wasn’t he there to protect Maria and Dylan?
Why?
Lee drove his fingers into the chair’s fabric until he seized a moment of clarity. He should be with his wife.“I’m going back to the hospital now, I need to be with Maria.”
“We know, Lee.” Detective Grace Garner had arrived from the hospital moments earlier. “Maria’s aunt and uncle are with her. Her condition’s unchanged. We need your help here, then we’ll take you to her.”
“Have another look at the tape,” Dupree said. “Do you know this van? It’s a red Chrysler Town and Country. A witness told us that the rear has a custompainted mural showing the sun and trees. You’re a tow truck operator, you know vehicles. From what you see, do you recognize this van?”
“No. How many times do I have to tell you? How many times do I have to see this tape? Why are you certain I should know who did this?”
“I’m not. But there’s always the chance that the person behind it has had contact with you, or your family, in some small way. Maybe a seemingly innocuous way. This happened too fast to be random.”
“They were stalking us?”
“That’s one scenario. We’re looking at others.”
Lee took stock of the living room and the adjoining dining room with the large oak table, a wedding gift from Maria’s aunt. FBI agents had transformed it into a command desk with TVs to monitor news reports. They also had Global Positioning Satellite hardware, satellite phones, printers, laptop computers, and more phones with special lines in case Dylan’s abductors called with demands.
Nothing so far.
Throughout the house, more somber-faced agentswearing white latex gloves were searching everything, their voices low, creating a funereal air. The FBI was also screening calls from the press, friends, and well-wishers, while outside, uniformed Seattle police officers kept neighbors and reporters from approaching the door. Lee plunged his haggard face into his hands as Dupree glanced at his watch then resumed his questions.
“Does Dylan have any medical conditions, or require any special medication?”
“No, but I’ve given you his doctor’s number.”
“Do you know anyone who wanted children but can’t have them, or anyone who recently lost a child?”
“No.”
“Do you know anyone who paid unusual attention to Dylan? Anyone who made you and your wife uneasy?”
“No.”
“Any recent altercations with anyone? Anyone who threatened you or Maria in any way?”
“No.”
“Any strange visitors at your door that she may have mentioned?”
Lee shook his head.
“Anyone lost looking for directions, hang-up calls, anything?”
“Nothing like that.”
“You use a babysitter?”
“No. Only family.”
“Did Maria take prenatal classes?”
“Yes.”
“We’d like a contact name.”
“It’s in her address book, in her purse.” Lee indicated the dining room.
“Do you know anyone with a grudge against you, your family, the company you work for?” Dupree asked.
“No.”
“Do you or your wife use drugs, or gamble? Do you have any outstanding debts to anyone for drugs, gambling, anything like that? Anything illegal?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“We need to know everything, Lee,” Grace said.
“We will find out, Lee,” Dupree added. “If you’re truthful with us now, it’ll save time that may help us find Dylan faster.”
“The answer is no.”
“Any vindictive girlfriends from your past?”
“No.”
“Ever have an affair?”
“God, no.”
“Or keep anything secret from your wife that may be a factor in this?”
Lee shook his head.
“Any criminal history in this family?”
“Haven’t you checked already, Dupree?”
“Please, we’re asking you to cooperate.”
“We haven’t broken any laws.” Lee glared at Dupree. “I don’t get you people. Someone tried to kill my wife while stealing our baby and you treat me like I’m involved.”
“It’s been known to happen,” Dupree said.
Why?
Lee drove his fingers into the chair’s fabric until he seized a moment of clarity. He should be with his wife.“I’m going back to the hospital now, I need to be with Maria.”
“We know, Lee.” Detective Grace Garner had arrived from the hospital moments earlier. “Maria’s aunt and uncle are with her. Her condition’s unchanged. We need your help here, then we’ll take you to her.”
“Have another look at the tape,” Dupree said. “Do you know this van? It’s a red Chrysler Town and Country. A witness told us that the rear has a custompainted mural showing the sun and trees. You’re a tow truck operator, you know vehicles. From what you see, do you recognize this van?”
“No. How many times do I have to tell you? How many times do I have to see this tape? Why are you certain I should know who did this?”
“I’m not. But there’s always the chance that the person behind it has had contact with you, or your family, in some small way. Maybe a seemingly innocuous way. This happened too fast to be random.”
“They were stalking us?”
“That’s one scenario. We’re looking at others.”
Lee took stock of the living room and the adjoining dining room with the large oak table, a wedding gift from Maria’s aunt. FBI agents had transformed it into a command desk with TVs to monitor news reports. They also had Global Positioning Satellite hardware, satellite phones, printers, laptop computers, and more phones with special lines in case Dylan’s abductors called with demands.
Nothing so far.
Throughout the house, more somber-faced agentswearing white latex gloves were searching everything, their voices low, creating a funereal air. The FBI was also screening calls from the press, friends, and well-wishers, while outside, uniformed Seattle police officers kept neighbors and reporters from approaching the door. Lee plunged his haggard face into his hands as Dupree glanced at his watch then resumed his questions.
“Does Dylan have any medical conditions, or require any special medication?”
“No, but I’ve given you his doctor’s number.”
“Do you know anyone who wanted children but can’t have them, or anyone who recently lost a child?”
“No.”
“Do you know anyone who paid unusual attention to Dylan? Anyone who made you and your wife uneasy?”
“No.”
“Any recent altercations with anyone? Anyone who threatened you or Maria in any way?”
“No.”
“Any strange visitors at your door that she may have mentioned?”
Lee shook his head.
“Anyone lost looking for directions, hang-up calls, anything?”
“Nothing like that.”
“You use a babysitter?”
“No. Only family.”
“Did Maria take prenatal classes?”
“Yes.”
“We’d like a contact name.”
“It’s in her address book, in her purse.” Lee indicated the dining room.
“Do you know anyone with a grudge against you, your family, the company you work for?” Dupree asked.
“No.”
“Do you or your wife use drugs, or gamble? Do you have any outstanding debts to anyone for drugs, gambling, anything like that? Anything illegal?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“We need to know everything, Lee,” Grace said.
“We will find out, Lee,” Dupree added. “If you’re truthful with us now, it’ll save time that may help us find Dylan faster.”
“The answer is no.”
“Any vindictive girlfriends from your past?”
“No.”
“Ever have an affair?”
“God, no.”
“Or keep anything secret from your wife that may be a factor in this?”
Lee shook his head.
“Any criminal history in this family?”
“Haven’t you checked already, Dupree?”
“Please, we’re asking you to cooperate.”
“We haven’t broken any laws.” Lee glared at Dupree. “I don’t get you people. Someone tried to kill my wife while stealing our baby and you treat me like I’m involved.”
“It’s been known to happen,” Dupree said.
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