Her Silent Cry (Detective Josie Quinn Book 6)(30)

“What about the first-grade teacher?” Josie asked.

“She checks out, too.”

“Did either of them report seeing Lucy talking to anyone unusual in the last several weeks or months?” Josie said.

“No, nothing. We also looked at phone records for both parents. Couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary. We polygraphed both of them this morning. Dad passed no problem, but Amy failed her polygraph.”

“What?” Josie and Gretchen blurted in unison.

Oaks spread his hands, palms up. “Remember, these tests aren’t entirely accurate. A person’s emotional state has a lot to do with whether they pass or fail. As you know quite well, Mrs. Ross has been very volatile. It could be the emotional stress skewing her results or it could be the fact that she had been lying to her husband about taking online college courses.”

“Did she tell you that?” Noah asked.

Oaks shook his head. “No. She told us she was enrolled in online courses but our search of her computer and a check with the university confirmed she hasn’t ever been enrolled, despite being accepted into the program over a year ago.”

“The husband didn’t notice that her tuition wasn’t being paid?” Gretchen asked.

“She has a discretionary fund that the husband deposits into but doesn’t monitor.”

“You mean an allowance?” Noah said.

“Basically, yes. The husband manages their finances, pays all the bills, gives her cash for groceries and anything she needs for Lucy. This is just for her, it seems. He said originally it was for spa days and yoga classes, but then she decided she wanted to go back to school so he put more into it. He doesn’t even know how much is in there.”

Gretchen raised a brow. “Must be nice.”

Oaks continued, “The husband gave us access to all their finances. There have been no tuition payments to any college out of that or any of the accounts they own.”

“Did you confront her about it?” Josie asked.

“No. We would like you to talk to her. Like I said, she seems to have some kind of connection to you. We’d like you to be on hand at her home as much as possible, particularly if a call from the kidnapper comes in and she becomes hysterical. Maybe you can get her to open up. Nothing in our investigation so far has turned up anything suspicious, but the failed polygraph is a red flag we can’t entirely ignore. If you can get her to admit to you that she’s been lying to her husband about the college courses, then perhaps she’ll be willing to talk to you about any involvement she might have in Lucy’s disappearance.”

“You really think she did this?” Josie asked.

“I don’t know,” Oaks said honestly. “But I can’t ignore the possibility, no matter how remote.”

“Where’s the motivation?” Gretchen said. “She has the perfect life. Rich husband, gorgeous house, beautiful daughter. She even has a nanny to help her with childcare. She has no stress. She can fill her days with anything she wants. What does she get out of staging her own child’s kidnapping?”

No one answered for a long moment. Then Mettner said, “Maybe she’s sick in the head and just really good at hiding it.”

“I don’t think this was her,” Josie said. “But I agree we can’t ignore any avenue of investigation no matter how unlikely it seems. I’ll do what I can to draw her out.”

“Why not just bring her in and interrogate her?” Mettner asked.

“Because you only get one shot at that,” Gretchen explained. “As soon as we start treating her like a suspect, she’ll get an attorney. The parents will shut us out, and any information that Amy might have that would help us find Lucy alive will be out of reach.”

“There may come a time when we have to bring her in,” Josie said. “But right now, with Lucy at risk, I think the gentle approach works best.”

“I’m with Detective Quinn on that,” Oaks said. “We also need someone else at the house in case the kidnapper calls and we trace him locally. We need someone who could navigate this city in their sleep. Obviously Detective Quinn can do that, but I’d like to have some backup on that front.” He looked at Gretchen, but she pointed at Mettner.

“I’m a transplant,” she said. “Noah’s still not very quick with his broken leg, but Mett grew up here. He’s your best bet.”

Noah said, “I can’t get around well but anything you can give me to do, I’ll do it.”

Oaks smiled. “We’ve got plenty of work.”





Eighteen





The Ross home was swarmed with FBI vehicles and news vans. Inside, two agents were stationed at the dining room table, their laptops open, waiting for a call to come in. Colin sat at the table with them, attempting to make small talk. Amy paced in the kitchen, her arms wrapped around her middle. The kitchen was large with an old, rustic wooden table in the center of it. Various casseroles covered its surface. When Amy saw Josie, she motioned to them and said, “The neighbors brought them and some of the parents from Lucy’s school. Isn’t that nice?”

“Yes,” Josie said. “Very thoughtful.”

A tear rolled down Amy’s cheek and she swiped at it. “I can’t eat. Can you?”