This is it, she said.
Kates pulse quickened. She pulled her phone from her bag.
I need to make some calls. No, wait. First I need to take a picture of this romper and send it to someone. Could you please hold it up again, Doctor?
28
Duncanville, Texas
Jenna Cooper pressed the babys romper to her cheek and wept.
She ran her fingers tenderly over the soft cotton fabric, studying the blue-and-white stripes before she drew it back to her face and breathed in her babys sweet smell.
This belongs to my son. This is Calebs.
A circle of solemn faces watched her in silence.
Jenna had been shaking since Hollys phone rang forty-five minutes ago with a call from some official who was helping find people missing in the storm. Jenna and Blake were staying with Holly and Garrett at the Embassy Suites nearest the flea market. Jenna first thought that the call was from Hollys family in Atlanta but then Holly said, No, Jennas cell phone was lost in the storm. She has a new number and left mine for- Yes, Im her sister and Im with her.
Holly listened then put her hand over the phone and told Jenna, They found something that might belong to Caleb at a shelter and they need you there to identify it.
Garrett mustve set a record getting them to Duncanville, using the GPS and with Blake directing him. As their rental SUV roared across the city, Jenna held Hollys hand. In the wake of what theyd experienced in the high school gym the previous night, Jenna struggled not to get her hopes up and prayed to heaven for good news.
Now she was standing here in the shelter, grappling with the fact that Caleb may have been here in this spot where she was holding the last thing hed worn before she lost him. Her mind swirled with questions.
Where is he? Is he hurt?
Jenna? a man in the circle said.
How come no one held him for me? she continued. Where is he?
How come no one held him for me? she continued. Where is he?
Jenna, Im Frank Rivera with the Missing Person Emergency Search System. Were helping police find people whore missing or displaced because of the storm.
Numb, Jenna stared at Rivera as he nodded to two uniformed police officers.
This is Officer Soria and Officer Burns with the Duncanville Police Department. Dr. Charlene Butler is with the medical unit here at the shelter and I believe you know Kate Page with Newslead?
Jenna offered Kate a weak smile.
For the next several moments, Rivera gave Jenna and Blake a summary of what had transpired at the shelter-how a couple brought in a baby, how Dr. Butler examined him before the couple left, and how the case led to the discovery of the romper.
It was Kate who alerted us to the romper, Rivera said.
Jenna gave Kate a quick look of appreciation.
Now, were just starting to sort things out. Officer Soria had his notebook open. Jenna, maybe you can tell us how youre certain that this is your sons item of clothing?
The color, the style, the elephant crest is lifting a bit on the right, she said through tears. And the bottom snap is loose. I told that lady, Belle, at the flea market-she put it all in the computer file when I reported him missing.
Rivera nodded to the officers. Its all there, detail for detail, he said. And I believe it was submitted to the Dallas PD and State database for entry into NCIC.
Whats that? Blake asked.
Its the FBIs National Crime Information Center, Rivera said. Its a national database. Given Calebs age and the fact he disappeared after a catastrophe, his case is listed as a Missing Person file in the system.
Like the thousands of other new ones in the aftermath of the storm, Officer Soria said. Weve alerted the FBIs Dallas Division. Theyve got people on their way here, but Im sorry, things have been a little overwhelming for them and everyone.
Overwhelming for them? Blake said. Do you have any idea of what weve been through?
I understand, Soria said. Nothing was meant by that, sir. Its just that resources are being stretched to the limit right now-thats something everyones got to appreciate.
Were talking about our son! Blake shouted.
Blake, Blake. Garrett stepped in. Lets just take a breath. The good thing is we found a sign that Calebs alive and people are working on it.
What I cant understand Jenna started shaking her head slowly. What I cannot accept, is that from what you just told us- she nodded to Frank -Caleb was here with strangers and no one did anything about it. They just let them come into the medical unit and leave with our baby. Like it was nothing.
Dr. Butler swallowed hard then glanced at the officers indicating maybe Kate should leave, but Jenna caught that.
No, I want Kate to stay, Jenna said. I want her to hear how and why this happened.
Butler cleared her throat. The couple was from out of state and came to our unit requesting attention for their baby, she said. A male they listed as being three months old.
Was he hurt?
No, he had a minor abrasion on his head, here. She touched her forehead. No sign of a concussion. He was in good health.
