“Thanks for coming over,” Carl said.
Alex stood and walked back to his car and called Sharkey.
“I just met with Carl Abbott. Something tells me that he’s not inclined to stay on the sidelines. I believe he’s actively looking for Javier.”
“I got the same vibe. I’ll see if we can find someone to keep an eye on him.”
“I’m going to concentrate on finding Javier. Has he checked in with the company?”
“No. I’ll call them again in the morning.”
* * *
Alex checked his watch and headed over to the hospital and went straight to the employee lunchroom. Cynthia was waiting for him.
“They have your favorite lunch, southern fried chicken dinner.”
“Best news I’ve had all morning.”
They bought lunch and settled into a corner table where they could talk.
“How’s it going?” Her shiny blond hair fell softly around her face and her blue eyes showed her love for him.
“We have a few leads, but nothing concrete yet. Let me run something by you.”
“Okay,” she said as she nibbled on a piece of chicken.
“If you were a mom, strapped for money, and you decided to travel with your young kids to Key West from Miami, what would possess you to leave a seven-year-old and a three month old alone in a motel room late at night?”
Cynthia paused and a line formed between her eyebrows. She let out a breath and thought for a moment.
“She had to be meeting someone who she thought would give her money. She was desperate, close to being broke, and pretty sure that person would help her. Or she was simply out of alternatives. Being desperate makes you take chances. I don’t know if she trusted that person, but she had to figure that she wouldn’t be gone long. Either she wasn’t thinking straight, or more likely, she was just out of options.”
Alex thought for a long moment. Cynthia watched him carefully. Alex tipped his head to the left. She knew that look.
“It was someone she trusted. Why did she go to them and leave the kids alone? That part bugs me. Her husband told me she was a good mother, careful with the kids.”
“She thought she wasn’t going far. She didn’t plan to be gone long. She trusted whoever she met.”
“Sloan and I found her body over on Government Road. She left the kids at the Sands Motel on the other side of town. Her body was out there a ways. She was kind of scratched up so I don’t think it was just a body dump.”
“Eat,” Cynthia said. “You’re getting close to figuring it out. After lunch go over what you know and what I suggested and see if it fits.” Cynthia suggested.
Alex munched on chicken and fries, took a long drink of coke and sat back.
“She was in love with the father of her baby,” Cynthia said. “She would have trusted him. Her husband didn’t want to give her money for the new baby, or couldn’t, but she figured her lover would. He refused. They fight. She might have even gone berserk with frustration when he refused, and she saw herself standing on the edge of the abyss. They fight and he kills her, intentionally or accidently, and takes the kids.”
“That’s all very logical, but why take the kids? His baby maybe, but why take the seven-year-old from Carl?”
“So the kid doesn’t talk to the police about who showed up to take the baby?” offered Cynthia. “They don’t hang you any higher for two bodies than for one, even if the first one was accidental.”
“Maybe. That would be bad news for Tyler. Now all I have to do is find him before it’s too late.”
Cynthia smiled. “You always get your man.”
Alex looked tenderly into her eyes. “If only that were true. I love you. I better get going. Thanks for your help.”
“We’ll talk again tonight. In the meantime, stay safe.”
“I will. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“Can’t wait.” She watched him leave through the doors. Please God, help him find the children alive and well…
Alex had a hunch and he called Cynthia back at the hospital.
“Hey, Cynthia, I’ve got to make a run up to Miami. I should be back on the first flight back in in the morning.”
“Okay, what if Harris calls?”
“Tell him I’m working. I’ll call him tonight.”
“All right. Stay safe. Love you.”
“Will do. I love you too.”
* * *
Carl Abbott took a small picture of Javier that was on the business card he had left at Susan’s and took it to the hotel business area and had it scanned, enlarged, and printed, then headed out to the bars. He headed up Duval and started stopping at each bar to ask if anyone remembered seeing him Friday night. Mostly he got answers like, “are you kidding me? Friday night the place was packed with tourists. Besides, who can remember back that far, dude.”
Carl stopped at six and called Stephanie. “You want to meet me at Hard Rock Café for some dinner?”
“All right. I’ll take a cab and meet you there in about twenty minutes.”
“See you then. I’ll be the guy watching the street and drinking beer.”
The cab pulled up and Carl waved to her from the first row of outside tables closest to the street. She climbed the few stairs up to the first terrace level and made her way over to his table.
“This is nice. We can sit outside and watch the people go by. Where have you been all day?” she asked, looking a little annoyed.
“Looking for Javier. I got a picture of him and I’m going place to place to see if I can find where he was the night of the murder.”
