Stolen(39)

“Let’s hope the Chaucers get here soon,” Caity said. “There were too many people up on that mountain to keep this under wraps for long. By tomorrow, someone will have leaked the story. What if instead of telling the press to come back tomorrow, we reschedule for later this afternoon. That’ll give Spense and me time to at least start on a profile, time to get the parents in, and hopefully time for Gaines to make a positive ID.”

“I like the way she thinks,” Cliff said.

“I don’t see a downside to that. Tell the vultures we’ll meet up with them this afternoon—at a time to be determined later.”

“I don’t know if that’s going to hold them, Jordo.”

“Best I can do.”

Cliff backed out of the room, looking only moderately appeased.

“While we’re waiting, we might as well talk about the original kidnap. If our Jane Doe turns out to be Laura, and even if she doesn’t, there’s little doubt it figures into our current case. The body was found near Frank’s Cabin, same MO. And close to the anniversary of the first kidnapping. Officially, that case is cold. But what about unofficially?” Spense asked.

“Unofficially that case is still cold.”

Caity leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Sure, but you must have a theory about what really happened. There must be persons of interests not yet ruled out.”

Hatcher stood up and went to the door, checked to see if the Chaucers might be within earshot. Apparently, they weren’t. Hatcher clicked the lock. “Just want to be sure we don’t get a surprise interruption.” He sat down and put his hands behind his head. “There are about as many theories as I’ve got fingers and toes, but the three main ones are as follows: The Vendetta. The Opportunist. The Greedy Bastard.”

“You named the theories?” Caity asked.

“Makes it more fun,” he said.

In this, Spense felt a certain kinship to Hatcher. Solving puzzles was fun, and it helped to make the job bearable. Solve a puzzle. Save a life. Not a bad gig. “Three theories will likely lead to three profiles. Maybe we should pick one. We’re going to have to make some assumptions or we’ll never get anywhere. As long as we remember the profile has to come second to the evidence—”

“Don’t worry.” Hatcher swigged from a bottled water. “I’ll have no trouble reminding you that whatever you come up with is full of crap until proven otherwise.”

“Let’s start with The Vendetta.” Caity went to the whiteboard. She liked playing scribe, and Spense liked watching her. This morning she looked particularly curvy in the skinny jeans and red sweater she’d thrown on. He was secretly glad she hadn’t had time to unpack and press her work clothes.

“That’s the theory most favored by Senator Chaucer, himself. He’s absolutely convinced that whoever kidnapped Laura . . .”

“And murdered Angelina,” Caity put in.

“Goes without saying.” Hatcher shrugged.

“Let’s say it anyway, since two young women are now dead and whether or not Angelina was an accomplice has yet to be proven. She could’ve been collateral damage, and even if she was in on the scheme, she didn’t deserve the death penalty.”

“This public service announcement has been brought to you by bleeding heart liberals everywhere.” Hatcher waved his hand in the air. “Now can we return to our regular programming?”

“Of course.” Caity laid a calming hand on Spense’s shoulder before he came out of his chair. It was one thing for him to call her a bleeding-heart liberal . . . “Just looking for truth in broadcasting,” she told Hatcher without rancor.

“The Vendetta theory proposes that someone with a grudge against Whit Chaucer or against Mrs. Chaucer . . .” Hatcher paused, giving Caity time to write as he talked. “Kidnapped Laura as an act of retribution, seeking revenge on the family.”

“Interesting that the senator favors that theory,” Caity said.

“How so?”

“Because it makes it his fault. In a way, he’s taking blame for what happened to his daughter. It also gives him the comfort of a cause and effect metaphor.”

“What the hell’s she talking about?” Hatcher asked Spense.

Spense said nothing, allowing Caity to speak for herself.

“I’m talking about the fact that the idea of a random universe scares people. Most of us want to believe that our actions control our fate, even though sometimes that’s not the case. It may be comforting for the senator to believe something he did caused his daughter to be kidnapped. If his behavior led to Laura’s kidnapping and Angelina’s murder, it’s a good thing in a way, because his behavior is something he can modify.”