Rick managed to smile even though she could see the disappointment—and some sadness—in his eyes. “Are you sure I’m not onto something here?” he asked. “It felt so right.”
“Did you show these to the police?” Jenna asked. “You said you didn’t think they’d listen to you, but they might look at these photos.”
“I talked to a detective back home,” he said. “He basically blew me off.”
“The photos aren’t very conclusive.” Jenna reached back to earlier in their conversation, before the ridiculous photos appeared. “You said someone on one of the message boards told you about Celia’s grandparents being from Indiana?”
“Yes. I showed her the pictures too. Online, in a private chat. See, I didn’t want to share them publicly and make a big stink before I knew more. But I showed them to this lady, and she had a different reaction from you. She said she thought they were Celia.”
“And this is the same person who told you about Indiana?”
“That’s right.”
“And who is this?” Jenna asked. Her phone rang. Jared. She had forgotten to check in. She held up her finger. “I’m sorry, Rick. I have to take this. It’s my son.”
“Jared.”
Jenna gave him a look, one she hoped said back off. She didn’t like him acting so familiar with her son. Rick looked down.
“Hey, bud, I’m sorry,” Jenna said. “I’m fine. I just forgot to call.”
“Mom, you’ve got to get home.”
He sounded frantic.
“What happened?”
“Just get home. You need to get back here.”
“Did you call the police?” Jenna asked.
“We don’t need the police. Just get here. I need your help. We need your help.”
We?
“I’m on my way.” She grabbed her purse and coat and stood up. “I have to get home.”
“Do you want a ride? You said something about the police. I can help—”
“No.”
She started to go, but Rick’s voice brought her back. “Do you want to know the person’s name so you can check her out?”
“Whose name?”
“On the message board. The one who saw the pictures.”
“I don’t care, Rick.”
“Teddy Bear,” he said. “That’s it. Teddy Bear.”
“Thanks for the muffin.” Jenna rushed out of the diner.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
Jenna raced across the lawn. Then she was up the stairs and trying the front door, which was locked. She fumbled for her keys and knocked at the same time. She was worried something had happened inside, that whatever was upsetting Jared had rendered him unable to open the door.
But before she pulled her keys out, she heard the lock unlatching from the other side. Jared yanked the door open, stepping back as Jenna came in. He looked unhurt, but his eyes were wide.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
He closed the door behind her and locked it again. She spun to see him better and asked the question once more.
He placed his hand on her arm and started guiding her toward the kitchen. “You’ve got to be cool, Mom.”
“About what?”
“I thought about not calling you. I really did. I thought about leaving and maybe telling you later where we were.”
“Why would you do that? And who’s we?”
“But I think we need your help,” he said. “I think we’re all in over our heads at this point.”
They reached the entrance to the kitchen, his hand still on her arm.
Jenna saw Natalie Rose sitting at their table.
? ? ?
The girl looked scared. And dirty.
Her left cheek was smeared with something that might have been blood and might have been mud. Her jeans were streaked with dirt, and the material on her right knee was torn, exposing her skin. Her hair was greasy and matted as though she hadn’t bathed for days.
“Shit,” Jenna said. “Are you okay?”
The girl nodded, averting her eyes.
Jenna dropped her purse and coat on the floor. She moved away from Jared and toward the girl she knew was named Natalie. She watched Jenna with big, scared eyes. Jenna came alongside her and did the only thing she could think to do. She wrapped her arms around Natalie and pulled her close. Natalie didn’t resist. She smelled musty and rank, but Jenna wouldn’t let go. She didn’t care about anything else but making sure the girl felt safe.
“Thank you,” Natalie said, her voice just above a whisper.
Her mother was probably dead. How long had it been since someone had held her this way? The way only a mother could?
Jenna straightened up. “How did you end up here?”
“Mom, can we go easy on her? She’s been through hell to get here. She came to the door right after you left, so it hasn’t even been that long.”
He was right. She knew he was. Jenna turned back to Natalie and once again took in her condition. Dirty, ragged, smelly, and scared. No one wanted to sit around like that.
“Are you hurt?” Jenna asked. “I’m a nurse, you know. Is anything on your body hurt?”
“No. Not really.”
“Do you want to take a shower?” Jenna asked. “Have you eaten anything?”
“I ate a little. But I would like a shower, if you don’t mind.”