Sean wasn’t in the mood to listen to Trey’s excuses, but he didn’t want the kid wandering around New York causing problems for him while he searched for Kirsten.
“I should have stopped her last summer. I knew what she was doing, and I was more angry than anything, and hurt, and I said things I shouldn’t have. I turned my back on her, and now she’s in trouble-”
Sean cut him off. He forced his voice to be calm. “I understand what you’re saying, Trey, but consider that you are the only person Kirsten has contacted since she disappeared. She trusts you. I’m in New York and I’m not leaving until I find her.”
“Neither am I.”
“Trey, there are a lot of things going on that you don’t know about. I can’t have you getting in the middle of it.”
“But I found something. That’s why I’m calling you.”
Sean slipped on his jeans and left the bathroom. “What did you find?”
“Her phone.”
Sean caught Lucy’s eye and mouthed
“You found Kirsten’s phone. How?”
“Some guy called me. Said he was working his way through her speed dials. I was number three.”
Sean didn’t know what to think. “What’s his name?”
“Ryan.”
“Ryan what?”
“I don’t know.”
“I want his address.”
“I’m in this for the long haul, Sean. I need to find her.”
“Give me his address.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“You don’t know who he is or if he knows something about her disappearance.”
“I called you, didn’t I? I’ll admit, I’m nervous, okay? Her message freaked me out. It’s not like her! But if I have to talk to him myself, I will.”
Sean hit the hotel-room desk with his palm. “I’m on my way,” he said through clenched teeth. “Where?”
“I’m at a Starbucks near his apartment. Third and Sixty-first.”
“Don’t move. I’ll be there in less than thirty minutes.”
Sean hung up and told Lucy, “Someone found Kirsten’s phone and called Trey because he was on speed dial.”
He finished dressing and said, “Do you want to come?”
She shook her head. “While you were in the shower, Suzanne called and said they’d arrested Wade Barnett and she was about to go out with a search warrant. He admitted to knowing Kirsten by her screen name Ashleigh, but denied knowing anything about the
“He’s lying.”
“Probably. He’s now admitted knowing all four of the Cinderella Strangler victims, but denied killing them, and says he hasn’t seen Kirsten in two months.”
Sean sensed that Lucy’s mind was elsewhere. “What’s bothering you? Something is on your mind.”
“I want to know more about him. I read all the newspaper articles yesterday, about his background, and his efforts to preserve some of the historical buildings-”
“Lucy, some bad guys aren’t one hundred percent evil. It doesn’t mean he isn’t a killer.”
She frowned and pursed her mouth. “I know that. And if he was using the
“Hold it-you told Suzanne yesterday that there wasn’t enough information to come up with a profile.”
“There wasn’t because they didn’t know whether it was sexually motivated or not.”
“Why does that make a difference?”
“On Jessica Bell’s autopsy report it stated that she hadn’t had sex for several hours, or longer, before she was killed.”
“Maybe he was interrupted.”
“None of the girls had torn clothing or any indication that they fought off an attack.”
“How do you know that?”
“It was all up on the board in the office.”
“I didn’t catch that.”
“It helps that I’m used to reading police reports.”
“Well,” Sean said, playing devil’s advocate, “Wade knew the victims. They may not have thought they were in danger.”
“But
“Maybe they were fine when it was online, but not when it was physical, and he snapped.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cut you off.”
“It’s okay. I’m just thinking out loud. You need to go and meet Trey. I’m calling Hans, and maybe he’ll see where my thinking is wrong.”
Sean stepped forward and kissed her. “Lucy, don’t assume that you’re wrong.”
“I don’t know what I think, but Suzanne is now positive Wade is guilty.” Yesterday, Lucy was as well. But the more she thought about the method of murder, the more she felt that she’d jumped to a faulty conclusion.
“I thought he was innocent until proven guilty?”
“That’s the courts. Cops don’t arrest you unless they believe you’re guilty. She’s probably right.”
Sean kissed her again. “Trust your instincts, Lucy. Talk to Hans. Tell him I said hi. I’ll let you know what I learn from the guy who found Kirsten’s phone.”
Lucy called Hans, but it went to voice mail. She and Sean had gone to the hotel’s gym first thing in the morning, so she couldn’t run again. She didn’t want to be in the hotel all day. Maybe she should have gone with Sean.
But something was bothering her about the murders.
“This isn’t your case,” she mumbled to herself. And Suzanne Madeaux seemed to be sharp. Lucy liked her; Suzanne reminded her of her sister-in-law Kate. Straightforward, confident, smart. Maybe a little rough around the edges, like a tomboy who hadn’t accepted that she’d grown into an attractive woman. When Suzanne had called earlier, she’d invited Lucy and Sean out for dinner to celebrate Wade Barnett’s arrest. And maybe they would go, but Lucy didn’t feel right celebrating anything while Kirsten was still missing. Or while she had doubts.
Her cell phone rang, and she saw that it was a private 202 number. “Hello,” she answered.
“Lucy, it’s Hans Vigo.”
“Thanks for calling me back so quickly.”
“Of course. What can I do for you?”
“I’m in New York with Sean-”
“Noah clued me in on the runaway you’re looking for.”
“Good.” She thought it was odd that Hans and Noah were talking about the case-they didn’t even work in the same office-but she didn’t say anything. And now that she was talking to Hans, she didn’t know exactly how to bring up her concerns. “There’s a related investigation, the Cinderella Strangler who suffocated four young women, and I suggested that the agent in charge of the case contact you directly for a profile.”
“Of course, but the BSU staff is more than capable. I vouch for all of them.” Hans had been one of the early agents involved with the Behavioral Science Unit.
“Well, I don’t know anyone else but you,” Lucy said. “Sorry, I know you’re really busy.”
“There had to be a reason you thought of me. What is it?”
“It’s probably not even important anymore. Agent Madeaux arrested a suspect this morning and already got a search warrant.”
“Yet you called.”
