Deadly Image (6 page)

“I know.” The softness of his voice surprised her. It was almost as if he understood. Almost as if he believed her.

“Why haven’t they called? I don’t understand what they want from me?”

“I’m sure we’ll know soon.” Ace removed his knuckle from her chin and patted her shoulder. From anyone else it would have seemed like an awkward gesture, but for some reason Lexi took comfort in it. She closed her eyes for a moment. It would be so easy to lean against his strong shoulders. To take strength from his broad form.

But she couldn’t. Not while he still considered her a suspect.

Lexi’s eyes flew open. “What if Anna’s hurt? What if she needs me? What if–”

“Don’t.” Ace squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t torture yourself with what ifs. We don’t know anything yet. And that includes the bad.”

“I don’t think I can do this much longer,” Lexi whispered. “I miss her so much.”

Blood pounded in her temples. Dizziness washed over her and her insides felt like a massive cocoon of butterflies had just hatched.

“You have to. For Anna.” Ace took her hand and held it between his. She could feel moisture collecting in hers as her body broke out into a cold sweat. But, somehow, Ace’s hands, firmly grasping hers, had a calming effect on her. “You’re not alone, Lexi. Your parents are here for you and we have many, many people out looking for Anna. Something’s bound to turn up sooner or later. The whole community wants to help you.”

Lexi shook her head. Pain shot through her temples with each shake. “They don’t want to help me. Everyone thinks I did it. The community just wants justice. They’re hoping I’ll slip up so they can put me in jail and throw away the key.” Lexi’s hand tightened on the book. “I’ve seen the accusing looks and heard the whispers.”

“That’s not true. Mandy Whitman’s church is holding vigil for Anna Saturday night. She wants you to come. She wants you to know the church is there for you if you need anything.”

“I can’t go.” The words burst from her lips in a rush. “I just can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t deal with the accusations right now. I didn’t do anything to my daughter and I have no way of proving it. I can’t deal with that and with the fact my daughter is missing too.” Lexi’s voice caught. The entire ordeal was exhausting. “I–It’s too much.”

“You’re wrong. The church just wants to help. No one is accusing you.”

“You are.” The two simple words trembled from her lips and hung in the air between them.

Ace inhaled sharply. “I won’t lie to you, Lexi. I have to investigate every possible lead. My personal feelings on the matter aren’t relevant. Only the facts.”

Lexi’s gaze caught his. “And what are your personal feelings? Do
you
think I did something to Anna?”

She held her breath as she waited on his answer, not realizing how important it was for him to believe her until she had asked the question. She
needed
him to believe her. Needed to know someone besides her parents believed
in
her. She needed it just as much as she needed oxygen to breath.

* * *

Questioning blue eyes stared up at Ace, pleading for an answer he couldn’t give.

Not yet anyway.

“Let’s get some coffee.” Ace took Lexi’s elbow and guided her toward the door. Her body deflated like four tires hitting road spikes, disappointment ebbing from every pore.

Ace tightened his jaw. No matter how many cases he was involved in or how many years he’d been on the force, this job never seemed to get any easier.

He knew better than to get personally involved with any case, but this time was different.

It
felt
personal.

Which was ridiculous since he knew next to nothing about Lexi. Yet, somehow, he felt a connection with her. Something he’d never experienced before with any other woman.

Dangerous ground there, Valdez. You know better than to let any woman get under your skin. Especially a case.

Ace pushed the thought to the side. He needed to focus on Anna and the facts. Not on Lexi’s china blue eyes begging him to help her. Or the way she seemed to be aware of him too. Like when her fingers barely brushed his when handing him a pen or when her shoulder touched him ever so lightly as they passed in the hall. The soft gasp from her lips told him she had felt something too.

Lord, please help me keep this case on a professional basis and give me the wisdom to determine Lexi’s innocence or guilt. And please keep Anna safe until we can find her.

Ace led Lexi into the hall. He finished his prayer as Zach strode toward them with a solemn look on his ruddy, round face.

Ace’s heart bungee-jumped to his toes.

The news couldn’t be good.

Zach stopped in front of them, eyes darting to Lexi then back to Ace. “Ace, I need to talk to you privately.”

Ace nodded and turned to Lexi. “Excuse me for–”

“No.” Lexi stiffened. “Whatever it is, I should hear it too.” Ace felt a sudden quiet strength take hold of her. He could almost feel the steel wall snapping into place around her, protecting her from what he knew would not be good news.

Guilt niggled at him. He wished
he
could have been the one to protect her from all of this. But he couldn’t. Not while she remained their key suspect.

Zach looked at Ace and shook his head sharply. “Ms. Yates, it would be best if I spoke with Ace in–”

“Whatever you have to say, Agent Cartwright, you can say it in front of me. I’ve waited for four grueling days to find out something – anything – about my daughter, and I don’t intend to let you tiptoe around it now.” The determination in Lexi’s voice surprised Ace. Other than a small quiver in her voice, it was apparent Lexi had more strength in her than he’d given her credit for.

Then again, he should have realized that. He’d seen flashes of it when he’d tried to break her in the interview room four days ago. Without success, he realized ruefully.

Lexi drew herself up to her full height. Probably no more than five six. Though he towered over her by several inches and Zach was a couple of inches taller than her himself, Lexi didn’t seem to notice. Or care. Twin blue lasers pinned Zach with a non- negotiable stare. “Where is Anna?”

