Till Justice Is Served (24 page)

"Is the principal still here?" He paused until she nodded. "Get him and the keys, while I call the cops." Rafe took out his cell.

She turned and hurried away.

Rafe's first call was to Wade Beckett, who after being apprised of the situation took over the necessary notifications. Next, he called Colton and repeated what he'd just shared with the police.

"I'm on my way."

Rafe decided against alerting Erin's adoptive parents until he had more to tell them. Shoe heels hitting the tile floor sent hope rushing through his system. He spun, hoping to find Erin hurrying to him, full of explanations and apologies. His neck muscles tightened. The footsteps belonged to the principal and Mrs. Henley.

"What's this about Ms. Brady missing?" Principal Mueller's superior tone slid up Rafe's spine like a knife.

"I believe Erin has been kidnapped."

"And what are you basing that on?"

"I don't have time to explain it. You'll have to take my word. I need to look around her office."

"Shouldn't you wait for the police?" Mrs. Henley protested.

"Mr. Sirilli is FBI. Of course, he can go inside." The principal's tone had changed. He unlocked the door and moved out of the way. "Mrs. Henley, you go on home. I'll stay just in case I can help."

The conversation between the principal and his assistant barely registered with Rafe. His attention was keyed on Erin's workspace. He stood very still while his gaze traveled across every inch. Faint and soft, her perfume filled his senses. Just like her home, books, pictures, and student memorabilia lined the shelves. The computer was off, her chair pushed away from her desk, and the light had been off. Had somebody wanted it to appear as if she'd left for the day? Mrs. Henley's previous comment about Erin's love for organization told a different story.

A folder lay open on the desk with papers scattered around it as if she had been in the middle of something. The blazer she'd worn to work this morning remained draped over the back of her chair. A ceramic mug sitting on a coaster was half-full. The Erin he'd come to love—scratch that, care for—would never have left stale coffee to sit overnight. She was much too fastidious for that. But the deciding factor for him was her promise. No way would she have left with anyone other than him.

"I want every inch searched." Wade's voice boomed through the empty hall. "Call in more uniforms if you need them. Remind them to treat the school grounds as a crime scene."

Wade's voice, issuing instructions to his team, did little to ease the panic Rafe fought to keep under control. Nor did telling himself that nothing could be gained by him losing it calm his churning stomach.

Rafe introduced Wade to Principal Mueller.

"Norman. Please call me Norman," the principal said as the two men shook hands. "You, too," he said to Rafe.

Wade handed Norman a business card. "Norman, we're going to need you to stick around. There may be areas of the school we'll need you to unlock."

Norman seemed not to have heard. His gaze was on Wade's card. "You're with homicide? You think Erin is dead?"

"We hope not." Wade gave the principal a humorless smile. A patrol officer approached, and Wade spoke with him, turning back to say, "There's a reporter out front. We're not letting him or anyone else inside. It would be best if you didn't speak with the press."

Norman shook his head. "I won't."

"If you'd like to wait in your office until we've completed our investigation, that's fine."

The principal's lips thinned. "I'll have to notify the president of the school board and district police as to what's going on. They'll expect me to have answers."

"Of course, you have protocol to follow. Suggest they not speak to the media." Wade nodded his agreement. "The crime scene unit will take over shortly. My men are searching the premises. If we can complete our work before morning, the school can open on time. And you'll be notified when you can access Ms. Brady's office in case there are files you need in there."

Rafe waited until he and Wade were alone. "Erin didn't willingly walk out of here. We agreed I'd be waiting out front for her. Her blazer is still here, and there is a half-full coffee cup on her desk. Ask one of your men to start opening drawers. I'm betting you'll find her…"

A uniformed female held up a purse. Rafe's chest constricted even more. He rubbed his chest bone to ease the pressure. "That's Erin's."

"You look like you're on the edge, clinging by your fingertips. I can't have you around if you're going to fall apart. FBI or not, technically this isn't your case. It's mine."

"I'm fine," Rafe snapped, tamping down the fire in his belly.

