My Wife Is Missing(96)

“I don’t know,” Kate answered—too quickly.

More lies.

“Do you know if she’s planning to come back?” asked Kennett.

“I assume so,” Kate folded her arms, maybe not realizing she’d taken a defensive posture.

“Did she say why she came to Missouri without me?” Michael asked. He hoped his steady stare would force Kate to look him in the eyes, windows to the soul Kennett might say, but she shifted her gaze to Chuck instead.

“She told us you were having marital troubles,” Chuck answered.

“Missouri is a long way to go to escape a bad marriage,” said Kennett, effectively dismissing that lie. Michael heard him take in a calming breath. “How about some truth,” he continued. “Did you give her a car?”

“Yes, she borrowed my truck. But I’m sure she’s coming back here in a few hours. I think she took the kids to the river.”

“Now you remember where she’d gone?” said Kennett.

“It slipped my mind,” Kate said, brushing off his insinuation. “They’d never seen the Mississippi before. Bryce is really proud he can spell it. It’s so cute. Anyway, we had to let her go because she was being so insistent. Mike, she doesn’t know that we called her mother, so I think we’re all good here. Natalie will come back soon, so why don’t you two come inside and we can wait for her? I’ll fix you something to eat, brew us some coffee. We can catch up.”

“Yeah, are you gonna show us their clothes and suitcases in their bedrooms?” Kennett asked, sounding as if he already knew the answer.

Kate couldn’t suppress a grimace.

“Thought as much. What’s she driving?”

“I told you, my truck,” said Kate.

“I mean make, model? Color?” he wanted to know.

“Ford F150. Blue.”

“Got it,” he said. “I’m going to double-check that. I’m police, remember? Are you sure that’s what you drive? Hmmm?”

Kate broke eye contact, then said to nobody in particular, “Dodge Ram, gray. Need the license plate, Detective?”

“Please,” said Kennett.

“You shouldn’t have gotten involved, Kate,” Michael said. “This wasn’t your problem to fix.”

“I think I can make my own decision in that regard, Michael,” Kate answered coldly.

Chuck went to get Kennett the license plate number. While he was gone the rumble of an approaching engine broke an uncomfortable silence. The whine grew louder as a dust cloud bloomed from its source. Soon an ATV came into view, driven by a lanky man draped in denim. With his long hair and thick mustache, Michael thought he could have been a roadie for the Eagles. The driver brought his vehicle to a hard stop a few feet from where Kate stood, dismounting his ride as though it were his trusty steed.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“We’re looking for Natalie,” Kennett interjected before Kate could coach him. “I’m a cop. This is Natalie’s husband, Michael.” He thumbed over to Michael.

“Yeah? Police?” said the man, who spoke in a drawl. He introduced himself as Hank, a long-time employee of Hildonen Farms. “She done something? She seemed a bit off to me.”

“Yeah, I bet,” said Kennett. “Have you seen her recently?”

“I told the detective that Natalie had gone to the river with the children,” Kate said. The notable rise in her voice all but confirmed Michael’s suspicion that she wanted to make sure they had their stories straight, but Hank appeared utterly oblivious and somewhat perplexed.

“The river?” he said with surprise. “Uh, I don’t think so. She just drove past me headed west on 358. Last I checked, the Miss is east of here.”

“Hank,” Kate replied tersely, but it was too late. The damage was done.

Kennett, who had gotten the license plate number from Chuck, brushed Kate with an admonishing look that sent her gaze to her feet before she glared angrily up at Hank. It was obvious he wasn’t part of whatever discussions Kate and Chuck had had prior to their arrival.

Michael was on the move, headed for the car. Kennett did the same, making it clear he wanted to be the one driving.

“We don’t give chase. We don’t do anything that puts Natalie and my kids in danger, is that understood?”

Kennett gave a firm nod.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Safety first.”

Michael opened his car door, pausing long enough to send Kate an angry stare.

“Please stay out of this, Kate. She doesn’t need your help. She needs mine.”

“Whatever you say, Joseph,” Kate shot back.

Michael recoiled as though he’d been shot. Kennett was already halfway in the car, but came back out to send a sardonic grin Kate’s way.

“You must be mistaken,” Kennett said dryly. “This here is Michael Hart.”

There was no wink, no smile, no explanation given, just a stony expression that Kennett took with him back into the car. Michael climbed into the seat beside him, still reeling.

“Buckle up,” said Kennett. “I promise no chase, but it might still be a wild ride.”

He slammed the car into reverse, and they were off.