I See You (Criminal Profiler, #2)(42)

“The texts seem fairly ordinary,” Bud said. “We have texts between Skylar and Neil Bradford. They tell each other how much they love the other or what they want to eat for dinner. Texts from Mom telling Skylar to be home for dinner.”

“What about the apps?” Zoe asked.

He read them off. “I can open all of them but one. It has a messaging feature but requires a passcode.”

“Try 1812.”

“Nope. Doesn’t work.”

Frustration elbowed at Zoe. “She was born in 2002. Try that.”

“No. Doesn’t work.”

“All right. We’ll see if we can track down her passcode. Thanks,” Zoe said.

He ended the call. “I have never been a fan of those apps.”

“Me either.”

He drove several more miles, turned on a couple of tree-lined side streets, and parked in front of Jessica Harris’s house. Like the Foster house, it was older, made of brick, and in an affluent neighborhood.

They climbed the brick steps and rang the bell. Moments later, the door opened to a woman in her midfifties with dark hair streaked with gray at the temples. “May I help you?”

Vaughan and Zoe held up their badges and introduced themselves. “Yes. We are investigating the disappearance of Hadley and Skylar Foster. You are?”

The woman appeared taken aback by the news, and it took a moment before she cleared her throat and said, “Margaret Harris.”

“We understand your daughter, Jessica, is a friend of Skylar’s?” Zoe asked.

Mrs. Harris’s hand tightened on the doorknob. “I saw it on the news. Jessica has not really seen Skylar since April.”

“What about at school?” Zoe asked.

“I’m sure they pass each other in the hallways, but that’s it. I don’t see how she could help you.”

“We are talking to everyone at this stage. Sometimes the smallest detail is important. Is Jessica home?” Vaughan asked.

“Yes. She had a fever this morning, so I kept her out.”

“We’d like to talk to her,” Zoe said.

“All right. Please come in.” She escorted them to a neatly furnished living room bathed in several hues of white and beige. It was as perfect as it was cold.

“Can I get either of you a coffee?” Mrs. Harris asked.

“No, thank you,” Vaughan said. “We just need to speak with Jessica.”

“Of course.” Mrs. Harris vanished into the house, her heeled shoes clicking on the tiled floor. Upstairs, a door opened and then closed.

“Let me interview Jessica,” Zoe said. “I think she’ll be more receptive to a female. And if not, you can give it a try.”

“She’s all yours.”

The door upstairs opened and closed, and this time two sets of footsteps sounded on the landing and down the stairs. Mrs. Harris appeared in the doorway along with her daughter, Jessica, a plump girl whose designer stressed jeans and loose-fitting burgundy top looked more uncomfortable than stylish. Long dark hair hung around her slumped shoulders. She pushed her glasses back up on her nose.

“Jessica,” Zoe said. “I’m with the FBI, and Detective Vaughan is with the Alexandria Homicide team.”

“I haven’t really spoken to Skylar since last spring,” she said.

“But you spent a lot of time with her, didn’t you?” Zoe said.

The girl glanced to her mother, who nodded. “Yeah, we were pretty good friends.”

“Why haven’t you talked to her since last spring?” Zoe asked.

“Because she started dating Neil, and he just took over her life.” Hints of bitterness sharpened the words.

Zoe glanced toward Vaughan, prompting him to say, “Mrs. Harris, would you join me in the kitchen? I have questions.”

“I’m not leaving my daughter,” she said.

“Agent Spencer is one of the best.” A smile warmed his stark features. “She is simply on a fact-finding mission. Our goal is to find Skylar.”

“People often remember different details if they aren’t influenced by others,” Zoe said. “It’s not about deception or ill intent, but I interview witnesses alone.”

“My daughter didn’t see anything.”

“Agreed,” Zoe said. “But she’s one of the very few people who knew Skylar well.”

“If your daughter was missing, we’d be handling it exactly the same,” Vaughan countered.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Jessica said. “I can answer a few questions.”

“If you feel uncomfortable at any point, call out to me,” Mrs. Harris said.

“I will.”

When the two left the room, Zoe closed the door. “Mind if we have a seat?”

“Sure.” Jessica sat in the middle of the sofa, and Zoe took the chair to her right.

“How long have you known Skylar?”

“We met last winter when she moved here. I’m new to the area, too. I think that’s why we really hit it off.”

“Why didn’t she see you after she started dating Neil?” Zoe asked.

“I don’t know. I called and called, but she always had an excuse. Finally, I gave up.”

“When was that?”