“What about them?”
“You said they came from New York?”
“Yes.”
She looked off.
“What?”
“Maybe that’s where she is.”
“You really don’t know?”
“Katie wouldn’t tell me. I didn’t ask either.”
“Why not?”
Joan Rochester’s eyes were perfect circles. “If I don’t know,” she said, finally meeting his eye, “then he can’t make me tell.”
Next door a lawn mower started up, shattering the silence. Myron waited a moment. “But you’ve heard from Katie?”
“Yes.”
“And you know she’s safe.”
“Not from him.”
“But in general, I mean. She wasn’t kidnapped or anything like that.”
She nodded slowly.
“Edna Skylar spotted her with a dark-haired man. Who is he?”
“You’re underestimating Dominick. Please don’t do that. Just let us be. You’re trying to find another girl. Katie has nothing to do with her.”
“They both used the same ATM machine.”
“That’s a coincidence.”
Myron did not bother arguing. “When is Katie calling again?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then you’re not much use to me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I need to talk to your daughter. If you can’t help me, I’ll have to take the chance that your husband can.”
She just shook her head.
“I know she’s pregnant,” Myron said.
Joan Rochester groaned.
“You don’t understand,” she said again.
“Then tell me.”
“The dark-haired man… His name is Rufus. If Dom finds out, he’ll kill him. It is that simple. And I don’t know what he’ll do to Katie.”
“So what’s their plan? Hide forever?”
“I doubt they have a plan.”
“And Dominick doesn’t know about any of this?”
“He’s not stupid. He thinks Katie probably ran away.”
Myron thought about it. “Then I don’t get something. If he suspects Katie ran away, why did he go to the press?”
Joan Rochester smiled then, but it was the saddest smile Myron had ever seen. “Don’t you see?”
“No.”
“He likes to win. No matter what the cost.”
“I still don’t—”
“He did it to put pressure on them. He wants to find Katie. He doesn’t care about anything else. That’s his strength. He doesn’t mind taking hits. Big hits. Dom doesn’t embarrass. He never feels shame. He’s willing to lose or suffer to make you hurt and suffer more. That’s the kind of man he is.”
They fell quiet. Myron wanted to ask why she stayed married to him, but that wasn’t his business. There were so many cases of abused women in this country. He’d like to help, but Joan Rochester wouldn’t accept it — and he had more pressing matters on his mind. He thought back to the Twins, about not being bothered by their deaths, about Edna Skylar and the way she handled what she thought of as her purer patients.
Joan Rochester had made her choice. Or maybe she was just a little less innocent than the others.
“You should tell the police,” Myron said.
“Tell them what?”
“That your daughter is a runaway.”
She snorted. “You don’t get it, do you? Dom would find out. He has sources in the department. How do you think he found out about you so fast?”
But, Myron realized, he hadn’t learned about Edna Skylar. Yet. So his sources weren’t infallible. Myron wondered if he could use that, but he didn’t see how. He moved closer now. He took Joan Rochester’s hands in his and made her look him in the eye.
“Your daughter will be safe. I guarantee it. But I need to talk to her. That’s all. Just talk. Do you understand?”
She swallowed. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”
Myron said nothing.
“If I don’t cooperate, you’ll go to Dom.”
“Yes,” Myron said.
“Katie is supposed to call me tonight at seven,” she said. “I’ll let you talk to her then.”
CHAPTER 35
Win called Myron on the cell phone.
“Drew Van Dyne, your assistant Planet Music manager, is also a teacher at Livingston High.”
“Well, well,” Myron said.
“Indeed.”
Myron was on his way to pick up Claire. She had told him about the “she’s fine” phone call. Myron had immediately reached out for Berruti, who was, as the voice mail informed him, “away from her desk.” He told her what he needed in the message.
Now Myron and Claire were going to Livingston High to check out Aimee’s locker. Myron also hoped to catch up with her ex, Randy Wolf. And Harry “Mr. D” Davis. And now, most of all, Drew “Music Teacher — Lingerie Buyer” Van Dyne.
“You have anything else on him?”
“Van Dyne is married, no kids. He’s had two DUIs in the past four years and one drug arrest. He has a juvie record but it’s sealed. That’s all I have so far.”
“So what is he doing buying lingerie for a student like Aimee Biel?”
“Pretty obvious, I would say.”
“I just talked to Mrs. Rochester. Katie got pregnant and ran away with her boyfriend.”
“A not-uncommon story.”
“No. But what — do we think Aimee did the same?”
“Ran away with her boyfriend? Not likely. No one has reported Van Dyne missing.”
“He doesn’t have to go missing. Katie’s boyfriend is probably afraid of Dominick Rochester. That’s why he’s with her. But if no one knew about Aimee and Van Dyne…”
“Mr. Van Dyne would have little to fear.”
“Exactly.”
“So pray tell, why would Aimee run away?”
“Because she’s pregnant.”
