On the other hand, he was glad she was not digging deeper into what was going on with Whitaker. He had only barely acknowledged the level of trouble Whitaker was in to himself, and he was happy he could spare Kara from the same worry.
“I’ll call when I land and then every night. I’m pretty sure my cell will work over there, but if it doesn’t, I’ll give you a number you can reach me at when I call. If you can’t get hold of me or if it’s urgent, talk to the Senator. Knowing her, she’ll have ways of reaching me I couldn’t even predict.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I have Mary Jane, I have Senator, and I even have Aunt Deborah. She’s been asking me to have lunch with her since she learned of apartment. I promise I will get into no trouble while you’re gone.”
Taylor grimaced at the mention of Whitaker’s sister. He had met her before he and Whitaker’s split, and she was nice enough to him then. She was younger than Whitaker, married, and lived in Baltimore. She had been hesitant at Taylor and Whitaker bringing Kara into their home before they were even engaged, let alone married, but she had been nothing but supportive of her unexpected niece, especially once she learned of how Kara had ended up with them.
Unfortunately, she also rallied around her sister when Whitaker had left him, not that he blamed her.
Actually, he was happy she was supportive of her sister and Kara, he just wished that support did not come in the form of hating Taylor so much.
“That’s good to hear. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Kara said and hung up.
Taylor’s next task could not be done over the phone. Kara’s mentioning of her aunt had been more on point than she knew, because that was Taylor’s next stop. He needed her to hear him out, which he knew she would not do over the phone. While she was not openly hostile to him, she was still hostile, and he needed her to get past that and answer a few questions to help him in his task to find her sister.
Baltimore, Maryland
By the time he hit the outskirts of Baltimore, Taylor had thought through what he would say to her and made a list of everything he needed to find out from her. He did not have any illusions that his test conversations with her in his head would be anything like how she would respond, but he wanted to have a game plan going in. Besides, it was hard to not dwell on unpleasant tasks.
Taylor was inwardly thankfully when her husband answered the door. He was less openly hostile towards Taylor than his wife, although their interactions had been even more limited than those with Whitaker’s sister.
“John,” Russell Tuttle said with surprise. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, but I need to talk to Deborah. It’s about Loretta.”
“I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”
“It’s not like that. She’s gone missing in Germany, and I need some information about their great-Aunt.”
“Oh, no. Is she okay?”
Taylor did not know why that was the phrase everyone asked when they learned Whitaker was missing. How was Taylor supposed to know if she was okay or not if no one could find her? He did, however, manage to refrain from saying the comment aloud.
“I don’t know. Can I come inside? It’ll be easier if I explain it to both of you at the same time.”
“Ohh, sorry. Sure,” he said, stepping aside to let Taylor in and then rushing past Taylor to intercept his wife.
“Deborah,” Russell said as they walked into the living room.
She started to stand up the instant she saw Taylor, her brow furrowing.
“Wait,” Russell said, holding up a hand. “He has news. Please hear him out.”
To her credit, Deborah sat back down and stayed quiet. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him, but she waited for Taylor to explain himself. If she did not hate him so much for breaking her sister’s heart, Taylor thought he would like the younger Whitaker sister. She was actually quite sensible and level headed. Most of the time, at least.
“As I was telling Russell,” Taylor said, sitting on the footstool across for the couch where Deborah, and now Russell, sat. “Something happened while Loretta's in Germany. She’s gone missing.”
“What do you mean, something happened?”
“Your great-aunt, the one that Loretta went to see, was found murdered. They have her on video entering and then leaving the apartment around the time of the murder. The German police want her to answer some questions, but Loretta has dropped off the map. No one can find her.”
“Murdered? How? When? Are they blaming Loretta for it?”
Her angry expression instantly shifted, and she uncrossed her arms, reaching over to hold her husband’s hands.
“I don’t know the how yet. When was two days ago. They made a point to tell me they only considered her a witness, but I am pretty sure that yes, they think she had something to do with it. I’m flying to Germany tonight to work with the German police to find her. I’ll know more then.”
“You’re going to help them find and lock Loretta up?” Deborah said, her angry tone returning.
“Deborah, I know I’m not your favorite person right now, but you don’t honestly believe that? No, I’m
