“He asked her out. She thought he was cute and fun, but far too immature. Still, I think they stayed casual friends.” She sat back, shaking her head. “I don’t understand where you’re going with this. There’s a lunatic out there killing girls, my niece may or may not be alive, and you’re showing me pictures of upstanding citizens.”
She was indignant. He wasn’t surprised. “Can you think of anyone who might have read that tabloid article? Anyone who might have known that Genevieve was your biological child?”
“How on earth would I know who read what?” Eileen asked him. “And what does it matter, what someone read in some cheap rag?”
“They might have been taunting her with it. They might have lured her into a car to talk about it. Eileen, what I do know is this—the last time Genevieve was seen, she was getting into a black sedan. Just like the girls who disappeared before her.”
The color drained from Eileen’s face. “Then what makes you think she might still be alive?” she whispered.
“No girls have been taken in the same way since,” he said. He glanced at his watch. Adam was due to leave for the airport any time now, and he didn’t know how long Nikki was staying. He wanted to think that Leslie couldn’t be in danger, not in broad daylight, and not at a well-populated dig, but then he remembered what had happened the other day in the crypt and realized that had already proved to be untrue.
“Eileen, I’ll keep you posted,” he promised her. “And if you think of anything at all that might be of help, tell me. Please.”
“A black sedan, you said? A nice sedan?” she said.
“Yes. Why?”
“There are black sedans parked all over the financial district on a daily basis,” she said dully.
“I’ll be in touch,” he promised.
He reached the dig right at eleven. Both Adam and Nikki were standing outside the grid tapes but near the crypt, waiting.
“What’s going on?” he asked them.
“A minor argument,” Nikki said, her eyes sparkling. “I think Leslie is winning. Somehow she’s gotten Brad on her side.”
“And you stayed to watch the fireworks? What about your flight?” he asked Adam.
“I’ve rebooked,” Adam told him. “As has Nikki.”
“Oh.” Joe wasn’t sure if he was relieved or a little dismayed. Would she still want him at the house if Adam and Nikki were there?
“I can put things off for a few days,” Adam said.
“And I have a very understanding husband,” Nikki told him.
They both sounded cheerful, but he had the feeling that if they were staying, it was because they were worried.
“That’s great,” he said, mostly meaning it. He had things he could be doing, and he wasn’t meeting Brad until that evening.
“You’re going to stick around the site, then?” he asked the other two.
“One of us will be with Leslie at all times,” Nikki assured him.
He nodded again. “Great. So what’s the argument about?”
“Leslie wants the remains of a woman and a child interred together. A mother and child.”
“Laymon has a problem with that?”
“Laymon usually wants the bones he finds studied and cataloged, but this time, he doesn’t want the graves in the crypt walls disturbed.”
A moment later Leslie emerged from the crypt, looking triumphant. Brad was right behind her. She didn’t notice Joe’s arrival at first as she turned and flashed a giant smile Brad’s way, squeezing his arm. “Thank you,” she told him.
“My pleasure. But let’s spend the day dusting and cataloguing and making the old ogre happy, huh? That was great, convincing him that you could make him out to be such a wonderful and compassionate man, not just digging into the past, but doing his best to lay it properly to rest.”
“I shall enjoy every long and tedious moment of the day,” she promised. “Hey, if you run over to the trailer, I bet you’ll find Hank Smith. Fill him in on what we’re doing. It will be good P.R. for Tyson, Smith and Tryon, as well.”
“Where are those TV cameras when you need them?” Brad teased, running his fingers through his hair to smooth it back.
Leslie laughed, then saw Joe. She lifted her chin, clearly defying him to accuse Brad of anything as she walked over to where he was standing with Adam and Nikki.
“I hear you have another success story going,” he said.
“I’m happy. I think we’re doing the right thing,” she said.
“Good. And Adam and Nikki are staying, so I’ve been told.”
Leslie frowned at that, looking at the other two. “I don’t like holding you guys back,” she said.
“If it weren’t fine, we wouldn’t be doing it,” Nikki said.
“Well, then, I’m off to see a man about a map—a bunch of maps, actually,” Joe said. He didn’t touch Leslie, not in that company, though he longed to. “I want to check out some public records,” he added.
“I see. And you’re meeting Brad for drinks this evening?” Leslie asked.
“Yes. Can I find you all for dinner after?”