I See You (Criminal Profiler, #2)(40)

Better to keep their focus on finding Hadley and Skylar. Once they were found, she could chitchat all he wanted, or better, they simply could go their separate ways.

Through the front doors, they walked directly to the main office, where both showed their police credentials. The secretary ducked in the back and found the vice principal, who in turn consulted the principal.

Principal Fred Myers was in his midforties with a thick shock of gray hair. He wore a charcoal-gray suit and a red tie embossed with eagles, the school’s mascot. Vaughan and Zoe both shook hands with him. “I understand you’re looking for Neil Bradford?”

“Correct,” Vaughan said.

“Can I ask what this is in reference to?” Myers asked.

“His girlfriend, Skylar Foster, and her mother are missing,” Zoe said. “We’re hoping he knows something.”

He glanced in a folder. “Skylar’s name is on the absent list this morning, and my attendance secretary has noted that no one at the house answered the phone.”

“Is Skylar absent a lot?” Zoe asked.

“She has been tardy four times already, and we’re only two weeks into the new school year.”

“Was tardiness a problem last year?”

“No. She was the model student. But we see this kind of thing with seniors. They start to coast, though most have the sense to wait until they’ve made it to the winter holiday so their college applications don’t suffer.”

Vaughan offered a half smile. “What kind of student is Skylar Foster?”

“She’s always been quiet. Last spring, she got into a fight with another girl at lunchtime. Both girls denied taking the first swing. Nothing was conclusive, so they both ended up with a three-day in-school suspension.”

“Who was the girl?” Zoe asked.

“Jessica Harris. They used to be close friends but don’t even acknowledge each other anymore.”

“Is Jessica here today?” Zoe asked.

“She’s home sick.”

“Let’s start with Neil Bradford. Can you get Neil for us?” Vaughan asked.

“Sure.” He unclipped a small two-way radio from his hip and called to one of the classrooms, asking the boy to come to the office. “Neil is a really good kid. He’s vice president of the student body and well on his way to being valedictorian.”

Vaughan nodded but knew damn well from his cop experience that kids like these weren’t always angels. “I have no doubt.”

Principal Myers leaned in a fraction. “Detective Vaughan, have we met before? You look very familiar to me.”

“We met at back-to-school night last fall. My son, Nate Vaughan, was a student here.”

His eyes brightened with recognition. “Oh, yes, received a partial scholarship to James Madison University.”

“That’s right.”

“Of course. I see the resemblance now. How’s he doing?”

“I dropped him off at college yesterday. He looked ready to tackle the world.”

“I heard his mother, your ex-wife, passed.”

“Last year. She had cancer.”

His words did not hitch or stutter, suggesting that their split had not been easy. It had been a year before Zoe could speak about Jeff’s passing without tearing up or having to excuse herself. But Vaughan was cool, almost unmoved.

The door opened, and a tall, lanky boy stood at the threshold. He had dark hair, a smooth baby face, and a splash of freckles over the bridge of his nose.

When Zoe and Vaughan stood, the boy looked visibly nervous as he glanced toward his principal. “Did you call me, sir?”

“I did, Neil. Close the door,” Principal Myers said in a soft tone.

The boy’s shoulders hunched slightly, and his thick hair kept falling over his eyes, forcing him to shove it back with long fingers. “Is there a problem?”

“Neil, I’m Detective Vaughan, and this is Agent Spencer. There was a break-in at the Foster house.”

“Is Skylar all right?” he asked quickly.

“She’s missing.” Zoe maintained a soft, even tone designed to calm. She needed the kid to remain focused.

The boy drew back, shaking his head. “I knew something was wrong. She always answers my texts and calls. Always.”

“We are doing our best to find her,” Zoe said. “We’re hoping you might know where she could be. Where does she go when she needs to get away from her home?”

Pale brows knotted. “She always came to my house when she wasn’t here or at home. We hung out almost all the time.”

“I know you must care about her very much,” she said.

“I love her,” he insisted.

“If she didn’t go to your house, where would she go?” Zoe asked.

“Nowhere. She’s always with me.”

“What about Jessica Harris?” Zoe asked.

“Skylar and Jess don’t speak anymore. They hate each other.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Skylar never would say. I think Jessica was jealous because Skylar was spending her time with me.”

“How often did Skylar come by your house?” Zoe asked.

“A few nights a week.”

“When was the last night she was there?” Zoe asked.