Tears rolled down Jennas face. Did you check for a birthmark on his calf?
I saw the mark, yes.
You had my son! You had my son in your care and you let those people get away with him! Those people who pretended to be helping me while all the while they wanted my baby! Theyre evil and you let them walk right out of here! I dont understand how you could do that! Jenna clenched her hands into fists, raised both arms to strike Butler when Blake, Garrett, Rivera and the officers stopped her.
Im so sorry, Butler said. Weve been going 24/7 here since the storm. There were no telltale signs about that couple. The woman had short dark hair, not red. Were not police-were medical staff. We didnt really know until this reporter came to us and questioned us. If it hadnt been for her, no one wouldve known anything. Im so terribly sorry.
Jenna said nothing.
She stared at Butler until she didnt see her anymore. She sobbed and crumpled into Blakes chest before Rivera took them to a private corner in the Missing Persons station at the shelter. From there, as they waited for the FBI to arrive, Jenna watched the activity across the floor at the donation table.
The Duncanville police officers were unrolling yellow plastic tape, sealing the area where Calebs romper had been found.
29
Duncanville, Texas
Lets go over everything one more time.
FBI Agent Nicole Quinn reread the files from NCIC, the Duncanville PD and the Missing Person Search System on Caleb Coopers case.
Grogan was at the wheel as they rolled from the FBIs Dallas Division on Justice Way, southbound to the shelter in Duncanville.
Both agents were focused on their assignment, but it was a challenge. The bureau had lost people in the tornadoes. Grogan and Quinn had lost friends and some FBI staff had their homes destroyed. The bureaus resources were stretched. But despite the storm, the FBIs work had to continue. Reinforcement agents were coming in from the divisions jurisdictional territory and surrounding states.
What do you think, Phil? Quinn asked when shed finished reading.
Grogan, whod worked in the fugitive and violent crimes programs, was analyzing matters.
The fact that evidence shows up over twenty miles from where the mother last saw the baby raises questions, he said.
Quinn checked her phone for messages. She was also the division coordinator for the National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime and was trying to keep tabs on her other files.
Whats your take on it, Nicole?
The mothers initial encounter with the two strangers is a factor. The whole thing couldve been a planned abduction.
Or an unusual set of circumstances and coincidences. Ive seen it before-a case we swore was a homicide that turned out to be a suicide. Another one was a child abduction that turned out to be a runaway who got trapped in a discarded fridge.
Were talking about a five-month-old baby, here, Phil. Were duty-bound to exhaust all avenues of investigation.
I know. Im just saying we have to keep an open mind. I mean our baby case happened just when were hit with force-five tornadoes, so anythings possible.
Upon arriving at the recreation center they held up their IDs to the Duncanville officers, who debriefed them at the sealed area next to the table of donations.
Were sorry about the babys clothing, Officer Soria said. A lot of people handled it, but we needed the mother to identify it. Weve sealed the area and put it in a paper bag.
Can you give us a list of people whove handled it? Quinn asked.
Sure, Soria said.
The investigators then went to the corner of the station for the Missing Person Emergency Search System. They made the appropriate cursory introductions. Frank Rivera then took them to Jenna Cooper, who was with her husband, sister and brother-in-law. Jenna was sitting on a chair, twisting a tissue in her fists. After the agents identified themselves, Grogan said, Jenna, Blake, were going to do all we can to locate your baby.
Jennas hair was messy. She looked at Grogan with reddened eyes. Thank you.
Grogan and Quinn then separated everyone and took initial statements from the key principals in the case: Jenna, Dr. Butler, other staff and volunteers at the shelter.
The agents asked a lot of questions. Some were obvious, others werent.
Why did Jenna think the stranger was infatuated with Caleb? Had she received any strange phone calls or emails prior to the event? Did she know anyone whod recently lost a baby? Had she received a ransom call, or any hint of demand? Did Jenna ever notice seeing the strangers before the event at the flea market, say at a mall, or some other public venue? Did Jenna or Blake owe anyone any money? Did they have gambling or drug debts?
After assessing what was emerging, the FBI agents made calls to initiate an expedited procedure to secure warrants to seize key items, including any recorded images from the centers security cameras.
Then Grogan requested the Dallas Divisions Evidence Response Team be dispatched to the shelter to process the romper, the medical form the couple had completed and other items for any trace evidence.