the day looking for Jamie?”
“Right now I’m talking to my lawyer about how best to keep Moran at arm’s length. If he decides to throw me back in jail, I can’t help you at all.”
“Frankly, right now, I don’t give a damn about your legal problems. They don’t amount to a hill of beans if Toby has his hands on my daughter.”
“Don’t go crazy on me, Kevin. Like after we had drinks last night, you should have told me you were going to follow me home. I notice that kind of stuff and it makes me nervous. I think it's spooky.”
“What? I didn’t follow you anywhere. I went right to bed.”
“Sorry, I thought it was you. Anyway, I know you’re upset, but I haven’t given up on finding Jamie. We’ll get back on it today.”
“I know...I’m overreacting. Sorry, it’s all I can think of.”
“What’s next? I searched Toby’s house yesterday as well as I could. I called my name out loudly. If Jamie was there, she didn’t hear me.” Or had a gag in her little mouth, Sandy said to herself. “Let’s do this. Triney helped us unofficially by checking on her bike. Maybe he can do something more. Let’s go talk to him today. You know where the county sheriff’s office is. Let me finish up here. I’ll meet you there in one hour.”
Kevin was there waiting when she arrived. As they walked back to Triney’s desk she told him, “Please don’t mention I might go for a deal with Moran. I might need to hold back some good info to trade.”
The detective greeted them. He remembered interviewing Kevin in November when the police were stopping all white SUV's in connection with the Privado Beach case. “I heard Sandy had located you in Georgia. Somehow, I’m surprised to see the two of you together. Guess it’s normal with your daughter missing and all.”
“Of course I’m going to be down here. Since my ex won’t report our daughter missing, I want to do so right now...officially.”
“Are you the custodial parent?” Triney asked.
“No, but I have visitation rights. Jamie is supposed to be with me next weekend.”
Triney shook his head.
“Geez, he’s the father,' Sandy said. 'He has some rights. If he has visitation rights, then he has legal access to Jamie. What if Kevin shows up at Abby’s house to pick up his daughter and Abby can’t produce her, which she is legally obligated to do? Would you consider his kidnapping report at that time?”
“I’d consider her unavailable, not kidnapped,” the detective said, “Look, what you just said makes sense, however it sounds like a civil matter not criminal. Run it past your own attorney.”
“I’ve something for you on your Abby Olin shooting case.”
“You know I can’t talk to you without your attorney present. So shut up and say goodbye.” He smiled while brushing her away with his hand.
“You remember Abby yelled out the name Toby as she fired?”
“According to you, she did. Detective Pomar didn’t hear her. Now that’s it. I’m violating rules, goodbye.”
“I’ve located him.”
Triney raised his heavy black eyebrows and glanced around the squad room to see who was watching. “Mr. Olin would you please wait out in the lobby. I need to ask Miss Reid something about her being jailed here a few days ago. Would you please excuse us?”
Kevin started to say something to her then shrugged and left them alone.
“You have a knack for making cops bend the rules. At least I don’t want a witness. Make it quick.”
“His last name is Towalski. His father is Humphrey Towalski presently in Okeechobee Correctional. He lives with his scary stepmother, Ruth. I can give you the address.”
“I’m thrilled and delighted.” He faked yawning.
“Look, if you can prove Abby intended to kill Toby, instead of merely shooting Banks accidentally, then you have her for attempted murder. Much better than some hokey prowler manslaughter charge.”
“Attempted murder. I like that. Where’s the evidence?”
“A strong enough motive can be evidence. I think I have it. He and Abby are into something big enough for her to have ten grand cash and Toby’s stepmother an expensive new TV. They’re fighting over illegitimate money from somewhere. Enough money that she wants him dead. Check out Toby Towalski and keep your eyes out for Jamie. You might solve a kidnapping while you’re at it.”
“Have to think about this. Why are you working this angle?”
“To find Jamie for one. Plus Moran is connecting me to Banks, the actual victim, because of old stuff on my computer. If Abby was gunning for Toby instead of Banks, then Moran can’t say I conspired with her to shoot Banks. I’d be in the clear.”
“Give me his address. And thanks...I guess.” The detective put his hand on her arm and leaned closer. “I’d really like to see you back off a bit. Why don’t you leave everything to us? You’re getting in deep here...the shooting and kidnapping. People involved in this kind of stuff shoot guns and hurt people. Possibly, we can get something on Toby now that we have a name and address to work with. In any case, be careful. He now knows you’ve discovered his identity.”
“I’m sure his mother has told him all about me.”
“We never had this conversation about your case. Okay?” They both stood. “If I can ever help with anything else, I hope you’ll call me.” He held out his hand, which she thought a bit unusual, but she shook it and said goodbye.
Kevin was waiting in the lobby when she came out. “Triney’s now with us. I think he’ll check out Toby with kidnapping in mind.”
“Good, at least something’s being done. It’s so great you located Toby.”
“Let’s sit a minute. I’ve an idea on what to do next. By the way, did I mention I enjoyed the conversation with you last night. I noticed you don’t talk much about your divorce.”
“Was that a question?”
She was dying to know what went on. “None of my business. I’m thinking about how it affected Jamie.”
“Devastating for any kid, of course. I’m lucky I ended up with her still on my side. Even though I’m a failure as a parent.”
“Failure?”
“Because I got divorced.”
“Sounds too all encompassing. Marriage is tough.”
“I was attracted to all her sexiness before we were married. I’d never had it so...excessively like that. I was okay with it, but the excitement didn't last for her. Soon she said I didn’t meet her needs and she was tired of trying to meet mine. She felt confined and trapped. She wanted to be 'active'. Said being married wasn’t fun anymore. '”
“When did she say that, at the wedding reception?”
“After two months.”
“Feeling confined and trapped are code words for I want to screw other people,” she suggested.
“I think she reconnected with one of her old boyfriends. It came to a head one night. Out of the blue, she said I ignored her.”
“Of course. The boyfriend is giving her plenty of attention. He gives her the confidence she needs to ditch you. He’s telling her all she wants is to be happy, you’re a loser, and she’s in the right. That successful ploy will continue until he gets tired of screwing her.”
Kevin looked away for a moment and then down at his hands. “He might be Jamie’s real father.”
“What? What?”
“One night we were hurling vicious words back and forth. I told her if she wanted out then that was fine with me. But I wanted custody of Jamie. That’s when she screamed out Jamie wasn’t my daughter.”
“Wow! Let's sit down here a minute. What a way to hurt a guy.”
“After one of our fights she said she stopped taking the pill because we hadn’t had sex for a month. According to her, the only unprotected sex she had during that time was with this Warren. Apparently, she saw him all through our marriage starting within a year of our wedding. She was certain I couldn’t have been the father, nevertheless she had a DNA test just to be sure. Jamie isn’t my child. Warren is.”
“Oh, god, you poor guy. What an evil, nasty, crummy thing for her to say to someone who has been bringing up her child. Your heart must have sunk through the floor when the DNA test confirmed it. Are you certain about
