way in hell would he have allowed Honor to be used as a pawn or to be hurt. He would’ve killed Clemmons.
Little had he known that his biggest regret would be in not killing the bastard when he’d had the chance. If he had, at least he would’ve been spared the nightmares.
The elevator door opened. As if they’d read each other’s minds, they exited wearing the same expression of seriousness. The past could be discussed and dissected another time. Now it was time to get to work.
Drenda Greene’s family lived in an upper-middle-class neighborhood just outside the city limits of Piney Ridge. Her father was a plumber, her mother a real estate agent. She had one sister who was still in high school and a brother in middle school.
Evelyn and Marty Greene greeted them with hope in their eyes. Seth had listened to Honor on the phone when she’d set up the appointment. She’d given them a brief rundown of why LCR was on the case. Not in any way had she been encouraging or discouraging about the chances of finding their daughter. But the Greenes were grasping at anything, and LCR’s involvement gave them renewed hope.
Sitting in the Greenes’ living room, sipping tea and eating cookies, seemed incongruent with what they were discussing, but that was the nature of this case. What the hell kind of refreshment do you serve when you’re discussing your missing child?
“So you said that someone hired your company to look into my Drenda’s disappearance?” Mrs. Greene was a slender, middle-aged blond with a nervous habit of blinking rapidly when she spoke.
In a compassionate but firm voice, Honor said, “Not only your daughter’s disappearance but several others’ as well.”
“So there’s a possibility somebody took our Drenda and is holding her along with other girls?” Mr. Greene was a stout, ruddy-faced man with deep lines around his mouth. The worry in his eyes indicated his grief over his daughter’s disappearance.
“That’s what we’re looking into,” Honor said.
Feeling Honor’s eyes on him, Seth explained: “A few weeks ago, my niece Kelli disappeared. I’m a former cop, so my brother called me for help. I have the experience to find my niece, but I don’t have the contacts. Last Chance Rescue specializes in finding missing people. I felt getting them involved was my best bet in finding my niece.”
“But what does that have to do with Drenda?” Her eyes filling with tears, Mrs. Greene added shakily, “Our daughter’s been missing for a year and a half.”
“We don’t know that the person who took Mr. Cavanaugh’s niece is the same one who took Drenda; however, that’s what we’re trying to determine.”
Mr. Greene leaned forward, his expression one of desperation. “If there’s anything we can tell you that will help you find our Drenda, all you have to do is ask.”
Mrs. Greene nodded. “The FBI delved into everything, from our personal life to Marty’s and my business associates.”
“We appreciate that, Mrs. Greene,” Honor said. “What I’d like to do is start with Drenda. Tell us about your daughter.”
Seth stayed quiet as Honor led the couple through a discussion of their oldest daughter. Her soft voice and open-ended questions soothed even as she dug deeply into Drenda’s personal life.
With tears and a smile, Evelyn Greene talked about how she and her husband had despaired of ever having children and the moment they’d seen a photograph of the Hispanic baby girl who’d been put up for adoption, they’d fallen in love.
Marty Greene chimed in to brag about what a good daughter Drenda was and how she’d been such a good role model for her two younger siblings.
Two hours later, as they stood to leave, Seth felt as though they had a good understanding of the young woman. Drenda was quiet, somewhat shy, had a few close friends and no steady boyfriend. After eight years of lessons, she played piano like a dream and attended church regularly. She had an affinity
Little had he known that his biggest regret would be in not killing the bastard when he’d had the chance. If he had, at least he would’ve been spared the nightmares.
The elevator door opened. As if they’d read each other’s minds, they exited wearing the same expression of seriousness. The past could be discussed and dissected another time. Now it was time to get to work.
Drenda Greene’s family lived in an upper-middle-class neighborhood just outside the city limits of Piney Ridge. Her father was a plumber, her mother a real estate agent. She had one sister who was still in high school and a brother in middle school.
Evelyn and Marty Greene greeted them with hope in their eyes. Seth had listened to Honor on the phone when she’d set up the appointment. She’d given them a brief rundown of why LCR was on the case. Not in any way had she been encouraging or discouraging about the chances of finding their daughter. But the Greenes were grasping at anything, and LCR’s involvement gave them renewed hope.
Sitting in the Greenes’ living room, sipping tea and eating cookies, seemed incongruent with what they were discussing, but that was the nature of this case. What the hell kind of refreshment do you serve when you’re discussing your missing child?
“So you said that someone hired your company to look into my Drenda’s disappearance?” Mrs. Greene was a slender, middle-aged blond with a nervous habit of blinking rapidly when she spoke.
In a compassionate but firm voice, Honor said, “Not only your daughter’s disappearance but several others’ as well.”
“So there’s a possibility somebody took our Drenda and is holding her along with other girls?” Mr. Greene was a stout, ruddy-faced man with deep lines around his mouth. The worry in his eyes indicated his grief over his daughter’s disappearance.
“That’s what we’re looking into,” Honor said.
Feeling Honor’s eyes on him, Seth explained: “A few weeks ago, my niece Kelli disappeared. I’m a former cop, so my brother called me for help. I have the experience to find my niece, but I don’t have the contacts. Last Chance Rescue specializes in finding missing people. I felt getting them involved was my best bet in finding my niece.”
“But what does that have to do with Drenda?” Her eyes filling with tears, Mrs. Greene added shakily, “Our daughter’s been missing for a year and a half.”
“We don’t know that the person who took Mr. Cavanaugh’s niece is the same one who took Drenda; however, that’s what we’re trying to determine.”
Mr. Greene leaned forward, his expression one of desperation. “If there’s anything we can tell you that will help you find our Drenda, all you have to do is ask.”
Mrs. Greene nodded. “The FBI delved into everything, from our personal life to Marty’s and my business associates.”
“We appreciate that, Mrs. Greene,” Honor said. “What I’d like to do is start with Drenda. Tell us about your daughter.”
Seth stayed quiet as Honor led the couple through a discussion of their oldest daughter. Her soft voice and open-ended questions soothed even as she dug deeply into Drenda’s personal life.
With tears and a smile, Evelyn Greene talked about how she and her husband had despaired of ever having children and the moment they’d seen a photograph of the Hispanic baby girl who’d been put up for adoption, they’d fallen in love.
Marty Greene chimed in to brag about what a good daughter Drenda was and how she’d been such a good role model for her two younger siblings.
Two hours later, as they stood to leave, Seth felt as though they had a good understanding of the young woman. Drenda was quiet, somewhat shy, had a few close friends and no steady boyfriend. After eight years of lessons, she played piano like a dream and attended church regularly. She had an affinity
Similar Books
