Moth(21)

“I’m sure all these questions have already been addressed, but please answer to the best of your knowledge.” I haven’t made a list. I know all of these questions by heart. It never gets easier to sit in front of a family member and ask some of these. “Did Windy ever receive threats, possibly from a classmate or acquaintance?”

She shakes her head. “No. Windy was kind to everyone.”

Right away I’m suspicious. She’s talking about her daughter in the past tense. I keep asking. “Was she in a relationship with anyone at the time of her disappearance?”

She shifts her legs. This isn’t the first sign of her being irritated. “Why are you asking me the same questions the police and FBI have? What is going on here? Has my husband’s friend at the bureau contacted you?”

“I’m with a different organization of the government ma’am. I know it’s tedious and seems like a waste of time, but we’re investigating your daughter’s disappearance now, so it’s important I gather my own information.”

“It seems as if you’re trying to implicate me in a lie. I’m not going to sit here and answer anymore of these silly questions, which won’t help anyone find my daughter. There is clearly a reason you’ve shown up here today. Stop wasting both of our time and come out with it.”

The fact that she’s implying it only makes me think she’s trying her best to hide something. She wants me gone and I’m wondering why.

I sit my pen and paper down and fold my hands together. “Fine, I’ll cut to the chase, since it’s obvious you don’t want to continue, I’ll tell you what we know.” I pause for a second to wait for her to chill the f*ck out. “I’ve been working on a case for the past two years involving a drug smuggling operation.”

“My daughter wasn’t involved in drugs, so you’re wasting your time.”

I put up my finger. “Please allow me to finish.” I’m not sure how much I should divulge. “Recently my brother was murdered. He was found with enough heroin in his body to kill more than one person.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, but I don’t see how any of that has something to do with Windy.”

“Are you aware your daughter’s identity has been stolen?”

Her eyes light up. She’s shocked, which boggles my mind. If I were this girl’s parent I’d be hiring an investigator up until the day there was evidence she was found, dead or alive. “What do you mean? You’ve found some of her belongings on someone? I’ve donated a lot of her things to charity.”

“No, ma’am. There is someone out there using your daughter’s social security number and name. When we ran her through the system we were lead to her open case. That’s why I’m here.”

“Someone is living as my daughter? Are you certain it’s not her? This makes no sense. We hired a PI. He would have contacted us.”

“She’s been living as your daughter for over a year. I’m sorry you haven’t been informed, but unfortunately cases can get backlogged, especially with as many they have to work with.”

“Are you calling the FBI incompetent?”

“No. I’m not implying that at all. I was a police officer before I became DEA. I have nothing against any man or woman who risks their lives for the welfare of others, ma’am. I’m stating the facts. If you want me to leave, I can grab my guys and be out of here immediately, but if you want another set of eyes working on this case I urge you to allow me to continue.”

I ignored the pissed off grimace she throws in my direction. “Go on then. Ask your questions.”

“How was your relationship with Windy?”

“I was her best friend.”

I shake my head and jot down something in my notes. Mother in denial. Control freak. Look into her finances during the time victim was reported missing.

“Can you think of anything that would imply she ran away?”

She motions to the surrounding area. “Look at the life she has here. Do you think she’d want to give this up?”

“Young people make rash decisions. Perhaps she ran away with someone you wouldn’t approve of.” The fact that I’ve thrown the idea out there angers her. Her eyes widen. “My daughter wasn’t seeing anyone.”

“How was her relationship with her father?”

“They were close when she was little. He’s very proud of her accomplishments.”

“Did they ever argue?”

“Our daughter was taught to respect us, unlike most children these days.”

“What about extended family? Is there anyone who could have helped her leave without being detected?”

“Like I said before. My daughter had no reason to want to leave. Let’s get back to the person pretending to be her? Have you arrested her? Will she be prosecuted for her crimes?”

“We’re working on that.” I look right at her. “Can I have the names of her closest friends?”

This makes her very uncomfortable. She’s put both feet on the ground and rubs the legs of her pants with her hands. “Her studies were more important than socializing. Windy was too smart to fraternize with people her own age. She preferred being alone and reading. I suppose her friends were the characters in those fiction books she always seemed to prefer.”