Stolen(92)

“I was confused, medicated, and I didn’t want my parents to suffer any more than they already had for my mistakes. I knew Tracy would be a far better mother to Laura than I could ever be.” She dabbed her eyes and met Spense’s gaze. “The god-awful truth is that although I wanted what was best for my child, I wasn’t capable of bonding with her. Not back then.”

“What about now?” Spense asked. “You keep her pictures out. Have you followed her life over the years?”

Lisa lifted her hand to brush away a tear. “Yes. I’m better now, after what seems like a lifetime of therapy. I no longer blame myself for the past, and I’m content with my life. I’d like to have a relationship with Laura, but she doesn’t know she’s adopted, and I never wanted to disrupt her life.”

“So you’re still looking out for her the best way you know how,” Caity said. “But knowing she’s in trouble, now, I wonder why you haven’t gone to the police with this information.”

“I don’t see how it will help. And the cops never get anything right anyway. When Laura was kidnapped, and her poor nanny was murdered, they screwed everything up royally. But I’ve heard about you two before, and you seem like two people who know how to get things done, so when you said you need me to answer your questions . . .” She blew her nose. “I’ll do anything I can to help. I told Laura’s bodyguard, Ty Cayman, too. He was here just a little while ago, looking for Laura.”

The hairs on the back of Spense’s neck raised. He exchanged a glance with Caity. The missing bodyguard, the last person to see Laura before she disappeared had come here before them looking for Laura.

“Why would Cayman come here? Does he know you’re Laura’s biological mother?” Spense asked.

“Yes. They’ve all been friends for years. I don’t think Ty knew about the rape, but he said he knew I was Laura’s mother. He thought maybe Laura found out the truth, and that she might’ve come to me for help.” She wrung her hands. “If only Laura had come to me. I want to help her so badly.”

There was no time to render comfort to Lisa. They had to find Laura, and quickly.

“What do you mean by they’ve all been friends?” Caity asked.

“Ty and Whit and Grady. They all pledged the same fraternity back in college, and they’ve remained friends ever since.”

“Did Cayman say where he was going next?” Caity was on her feet.

“He said he was going to Frank’s Cabin, to have a look around and see if he can spot something the cops missed.”

“How far is it to the cabin? I assume you have to go on foot,” Spense said.

“You have to take the trail, but you can get there on an ATV in just a few minutes.”

“Is that how you get down the road in bad weather? Do you have an ATV we can borrow?” Caity asked.

Lisa went to the window and pulled the curtains back.

Parked in the back drive was a red ATV.



As she climbed up behind him, Caity grabbed onto his waist and said, “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Depends if you’re thinking Frank’s Cabin’s a test of guilty knowledge. No mention made of it at the press conference. Chaucers weren’t informed this time around or last time.”

“So how does Cayman know about it? He could be our UNSUB.”

“Any of them could be. Webber, Chaucer, and Cayman were all members of a subculture that considers drug-facilitated sexual assault as not that bad.”

“But which one do you think morphed into a cold-blooded serial killer? I think it’s . . .” The rev of the ATV’s engine drowned out the rest.





Chapter 48





Tuesday, October 29

1:10 P.M.

Frank’s Cabin

Eagles Nest Wilderness



Laura could barely see through the red film in her eyes, but she could feel the blessed comfort of someone cradling her head in strong, thick arms. She lay on a mattress with something cool and white pulled over her skin—a sheet.

“Cayman, is that you?” she whispered into the arms. The hairs tickling her nose smelled like gun smoke.

No answer.

Was she dreaming, still?

“Am I alive?” She remembered a gunshot . . . and red on her hands.

“Laura, sweetheart.” A fuzzy face bent near hers. “You’re awake. It’s all going to be okay, darling. I’m with you now, and I won’t leave this time—not until you’re at peace.”

“Daddy?” She sat up quickly, banging the top of her head against the wooden bedrail.

“I’m here, honey.”

Her stomach lurched. “I’m going to be sick.”