Absolutely, said John. Its the first time anything like that has happened since Ive been working at BRCI.
Do you think he had help on the inside?
Its not about what I think, said John. I dont know is the answer.
Tell me what you know about Seth Fuller, said Ren.
Seth Fuller? said John. He shrugged. Why do you ask?
He was also an inmate at BRCI, and weve had reports he showed a particular interest in Caleb.
Thats the first Ive heard of that, said John. Who said that?
I cant say, said Ren, but we know that he paid for some comics for Caleb if he was short of cash, bought him sodas at the store, that kind of thing.
Well, I know nothing about that, said John, but Seths a good kid. Im not worried about him. I would have written his name down on that list if I was.
Can you be sure of that? said Ren.
Can anyone ever be sure of anything? said John.
Yes, actually, but... So you didnt know anything about Seth and Caleb...
No, said John, irritated. There was no Seth and Caleb. So he bought him a couple of things Id like to think that was just a nice gesture.
So your dealings with Seth Fuller in BRCI...
John shrugged. I didnt have any. I mean no one-on-one dealings with him.
Ren stood up. OK, she said. Thats all for now. Thank you.
Ren and Gary walked down the hallway toward the office.
Did you hear the amount of times he did the question-as-reply thing? said Ren. And Honestly...
Gary nodded.
We need to break his ass down, said Ren. And what is the deal with his sister? Why the hell wouldnt he tell her that her nephew had gone missing? Bizarre. She paused. And that fucking stare...
Gary nodded.
We need to break his ass down, said Ren. And what is the deal with his sister? Why the hell wouldnt he tell her that her nephew had gone missing? Bizarre. She paused. And that fucking stare...
Black and eerie.
Ren went to her desk and typed Alice Veirs name into Google.
Alice. Alice. Who the fuck is Alice?
The client whose case had put Alice Veir in the spotlight six months earlier was a man called Anthony Boyd Lorden. He had been jailed for life for the murder of Kevin Dunne, a sixteen-year-old hitch-hiker who disappeared in 1991 and whose skeletal remains were found a year later. Alice Veir lay the blame with the detectives working the case, saying that Lorden, who was only seventeen at the time of his arrest, had been coerced into signing a confession.
This will be fun... talking to a woman who rails against the interrogation techniques of law enforcement.
Ren dialed Alices number.
Ms Veir?
Yes?
Im Special Agent Ren Bryce Im calling about your nephew, Caleb. Im sorry to have to tell you that Caleb has been missing since yesterday morning.
Yesterday? said Alice. Why hasnt anyone called me until now?
Your brother, John, said he didnt want to bother you in case Caleb
Hold on why isnt John the one calling me now?
Ren could hear the defensive tone creep into Alice Veirs voice.
At this moment, said Ren, hes speaking with investigators here in Tate PD. Id like to ask you about your phone conversation with Caleb yesterday morning at seven thirty a.m.
Of course, said Alice. Of course. Yes. He wanted me to come talk to his class. She paused. Sorry... Im... I... cant wrap my brain around this. Calebs missing?
Were doing everything we can to find him, said Ren. Time is of the essence, as you know...
Sorry yes, said Alice. The phone call...
How did Caleb seem to you? said Ren.
Fine, said Alice. Absolutely fine. Rushed, maybe, but he had to get to school, and he knew he should have asked me weeks earlier.
Did he seem upset to you in any way? said Ren.
Why would he be upset? said Alice.
Im trying to get a sense of his state of mind, said Ren. Im sure you understand. Youre the last person to have spoken to him.
That you know of, I presume...
This woman is going to be a nightmare.
Yes, said Ren.
Please dont tell me you think my brother had anything to do with this, said Alice. I see where this is going. I know from Caleb that he was home alone with John that morning and youre now asking me what Calebs state of mind was. Caleb is a happy kid, John is a wonderful father. He would do anything for his son. He loves that boy more than anything in the world. Her voice cracked. Hes such a good man, my brother.
And Teddy? said Ren.
Great, said Alice. Teddys wonderful.
And how are things between John and Teddy? said Ren.
Great, from what I can gather, said Alice.
Do you get along well with your brother? said Ren.
Yes, were very close, said Alice.
And Teddy? said Ren.
Yes, we get along, said Alice.
What did you say to Caleb? said Ren. Did you tell him that youd come talk to his class?
Oh, yes I was more than happy to. I told him Id come down next month.
Were you surprised to hear from Caleb that early in the morning? said Ren.
Yes, said Alice, of course. Weve never spoken at that hour before. She let out a breath. Please find him. Please, please find him. Ive seen too much, I know what happens. I... cant bear the idea that Caleb could be... She paused. We all know about the first forty-eight hours, that theyre the most important in a situation like this. And I think we both know that window is halfway down.
