Gone (Deadly Secrets #2)(46)

Nerves jumbled in her stomach at the last thought, followed by a rush of heat she told herself she was stupid to feel. He hadn’t mentioned their crazy make-out session last night, and part of her was relieved by that fact. But another part was disappointed too. Especially since she was even more wrecked now than when she’d climbed out of bed.

Were they friends now? Exes who were just trying to be civil and solve a case? Or were they something more? He’d called her Raegs—last night and today. As much as she tried to tell herself he was only being nice, that he really didn’t care about her, she knew that was a lie. He did care. He cared a lot, judging by the fact he wouldn’t leave.

Her hand shook as she reached for her coffee and sipped the cool liquid. Because she had absolutely no idea what she was supposed to do about anything.





CHAPTER ELEVEN


Alec’s phone had rung just after he’d finished a shower that had been filled with too many thoughts of Raegan in the other room and the way she’d looked at him this morning with a mixture of confusion, surprise, and heat.

It was the heat that lit him up and made his body ache. Thankfully, the call had been from the department of social services for Washington County, refocusing him on the task at hand instead of on how much he wanted to pull Raegan into the shower with him. The receptionist hadn’t wanted to give him much information, but she had confirmed that Conner Murray had indeed worked with all three families he and Raegan were checking into. And that news had shifted his plans for the day. After hustling to get ready, he’d found Raegan waiting for him in the living room, and they’d driven right over to Murray’s office to try to catch the man.

The receptionist was young, with blonde hair pulled back in a neat tail and trendy glasses perched on her slim nose. She immediately grew nervous when they approached her, and Alec suspected she knew she’d already given away too much information. He poured on the charm, but the girl kept glancing at Raegan, and the most she would tell them was that Murray had just left for an appointment.

Alec thanked her, and they headed for the door. “Let’s see if we can catch him.”

Raegan nodded.

The employee parking lot was empty except for one man with dark hair climbing into a state-issued Ford Taurus.

“Mr. Murray?” Alec called.

The man turned with one foot in the car and glanced back over the top of his door as Alec and Raegan approached. “Yes?”

Bingo. “I’m Alec McClane, and this is Raegan Devereaux. We’d like to ask you a few questions about a couple kids under your watch.”

Murray’s blue eyes narrowed, and his gaze skipped between them. “What’s this about?”

“It’s about three missing toddlers over the last three years,” Raegan said. “You were assigned to each of their cases.”

Murray’s face went ashen and quickly turned red. “You’re reporters, aren’t you? I’ve got nothing to say to the press.”

He climbed into his car and slammed the door. Alec and Raegan watched as he whipped his car out of the space, glanced back at them through the rearview mirror, then sped out of the parking lot.

A tingle ran down Alec’s spine. “Jumpy, wouldn’t you say?”

“Very.”

“Let’s find out who he’s scheduled to see tomorrow and get in his way.”

Raegan glanced up at him. “That receptionist is not going to give it to us.”

Alec wasn’t so sure. “Let me see what I can get out of her. Wait here.”

Raegan rolled her eyes as he headed back inside. The receptionist was more relaxed once Raegan was gone. Alec made up a story about writing an article on the hidden heroes in America’s fight against poverty and told her he’d heard amazing things about Murray’s work with at-risk youth. She was hesitant about giving him the info he wanted, but after turning up the charm and showing her some of his other work on his phone, she finally caved.

When he rejoined Raegan at his truck, she was already sitting inside waiting. He climbed in and handed her a piece of paper. “Got his schedule for tomorrow.”

She scanned the page, written in the young girl’s bubble script, frowned, and proceeded to rip the bottom line off and tear it in pieces.

“Hey,” Alec said, feigning shock as he pulled out of the parking lot. “I might need that.”

“Blondie’s phone number? I don’t think so.”

Alec chuckled as they headed to their scheduled interview. She was jealous. He sorta liked that. When he’d seen her with Jeremy Norris at the hospital he’d been green with envy. He had no idea what was happening between them, and after last night’s kiss he wasn’t sure what he even wanted to happen between them, but he liked that she was jealous. It meant some part of her still cared.

Forty-five minutes later they pulled to a stop in front of a one-story Cape Cod in Forest Grove. Luis and Marie Ramirez had moved out of Portland a year after their son David disappeared. Their rental was small but well-kept. The yard was clean, the trees had recently been trimmed, and a three-foot-tall wooden snowman wrapped with an orange scarf sat on the porch welcoming guests.

“What did you say Mr. Ramirez does for a living?” Raegan asked as she followed Alec up the front walk.

“Concrete. He got a job out here with the city about fourteen months ago.”