Chapter 4: The Second Girl
For several seconds, nobody in the diner spoke.
Rain continued pounding against the windows. The police radios crackled. Daniel Whitmore stood between two officers, his expensive coat dripping onto the floor.
But all I could think about was what Lily had just told me.
"How many children, sweetheart?""
Lily looked down at her shoes.
"Two.""
"Two children?""
She nodded.
"Me and another girl.""
I crouched so we were at eye level.
"Do you know her name?""
"Emma.""
"How old is Emma?""
"Six.""
Her voice trembled.
"She has curly brown hair. She likes dinosaurs.""
I glanced at Detective Harris.
"We need to find her.""
Daniel laughed.
It was a short, cold sound.
"You're seriously entertaining this?""
Harris turned toward him.
"Mr. Whitmore, I'd strongly recommend you stop talking.""
Daniel adjusted his expensive watch.
"Detective, I've known your captain for twelve years. I suggest you call him before making another mistake.""
Harris hesitated.
I noticed.
So did Maggie.
"What's the matter, officer?"" she asked.
"Afraid of upsetting somebody important?""
Harris ignored her.
He stepped aside and made a phone call.
I turned back to Lily.
"How did you meet Emma?""
She rubbed her fingers together.
"At the house.""
"What house?""
"The big house where Daddy takes girls.""
Daniel suddenly stepped forward.
"That's enough!""
One officer blocked him.
"Stay back, sir.""
Lily flinched so violently that she nearly fell off the booth.
I placed myself between them.
"Nobody is going to hurt you.""
Daniel's face reddened.
"You have no right to speak to my daughter.""
Lily looked up at him.
"You're not my daddy.""
His expression changed.
For a moment, something ugly slipped through his carefully rehearsed smile.
Then he turned toward the officers.
"This is harassment. My attorney will be here in ten minutes.""
I wasn't interested in his attorney.
I was interested in the little girl.
"Lily, can you tell me where Emma is?""
She nodded.
"There's a white house with a red door. Daddy says it's a special place.""
"Where?""
"I don't know. We drive for a long time.""
She paused.
"There's a windmill outside. And a blue mailbox.""
I looked at Maggie.
"Do you have somewhere private where she can sit?""
Maggie nodded.
"Kitchen. There's a back room.""
I helped Lily stand.
Before we moved, she caught my hand.
"Mr. Cole?""
"Yes?""
"Don't tell Daddy where we're going.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was watching us.
His expression was perfectly calm again.
"Don't worry," I whispered.
Maggie led Lily toward the kitchen.
I followed, but before we reached the door, Daniel spoke.
"Mercer.""
I turned.
He smiled.
"You were in the military, weren't you?""
"Yes.""
"Honorable discharge?""
I didn't answer.
He continued.
"I know people who can make certain old records very interesting.""
It was an obvious threat.
I stepped closer.
"Then I hope your people are better at reading records than you are at raising children.""
His smile vanished.
Harris called from across the diner.
"Mercer, I need you here.""
I returned to the main room.
He held his phone against his ear.
"My captain wants this handled quietly.""
"Quietly?""
"He says Mr. Whitmore is a prominent local businessman.""
"And the little girl?""
Harris looked uncomfortable.
"We're waiting for child services.""
I stared at him.
"Another child may be in danger.""
"I understand.""
"Do you?""
He lowered his voice.
"Listen, I have a wife and two kids. I can't afford to lose my badge over something I don't understand.""
I studied him.
"Then understand it.""
Before he could answer, the diner telephone rang.
Maggie emerged from the kitchen.
"That's the landline.""
She picked it up.
"Hello? Maggie's Grill.""
Her face changed.
"Who?""
She looked directly at me.
"Yes, he's here.""
She handed me the phone.
A woman's voice came through.
"Is my daughter with you?""
"Are you Claire Whitmore?""
"Yes. Please, tell me Lily is alive.""
I glanced toward the kitchen.
"She's safe for the moment.""
Claire began sobbing.
"Oh, thank God.""
"Where are you?""
"At St. Mary's Hospital. I was discharged yesterday, but Daniel's people have been watching the house. I couldn't get to her.""
"Do you know about another girl named Emma?""
Silence.
Then Claire whispered something that made my stomach tighten.
"Emma is my niece.""
I gripped the telephone.
"Your niece?""
"My sister's daughter. She disappeared six weeks ago.""
"Do you know where she is?""
"I think Daniel does.""
Her voice broke.
"Cole, there's something you need to know. Emma wasn't the first.""
I looked toward the kitchen.
"How many?""
Claire began crying again.
"Seven.""
Before I could ask another question, she whispered:
"Find the blue mailbox. And whatever you do, don't trust the police officer named Harris.""
The call disconnected.
I slowly lowered the phone.
May you like
Across the diner, Harris was watching me.
And he knew I'd just learned something.