Zach shifted his weight to his left foot and shot Ace a helpless look.

Ace nodded. “It’s okay. You can speak freely in front of Lexi. What did you find?”

Zach’s gaze zoned in on Lexi. “We have a credible eye witness who can place Lexi with Anna around three-thirty the day the child disappeared. An hour and a half
after
Anna was allegedly taken from the daycare.”

CHAPTER FOUR

That’s not possible. I was here. Wallpapering Anna’s room
.

Ace pulled a hand through his hair as Lexi’s denial tumbled through his mind. She’d sounded so sincere he had almost believed her.

Yet here was the proof.

In black and white.

“Stop. Pause it right there.” Ace leaned over Sam’s shoulder and studied the security tape. “There.” He pointed to the grainy picture on the monitor in the Gator Bayou Police Department. “Is that a scar on her left shoulder? Or maybe a tattoo?” It was hard to tell what was on her shoulder beneath the tank top.

“I don’t see anything.” Sheriff Dawson adjusted his glasses and peered closer. “I think it’s just poor quality video. I’m sure Bill’s Best Burgers doesn’t use top-notch surveillance to monitor fast food theft. Do you see anything, Deputy Owens?”

“No. Just looks like the Yates woman to me.” Rob Owens leaned over Ace’s shoulder to get a better look. “I say it’s her.”

“Could be, but you’re right. The image quality isn’t very good, so I can’t be a hundred percent positive.” Ace was just thankful the teenage girl working behind the counter four days ago had remembered seeing Anna. She’d recognized her from the news report and had called the station. The sheriff had secured the security tape from the manager of the hamburger joint located a few miles south of Gator Bayou. Luckily, the manager, Bill Walker, had been more than happy to give it to him. Another plus of small towns. Most of the townsfolk were usually willing to help each other any way they could.

“Doesn’t matter.” Sheriff Dawson looked over his shoulder at Ace. “That’s definitely Lexi and Anna at the counter. The time stamp on the tape is 3:32. We have enough now to bring her to the station for formal questioning.”

Ace studied the picture on the screen. Sheriff Dawson was right. The grainy image of the woman on the tape did look like Lexi. Same light-colored, shoulder-length hair. Same build. Same upturned nose. And even though the image wasn’t perfectly clear, the woman’s resemblance to Lexi was remarkable. He couldn’t see the color of her eyes since the video was in black and white, but if he were a betting man, he’d stake his career on the fact they were china blue. Nor was there any question that the young child with her was Anna.

But something wasn’t right. Anna appeared frightened and she kept pulling her hand from Lexi’s.

Ace frowned. The child seemed to be crying. “Hit play. I want to see the rest of it.”

Sheriff Dawson pressed the play button. The rest of the footage lasted only a few minutes. Lexi tapped her foot impatiently while she waited on the order. She kept a tight grasp on Anna’s hand and every few seconds she looked around nervously as if worried someone was watching her. Then the African-American teenager behind the counter handed Lexi a bag. She took it without a backwards glance and pulled a reluctant Anna toward the door.

Ace blinked. Was Lexi limping? He leaned closer to the monitor. Yep. Definitely favoring her right foot.

Only Lexi didn’t have a limp.

“You ready to bring her in?” Sheriff Dawson leaned back in the chair and rubbed his chin.

“I want to talk with the teenager first.” Pressure squeezed at Ace’s temples, and he fished a caramel from his jacket pocket. He didn’t care for the smug tone in Sheriff Dawson’s voice. Something didn’t
feel
right about this and his gut instinct told him something didn’t add up.

* * *

The scent of grilled onions and burgers greeted Ace when he pushed open the glass door to Bill’s Best Burgers less than an hour later. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he’d skipped lunch.

Ace glanced at his wrist watch. Two-fifteen. The dining room was nearly empty since the lunch crowd had cleared out.

Good. Maybe the teenager would have time to talk.

Ace walked up to the counter.

“Can I help you?” A robust woman with bright red hair and a pen stuck behind her ear greeted him from behind the register. She smiled broadly.

Ace flashed his badge. “I’m Special Agent Valdez. I’d like to speak with Tenesha if she’s here.”

The woman – whose name tag read Louise – lost her smile. “Is she in some kind of trouble? I’m the assistant manager and I don’t put up that sort of thing on my shift.”

“No, nothing like that. I just have some questions for her.”

Louise stared at him for a moment as if deciding whether or not he was trouble, then she finally nodded and turned to holler over her shoulder. “Tenesha! I need you up front.”

Moments later a slender, light-skinned African-American girl emerged from behind the shake machine carrying a wet rag in one hand. Puzzled, she looked around the nearly empty dining room. “You needed me, Miss Louise?”

“This agent wants to talk to you.”

Tenesha set the rag on the counter and looked at Louise questioningly.

“Go ahead. It’s slow. You can take a short break.” Louise nodded toward Ace with a frown. “There just better not be any trouble.”

“I assure you she’s not in any trouble.” Ace smiled at the teenager. “Are you the one who called the police station about the missing little girl?”

“Oh, that poor child!” Louise waved her hand in the air. “Is that what this is about?” She shook her head sympathetically. “Go on, Tenesha. Talk to the detective.” She shook her head. “I do hope you find her. Such a sweet little thing.”

“So do I.” Ace waited for Tenesha to come from behind the counter. “We’ll talk over there.” He pointed to a small table in the back.