She wanted to cry. Needed to cry. But not here. Not now. It had only been one day. If what they were saying was at all possible, she had time.
Darcy was alive. And she’d find her and bring her home.
“I’ve printed off each missing persons report,” Meems said and pushed the stack of files to Travis. “Along with a copy of the police notes and any conclusion as well as information the FBI has gathered. Don’t ask how,” she added when Travis opened his mouth. “I’ll continue to dig and if I find anything else, possibly some connection, I’ll let you know.”
The chime from Meredith’s phone sent her fumbling for her purse. It wasn’t the familiar song she’d selected as Darcy’s ringtone, but it could be someone with information. Her fingers found the device and she quickly answered.
“Meredith? Where the hell are you?” a female voice yelled into her ear.
“Excuse me? Who is this?”
“Are you kidding, Mer? It’s Annabeth. You were supposed to be here twenty minutes ago.” Twenty minutes ago? Why would she be— “You’re going on air in forty minutes. You all but blackmailed me into giving you this promo spot for that gala of yours and you’re going to leave me—and my job—out to dry?” the woman continued and Meredith grimaced, pulling the phone away from her ear.
From the looks of Travis and Meems, her shrill voice had been heard across the table.
Oh, mother of…
She’d completely forgotten. Annabeth was right. She had strong-armed the woman into making this happen, had even planned her outfit down to the lip color and accessories she’d wear, looking forward to the airtime and the attention it would give the event.
But that had been before Darcy went missing.
She considered the possibility of canceling, but what would that accomplish other than having made a permanent enemy of Annabeth Rivers, local news darling and television personality? And there weren’t any active leads they were following up on now. Just waiting and hoping for a call with some bit of information.
Then there was the other possibility. Maybe she could use this to her advantage.
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
She jumped up, pushing Travis out of his seat. “We have to go. I completely forgot.”
“What?” he asked and dropped cash on the table for their meal.
She grabbed the files and tucked them under her arm. “I’m supposed to be speaking on live television on Lunch Café in forty minutes. It was nice meeting you, Meems.”
The woman just crooked her brow up and nodded. “Later.”
…
Travis drove toward downtown, keeping his eye equally on the road and the woman next to him, who was frantically digging through her purse for a lipstick and mascara, cursing under her breath.
“So what’s this thing you’re doing?” he asked, a little confused by her excitement over this interview. She’d looked like she was going to be sick moments before, and he couldn’t blame her. If her daughter had been taken as part of a human trafficking ring, she could be anywhere, having anything done to her. Now it was as if she’d pushed it out of her mind and was getting ready for a dance or something.#p#分页标题#e#
Maybe it was her way of dealing. Hell, he didn’t know. She was an enigma to him.
“Aha.” She pulled a lipstick out and pulled down the passenger seat visor. She leaned forward, applying the deep red shade. “Don’t. Hit. A. Pothole. Damn,” she said, apparently not satisfied with her progress, and dug in her purse again until she found a Kleenex. “Back when we were coming up with ways to draw attendance to the school’s gala, I contacted Annabeth to see if she could give me any airtime. I promised her practically my right kidney to get the spot. It was worth it, though. Lunch Café is number one in its time slot, and the Friday feature spot on upcoming weekend events is prime.”
“Annabeth…wasn’t she one of your henchmen in high school?” Red hair and ivory skin, she’d been on the debate team and captain of the lacrosse team. Popular on her own laurels, she hadn’t needed to kowtow to Meredith’s orders when she pulled some of that awful shit.
No. She’d just genuinely liked doing it.
“Very funny. You’d think she could just offer up the spot, seeing how she’s an alumna, too. But not her. Everything has a price.” She dabbed at her lips, then pressed a kiss into the Kleenex. Satisfied, she threw everything back in the purse and shut the visor, looking back outside.
“So. Meems,” she said, finally. “Interesting woman. How did you say you knew her?”