“You can’t possibly think we kidnapped a teenage girl.”
“The woman who took this picture says you approached Sandy Young. Frightened her enough that the girl ran off.”
Darcy looks at Hensel, who shrugs.
“I don’t remember this girl,” Hensel says, squinting at the picture. “But we spoke to quite a few people.”
“Yes, you asked questions about Nina Steyer, the last kidnapped girl from ten years ago. And we know you were at Maury’s inquiring about Nina. An hour later, the first kidnapping in a decade occurred after dozens of people saw you speaking to Sandy Young. It makes me wonder why you’re so interested in Nina and why you wanted to speak with Sandy.”
“Like Agent Hensel said, we met many people in the park,” says Darcy. “I don’t recognize this girl, but we’ll help you find her.”
Tipton itches his stubble.
“What business did you have in town before you stopped at Maury’s?”
“We purchased a replacement door for Laurie’s house. I have the receipt.” Darcy stands so she can dig the wallet out of her jeans. She hands the receipt to Tipton, who looks it over and hands it back. “Sheriff, we’re trying to help. Margaret, the waitress who spoke with us at the diner, saw Nina.”
“Our people already interviewed Margaret Polson. She saw a girl who looked like an older version of Nina Steyer, but who can say what Nina would look like if she was still alive today?”
“She’s still alive. Her appearance and Sandy’s abduction are related, Sheriff, and somehow they tie in with Michael Rivers and my sister’s stalker. This can’t be the only kidnapping. Are you certain there are no other missing girls in the area?”
Tipton knots his fingers together.
“Not in my county. Not in over ten years.”
Darcy’s eyebrow arches.
“Not in your county? Is that a way of saying a kidnapping occurred outside your jurisdiction?”
Tipton shakes his head.
“Girl by the name of Emily Vogt went missing outside Atlanta, but that’s nowhere near Millport.”
“Age?”
Tipton swallows an angry reply and taps his fingers against the desk.
“Fourteen.”
“Same age as Sandy Young?”
Tipton doesn’t answer, only glares at her.
“If you want our help, we’ll give you anything you need. But you can’t hold us because some woman spotted us in the park. Either press charges or let us walk.”
Darcy holds her breath, hoping she won this game of chicken. The truth is Sheriff Tipton can hold them overnight if he chooses, but Darcy doesn’t believe his conviction is strong enough. Tipton glares at them, then he snatches the photographs and slides them inside the folder.
He keeps them inside the interrogation room for another half-hour, asking them mundane questions until he’s written a novel based on their actions since three o’clock.
“No charges tonight,” Tipton says, tossing down the pen. “Neither of you leaves my county until I say so. Do we have an understanding?”
Hensel, reserved to this point, shoves his chair back and stands.
“You know where to find us.”
“Fine. I’ll have Deputy Filmore drive you home.”
Filmore doesn’t speak during the ride. His eyes meet theirs in the mirror and dart back to the road. He radios back to the department when the cruiser turns down Laurie’s driveway. Then he rounds the vehicle and opens the back door. Darcy shrugs her bag over her shoulder and waits for Hensel. Filmore locks eyes with her, and for a split-second she’s certain the deputy wants to say something. Then he climbs into the cruiser and backs out.
Jennifer, Hunter, and Laurie await them on the porch. It’s after ten, the long day hanging heavy on Darcy’s bones as she climbs the steps. Laurie touches Darcy’s shoulder.
“Well?”
“Go inside,” Darcy tells Hunter and Jennifer. Jennifer opens her mouth, and Darcy shoots her a warning glare. “Do as I say. I’ll be in soon.”
Hunter’s defiance earns him a pointed look from Darcy, and he marches into the house behind Jennifer. Laurie grasps Darcy’s arms and searches her face.
“Why did Sheriff Tipton take you to the station?”
“A girl was kidnapped this afternoon. A teenager named Sandy Young.”
“That’s terrible, but what does that have to do with you?”
“We stopped at the park, and apparently Sandy was there, and a woman saw us talk to her.”
Laurie puts a hand on her forehead.
“So the backwoods sheriff assumes the two strangers in town must be kidnappers, even though one is a federal agent and the other retired from the FBI three years ago. How’s that for southern hospitality? Don’t mess around. Get a lawyer, but nobody from this county. You can’t trust anyone here.”
“Laurie, we won’t need a lawyer,” Hensel says, sitting on the top step.
“Don’t be so sure. What were you doing at Cass Park in the first place?”
“We stopped and showed Nina Steyer’s picture around, hoping someone saw her,” Darcy says.
“Wait, that’s the abducted girl. I see the posters around town, but she disappeared ten years ago.”
“Two people claim they saw her over the last month at Maury’s. Tipton doesn’t believe their stories, but it’s possible the kidnapper is also your stalker.”
Darcy holds back that many serial killers begin with petty crimes and graduate to kidnapping before they acquire a taste for murder.
“All right, stop. Just stop.” Laurie holds up her hand. “I appreciate your concern, but if you throw wild theories around in this county, you’ll end up in more trouble than you can imagine.”
“I don’t think so. Sheriff Tipton is a good man.” Even Hensel glances at Darcy in disbelief. “He’s desperate and grasping at straws. Put yourself in his position. Ten years ago, someone kidnapped four girls. Three bodies, one girl never found. The FBI failed to find the killer, but any lawman takes it personally when tragedy occurs on his watch. Tipton won’t admit it, but the Nina talk has him rattled. Now he’s staring at another abduction, and the public will have his head if he doesn’t bring this girl back alive.”
Laurie slumps against the railing and rubs a tension cramp out of her shoulder.
“Tipton shouldn’t have blamed you. That’s just ridiculous. I’m sorry you came here. I’m responsible for this mess.”
“He didn’t blame us,” Darcy says, kneeling down beside Laurie.
“Well, he sorta did,” Hensel says, giving her an unconvinced shrug over Laurie’s shoulder.
“All that matters is we figure out who’s kidnapping girls in Scarlet River, and that begins with tracking down Nina Steyer.”
Hunter appears ready for war when Hensel and Laurie trail Darcy into the kitchen.
“It’s happening again. Same as Genoa Cove.”
“No, Hunter,” Darcy says, running her hands under the water and wiping them on the towel. “It was a misunderstanding, Your mom isn’t in trouble.”
“Then why did he put you in the back of a sheriff’s cruiser and drive you to the station? I heard what Laurie said about getting a lawyer. You should.”
Darcy wonders what else Hunter heard.
“Agent Hensel and I aren’t under arrest.”
“Not yet,” Jennifer says. Her eyes are red as she wipes a tear on her sleeve. “Wait until he comes back. We never should have come here.”
Jennifer storms up the stairs before Darcy can reply.
“That one is on you,” Darcy says, glaring at Hunter while she tilts her head toward the staircase. “I’ll be up to talk with both of you soon. Right now, sit with your sister and keep her grounded.”
Hunter lowers his head and climbs the stairs. When the door slams shut, Darcy sighs and taps her knuckles on the table.