"You can stay or go, just don't interfere with my people." Wade's radio squawked and a voice said, "Are you expecting the feds?"

The detective's eyebrows rose in question. "Are you expecting your partner?"

"Yeah."

"Send him back," Wade said into his radio.

"Will do," came the reply.

"I'll go escort him back," Rafe said, but he couldn't walk away without speaking his mind. Erin's disappearance might not be his case, but he intended to find her and the bastard responsible. "You're wasting your time here, Wade. Whoever has her was too smart to leave a calling card. Somebody tricked her into leaving or took her by force."

"We'll see if we can get a timeline on who saw her last. Get an idea of when she left."

"In the meantime, the men on that list she gave you need to be interviewed."

Wade stuffed his hands into his pants pockets. Rafe stood his ground, allowing the detective to consider Rafe's opinion. His impatience ate away at him.

"Okay, I'm issuing the FBI an invitation. I'll clear it on my end. Do you have a copy of the list?"

"Not with me. I can have it in twenty minutes."

"No need to go that far. I'll call my office. One will be waiting for you at the front desk. Go do some interviews."

Rafe released the pressure in his chest with a big breath. "Thanks."

"And stay in touch," Wade said to the back of Rafe's head.

****

Rafe scanned the list they'd just collected. Glad to have the addresses in hand, he got in Colton's pickup and buckled his seat belt.

Colton turned the key, and the engine roared to life. "Where to?"

Rafe read the address out loud. "I want the coach first. Terry Evans is just arrogant enough to think he could get away with kidnapping."

Colton entered the information into his GPS, slipped the gearshift into reverse, then backed out. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine." The imaginary strap around his chest tightened. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Don't bullshit a bullshitter. You finally found a woman who got to you. Your brother and I think it's cool."

"You met Luke? I forgot to tell him that you were staying at the house."

"Yes, you did. He was in the kitchen when I unlocked the front door and strolled in." 

"Sorry. I take it you two had a nice visit."

"We made it just fine. Shared a cup of coffee. Seems like an okay guy."

"He is. I'm glad he's home. Keeps me from having to guess what to do with Dad's belongings. Besides, now that he's out of the military, I don't have to worry about him."

"Have you asked him what he wants to do?"

"No. I figure he'll find something he likes. Why?"

"He's looking at the Texas Rangers or US Marshals Service."

"He needs to choose something safer."

"He's been sleeping with danger. It's in his blood." Colton chuckled. "He's not walking away from the military to run a tire shop."

"Fuck you. He could be a landscaper or banker."

"I'll let you tell him that."

The droning voice of the GPS announced their final turn and that their destination was two-tenths of a mile on the right. Colton pulled down the driveway and killed the engine. The coach's home sat back off the street behind large trees and a green lawn. It had pale brick trimmed out in gray and a slate-colored roof. Rafe thought the place looked like a small prison.

"Neighbors are pretty damn close." Colton pulled his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose and stared over the top of the frames. "But, then, so were the neighbors where the girl in Ohio was kept for eighteen years."

Rafe checked his watch. Had it been only a few hours since he'd gone inside the school to see what was keeping Erin? The clock was ticking and the pressure was building in his chest.

Before they reached the porch, Coach Evans opened the door. First impressions for Rafe meant a lot, and the coach looked surprised and curious.

"Coach, this is my partner, Colton Weir. We'd like to speak with you for a minute. May we come in?"

He shook Colton's hand and stepped back, waving them inside. Neither Rafe nor Colton sat, but the coach plopped down in a chair and propped his feet up.

"What's this about?"

Rafe went straight to the point. "Erin Brady is missing. We believe she's been kidnapped by someone she knows."

"Terry?" An attractive woman walked into the living room, drying her hands on a kitchen towel. "Hello. I thought I heard voices."

"My wife, Lauren." The coach made introductions. "The counselor at school is missing."

"Gentlemen, please sit down." Mrs. Evans waved toward the couch. "How can we help?"

"We're speaking with all Erin's coworkers." Rafe turned his attention to the coach. "Did you see her today?"

"Yeah. I stuck my head in her office to welcome her back."

