There are grim happenings in Breckenridge, said Bob. Im just about to call your boss to get your Safe Street asses over here.
Whats going down? said Ren.
Missing child, missing sitter, said Bob.
Missing from where? said Ren.
Ben lifted Ren onto the bed beside him. She wrapped a sheet around herself.
They disappeared from their room in a brand-spanking new hotel, said Bob. The Merlin Lodge amp; Spa. Or maybe the sitter took the little girl. Or maybe they were both abducted. The sitter is sixteen years old, and the girl is eleven. The parents were down in the restaurant, the stepmother was drunk, got through a couple bottles of champagne on her own. They were seen arguing at the table.
And the father? said Ren.
Hes a mess. This was the first time he was allowed overnight parenting time. I cant get a handle on him, though.
Allowed by whom? said Ren.
A judge, said Bob. Dont you hate that legal bullshit parenting time? Isnt the whole time parenting time? It bugs me. Anyway, hes got two kids. The girl, from his first marriage, and a three-year-old boy with his current wife the drunk one. The ex-wife is the primary care parent, she wanted him nowhere near his daughter, but eventually a judge over-rode her wishes, had sympathy for the guy he had turned his life around. His parenting time increased. And the latest development was that he could take her overnight.
Ren sucked in a breath. What do you mean turned his life around? What kind of guy are we talking about here?
Hes a recovering alcoholic, said Bob. Hes no low-life. Hes a big shot in a pharmaceuticals company in Denver. The CFO. Whats that Chief Financial Officer?
Yup, said Ren. What about the ex-wife? Have you spoken with her? Could she have taken her daughter to get back at him, to prove a point? She paused. But, then, where did the sitter come into it?
I dont know, said Bob. We havent spoken to the ex-wife yet. The sitters a local kid, pretty blonde, good-girl type. Shes with an agency thats on call at the hotel. The hotels only open a couple weeks. Just get your ass here, well talk more.
Im on my way. Ren hung up.
Ben Rader was in the bathroom.
Do not reveal yourself until Im gone, Ren shouted. She started to gather up her clothes. I wont be responsible or professional or
The door opened and Ben Rader walked in, naked and smiling, toward her. Seriously he said.
You wonderful man.
I-70 was eerily quiet, stretching out in front of Ren like a road to nowhere. She turned on the radio, turned it off, picked up her iPod, threw it down, looked at herself in the mirror, thought of Ben Rader, smiled, then reached for her cell phone. Her hand hovered over speed dial number three Janine Hooks, her friend of four months, and the entire workforce of the Jefferson County Cold Case Unit, based in Golden, fifteen miles outside Denver. Janine had short brown hair, a wide mouth with full lips, and prominent, pretty teeth. She was small and boyish, and weighed no more than one hundred pounds. Ren worried that she was anorexic.
Ren and Janine had met over a cold case linked to Helen Wheelers murder, and came to blows over it when Billy Waites, Rens confidential-informant ex, broke into Janines office to steal a file. Yet, from this betrayal came a close, fast friendship, and the understanding that it had all been for the greater good. Rens only regret was that she hadnt met Janine Hooks years ago.
Ren hit three on speed dial.
Wow, said Janine, three thirty a.m. is always such a good time for me.
Im driving by yo house, said Ren. And test-driving my new hands-free. You can still like a guy who makes a Bon Jovi reference right?
You can like him even more, said Janine. What was the reference? Ren knew the facial expression Janine would now have frowny, chin out, head a little tilted. When Janine Hooks listened, she listened.
Slippery When Wet, said Ren.
Album number three, 1986, said Janine.
I love Bon Jovi fans! said Ren.
Who is this man? said Janine. I was wondering where you had disappeared to.
Special very special Agent Ben Rader. Michael J. Fox gene, goes undercover with the underage. A man with a Major in minors
And said Janine.
Well he is amazing, said Ren.
Oh, God, said Janine. I just got the Slippery When Wet. No more details. Please.
Oh my God, I didnt mean it like that, said Ren. It was soap.
Arent you guys not meant to date other agents? said Janine.
They both laughed.
Gary would go apeshit, though, said Ren.
He sure would, said Janine.
In defense of myself and hot agent, neither of us knew we were FBI Agents at the time of meeting, said Ren.
What? said Janine.
Thats the funny thing, said Ren. We met in Gaffneys because Gary had recommended it to him. I was there because thats where Safe Streets goes. I dont like men liking me for my job, Ben doesnt like women liking him for his job. So a lot of agents lie when they go out. And, he does not look like an agent, and he didnt think I did. And, part of undercover training is literally to go into a bar, and get as much information as you can out of someone-
Therefore, would you not be immune to someone doing it to you? said Janine.
