was under pressure?
We all were. Jan more than others, because of her area of study. Plus, she was waitressing to make some extra cash. She was burning the candle at both ends and then some. Thats why she quit the swim team, and why she intensified her running schedule. It was just too much. I really believe the overall tension is what made her snap.
What do you mean by snap? Marc asked.
Brendas shoulders rose and fell in a defeated gesture. She started staying out all night studying. I couldnt get her to take a break. Shed run a couple of miles at dawn, and then go from class to the library to her job and back. She barely stopped off at her dorm room, except to shower and change. And she withdrewfrom me, from Chris, from everyone. Whenever I asked her to talk to me, she said she was too strung out. I was really worried about her. And then, abruptly, she disappeared.
So youre saying you think she took off on her own?
We didnt know what to think. Chris called the police. And, of course, Jans father. There was a brief investigation. But there was absolutely no evidence that Jan had been abductedother than the fact that she didnt take anything except her purse.
Nothing else was missing? No clothes or toiletries?
No. Brendas brow furrowed. Chris and I both practically ransacked her room. Neither of us could find anything out of place. Thats why we filed a police report. It didnt make sense. But, given Jans state of mind, I knew what the cops were thinkingthat shed either run away or worse. They searched for a body. None was ever found.
Marc didnt reply. But Casey knew his wheels were turningand she also knew exactly the way his thought process was going. Suicide didnt fit. If Jan was going to kill herself, she wouldnt have vanished in order to do it. And running away? That didnt seem likely. Not without packing at least one bag of essentials. True, there was nothing concrete for the police to go on. But the lead detective on the case certainly hadnt knocked himself out. All signs pointed to the fact that Jan Olson had been the victim of some kind of foul play.