“No, I promise,” she said as she shook her head.
“It’s okay if you do, Eva. It’s only natural. You can go ahead and try; I won’t be angry. I know you’ll be good while I’m gone, but you don’t have to worry; it won’t be for too long. And I’ll be sure to give your mom a hug for you.” He snaked one arm behind her back and gave her an awkward half hug.
Eva cringed and didn’t look up as he walked away.
“And don’t think I’ve forgotten our deal. I gave you something. When I get back, it’s your turn.”
This time he closed the blue door, and the deadbolt clicked into place.
Twelve
Schilling pulled off of Cherry Street and into one of the small neighborhoods spider-webbing off of downtown. Beautifully maintained Craftsman homes lined the street and seemed to turn back the clock with their twentieth-century aesthetic.
“I knew this would happen.”
“Rookie mistake number twenty,” Schilling drawled. “Thinking you’re the only one with a theory.”
James flushed red. “I’m shocked by how quickly he chose another victim,” he admitted.
“We don’t know for sure that that’s what took place.”
“So you don’t think there’s a possibility that this girl’s been abducted and something bad has happened?” The car rolled over a speed bump.
“Of course there’s a possibility, and we’ll treat this with the utmost urgency. We also have to stay open to other options so we don’t get tunnel vision and miss anything. We already know she was at a party. Maybe she left with a guy and is sleeping it off somewhere.”
They pulled up to the house. A black, waist-high wrought-iron fence wrapped around the lot’s perimeter and held signs letting intruders know the area was under twenty-four-hour monitoring.
Schilling put the car in park and killed the engine. “Sure seems like someone put a lot of work into keeping people out.”
“You going back on your previous irresponsible party girl theory?”
“It’s still there until it’s proven false, but maybe Ms. Kostas has an angry ex we don’t know about.”
“I’ll be sure to ask.” James got out of the car and approached the gate.
“Hi, Detectives?” The front door opened and a woman stepped out of the house onto the expansive covered porch. “Sorry.” She pointed a remote toward them and the security gate glided open. “I stepped inside to grab more tissues.” She wore loose purple yoga pants and a matching cardigan. She wrapped the flowing sweater tightly around her and sat on the edge of a rocking chair.
“No problem at all, ma’am.” Schilling led the pair onto the property. “Are you Lori Kostas?”
“Yes, please have a seat.” She motioned to two black rocking chairs opposite her.
The gruff, grumbling Schilling dissolved into one of kindness and sympathy. “I’m Detective Schilling. This is my partner, Detective Graham. We understand that your daughter didn’t come home last night, and we’d like to ask you a few questions. Is that okay with you, Ms. Kostas?”
“Yes, I want my daughter found. You can ask me anything.” She dabbed at her red, puffy eyes with a tissue.
“When was the last time that you saw your daughter?” Schilling asked.
“The last time I saw Eva, my daughter’s name is Eva, was before she left to go to the Ambassador Hotel downtown. She met her friend Bridget there for a Labor Day party.”
“And do you know what time she left the house to go to the party?”
She shook her head. “Around ten, maybe. I’m not sure. I was already gone. I had a date. I came home around midnight, and she wasn’t here, but that didn’t really surprise me. Eva very rarely drinks, so she usually ends up being someone’s designated driver.” Her hands trembled as she mindlessly smoothed out the edge of her tissue. “She never lets her friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. She’s a good girl and this isn’t like her. I know something’s wrong. I can feel it. She hasn’t called, or sent me any messages, and she’s not answering her phone.” Tears leaked down her cheeks.
The wind picked up and blew the Kleenex from her hand. It floated to the ground near James’s foot. He picked it up and held it out to her. “Ms. Kostas, did you hear from her at any time while she was out last night?”
“No. I know I should’ve texted her to check in, but I’m trying to give her space. I want her to feel like an adult even though she still lives at home.”
“And you’re sure she made it to the Ambassador?” Schilling asked.
“Yes. I talked to Bridget a little while ago. She said that she was there when Eva arrived at the hotel.”