RAFE NOTED THAT looking unkempt seemed to be a condition experienced by many these days: the old, the young, the innocent, the guilty. Along with Rafe, Justin Robbins and Nathan Williamson had both lost weight during the last month.
Sitting across from Nathan, Rafe—wearing gloves—flipped through Amanda’s art book. “We have to figure out who could plant this book as well as who would know what to put in it.”
Nathan nodded. “I spoke to Chad’s drill sergeant and sent him Janie’s drawing. They’re one and the same. Man said he was surprised Chad had made it to the white phase where recruits get to shoot guns. He said Chad’s whole demeanor changed the moment they put a gun in his hand. They gave him a psych evaluation and discharged him.”
“I’ve put out feelers,” Justin said. “No one even admits to knowing him.”
Nathan hit a key on his computer and a page appeared on the screen. “He’s lived in sixteen states under five different names, and although he’s wanted in connection to a dozen crimes—none of them murder, by the way—he’s never been physically brought in for questioning.”
“He’s good,” Justin said, and it wasn’t a compliment.
It had been more than a month since Janie’d redrawn Derek’s art book, and Rafe wasn’t sure he could make it through any more days of waiting. He wanted Chad here now.
Taking out his cell phone, Rafe redialed Helen Skinley. He really didn’t want to disturb Amanda; he agreed with Tommy that Amanda was fragile. Well, she needed to toughen up. She was about to be a mother.
“How’s Tommy?” Helen answered the phone.
“They say he’s going to be okay. His heart is fine, there’s no kidney damage and he’s breathing regularly.”
“That’s a relief.”
“He was quite a help. We’re finally closing in on whoever’s behind the drug situation at Adobe Hills Community College. We’ve got to stop the operation.”
Helen didn’t say anything.
“I have to ask Amanda a few questions.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. Everything’s a mess. We’ve been in this hotel room for days. She doesn’t want to leave. It’s all I can do to get her to eat properly. She’s sleeping right now.”
“I wouldn’t call if there were any other way.”
“I—”
In the background, Rafe could hear someone talking. Then, Helen said, “Amanda has things she wants to say. She’s glad Tommy’s all right. Thanks for getting him to the hospital. He was pretty upset about the baby.”
“Tell her Tommy cares about her.”
Helen jiggled the phone before saying, “Amanda knows. What do you want to ask her?”
“Her art book got into Patricia Reynolds’s house, and the last few pages were changed.”
Again, moments passed while Helen interpreted Rafe’s questions.
“She says that the only thing in her book would be drawings of clothes. She wanted to draw her and Derek, but wasn’t ready for anyone to realize they were a couple.”