Damn. He put that together quickly.
“We don’t think anything right now,” Jag said. “But we do need to find her. Did Leslie stay close to her after the murder? Because to be honest, I had no idea she had a kid, and I worked with her for years.”
“No. The murder changed their relationship as well. I really don’t know what happened between them, but Carol left Seattle and told both of us we’d never see her again.” John opened the drawer of the end table next to the recliner and pulled out a small pocket photo album. “Here are some pictures of her when she was a child. I don’t have many and none after she turned thirteen, but maybe they can help you.”
“Thanks. We really appreciate it.” Callie took the booklet in her hands. “Any ideas on where she could have gone or any identities she might have taken on? Any little details you can think of might help us find her.”
“I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.” John pulled out his wallet. “But here’s the private investigator’s card. I’ll sign a waiver so he can give you whatever he’s found. I would like to find her. She’d be forty-two now. I can’t even fathom what she’d look like. I pass women on the streets with shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes, and I wonder, could that be my Carol.” Tears welled in John’s eyes. “I’m a good father, but I failed my only daughter.”
Callie reached out and took John’s hand. “I’ve made some pretty horrible mistakes during my lifetime, and last year my sister was murdered.”
John gasped. “Oh my. I’m so sorry, dear.”
“Thank you,” Callie said. “I often feel as though I failed her. But I have to remind myself over and over again that hindsight is 20/20, and even if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t be going back with the knowledge I have today, so I’d probably play the same hand the same way.”
John’s lips curved into a small smile. “You’re a wise young woman.”
“That she is,” Jag said. “Thank you so much for your time, sir.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for your service, young man.”
“You as well,” Jag said.
“And please, if you find my Carol, will you let me know, even if it’s bad news?” John stood, showing them to the door.
“We sure will.” Callie felt compelled to give the man a hug. “Take care of yourself.” Callie stepped outside. The sun had set, and a cool chill settled across her bones. She held up the pocket photo album, flipping to one of the last pages. She stared at an image that took her breath away. She clutched her heart and gasped.
“What is it?” Jag asked.
“That kind of looks like a young Kara.”
Chapter 15
Jag leaned against the kitchen counter at his parents’ house, staring at the coffee machine, willing it to brew faster while his father stood in front of the toaster, tapping his fingers as if that would make the bagels jump up quicker.
“Where’s Callie?” his father asked.
“In the shower,” Jag said. “Thanks for letting us stay here tonight.”
“Anytime. I just wish you didn’t have to leave so early. Your mom would love to put on a big breakfast.”
“I have to be at the office by eight.” He poured two mugs of coffee and handed one to his father. “We’re also putting some pieces of the puzzle together when it comes to the Trinket Killer.”
“Well, that’s good news,” his father said. “It’s good to have Callie back.”
A smile tugged at Jag’s lips. “I have to agree. But it could be short-lived.”
“Are you saying that for my benefit or yours?”
“Probably both. I’m just trying to be realistic. I mean, I never expected that she’d return.”
“But she did.”
Jag blew on the hot liquid. “And so did the Trinket Killer.”
“You really think that bastard is back?”
“You saw my press conference,” Jag said. “She’s back, and she’s out for blood. I’m just not sure what her end game is, but we’ve got our first good solid lead, if we can find her.”
“We? Who is this we you speak of?”
Jag laughed. “You and Mom think you’re being so coy, but you’re not. And yes, the we is me and Callie. We’ve always made a good team when I check my ego at the door and she’s not in it for ratings.”
His father rested a strong arm on his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son.”
“Thanks, Dad. I know I was a bit of an asshole for a while there.”
“When you were forced to take a leave from the police department and Callie left, you said and did a lot of things that hurt your mother.”
“I know, and I’ve apologized profusely.”
His father nodded. “It’s water under the bridge. But we know you and understand you better than most. You’ve just gotten your life back in order, and if it were just Callie coming back into your life, I’d be biting my tongue, but adding in a killer that consumed you for the better part of four years and then nearly destroyed you last year, I find myself wanting to remind you of how dark things got for you.”
“You don’t have to.” Jag tapped the center of his chest. “I haven’t forgotten. But I am a different man than I was even six months ago. This isn’t about having the best record in the department or making some crazy name for myself. It’s about justice and doing my job. That’s all I care about.”
“And what about Callie? What does she care about these days?”
“Not ratings,” Jag said with a chuckle. “But she’s a little lost. She doesn’t know what to do next. Once this book is done, she plans on leaving and heading to the East Coast to maybe write another true crime book, but I can tell she has no idea what she wants.”
“Maybe that’s because she’s fighting what she’s wanted
