“Maybe she found out we lied, and now she’s run away.” Resentment crept through in Tracy’s voice.
“We’ll look into that possibility,” Hatcher assured her. “And we’ll get Cayman back in for more questioning ASAP. But right now, Agent Spenser and Dr. Cassidy have some questions about the other time Laura disappeared. Thirteen years ago.”
“What for?” Webber just couldn’t stay out of it.
“Agent Spenser and I need to get a clear picture of everything that happened leading up to and including the day Laura disappeared from her family home thirteen years ago,” Caity said.
“That doesn’t tell us why,” Webber persisted obstinately.
“I’m sorry, but we’re not free to explain all of our reasons at this time.” Caity kept her gaze on the Chaucers.
“So you think this is the same man,” Whit said, as though resigned to it.
“That would be premature to conclude. Just trying to get the big picture,” Spense said.
Tracy started to sob into her hands. “You don’t think she ran away at all. You think she’s been kidnapped again.”
Caity slid a box of tissues across the table. “Take all the time you need.”
“I’m ready now.” Tracy blew her nose and looked around for a wastebasket. Eventually, she settled for folding the used tissue and laying it in her lap.
“Tell us, in your own words, what happened October 13, thirteen years ago,” Spense said.
Tracy glanced over at Webber.
He gave a slight nod.
“We’ve been over it a thousand times with Detective Hatcher, but if you think it will help . . . Whit and Laura and I spent the day with our friends Lillian and Martin Banks. We attended services at the First Presbyterian Church and later visited their home. Lillian’s cook prepared a lovely meal—rack of lamb. Laura refused to eat her meat because she had a stuffed toy lamby of her own. Grady arrived later, and we played charades. Then we had leftovers for dinner and cocktails after. We arrived home about ten o’clock that night. I went straight to my room, and Angelina put Laura to bed. Whit went to his study. There was a bit of a kerfuffle at the City Council over school funding, so Whit stayed up late reviewing the matter.”
“Sounds like a long, fun party. Had you and your husband had a lot to drink?” Caity asked matter-of-factly.
“Whit’s not a drinker. But I may have had a few too many.” Tracy sighed. “If you must know, I’m probably self-medicating. Is that right, Grady?”
Grady again gave the slightest of nods. It wouldn’t surprise Spense to see him break out a set of secret hand signals.
“I have anxiety. I take medicine for it, and it doesn’t mix well with alcohol. Believe me, I’ve wondered what would’ve happened if I’d been sober. But Grady says my guilt won’t change the past.”
Didn’t seem to be changing the present either, at least not if Hatcher was correct that Chaucer declined an interview last night because his wife was drunk.
“Then, around midnight, I woke up screaming. I’ve had bad dreams my entire life.”
“Tell us more about that.” Caity nodded encouragement.
“Is this necessary? I don’t think this is going to help bring Laura back,” Webber interrupted.
“Let her tell it,” the senator said. “It’s no secret to the cops anyway.”
“My father was a drunk. I guess that’s one reason a straight arrow like Whit appealed to me. I know some people think I married for his money—but I promise you I love this man.” She sent her husband a watery smile. “I’ve never known anyone so kind as Whit. But . . . I guess what I’m avoiding telling you…” She cast her eyes back to Grady. “My father repeatedly abused me . . . he’d come in my room several nights a month. Anyway, I’ve had nightmares and anxiety my entire life because of that.”
“Post-traumatic stress.” Webber patted Tracy’s hand. “No shame in that, Tracy.”
She nodded absently. “Where were we?”
“About midnight you woke up screaming.”
“Yes, Whit held me until I fell back asleep. The next morning, he woke me around eight. He’d gotten up to make coffee and . . . and he found a ransom note on the breakfast table.”
“Did you read the note?” Spense leaned in to hear her answer. Her voice had become very soft.
“Whit read it to me. It said they had taken Laura and Angelina, too. They asked for a one-hundred-thousand-dollar ransom. They said they’d be in touch. The note also said they’d torture and kill Laura if we tried to contact the authorities.”