That was the other funny thing, said Ren. We are. So neither of us really got anywhere. We kind of bonded over the fact that we were both being shady. I mean, I made up a pretty decent background, and so did he, but our hearts werent really in it.
So, the foundation for this amazing new relationship is your shared gift for lying? said Janine.
So, the foundation for this amazing new relationship is your shared gift for lying? said Janine.
Pause. You dont have to put it like that.
Even if thats the way it is, said Janine.
Hes got other gifts said Ren.
So I gathered, said Janine. Lets take that as a given from now on.
Im just excited, said Ren.
Maybe its just me, but how could you trust a man like that? said Janine.
I dont need to trust him, said Ren. I just need to trust that hell show up for dates. Which he has. And hey, Im trustworthy. Just because I lie for work sometimes
True. I didnt mean it like that, said Janine. So where are you going at this hour of the night? Or where are you coming from?
Two girls have gone missing from a resort in Breck. Sixteen and eleven. The sitter and the girl she was looking after.
Thats terrible, said Janine.
And theres been another rape in Denver a fourteen-year-old girl. Did you hear about the rape at Kennington?
Yes, said Janine. Is it the same guy?
Possibly, said Ren.
I have a case from 1978, said Janine. A childrens choir from a Catholic school was brought in to perform for the patients at Kennington. Including wait for it the male dangerous sex offender posse.
What the-?
Yes, said Janine. Several male patients had to be removed from the audience for well, you can guess.
That is vile.
So, anyway, the kids leave after the performance, they get back on the school bus and when they arrive back at the school, one little girl is missing. Nine years old. Gina Orsak. Her body was never found.
That is heartbreaking, said Ren. Any leads?
No, nothing, said Janine. She paused. So, is Misty with you? Misty was Rens black and white border collie cadaver dog.
Aw, you always look out for my girl, said Ren. And no, she is not with me I had to run straight from hot agents place. But could you go to my house in the morning and pick her up for me? Hot agent is on his way there now, bless his heart, but can you relieve him please? Its just you know Misty so well. He could be clueless.
Well, he cant be amazing at everything, said Janine.
Ren laughed, but as soon as the call was over, the laughter died, and the Jeep was quiet. Golden was behind her and she was heading for Breckenridge, a route she knew so well every beautiful straight and turn. Ren knew that it would lead her to a place she loved, but one that trailed poignant memories like smoke. The previous year, she had investigated the murder of a fellow FBI Agent. Jean Transoms body had been found not far from Breckenridge. The case had brought Ren together with terrible scenes, with death and secrets and unprofessional risks. But it had also brought her together with Janine Hooks and with Bob Gage, and with Salem Swade, a wonderful, damaged Vietnam Vet Mistys first owner. It had also brought her together with Billy Waites. And it had brought her closer to being fired than she had ever been before.
8
The Summit County Sheriffs Office was off Highway 9 on the edge of Breckenridge a single-story, pale brick building that the Sheriff was kind enough to share with the county jail and courthouse.
Ren walked across the parking lot through thick flakes of falling snow that were being swept around her in the wind. She stopped inside the door and popped some Wintergreen gum in her mouth. She sprayed some perfume, and brought a citrus cloud through security.
Goodbye eau de tramp.
Sheriff Bob Gage was leaning against the reception desk with a mug of coffee in his hand. He was six foot tall with neat side-parted fair hair, a warm face, and a belly larger than he would have liked. His arms were muscular, not from gym time, but from hauling and hammering and chopping things.
You give the best hugs, said Ren. She could smell sporty shower gel and detergent. He had a good old-fashioned wife who laid his clothes out on the bed for him in the morning.
Youre not so bad yourself for a skinny gal, said Bob.
Im far from skinny, said Ren. She started to pull off her coat.
Are you kidding me? said Bob. Im surprised you made it across the parking lot without the wind cracking your head off a wall.
Getting up after your phone call made me feel like I had cracked my head off a wall.
So, not from being over-served at a bar last night said Bob.
Absolutely not, said Ren. She smiled.
Bob took her coat and hung it up for her.
Ren felt a hand on her lower back. Hey, Ren, welcome back. She turned to see Undersheriff Mike Delaney, his big smile, and his blond hat hair.
Hey, there, said Ren, hugging him lightly. You always look fresh from the slopes.
Thats because he usually is, said Bob.
Not now, Im not, said Mike. Its crazy over there at the hotel. And bad news is ten thousand people have hit town this weekend for the snowboarding championships.