"Did she have anybody with her?"

The coach's wife sat on the edge of her husband's footstool.

"Don't burn my supper," Evans snapped.

Pink rushed up her cheeks, but she stood. "You're right, of course. I'd better check on it."

Colton, who'd remained standing, cleared his throat. "Mrs. Evans, may I trouble you for a glass of water?"

"Bring the man a fresh bottle out of the fridge," the coach commanded.

Evans might be smart, but Rafe knew Colton wanted to speak with Mrs. Evans alone. "No, thanks. I prefer tap." He fell in step behind Mrs. Evans. "You hand me a glass, and I'll do the rest."

It was up to Rafe to keep Evans busy for a few minutes. If Colton could get Mrs. Evans to open up, they might actually learn something useful.

"He'll keep her busy with small talk, give us some privacy." Rafe leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "You were telling me about how you stopped by to welcome Ms. Brady back to work."

"Right. Nobody was in her office. I have a couple of players who are damn close to becoming ineligible. I wanted her to speak with them about their grades." Evans glanced toward the kitchen.

"You have a nice place. Mind if I take a look around?"

The coach dropped his feet to the floor and leaned forward. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I don't have time to waste. Either you have something to hide or you don't. With your reputation as a bully, guess who I thought of first? We can end this one of two ways. Colton can keep your wife busy while I look around, or I'll get a warrant and tear this place apart in front of her."

"You don't have grounds for a warrant," the coach fired back.

"Try me." Rafe glanced at his watch. It seemed to mock him, reminding him that time wasn't on his side.

"Fine." The coach propped his feet back on the stool. "Look all you want."

Colton joined Rafe after he'd thoroughly searched the house. A shed out in the backyard certainly looked like a good hiding place.

"You'll need this to get inside." Colton passed Rafe a key.

"You get this from the wife?"

"Yeah. Nice lady."

"You learn anything from her?"

"Nothing of value. She made small talk, but she kept looking over her shoulder as if she feared the coach would burst through the door any second." Colton glanced back toward the house. "I kind of wish he had."

Rafe swung the shed's double doors wide. A riding lawn mower took up half of the space. Yard tools hung in perfect order on a wall rack. The workbench had been laid out the same way. Every tool was straight and easy to find. "Too tidy," Rafe said.

Colton removed a garden spade and walked around, stabbing the sharp point into the dirt floor. Rafe shifted items and sorted through a bag of rags, looking for anything that might belong to a woman. "If this bastard has Erin, he's stashed her someplace else."

"We should see if Evans or his wife owns additional property." Colton hung up the spade.

"Good idea. Let me return the key." Rafe walked to the back door and knocked.

"I'll do it."

Rafe stepped back a few feet and let his partner take over. Seconds later, Mrs. Evans opened the door.

"He really doesn't like to be disturbed while he's having his evening meal."

"Did your husband kidnap Ms. Brady?"

Her head moved left then right slightly.

Colton took out his card and handed it to her. "Call me if you need help."

She stuffed the card in her pocket and stepped closer. "Thank you."

"There are places you can go for help. Places where you'll be safe."

She nodded and closed the door.

"She won't call," Colton said, shaking his head.

They walked away in silence. Both were worried about the coach's wife and what went on behind closed doors. Rafe joined Colton in his truck and read over the names on the list 

"Who's next?" Colton asked.

"We wasted a lot of time on Coach Evans. I'd have put money on him." Rafe's nerves were stretched thin. His shoulders ached, and his fear for Erin worsened with each passing minute. "Charles Parker is the history teacher. The list says he's single. I'll call Beckett and ask for real estate information on the coach."

The GPS voice irritated the shit out of Rafe. Odd, the flat monotone had never bothered him before. It wasn't like Erin's upbeat and confident voice.

Was she hurting? Cold? Hungry? He refused to believe her life was in jeopardy. If the stalker believed himself to be in love with Erin, he'd keep her alive. But Erin would never give in. The more she protested and argued, the more dangerous her stalker would become.

"Stay with me." Colton's slow drawl interrupted the fear building in Rafe's mind.