“I’m not exactly sure,” she said quietly. Her gaze was intent, as she studied him. “But I heard the 9-1-1 call. And there was something in that voice—your voice.”
“And how would I have known about it?”
“That is what we all want to know. Most of my colleagues seem to think you are involved.”
“Interesting,” he said. “And does it matter what that involvement is, or are you just trying to ensure I’m guilty of something, so you can charge me?”
“No,” she said, “but, if you did call that in, I want to know how you knew about it.”
“Meaning, I must have been there. Is that what you’re saying?”
Her gaze was steady. “You would think so, yes.”
“Or was ita psychic moment?” he mocked. “Detective, you actually sound like you might believe in me.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” she said slowly. “But I have to admit there was something about that call.”
When the phone in his hand rang, he said, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to take this call.”
She nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” And, with that, she turned, stepped into the elevator, and pushed the button to go down.
*
“Jesus Christ.” Simonglared down at the phone. “What’s the matter, Caitlin?”
“Try to find him. Please!” his ex-fiancée whispered.
“I have tried,” he said. “I don’t have anything to tell you.”
“How is that possible?” she said. “I know you have the skills.”
“No,” he said, “I don’t. I don’t have any of what you keep thinking I have.”
“You have the sight,” she whispered.
“Maybe, maybe sometimes. Every once in a while I get some inclination of something,” he said, “but that’s different than instinct or intuition.”
“It’s not,” she cried out forcefully. “Do you know how much that little boy could be suffering right now?”
He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ve tried,” he said, and he hung up.
He tossed the phone onto his couch and stared out the window. He’d tried, but he hadn’t tried everything. He bowed his head, fighting against the forces pushing against him. It’s almost as if he heard his grandmother’s voice in the background, repeating something she had said many times.
You must do something, or it will crush you.
Even growing up as a young boy, she had warned him, “The more you turn your back on your talent,” she said, “the more it will rise up against you. Eventually it will crush you. There will come a time in your life when you must decide to go one way or the other.”
And he heard that same voice in the background say,That time is now. You must decide.
Chapter 16
Fourth Monday in June, Morning
The next morningKate stared at her board, her hands in her pockets, as she studied the various markings. The lines bothered her. She turned to look at Rodney. “What about the Integrated Child Exploitation Unit?” she asked.
“What about ICE?”
“I wonder if they’d seen anything like this.”