good. They might have to pay homage to the town’s matriarch, but they had jobs, food to eat, and a roof over their heads.
List in hand, Cole went searching for the few people who obviously didn’t have to feel beholden to the Fairchilds.
By the time he drove through the gates of Keeley’s home, he’d talked to three people from Myron’s list. The picture they’d given him was of a young woman who’d suffered prejudice and poverty as a child. And, as an adult, had used what she’d learned to help others.
Lila Atkinson, a young pregnant teen, he’d found working at a daycare center. She explained that Keeley had helped her find a job where she could bring her child with her after it was born and was also paying for her prenatal care.
At the local body shop, he found Buck Stafford, a mechanic who’d lost his other part-time job at a yard service. Keeley had hired him to take care of her grounds. Buck also explained that because Keeley owned several acres, he’d been able to hire two of his friends.
And he’d talked to Myra Redmond, who’d lost her job at the Fairchilds’ mansion after she’d missed a day of work. Keeley had called her the very next day and asked her to help her around the house.
His last meeting had been with Miranda Fairchild. This morning, before he’d left Keeley’s house, he’d called her and she had agreed to meet him at a coffee shop on the outskirts of town. He hadn’t suggested meeting her at her house, since her mother would no doubt be in attendance.
With the exception of her blond hair, Miranda Fairchild looked nothing like her brother, Stephen. She was petite and delicate-looking, with fair skin, light brown eyes, and a serious, somewhat anxious demeanor. At twenty-six years of age, she seemed too young to be so solemn. Perhaps it was her concern for her nieces that made her appear so sad.
She’d offered little information that he didn’t already know, but the statement she’d given him right before he left her was the most telling. He’d thanked her for meeting him and then, hoping to catch her off guard, asked, “Do you believe your mother had anything to do with the children’s disappearance?”
Her soft eyes had hardened. “If I were running the investigation, she would be my only suspect.”
When he’d asked why she thought that, she’d shrugged and said, “Talk to her … then you’ll see.”
Cole had walked away oddly unsettled. Though Miranda seemed sincerely concerned about her nieces, she was also evasive about the day they had disappeared. When he’d mentioned that her daughter, Maggie, had been sick and was unable to go on the picnic as they’d planned, something had flickered in her face that told him that wasn’t the reason they hadn’t gone that day.
The woman was hiding something, but other than accusing her of an outright lie, he could only bide his time and keep a watch on her.
Elizabeth Fairchild was an entirely different kettle of fish. After careful consideration of how he would approach Keeley’s nemesis, he had an idea he planned to implement soon. Even if the woman wasn’t responsible for her grandchildren’s disappearance, she damned well needed to learn some lessons. Cole was of a mind to be her teacher.
Tonight he would be meeting Jenna Banks for the firsttime. She was having dinner with Keeley and promised to stay until he got there. Just in the five-minute conversation he’d had with her yesterday, he got the impression that Jenna was one of Keeley’s staunchest supporters.
He was beginning to get the idea that Keeley was actually very well liked in Fairview, with the exception of those Elizabeth could influence and buy. The question was, had she paid someone to abduct her grandchildren?
Getting out of his vehicle, he scanned the large, well-manicured lawn. Despite his knowledge that the security system was state-of-the-art and working fine, Cole felt a sudden uneasiness. One he hadn’t felt before.
Standing in the
List in hand, Cole went searching for the few people who obviously didn’t have to feel beholden to the Fairchilds.
By the time he drove through the gates of Keeley’s home, he’d talked to three people from Myron’s list. The picture they’d given him was of a young woman who’d suffered prejudice and poverty as a child. And, as an adult, had used what she’d learned to help others.
Lila Atkinson, a young pregnant teen, he’d found working at a daycare center. She explained that Keeley had helped her find a job where she could bring her child with her after it was born and was also paying for her prenatal care.
At the local body shop, he found Buck Stafford, a mechanic who’d lost his other part-time job at a yard service. Keeley had hired him to take care of her grounds. Buck also explained that because Keeley owned several acres, he’d been able to hire two of his friends.
And he’d talked to Myra Redmond, who’d lost her job at the Fairchilds’ mansion after she’d missed a day of work. Keeley had called her the very next day and asked her to help her around the house.
His last meeting had been with Miranda Fairchild. This morning, before he’d left Keeley’s house, he’d called her and she had agreed to meet him at a coffee shop on the outskirts of town. He hadn’t suggested meeting her at her house, since her mother would no doubt be in attendance.
With the exception of her blond hair, Miranda Fairchild looked nothing like her brother, Stephen. She was petite and delicate-looking, with fair skin, light brown eyes, and a serious, somewhat anxious demeanor. At twenty-six years of age, she seemed too young to be so solemn. Perhaps it was her concern for her nieces that made her appear so sad.
She’d offered little information that he didn’t already know, but the statement she’d given him right before he left her was the most telling. He’d thanked her for meeting him and then, hoping to catch her off guard, asked, “Do you believe your mother had anything to do with the children’s disappearance?”
Her soft eyes had hardened. “If I were running the investigation, she would be my only suspect.”
When he’d asked why she thought that, she’d shrugged and said, “Talk to her … then you’ll see.”
Cole had walked away oddly unsettled. Though Miranda seemed sincerely concerned about her nieces, she was also evasive about the day they had disappeared. When he’d mentioned that her daughter, Maggie, had been sick and was unable to go on the picnic as they’d planned, something had flickered in her face that told him that wasn’t the reason they hadn’t gone that day.
The woman was hiding something, but other than accusing her of an outright lie, he could only bide his time and keep a watch on her.
Elizabeth Fairchild was an entirely different kettle of fish. After careful consideration of how he would approach Keeley’s nemesis, he had an idea he planned to implement soon. Even if the woman wasn’t responsible for her grandchildren’s disappearance, she damned well needed to learn some lessons. Cole was of a mind to be her teacher.
Tonight he would be meeting Jenna Banks for the firsttime. She was having dinner with Keeley and promised to stay until he got there. Just in the five-minute conversation he’d had with her yesterday, he got the impression that Jenna was one of Keeley’s staunchest supporters.
He was beginning to get the idea that Keeley was actually very well liked in Fairview, with the exception of those Elizabeth could influence and buy. The question was, had she paid someone to abduct her grandchildren?
Getting out of his vehicle, he scanned the large, well-manicured lawn. Despite his knowledge that the security system was state-of-the-art and working fine, Cole felt a sudden uneasiness. One he hadn’t felt before.
Standing in the
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