What are you talking about?
When I got to school, the kids all said youd picked her up, Liza explained. I double-checked with the faculty members on bus duty, and they confirmed. Everyone saw Krissy leave the school, and everyone heard her call out, My mommys here! and run to your car. They recognized your silver Acadia. It never occurred to themor to me
Are you saying Krissys gone? Hope could hardly breathe.
I dont know. I called all the other kids houses. No ones seen her. I dont understand.
Liza, hang up and call the police. Tell them what happened. Im calling Edward. Hope disconnected the call.
Twenty minutes later, she arrived home to mass pandemonium. Cops. Friends. Neighbors. Ashley, weeping when she ran up to Hope and announced that Mr. Willis had spoken with the U.S. Attorney, whod contacted the FBI. As a result, specialized agents were on their way, both to the house and to Krissys school. Local police were already at the school, questioning everyone, including all the car pool parents, whod been summoned back to the crime scene.
Hope barely heard her nannys words. She pushed past everyone-including the cops who were clearly waiting for her to show up so they could talk to her-and raced upstairs. She ignored the yellow tape that read Do Not Cross, ducked under it and burst into Krissys bedroom.
Pristine. Nothing disturbed. Nothing missing.
Nothing anyone else would notice. Only Krissys mother. She noticed.
Oreo, Krissys beloved stuffed panda, was gone. She slept with it every night, and left it on the center of the bed, covered by a tiny fleece blanket, while she was at school.
Hope raced over to the bed and flung the pillows aside. Then, she dropped to her knees, peering under the bed to see if the panda had toppled beneath it. She groped around, praying. When she found nothing, she tore off the comforter and sheets, shaking them out like a wild animal. Nothing. She began rummaging through the closet. She opened the bureau drawers and dumped clothes onto the rug.
Judge Willis-stop it! Weve sealed off this room. Officer Krauss, a member of Armonks North Castle Police Department, hurried in. Having overheard the commotion coming from Krissys bedroom, he sized up the situation, stalked over to Hope and blocked her frantic motions with his forearm. Youre contaminating personal items that could lead us to your daughter. We need her linens, her clothes-whatever we can use to find her. We also need you to provide us with a recent photo, a description of what she was wearing today, a full health history-and any information that might tell us who abducted her. We need you to focus and talk to us, not go ballistic.
Hope shoved his arm away and whirled around, whipping her head back and forth. Talk to you? Youre supposed to be finding my child. Why are you all here instead of combing the streets looking for Krissy? Shes only been gone an hour. Now is the time to find her-before its too late. You need her personal things? Take whatever you want. Photos, yesterdays clothes, her toothbrush. Check her comforter for prints. I doubt therell be any. This SOB is too smart not to wear gloves. But try. And what about Krissys school? Thats where she was abducted. Did the outdoor cameras pick up anything? Do you know anything?
Nothing from the security cameras. But we have an entire team interviewing every member of the faculty. Krauss narrowed his eyes and stared at Hope. But I have to wonder why youre tearing Krissys bedroom apart and insisting we check her comforter for fingerprints, when you yourself just said she was kidnapped from her school. What arent you telling us?
Nothing you shouldnt already have figured out! Hope snapped back. This was no random kidnapping. It was meticulously planned. For God knows how long. Obviously, the monster who abducted my baby researched the make, model and color of my car so he could pass it off as mine. He also took the time to study Krissy, and to learn what meant the most to her. Then he got his hands on it, and used it to dupe her into getting into that car with him
What did he get his hands on-specifically?
Thats why Im tearing up her room. To find it. But its gone Hopes voice cracked as she stared at the overturned bedding. He was here. Today. But not to take Krissy. To take Hope buried her face in her hands.
Before Krauss could demand that she finish her sentence, Edward swung his legs over the tape and strode into the room.
Hope? His gaze darted wildly around, as if by visually covering every square inch of the bedroom, hed spot his child. What have you found out? He turned to the cop. Officer?
Krauss, the other man supplied.
Officer Krauss, Edward echoed. Have you heard from the kidnappers?
Krauss didnt ask why Edward Willis assumed this was a ransom case. He just filed the information away for later and shook his head. No contact whatsoever. But its early.
Early? Edward snapped. Were not talking about a morning stroll. My five-year-old daughters life is at stake.
