Hide and Seek (Criminal Profiler #1)(84)

“I do.”

The woman vanished into the kitchen and returned with the picture. The colors were faded and the edges curled. “It was taken right out front of my home.”

Macy studied the picture of the smiling girl, who appeared to be about fifteen. She wore tight jeans, a V-neck sweater, and what looked like an arrowhead necklace. “When was this taken?”

“About a year before she vanished. Bruce had just given her that necklace, and she was so proud. She wanted me to take a picture of her wearing it.”

“How did Cindy feel about her brother spending so much time on the football field and with the Wyatts?”

“She was angry. Felt abandoned.”

The girl’s brother, her only lifeline, had left her behind. “Do you mind if I snap a picture of it?” Macy asked.

“No, go right ahead.”

Macy took several pictures of the photo and then collected Ms. Beverly’s contact information. She thanked her for her help.

Macy and Nevada got into his car. “She said Kevin and Bruce were thick as thieves.”

“Think one might have helped the other kill Tobi?”

“I don’t know. But I want to talk to them both again.” Macy dialed Kevin Wyatt’s number. It went to voicemail. “This is Agent Crow. I’m still looking for that buccal swab, Mr. Wyatt. Call me.”

“Wyatt likes to drag his feet. When Tyler gets in trouble, he always lawyers up.”

“Eventually, he’ll have to give in.”

Nevada tapped his finger on the steering wheel. “Until then I’m going to follow up with Greene.”

“I want to come.”

“Not this time. He’s never been a fan of outsiders, and he might be more inclined to talk to me if I’m alone.”

She didn’t like being left out but trusted Nevada enough to ask the right questions. As he started his vehicle, his phone rang. It was Sullivan.

“Sullivan,” Nevada said.

“I received a call from Sandra Bennett. She says she can’t find Brooke.”

“I thought she was home with her son,” Nevada said.

“It doesn’t look like that was correct.”

“Where is Sandra now?” Nevada asked.

“Her house.”

“I’m on my way.”



When Nevada pulled up in front of Brooke Bennett’s house, Sandra was standing on the front porch talking to Sullivan. Sandra’s face was tight with worry.

“This doesn’t look good,” Macy said.

“No.”

They walked up to the front steps. “What’s going on here?”

Sandra stepped toward Nevada. “Have you heard from Brooke?”

“No, she hasn’t reported in for her shift,” Nevada said. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Sandra said. “I was working late, and when I got home, her car was parked out back, but there was no sign of her. Matt said she was home late last night, but he didn’t see her when he awoke this morning for school.”

“The boy wasn’t sick?” Nevada asked.

“No. He was fine. Why would you ask that?”

“Your daughter texted me and told me her son was sick and she’d be late.”

As a precaution, Nevada and his deputies all carried a phone with GPS tracking when they were on duty. He checked and searched Bennett’s location. “It says that she’s here.”

“She’s not,” Sandra insisted. “I’ve looked everywhere.”

“The phone is here.” Nevada turned his attention to the grounds surrounding the house as he called Bennett’s number. A faint ring echoed from behind a stand of bushes. He slipped on latex gloves and then rooted around in the shrubs until his fingers brushed the phone.

The phone’s display had a record of Bennett’s text to Nevada as well as several texts from Bruce Shaw. She’d also placed a call to her mother around ten last night. “Why did she call you?”

“She said she had questions about Bruce Shaw,” Sandra said.

“What kind of questions?” Nevada asked.

“I have no idea. We never spoke.”

“Deputy Bennett said she would get a cheek swab from Shaw,” Macy said.

Nevada called dispatch on his radio and advised them that Deputy Brooke Bennett was missing. He wanted all deputies searching for her immediately.

“I’d like to speak to Matt,” Nevada said.

Sandra hesitated and then nodded. “He’s in the kitchen. He’s upset, so go easy on him.”

“Of course I will,” Nevada said.

Nevada and Macy followed Sandra into the house and back toward the kitchen to where a young man who looked like his mother sat staring at his phone.

“Matt,” Nevada said.

The boy stood. “I’ve been waiting for Mom to call.”

“We’re trying to find her now, Matt. When did you last see her?” Nevada asked.

“It was about midnight. I heard her come in.”

“Where were you, Sandra?” Nevada asked.

“I was called back in to work.”

“Where’s that?”

“The Deep Run assisted living facility. I’m an on-call nurse there. I wasn’t scheduled, but the boss said several staff members didn’t show.”