Captain Rayburn reached into the plastic bag and delicately opened the edges of the envelope. Inside lay what looked like a small stack of five-by-seven photographs. Careful to touch only the outer edges, Rayburn pulled the stack from the envelope.
Kristens heart plummeted.
The top photo was an image of a little girl dressed in a robins-egg-blue shorts set, swinging on a swing at Gossamer Park.
The girl was Maddy Cooper.
Chapter Three
Sam stared at the photographs, his stomach rebelling. There were twelve in total, five-by-sevens taken on a digital camera according to the lab tech who examined them first before releasing them back to the Birmingham detectives. Each photo depicted his daughter Maddy at play, in a variety of places, from the playground at Gossamer Park to the farmers market on Main Street. Once or twice Sam was in the photo, as well; another time, his parents. One photo featured Maddy with Sams sister Hannah, fishing from one of the marinas fishing piers. Maddy was holding up a small crappie and grinning at her aunt.
He looked away from the photos and rubbed his eyes. They felt full of grit.
I called my office. Kristen Tandys voice was toneless. He looked up at her and found her gaze fixed on the photos. Foleys on his way to the marina now to let your parents know whats going on.
I need to get back there.
Kristen nodded. The detectives have agreed to send me scans of these photos. She looked up at Dave Rayburn, who gave her a nod. She and the captain seemed to have come to an understanding, Sam noted.
I need to get back there.
Kristen nodded. The detectives have agreed to send me scans of these photos. She looked up at Dave Rayburn, who gave her a nod. She and the captain seemed to have come to an understanding, Sam noted.
So we can go now?
Yeah. Kristen shook hands with Rayburn and led Sam out of the office.
They didnt talk on the way to the car. Sam wasnt even sure what to say. The very notion of someone stalking his baby girl was so surreal, he spent half the drive back to Gossamer Ridge wondering if he was stuck in a nightmare.
Kristen broke the silence theyd maintained to that point, her voice uncharacteristically warm. Were going to find the son of a bitch who took those pictures.
He looked at her. Her gaze angled forward, eyes on the road, her jaw set like stone. He dropped them off yesterday evening, he said aloud. Before he even tried to take her. He wanted that to be the first thing I saw the morning I woke up with my daughter gone. And hed been sneaky, too, leaving the package outside the building after hours-but before the receptionist had left for the day. Hed probably waited around to make sure she saw the package and took it back to the office before she finished locking up for the night.
Kristen looked at him then, just a quick glance, but he saw fiery anger flashing in her blue eyes. It doesnt matter that the security cameras didnt catch him. It wont stop us.
He hoped she was right.
At the marina, Kristen parked beside the bait shop, next to a Chevy Impala identical to the one she was driving. Foley, she said to Sam as they got out of the car.
Inside the bait shop, Maddy sat on her grandfathers knee playing with a large cork bobber, tossing it in the air like a ball and nearly tumbling off Mike Coopers knees trying to catch it. Nearby, Foley stood at the counter, talking in low tones with Sams mother. All four of them looked up as Sam and Kristen entered.
Maddys eyes lit up and she scrambled down from Mikes lap. Miss Kristen! she squealed, beaming up at Kristen Tandy as she ran to greet them.
Sam felt Kristen stiffen beside him. He quickly intercepted his boisterous daughter before she flung herself at Kristens knees and hoisted her into his arms. What? No hello for your daddy?
Hi, Daddy! She patted his face affectionately before twisting in his arms to look at Kristen. Daddy Mikes gonna let me feed the worms, Miss Kristen. Dyou wanna come with us?
Kristen looked positively green, but Sam suspected it had nothing to do with the prospect of feeding worms.
He tamped down a bit of resentment. Miss Kristen has a job to do, baby. And Im afraid you and Daddy Mike are gonna have to go worm feeding some other day. Ive got plans for us this afternoon. Want to know what?
What? She caught his face between her hands again, making his heart swell. But instead of her lopsided grin, he saw static, candid images captured in a series of still photographs. He glanced at Kristen, who was watching him, her expression for once unguarded. The look on her face was utter devastation. There was no other word for it.
He cleared his throat and looked back at Maddy. Were going to have a movie marathon! All the princesses-as many as we can get through before bedtime.
Maddy wriggled excitedly in his arms. Really?
Really.
Sam heard Detective Foley make a low, sympathetic sound behind him. Normally, Sam would agree-an afternoon and evening full of animated fairy-tale musicals were to be avoided at all costs. But this time, he could think of nowhere hed rather be than his parents guest cottage with his little girl tucked safely against him on the sofa, miraculously still with him to watch dancing brooms and singing mice.