Were aware of that, sir. Our sergeant and two officers are at your daughters school, as are detectives from the Westchester County Police and FBI agents from the White Plains Resident Agency. Theyre all questioning Krissys teacher, principal and the entire staff. More FBI agents from Violent Crimes are on their way over here to join us locals. So is the countys CSI team. Well comb through your house for clues, and branch out to widen the investigation.
I called the U.S. Attorney. He alerted the FBIs New York Field Office, Edward announced. I also made my own personal call to the field office. I have a contact there who specializes in Crimes Against Children.
That wasnt necessary, sir. As I said, we notified the FBI to request their assistance as soon as we got Mrs. Bocks call. They were already aware of the situation. The hotline reached the local RA, who contacted the CAC squad in New York. Their Assistant Director in Charge contacted FBI Headquarters, and requested a Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team. That team is en route. So is the team from the New York Field Office. Theyll be setting up an off-site command post, and working with us to safely recover your daughter. Plus, an Amber Alerts been issued.
What about the NCIC Missing Person File? Edward pressed on, referring to the National Crime Information Centers entries. Did you-
An entry was made immediately, Krauss interrupted quietly. Being an attorney, sir, and familiar with the law, Im sure youre aware that theres no waiting period in a child kidnapping. Our police department may not be the size of the NYPD, but we know our jobs. And we do them-well.
Krausss point struck home, and, abruptly, Edward realized what an overbearing tyrant he was being. I apologize. I didnt mean to attack you. But under the circumstances
I understand. Youre going through hell.
Ed. Hope interrupted, clutching her husbands forearms. Who would do this? Who took our baby?
I dont know. He drew Hope closer in a protective gesture. But well find out. And well bring Krissy home. Again, his gaze swept the room. Who trashed her bedroom?
I did.
Ed drew back, his brows knit in confusion. I dont understand. You told me Krissy disappeared at school. That she was taken right after the bell. So why?
Your wife was about to answer that very question for me, Officer Krauss interceded. We checked this room out first, before we sealed it off for the Westchester County Forensic Investigation Unit. Everything seemed to be in order and completely untouched-at least until your wife turned the place upside down. Your nanny confirmed that she arrived right after you left this morning so she could do the laundry, bake cookies for your daughters after-school snack, and catch up on her own studying. She assured us that no one was at the house, or in this room, today.
Ashleys wrong, Hope countered. So are the police. Tears glistened on her lashes. Whoever took Krissy was in this room. Today. During the time that Krissy was in school. Ed- she turned to command her husbands attention -I looked everywhere. Oreos gone.
His gaze snapped back to the bed. Are you sure?
Positive. He and his blanket are both missing. The kidnapper must have come specifically to get them.
Dammit. With a hard swallow, Edward turned to explain to Krauss. Oreo is my daughters stuffed bear.
Panda, Hope corrected.
Panda. She drags him all over the house. The only time she puts him down is when she goes to school. Then, she covers him with a little blanket. Its He paused to think.
Lavender fleece, Hope supplied. It came with one of her dolls. She gave it to Oreo. She said she was afraid hed get cold when she went to school and wasnt there to hug him, so she tucked him in every dayon her bed With that, Hope finally, completely broke down. She bowed her head, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
Edward touched his wifes shoulder, but she backed away, wrapping her arms around herself in a determined attempt to withstand this emotional ordeal on her own. Still weeping, she drew inward, seeking comfort where none existed.
It was like reliving a nightmare. Only worse. Now she was grown. And now the victim was her child, her precious little girl.
Officer Krauss was scribbling notes onto a pad. Youre sure the bear was here when Krissy left for school?
Positive, Hope managed. I saw him when I came in to get Krissys jacket. She was already waiting for me at the front door. We were running late. I took her directly to school. She never went back upstairs.
Which means she never reentered her bedroom. Krauss double-checked the bedroom windows. As I said earlier, no sign of forced entry. He was already heading for the door. My men and I will recheck the security system and every door and window in the house. Then, Ill need those personal items and information we talked about.
There was a long silence when Hope and Edward were alone.
The FBI should be here any minute, he said at last.
Im sure they will. Theyll set up Command Central, waiting for a ransom call, while they grill us. Theyll start with our relationship, since were Krissys parents and the primary suspects. Then, theyll move on to every human being who holds a grudge against us-which will take days, given our careers. Meanwhile, Krissys out there somewhere. Scared. Alone. And God knows what else. Hopes hand was shaking as she whipped out her cell phone. So, yes, Im glad we have the police and the FBI on board. But its not enough. She punched in directory assistance.