Another day like that…it kills me that she has to go through this.”
“Keep your eye on the prize,” Casey said quietly. “It won’t ease your fear or worry, but it will give you the strength to go through with this. It’s the only way, Hope. The task force will surround the building. They’ll alert the Sunny Gardens staff. The minute Felicity arrives, they’ll know her car and her license plate. They’ll put a GPS tracking device on it. There’ll be plainclothes police and agents posted on the street. She’ll be followed and tracked from every direction. There’s no chance of her getting away.”
“I want you and your team there,” Hope stated flatly. It wasn’t a request. It was a demand that was aimed at the task force. “And I want to go with you.”
“Not a good idea, Judge Willis,” Peg intervened at once. “We’re perfectly capable of handling this alone. If there are too many people present, it could alert Felicity to the stakeout.”
Hope’s tearstained stare was unflinching. “Forensic Instincts did an extraordinary job of solving this case thus far. I’m sure they can manage to situate themselves on the scene without being spotted. As for me, I’m Krissy’s mother-and Felicity’s sister. I might be needed to defuse the situation. You can’t force me to stay away.”
“You’re right. I can’t. But I can strongly advise you. You’re emotionally involved. You have no objectivity, much less training. You’re more apt to jeopardize this operation rather than assist it.”
“Peg is right, Hope,” Casey inserted. “You have my word- Forensic Instincts will be there every step of the way. But she’s right about you accompanying us. You’re way too close to the situation. You could wind up putting yourself, and this stakeout, at risk. I agree with Peg’s advice. Stay here. Be patient. We’ll call you the minute we have something.”
“Advice received,” Hope returned without so much as a pause. “And rejected. I’d go crazy here, wondering what was happening. I don’t want updates. I want to be there. And I will be. I’m paying your fee. That entitles me to occasionally call the shots. This would be one of those times. I’m going to Sunny Gardens. And you and your team are going to take me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
It was 2:40 p.m.
The task force, BAU and local police were positioned all around Sunny Gardens. Ryan’s van containing the entire Forensic Instincts team-plus Hope Willis-was parked in the wooded alcove on the east side of the grounds near the gardens where Linda was sitting. They’d been banished there, since the task force wanted to utilize all the prime areas that gave them a full view of the front and rear parking lots.
That was just fine with Ryan, since the Sunny Gardens administration had agreed to allow minimal video surveillance, and Ryan had arranged for Gecko to be part of that surveillance. Given the little critter’s range, the alcove was perfect for keeping an eye on Linda-and her guest.
Ryan made sure that Gecko was primed and ready.
The facility’s senior staff had been told only that one of their visitors was a person of interest in a law enforcement matter, and that they were to say nothing to anyone about the FBI and police presence. Their instructions were issued casually, as if the basis for the inquiry was standard rather than high priority. They were to make sure there was no disruption to their patients, and no panic among the rest of the staff.
Two forty-five.
The three-o’clock shift was arriving, and the task force, along with Sunny Gardens security, was monitoring the arrival of each vehicle. The visitor lot was separate from the employee lot. Both were being heavily surveilled. Nothing seemed amiss-yet.
Inside the van, Casey slanted a quick, anxious glance at Hope. The waiting game had depleted her to the point of near-collapse. Her complexion was sallow, her eyes were haunted and she was gaunt from having eaten next to nothing all week. She’d said very little during the ride up, just sat in the backseat of the van, twisting her hands in her lap and staring out the window. But her spine was stiff, and her entire body was rigid with worry.
Casey had sat beside her, offering an occasional word of reassurance, but mostly remaining quiet, aware that nothing she could say would ease Hope’s anguish. The only cure for her torment would be having her daughter home. And that’s what this stakeout was all about.
The minutes ticked by, and three o’clock came and went-along with Felicity’s perfect opportunity to drive through the gates and get lost in the lineup of cars. Casey’s whole team was starting to get antsy, even Hero, who whined with the keen instinct of knowing something wasn’t right.
“Why isn’t she here yet?” Hope asked in a high, thin voice. “The chief administrator said she always arrives between two and three.”
“I don’t know,” Casey said honestly. “Maybe she hit traffic.”
Hope swallowed hard. “Or maybe she got wind of what’s going on and is staying away.”
Casey wasn’t happy. There was merit to Hope’s concern. But there was also budding hysteria in her voice. And that could result in nothing but trouble.
“Hope, listen to me,” she said quietly. “You can’t allow yourself to panic. We’re going to find Krissy. Think positively. And don’t go to pieces on me.”
A tight nod.
“We’re in business,” Marc suddenly announced from the passenger seat. He pointed out the window where a blue Ford Fiesta was rounding the curve. It slowed down and turned into the main parking lot. The license plate and the driver’s profile told them all they needed to know.
“It’s Felicity.” Hope made a move toward the door, and Casey pulled her back, signaling to Marc with her eyes.
He locked the doors.
“Don’t even think about it,” Casey warned Hope in as gentle a tone as possible. “If Felicity sees you, it’ll blow everything we’ve worked for. Just stay put.”
“She’s scanning the area,” Ryan noted. He was sitting in the back of the van with his laptop, ready to send the necessary signal to Gecko.
“Maybe that’s why she’s late,” Marc commented. “She’s not a stupid woman. Even though it would be harder for
Clearly, both men were right. Because Felicity parked in the visitors’ lot, then exited her car carrying a shopping bag, with a tote bag slung over her shoulder. She looked both ways several times, then turned to peer behind her.
Satisfied that no one was lying in wait, she picked up the pace, crossing over to the front walk and heading into the main entrance of the building.
Ryan glanced at his watch. “She should be showing up in the garden in the next five minutes.” He cued Gecko up, gave him the necessary command. “All set. Now we just sit back and watch the video show from inside the van.”
As he spoke, a view of the garden-and Linda-appeared on the screen. She looked tired, her head resting against the back of the chair, her gaze fixed on the red ribbon around her finger. “Soon,” they heard her tell the string. “My baby will be here soon.”
As if on cue, Felicity began to walk over. Even before the monitor confirmed that fact, it was apparent by Linda’s reaction. She sat up straighter, smiling and waving her hand.
“Hello, Mama.” Felicity leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Then she sat down in the opposite chair and gave her the shopping bag, simultaneously placing her tote bag beside her on the grass.
“I brought you some of your favorites,” she announced, gesturing at the shopping bag. “Apples straight from the apple orchard, a box of cider doughnuts and two new nightgowns, both sleeveless and nylon, just the way you like them. I also brought you some new books to read, and this month’s gardening magazines.”
That made Linda happy. She leaned forward, lighting up as she surveyed the contents of the bag. “You’re so good to me. Such a good girl.”