Can Miss Kristen come, too? Maddy asked.
I told you, Miss Kristen has to work.
But after work, can she come, too?
Sam started to say no, but Kristen cleared her throat behind him. Yeah, Maddy. I can come after work.
Sam looked up at Kristen, startled. She met his gaze, sheer terror shining in her blue eyes. But her small, pointed chin jutted forward, like a soldier preparing for battle.
Are you sure? he asked.
Yes, she said, unconvincingly. Yall are staying here for a few days, right?
He started to tell her it wasnt a good idea, but the glee in Maddys laughter stopped him before he uttered a word. He looked at his daughter, finding her grinning at Kristen with sheer delight, and stayed silent. Yeah. Theres a guest cottage down the hill from my folks place.
I can be there by seven-thirty, Kristen told him quietly after Maddy had climbed down to follow her grandfather into the back room. Ill bring some microwave popcorn or something.
You dont have to do this. Sam didnt miss the reluctance in her eyes.
She goes to sleep-what? Eight? Eight-thirty?
Yeah, Sam agreed, not following.
Good. Then you and I can go over a few things.
He arched an eyebrow. A few things?
A few cases, actually. She stepped away from the counter, lowering her voice. I think whoever sent you those photos may be someone youve crossed in your work. You were a prosecutor before you moved back here to Alabama, werent you?
Yeah, I was an assistant Commonwealths Attorney in Arlington County.
Tried a few cases?
You think someone I prosecuted is looking for revenge?
She shrugged. Its worth thinking about, isnt it?
Okay, Ill think about it. He shot her a wary grin. Something to do while the princesses are singing.
Her answering smile transformed her face briefly, giving him a glimpse of what she might have looked like had her tragic past not left indelible traces on her young features. Her eyes shimmered like a cloudless sky reflected in a calm lake, and the worry lines creasing her forehead disappeared as if erased.
He felt another unexpected tug of attraction, sudden and primitive, that lingered even after her smile faded into the careworn lines hed become accustomed to. He cleared his throat as Maddy and his father reemerged from the back room with the bait containers. Okay, well see you around seven-thirty.
Foley, Im heading into the office to type up my report. You coming?
Uh, yeah. Foleys gaze moved quickly from her to Sam and back again. Call us if you need us. He fell in step with Kristen as she headed for the exit.
Bye, Miss Kristen! Maddy called from behind the counter.
Kristen lifted her hand to Maddy, shot Sam an enigmatic look and left the bait shop, Foley on her heels.
She seems like a nice girl, Beth Cooper commented, patting Sams back as she passed on her way back to the front counter. Too sad about what happened with her mama.
Sam dragged his gaze away from the empty doorway. I know the basics-her mother killed her brothers and sisters and tried to kill her. But what else do you recall about it?
His mother gave him an odd look. Thats pretty much all I remember. The news reports at the time were vague.
What happened to the mother?
I dont think she went to jail. I want to say maybe the state mental hospital or something like that. Beths gaze was quizzical. Youre awfully interested in Detective Tandy all of a sudden.
Stop it, Mom.
Her smile faded. Just be careful, okay? Maddys at a ripe age to get attached to a woman in your life. Shes old enough to wonder why her mother doesnt ever come around.
Stop it, Mom.
Her smile faded. Just be careful, okay? Maddys at a ripe age to get attached to a woman in your life. Shes old enough to wonder why her mother doesnt ever come around.
Hed bent over backward to make excuses for Norah to Maddy, more for his daughters sake than his ex-wifes. But Maddy was nearing school age, and shed soon start wondering why everyone else in her class had a mommy to take care of them. One day his excuses wouldnt be enough.
One day, hed have to explain that not all mommies wanted to be mommies, and there was nothing she could have said or done or been to make a difference. It was going to be the hardest thing hed ever done in his life.
No point in making it harder by letting another woman so clearly not cut out for motherhood break his daughters heart.
YOU CANT BE SERIOUS. Kristen stared at Carl Madison, shaking her head. Carl, theres got to be someone else-
I could find someone else, the captain of detectives conceded. But Foley says the child already likes and trusts you. And honestly? You need to do it for yourself.
Dont do that. Kristen glared at her foster father, her anger festering. Youre not my father anymore.
You never let me be, he said bleakly.
Guilt stoked her anger. All I ever wanted was to be left alone to get on with my life. Thats still all I want.
Youre not getting on with your life. Youre hiding behind your badge and your attitude, avoiding anything that scares you or challenges you. Im not talking to you as a father now, he added when she opened her mouth to protest. Im your boss, and this is a job I think you can do if you put your mind to it. Are you telling me Im wrong?