someone could have slipped in and out of the house, I doubt it. Is it possible? I suppose so. I’d like to think I would have spotted them. Not to mention how unlikely it is that they’d have had time to go upstairs, take Oreo, and leave—not to mention knowing the layout of the house, where Krissy’s room is—”
“Unless someone drew them a diagram,” Casey interrupted quietly.
“Who would—” Ashley broke off, her eyes widening as she realized where Casey was going with this. “Do you mean me? You think I’m part of this kidnapping?”
“I don’t know what to think.” An offhand shrug. “I can see how much you care about Krissy, and how torn up you are by what’s happened. But you were the only person here all day. So you could be lying, or you could be involved on some level—maybe as an accomplice.”
The shock that registered on Ashley’s face was unmistakable. “An accomplice to who? My God, I’d never, ever hurt Krissy. I’d never take her from her family. I’d never put her through this.”
“After everything you’ve said, I believe you.” Casey softened her expression—and her tone. “But I had to ask. Especially because of Frank.”
“Frank?” Again, Ashley was on the defensive. “What about him?”
“The Willises tell me that your boyfriend is kind of a drifter, and that he’s far from rolling in cash. And you’re in grad school. You have tuition and textbooks to pay for. The Willises are rich. It occurred to me that Frank might have pressured you into doing something you’d never ordinarily do, and convince you it was harmless. He’d make sure Krissy never knew who took her. You’d make sure he never hurt her. He’d just keep her long enough to get a huge payment from the Willises, then get her back to them. You’d both be rich. And no one would be any the wiser.”
“And Krissy would be scarred for life.” Ashley was trembling. “I’d never, ever be part of such a sick scheme. Not for a million dollars.”
“Would Frank?”
“Absolutely not. Frank’s not exactly a go-getter, but he’s not a thief. And he’d never kidnap a child.”
“It’s not a great theory,” Casey murmured. “Considering there’s been no ransom call—yet. But I had to ask. Not so much about you, but about Frank. That was him you were just arguing with on the phone, right?”
“Yes.”
“Was it about Krissy?”
“Yes…no…I mean, it was about Krissy, but not in the way you mean.” An uneasy pause. “He’s upset about how much time I’m spending here. I know that sounds horrible. But he’s a guy. He feels bad about Krissy, but he’s had enough. He’s been questioned by the police. He’s listened to my hysteria all afternoon. And now he’s dealing with my saying I’m not leaving this house until Krissy comes home safely. He’s not a bad guy. He’s just impatient and pissed off.”
“Sounds like most guys,” Casey said with a smile.
“I know.” Ashley was clearly relieved by Casey’s reaction.
“So you and Frank are tight?”
“Pretty much. We’ve been together for a year.” Ashley opened her bottle of water and took a gulp. “I don’t see us walking down the aisle or anything. But, like I said, he’s a good guy.”
“He just wishes you’d spend more time with him.”
“Yes.” Another swig of water. “And I wish he’d work a little harder. Want to be a little more. I doubt that’s in the cards.”
Casey gave an understanding nod. “Ambition’s one of those qualities you’re either born with or you’re not.”
“Exactly.” Ashley shifted on her chair. “If there’s nothing else, I’d really like to get back inside. Maybe the FBI’s heard something.”
The concern, the worry, the freaked-out look in Ashley’s eyes—all that was real.
“You really love Krissy a lot,” Casey said.
“You can’t imagine.” Ashley rolled the bottle of water between her palms. “Corny as it sounds, I feel like a second mother to her. Like
“Unless someone drew them a diagram,” Casey interrupted quietly.
“Who would—” Ashley broke off, her eyes widening as she realized where Casey was going with this. “Do you mean me? You think I’m part of this kidnapping?”
“I don’t know what to think.” An offhand shrug. “I can see how much you care about Krissy, and how torn up you are by what’s happened. But you were the only person here all day. So you could be lying, or you could be involved on some level—maybe as an accomplice.”
The shock that registered on Ashley’s face was unmistakable. “An accomplice to who? My God, I’d never, ever hurt Krissy. I’d never take her from her family. I’d never put her through this.”
“After everything you’ve said, I believe you.” Casey softened her expression—and her tone. “But I had to ask. Especially because of Frank.”
“Frank?” Again, Ashley was on the defensive. “What about him?”
“The Willises tell me that your boyfriend is kind of a drifter, and that he’s far from rolling in cash. And you’re in grad school. You have tuition and textbooks to pay for. The Willises are rich. It occurred to me that Frank might have pressured you into doing something you’d never ordinarily do, and convince you it was harmless. He’d make sure Krissy never knew who took her. You’d make sure he never hurt her. He’d just keep her long enough to get a huge payment from the Willises, then get her back to them. You’d both be rich. And no one would be any the wiser.”
“And Krissy would be scarred for life.” Ashley was trembling. “I’d never, ever be part of such a sick scheme. Not for a million dollars.”
“Would Frank?”
“Absolutely not. Frank’s not exactly a go-getter, but he’s not a thief. And he’d never kidnap a child.”
“It’s not a great theory,” Casey murmured. “Considering there’s been no ransom call—yet. But I had to ask. Not so much about you, but about Frank. That was him you were just arguing with on the phone, right?”
“Yes.”
“Was it about Krissy?”
“Yes…no…I mean, it was about Krissy, but not in the way you mean.” An uneasy pause. “He’s upset about how much time I’m spending here. I know that sounds horrible. But he’s a guy. He feels bad about Krissy, but he’s had enough. He’s been questioned by the police. He’s listened to my hysteria all afternoon. And now he’s dealing with my saying I’m not leaving this house until Krissy comes home safely. He’s not a bad guy. He’s just impatient and pissed off.”
“Sounds like most guys,” Casey said with a smile.
“I know.” Ashley was clearly relieved by Casey’s reaction.
“So you and Frank are tight?”
“Pretty much. We’ve been together for a year.” Ashley opened her bottle of water and took a gulp. “I don’t see us walking down the aisle or anything. But, like I said, he’s a good guy.”
“He just wishes you’d spend more time with him.”
“Yes.” Another swig of water. “And I wish he’d work a little harder. Want to be a little more. I doubt that’s in the cards.”
Casey gave an understanding nod. “Ambition’s one of those qualities you’re either born with or you’re not.”
“Exactly.” Ashley shifted on her chair. “If there’s nothing else, I’d really like to get back inside. Maybe the FBI’s heard something.”
The concern, the worry, the freaked-out look in Ashley’s eyes—all that was real.
“You really love Krissy a lot,” Casey said.
“You can’t imagine.” Ashley rolled the bottle of water between her palms. “Corny as it sounds, I feel like a second mother to her. Like
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