Endangered Read Free Page B

friend a lifeline. “This is how they start looking for him, Jake. Someone had to have seen him leave or miss work, or something along those lines. It’s the best place for them to start.”
    “The important thing is that we have a name.” Mason looked toward Rachel. “We’ll track him down and we’ll find your son.”
     
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    When Kate arrived at her desk, she was greeted by stacks of paper—files from the Ackerman investigation, along with fifty or so emails and a few voicemails. So, a pretty typical day so far.
    “Morning,” she said to Agent Vasquez.
    “Good morning. Hey, have you heard from Scarborough today?”
    “No, but he’s still in Springfield. I’m sure he’ll touch base later.” Kate looked over her shoulder. “Have you seen Jameson around?”
    “He’s here. I saw him earlier.”
    “I’ll go see if he’s heard from Scarborough yet.” Kate headed down the hallway toward Dwight’s office. She peeked inside. “Good morning.”
    Dwight cast his eyes upward from his desk. “Good morning. Come in.”
    “Have you heard from Nick? I talked to him the other night, but nothing since then.” Her arms folded with concern as she walked in.
    “He called me a short while ago, actually. They have a suspect now, but that’s about all they have.”
    “Really? Who?”
    “Some ex-con who was living in Winchester, or near there. Got out about a year ago and had kept a low profile, until this.”
    “I assume they have no idea where he is?”
    “They got County PD checking out his home. I know Nick’s going crazy over this. He wants to take the lead, but he can’t and you know how he gets.”
    “Must be hard for him, especially since it’s his friend’s kid. Any word on when he’s coming back?”
    “Soon. There’s really not much for him to do except offer a shoulder. His hands are tied. He’s got Fairfax County and now Frederick County PD involved, but nothing that would make this a federal case.”
    “Well, you and I both know that’s not going to stop him.”
    “I’m sure you’re right. And you and I will be right beside him.” Dwight smiled.
    “I should be ready to hand off the Ackerman files by tomorrow. Anything else coming on board?”
    “I have to head out to consult with Baltimore PD later today. But apart from that, finishing up the Ackerman files to hand off to the federal prosecutor is priority.”
    “Okay. I’ll get on it. Let me know when you hear from him again.”
    “Just give him a call. He’ll answer.”
    “He’s under a lot of pressure right now—I don’t want to bother him. And, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he hasn’t been exactly chummy with me lately. He’ll make the odd call to keep me updated, but that’s about it. Very cut and dry.”
    “I think he’s just trying to give you some space. Your probationary period will be up in less than six months. I think he wants to be sure Campbell sees that you no longer need to be under his wing. Especially considering how you were assigned here. He won’t risk your position, not when you’re this close to permanent status.”
    “Yeah, okay.” Kate felt something else was there, whether Dwight would admit it or not. Nick had pulled away from her in recent months. Perhaps it had been because she no longer felt alone and stopped running to him for everything. She’d regained much of her independence and her former self. That was what he’d said he wanted for her all along, but she’d begun to think otherwise.
    Kate returned to her desk and got to the task at hand, but it didn’t stop her from thinking about Nick and what she could do to help. The parents must have been beside themselves. Her thoughts drifted just for a moment to the Davies’ and what it had meant to them when Kate and Nick had returned Ashley’s necklace. Because Kate didn’t have children, and was fairly certain she never would, she couldn’t possibly put herself in their shoes and neither could Nick. But it