Gone (Deadly Secrets #2)(58)

“We’re just checking into people who may have come into contact with different kids. Did he spend any time with Mary?”

“No.” Coleman shook his head. “I mean, I’m sure he saw her a few times when he was at the house, but his focus was on Brenda and getting her the services she qualified for.”

Alec nodded, but Coleman didn’t seem to notice. His gaze had drifted to the window, and a faraway look filled his eyes. “Some days I try to pretend like it didn’t happen, but it never works. Funny how one brief moment can change everything, isn’t it? I didn’t just lose Mary that day; I lost my whole family. If I had it to do over again . . .” His voice hitched, and he blinked several times before looking down at his hands. “Well, I’d do a lot of things different.”

Raegan’s heart squeezed tight, and as she stared at the broken man who’d lost everything, she couldn’t help but think of Alec alone in that farmhouse out in the country, different in a million ways from this but also eerily the same.

Her gaze drifted to the glass. Is this what Alec had done? Sat around drinking himself to death because he felt so guilty about losing Emma? Yes, she knew, because she’d watched him do it in their apartment before he’d left her. But he’d pulled himself out of it. He’d gotten help. He’d gone into rehab. He’d been sober now three years.

“I found him facedown on his kitchen table, an empty bottle of Jack near his left hand, and a loaded .45 near his right.” Ethan’s words the other night in her apartment echoed in her head, making her chest squeeze even tighter. “He swore he wasn’t trying to kill himself, but our parents weren’t convinced. They had him admitted to a rehab center. When he got out, he promised he wouldn’t drink again.”

He hadn’t gotten help on his own. He’d pulled himself out because he’d had people who wouldn’t let him wallow. People, she realized as she looked at his strong jaw and his blue eyes focused on Brent Coleman, who hadn’t given up on him, like she had.

Her heart stuttered as Alec pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Coleman. That’s all we need.”

“That’s it?”

Alec nodded. “Yeah. We won’t take any more of your time.”

Coleman’s gaze narrowed, and for the first time since they’d walked into his house, his eyes looked clear. “Why are you two so interested in my kid? In these other kids?”

Alec glanced once at Raegan as she stood, and before he even said the words, she knew what was going to come out. “Because our daughter went missing too. We’re trying to see if other cases in the area are linked to hers in any way.”

Coleman rose and glanced between them. “Your daughter? How long ago?”

“Three years,” Alec answered.

“You think she’s still alive?”

“Yes,” Alec said. “We hope, anyway.”

Raegan’s heart stuttered. Last night he’d said he’d wanted to believe. Today he was saying he had hope.

“I’ll pray you’re right,” Coleman said. “No one should go through what I have.”

Alec shook the man’s hand. Raegan said good-bye and moved toward the door, her head and heart spinning. Behind her, Alec and Brent Coleman exchanged quiet words on the porch, then seconds later Alec was beside her in the truck, starting the ignition and pulling away from the run-down property.

They needed to talk about the older siblings. Needed to figure out if the kids had possibly known each other. But all Raegan could focus on was what Alec had just admitted.

That he believed Emma was still alive.

She was just terrified to bring it up in case he hadn’t really meant it.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN


Raegan made idle chitchat on the drive back into the city. Alec tried to pay attention but couldn’t do more than mutter “Uh huh” and “Yeah” because his brain was stuck on what Brent Coleman had said to him on the porch.

“Hold on to her. The biggest regret I have is wallowing in my own pain and not being there for my wife. I lost her same as I lost Mary. Difference is, losing Mary was an accident. Pushing Jules away wasn’t.”

That was him. He’d pushed Raegan away when he should have held on to her. Pushed her away when all she’d needed to do was lean on him.

Her cell phone buzzed as he pulled to a stop in front of her building. Darkness was just setting in, and the lights from outside shone over her face and the frown lines breaking across her bruised cheek as she gazed down at the screen.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, killing the engine.

“Nothing. It’s just the station. I haven’t checked in for a few days. I guess someone noticed.”

She hit “Answer” and pushed the car door open. “Yeah, this is Raegan.”

Unable to hear who she was talking to, Alec climbed out and moved around the car, waiting while Raegan keyed in the building code. When the door clicked, he pulled it open for her.

“Yes, sorry,” Raegan said. “Things have been a little crazy. I’m going to lose you on the elevator. Can I call you right back? Okay.”

She clicked “End” as they stepped onto the elevator.

“Who was that?” Alec asked.

“Anna Chapman. Jeremy’s on the warpath because I haven’t reported in.”