immediately followed him.
Nick sat behind his desk, staring at his computer screen. He noted their arrival. “Morning, go ahead and sit down.” He swiveled his chair to face them. “I got a call around four a.m. from Detective Mason, who got a call from Frederick County Sheriff’s office. Emily Aldrich’s body was found in a park about thirty miles from her home.”
Kate’s heart sank. This was an expected outcome, given the length of time that had passed. Nonetheless, she maintained hope that it would not be the case this time. She was wrong. “What does this mean for our investigation?”
“We need to determine how and when she died,” Dwight began. “We need to establish a timeline from when she was abducted to her death.”
“This will help give us an idea as to roughly how much time we have to find Colton before he ends up dead too,” Nick added.
He was nothing if not blunt and while Kate sometimes disliked that quality about him, he was almost always right. “I did some research last night.” She half-expected a disapproving glare for disobeying his direct order to get some rest, but she would get no push back today. “I found sixty-eight hotels that fit the criteria of where we think Stroud would have been likely to stay. Vasquez and I were about to get started on making some calls to see if any of the proprietors recognized Stroud or Colton.”
“That’s a big list. I’ll pitch in. We need all hands on deck right now.” Dwight looked to Nick. “Are you going to tell Colton’s parents?”
Nick turned his gaze downward in search of an answer. “I’ll have to. All right. Let’s get on this hotel search.”
As the two made their way out the door, Dwight pulled Kate aside in the hall.
“Thanks for jumping on that hotel thing. I think that’s our best shot right now.”
“This is really hard on him, isn’t it?”
“It would be for anyone. I’m just afraid he’s going to lose sight of things. Lose his perspective.”
“I wouldn’t blame him, just so long as it doesn’t piss off Mason.” Kate patted Dwight on his broad shoulder. “I’ll get to work. Let me know if you need anything else. Otherwise, I’ll keep you posted on my progress.”
» » »
Detective Mason’s urgent call shortly after his meeting prompted Nick to make the drive to Springfield. He entered the busy precinct and headed straight back to see the detective. The officer at the front desk called out to him and when Nick continued without answering, the officer sprinted to catch up to him, her hand resting on her gun; hackles raised by the security risk.
If Mason hadn’t heard the commotion and stepped into the hall, Nick might’ve had a situation on his hands. “It’s okay.” Mason waved to her officer. “He’s here for me.” She turned to Nick. “Maybe next time, just check in up front first. Thanks for coming down.”
Closing the door to her office, Mason walked around to her desk while Nick sat down and jumped right in. “Are you sure it’s him?”
“A call came in just minutes before I phoned you about a sighting.” Mason leaned in, her slender arms, bare from the sleeveless blouse, folded on her desk. “A man matching Stroud’s description was seen with a boy matching Colton’s at a rest stop along 95, heading north.”
“Did they get a plate? Was it the same Ford truck?”
“Yes. We ran the plates and they’re registered to Stroud.”
Nick leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “At least there’s some God damn good news after learning about the girl. He doesn’t realize we know who he is and what he drives. Do you have people heading in that direction? We don’t have much time.”
“I am well aware of that, Agent Scarborough, and yes, County Police and State Troopers are flooding the area. The call came in some time after he left the location because the caller had the good fortune to be listening to the Amber Alert and remembered the truck. I just
Nick sat behind his desk, staring at his computer screen. He noted their arrival. “Morning, go ahead and sit down.” He swiveled his chair to face them. “I got a call around four a.m. from Detective Mason, who got a call from Frederick County Sheriff’s office. Emily Aldrich’s body was found in a park about thirty miles from her home.”
Kate’s heart sank. This was an expected outcome, given the length of time that had passed. Nonetheless, she maintained hope that it would not be the case this time. She was wrong. “What does this mean for our investigation?”
“We need to determine how and when she died,” Dwight began. “We need to establish a timeline from when she was abducted to her death.”
“This will help give us an idea as to roughly how much time we have to find Colton before he ends up dead too,” Nick added.
He was nothing if not blunt and while Kate sometimes disliked that quality about him, he was almost always right. “I did some research last night.” She half-expected a disapproving glare for disobeying his direct order to get some rest, but she would get no push back today. “I found sixty-eight hotels that fit the criteria of where we think Stroud would have been likely to stay. Vasquez and I were about to get started on making some calls to see if any of the proprietors recognized Stroud or Colton.”
“That’s a big list. I’ll pitch in. We need all hands on deck right now.” Dwight looked to Nick. “Are you going to tell Colton’s parents?”
Nick turned his gaze downward in search of an answer. “I’ll have to. All right. Let’s get on this hotel search.”
As the two made their way out the door, Dwight pulled Kate aside in the hall.
“Thanks for jumping on that hotel thing. I think that’s our best shot right now.”
“This is really hard on him, isn’t it?”
“It would be for anyone. I’m just afraid he’s going to lose sight of things. Lose his perspective.”
“I wouldn’t blame him, just so long as it doesn’t piss off Mason.” Kate patted Dwight on his broad shoulder. “I’ll get to work. Let me know if you need anything else. Otherwise, I’ll keep you posted on my progress.”
» » »
Detective Mason’s urgent call shortly after his meeting prompted Nick to make the drive to Springfield. He entered the busy precinct and headed straight back to see the detective. The officer at the front desk called out to him and when Nick continued without answering, the officer sprinted to catch up to him, her hand resting on her gun; hackles raised by the security risk.
If Mason hadn’t heard the commotion and stepped into the hall, Nick might’ve had a situation on his hands. “It’s okay.” Mason waved to her officer. “He’s here for me.” She turned to Nick. “Maybe next time, just check in up front first. Thanks for coming down.”
Closing the door to her office, Mason walked around to her desk while Nick sat down and jumped right in. “Are you sure it’s him?”
“A call came in just minutes before I phoned you about a sighting.” Mason leaned in, her slender arms, bare from the sleeveless blouse, folded on her desk. “A man matching Stroud’s description was seen with a boy matching Colton’s at a rest stop along 95, heading north.”
“Did they get a plate? Was it the same Ford truck?”
“Yes. We ran the plates and they’re registered to Stroud.”
Nick leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “At least there’s some God damn good news after learning about the girl. He doesn’t realize we know who he is and what he drives. Do you have people heading in that direction? We don’t have much time.”
“I am well aware of that, Agent Scarborough, and yes, County Police and State Troopers are flooding the area. The call came in some time after he left the location because the caller had the good fortune to be listening to the Amber Alert and remembered the truck. I just
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