It was the first time anyone had even hinted about Meagan being taken by someone.
“I called Melissa and she told me Meagan was going to a meeting with a group of moms about bullying. Supposedly her daughter went to the same school as Mitchell did.”
“Name?”
“Susan Powell and she thinks the daughter’s name is Kate.”
Derrick nodded his head. “Let’s get these names ran through the high schools and see if we can find a hit on either one of them.”
I was about to say something else when all the air left my lungs. “It’s right in front of us.”
Derrick gave me a confused look.
“Joshua Black.”
It didn’t take long for us both to get into the car and race over to his office.
Stepping off the elevator, Derrick and I headed straight to Black’s office. “Excuse me! Sir . . . um . . . you can’t just go into his office! Sir!”
I pulled out my badge and showed Black’s receptionist as I pushed the door to his office open. The same blonde I’d seen him with before jumped up and stumbled backwards as she covered her body with her shirt.
“Jesus Christ! You can’t just come barging into my office like that!”
Glancing over to the blonde, I motioned for her to leave. “Next time lock your door,” Derrick said from behind me.
“Where is she?” I said as I walked up to Joshua and grabbed him. Derrick was right there, pulling me away from him.
“Easy, Gray. Take it easy.”
Joshua smoothed out his suite and gave me a confused look. “Where is who?”
“Meagan! She’s gone. What did you do to her?”
Narrowing his eyes, Joshua looked between Derrick and me. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
I slammed my hands on his desk and yelled out, “I don’t have time for this, Black! Tell me what you know or so help me God I will give up everything just to beat it out of your ass!”
Swallowing hard, Joshua held up his hands. “Okay . . . okay . . . just take it easy because I’m really confused what in the hell it is you’re talking about.”
“Joshua? Is everything okay in here?”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Mr. Black standing there. “Yeah, everything is . . . um . . . it’s fine. I’ve got it under control, Dad.”
Shooting me a dirty look, Mr. Black took two steps back. “I’ll be right out here if you need anything, son.”
Joshua ran his hand through his hair and nodded.
When the door shut, I walked up and got in his face. “What did you have to do with the murders?”
His mouth dropped open. “W-what? Nothing!”
“Why were you so interested in them then?” Derrick asked as he walked around Black’s office.
“Wait. Someone please just tell me what is going on. You mentioned Meagan, is she okay?”
My heart jumped to my throat as I fought to say the words. “She’s missing.”
Joshua’s eyes widened in shock as he closed them and shook his head. “Oh God.”
“I’m not going to lie and tell you that I wasn’t planning on finding you sitting in your office playing around with your girlfriend.”
Pulling his head back, he asked, “You think I had something to do with this?”
“I think you have a lot to do with a lot of things, Black.”
With a shake of his head, Joshua walked around his desk and pushed a button on his phone. “Yes, Mr. Black.”
“Lacy, get me Bob Freeman on the phone please.”
Taking a quick peek over in Derrick’s direction, I noticed him writing something down; I was guessing the name Joshua just used.
I was running out of time. The longer we stood around and played games, the more dangerous it was for Meagan. “Who is Bob Freeman?” I asked.
Joshua took in a deep breath and pushed it out. “Let me start from the beginning.”
“I don’t have fucking time for you to start from the beginning. My fiancée is missing and the longer we stand here the more of a chance that whoever took her his going to hurt her.”
My cell phone rang as I pulled it out, praying to God it would be Meagan.
It was Meagan’s parents. I hated doing it, but I sent them to voicemail. I needed more information before I talked to them.
“Listen, I understand, detective, but please let me talk.”
Anger was beginning to mix with the fear and I knew that was a bad combination for me.
With my hand, I motioned for him to go on.
“Bob Freeman is a client of mine. He’s been in and out of jail for the last two years for different reasons. Usually being hauled in for public intoxication. I started to get suspicious of him several months ago.”
“What do you mean?” Derrick asked.
Joshua shrugged. “He made a few comments that bothered me. They were always about the girls who were found raped or murdered. I started trying to piece information together, get as much information on the cases as I could.”
Pinching my eyes together, I asked, “Is that why you always asked us all those questions?”