“We intend to look—and we will find her,” Meg promised.
He wished she hadn’t made that promise. Despite his fervent hopes to the contrary, he suspected that if they found Lara Mayhew, the odds were that they’d find her dead. Above all, he didn’t want to introduce a false sense of confidence about Lara’s chances.
Meg stood. “Nancy, when was Lara here last?”
“About two weeks ago,” Nancy said. “You didn’t know?”
“The academy was pretty intensive. I’d talked to her—but I didn’t know she was coming here.”
“She surprised me. Just showed up one afternoon and didn’t leave until the next morning. Needless to say, I was delighted to see her.”
“Did she stay in her room?” Meg asked.
“Yes, and you’re always welcome to stay there. I’m sure we could accommodate Agent Bosworth, too. It’s a big house.”
“Thanks, but we have to work, and I want to try and go everywhere Lara and I used to go,” Meg said. “Would you mind if I went to see whether she left anything in her room?”
“Of course not!” Nancy replied. “You know where it is.”
Meg headed for the stairs.
“May I?” Matt asked Nancy.
Nancy grinned at him. “I was assuming you’d expect to go up there.”
He nodded, smiling. He liked the old girl. “Thanks.”
He followed Meg up the stairs. Lara’s room was neat and pretty and actually somewhat sophisticated; she’d come here as a child, but if she’d kept posters of rock bands and movie stars on her walls back then, she’d since taken them down. The pictures in her room now were prints of old classics, beautifully framed, many medieval. Her bed was covered in a crimson flower-pattern spread that complemented her drapes. An antique dressing table sat against one wall, while double doors led out to a balcony.
Meg was at the dressing table, carefully opening drawers.
He instantly looked around for a journal and pulled out the drawer on the bedside table.
He was rewarded. There was a journal. He sat and pored through it while Meg continued to search for anything that might give them any clues.
“Listen to this,” Matt said, finding Lara’s last entry. “‘I really long for the days when we were such believers. When idealism meant everything. I was told that government involves compromise and I believe in compromise. I know that there’s no politician who can make everyone happy. What I want to believe in is men and women who are passionate—who are so dedicated to their cause that they aren’t swayed by money or adulation. Have I found that man? Or does everyone eventually buckle?’
“‘They say The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Or wait—better the devil you know than the devil you don’t. I never knew what a confusing maze I was entering! Meg got it right— Go out there to fight for justice, to right wrongs. Ah, what a discussion the two of us had at Harpers Ferry!’”
For a moment, Meg looked stricken. But she’d learned a lot of self-control at the academy, Matt thought. She quickly regained her composure.
“Lara should run herself. She has strong convictions,” Meg said.
“What was your discussion at Harpers Ferry about?”
Meg shrugged. “I told her that the FBI criminal division was just what I wanted. That I’d go after the bad guys. I also told her that half the time we never really know the truth about someone we voted for until they’re in office.”
“Sounds as if you felt you were taking the easier route.”
“Yes. What do you suppose was going on in DC?” Meg wondered. “I guess I don’t follow politics closely enough,” she said apologetically. “Even being best friends with Lara.”
“Politics—it’s pretty damn complicated.” Matt held up the journal. “Will Nancy mind if we take this?”
“Not at all, but we’ll ask her.”
They asked, and she didn’t mind. They were welcome to the book, she said. They were welcome to anything they wanted. As they walked to the door, Killer came running up, wagging his tail. He hadn’t gone upstairs with them; he’d stayed happily enough with Nancy.
“You’re visiting here, little guy,” Nancy said. “Right? You’re leaving the pup with me? What’s his name?”
Meg looked over at Matt.
Apparently, she couldn’t bring herself to tell a woman whose niece was missing while a serial murderer was on the loose that the dog’s name was Killer.
“Kelly,” he said.
“Kelly. Cute.” Nancy smiled.
Matt prepared to leave. “Thank you. We’ll use all our resources, but if you hear from Lara, please call us immediately.”
“Definitely,” Nancy said.
“Even if someone tells you not to call the police,” Matt added.
“I’m not foolish,” Nancy said.
“Many people who aren’t foolish want a loved one back so badly they’re willing to risk anything. But if she has been abducted, you need our help.”
Nancy put her arms around Meg and hugged her again. There were suddenly tears in her eyes.