12
As Ren ended the call to Alice Veir, she felt a presence beside her and looked up. It was Ruddock.
Teddy Veir is waiting for us in Interview 2, he said.
Teddy Veir was staring at the wall as if there was something more interesting to look at than flaking gray paint. Ren and Ruddock walked in and sat down.
Teddy this is Ren Bryce, said Ruddock. Shes with the FBI CARD team.
Hello, said Teddy. Thank you... for being here.
Ren nodded.
What do you think of all this? said Teddy.
Strange question. Or strange delivery?
You do this all the time, said Teddy. Is my son... do you think... what happens in your other cases?
Oh, you do not want to know that we usually show up, a body is found, and we all go home.
Mrs Veir
Teddy.
Teddy, were gathering all the facts here
Its been over twenty-four hours... she said. I know youre already losing hope of finding him alive.
Thats not true, said Ruddock. And there are hundreds of people working hard on this.
But nothing showed up in the search, said Teddy.
Yet, said Ruddock. Well be searching again. Every day, if we have to. And the neighborhood canvass team is working nonstop. Please be reassured by that. And Ren and I are here now to focus on some answers we need.
Teddy nodded. OK, OK. Im sorry. Im just... Im going out of my mind.
I know, said Ren. Lets start with Sunday evening. Why dont you talk us through that...
I left the house at six to go to my friend Pattis, said Teddy. Patti Ellis. Caleb was home, John was preparing supper for both of them. I eat with Patti.
And how was Caleb, Sunday night? said Ren.
He was quiet, said Teddy. But
Ren and Ruddock waited.
I know what youre thinking, Teddy. Youre thinking if you finish that sentence, you will be incriminating your husband. But... what? But Caleb was always quiet around his father?
And youre thinking what if your husband did do something, and you lied to the police? I am watching the weighing up. And you know I am.
Teddy readjusted herself in her seat. Johns childhood, his time in the military... it made him the man he is today. Hes a good man, a good husband, a good father. But... yes, Caleb was quiet around him sometimes. There was a pleading look in her eyes. Caleb can be sullen, and John is stubborn. The two things dont always sit well together. John is not an aggressive man. He withdraws. He gets distant. That can be really difficult, but it doesnt make him... She shrugged. His biggest crime, maybe, is being... intense.
Intense? Yes. His biggest crime? Maybe not...
Ruddock spoke gently to Teddy. Men are not great with their feelings, he said. My late wife had to work on me for a good ten years to get me to talk. Anything emotional and Id close up like a clam. He paused. Is that how John is?
Late wife... noo.
Teddy nodded. Thats exactly how he is. There was a look of resignation in her eyes, and for a brief moment, a spark of anger at the realization.
Did that bother you? said Ruddock.
Im used to it, said Teddy. I didnt mind. Thats his way.
She shrugged, but in a way that indicated she wanted the questions on her marriage to stop. Ren and Ruddock locked eyes.
Yes... lets not push it.
For now.
Teddy, said Ren. Did you ever get the sense that Caleb didnt like to be left alone with his father?
No never, said Teddy. Absolutely not.
Has John ever gotten physical with Caleb? said Ren.
No.
Have you ever felt that he came close to that point? said Ren.
Teddy shrugged. What is close? I can say to you that I do not think John would ever lay a finger on Caleb.
Why am I unconvinced?
Possibly because you are.
Was there any particular behavior in Caleb that angered John?
All the standard things that twelve-year-olds get in trouble with their parents for, said Teddy. Theyre the same things that would have bothered me. Maybe John is more stern about it, but I think fathers of boys need to be.
Has there been any change in Calebs behavior over the past few months? said Ren.
Teddy gave it careful thought. No, not really.
Not really?
No, said Teddy with more conviction. No.
There are scuff marks on the inside of Calebs bedroom door, said Ren, and the doorjamb looks damaged. Did you ever lock Caleb in?
Oh my God no, said Teddy. Absolutely not. Ive never even seen a key for that door.
OK, said Ren.
After a moment, she spoke again. Deep breath. Teddy, how are things in your marriage?
She frowned. Theyre good why?
These are the questions we need to ask, said Ren. Im sure you understand.
She nodded, but it was clear that she didnt want to sign up for that line of questioning.
Are you and John happy? said Ren.
Teddy raised her eyebrows.
Oh, happiness is a tricky one, isnt it? Are people ever truly happy? Thats depressing.
Ben. Everett. Robbie.
My happiness is over; Ive had my lifes share.
Is this how I feel now?
Jesus.
Christ.
Yes, said Teddy. I mean, life... is life, really, isnt it? Am I living a wild adventure every day? No.
Im not thinking adventure, said Ren. Im just thinking of your relationship with your husband are you getting along? Have there been any arguments? Are there any issues?