Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (137 page)

The
door
opened
behind
her
before
she
could
call
out
again.
“Ti—Aggie!”
He
stepped
inside,
rubbing
his
arms
to
warm
them.

“
Oh,
William.
I
thought
maybe
you
weren’t
here.
”

“Just
taking
out
the
trash.
I
was
coming
to
your
place
as
soon
as
Ginny
got
in
to
man
the
phones.
We
have
an
interesting
development.”

Hope
leapt
within
her.
“What?”

“Geraldine
hasn’t
been
home
since
I
spoke
with
her
yesterday.
The
server
cannot
serve
your
restraining
order.
He’s
been
trying
for
nearly
twenty-four
hours
now.
We’ve
called,
Rockland
police
have
done
drive-bys—nothing.”

Aggie
chewed
her
lip,
trying
to
think
of
where
the
woman
could
be.
“Do
you
think
it
means
something?”

“Why
would
she
be
gone
from
home
for
two
weeks
and
then
leave
again,
without
word,
within
hours
of
her
return?”
He
squeezed
the
back
of
his
chair
in
frustration.
“She’s
involved
in
this.
I
know
it.
I
just
can’t
prove
it
yet.”

“Ok,
that’s
good
though,
right?
If
she
really
does
have
Ellie,
then
that’s
good.
We
can
work
with
that.
For
all
her
weirdness,
Ellie
is
at
least
safe.
She’s
not
being
assaulted—”
Her
choked
sobs
belied
her
confidence.
“I’m
sorry.
I—”

William’s
arms
wrapped
around
her
and
gave
her
a
big
squeeze
.
“
It’s
ok,
Aggie.
You’re
right.
If
I’m
right,
and
I
’
m
sure
I
am
,
but
I
can’t
promise
it,
then
she’s
safe
in
that
regard.
Do
you
have
any
idea
where
she’d
take
her?”

Wiping
her
tears
away
did
little
to
staunch
the
fresh
flow.
Aggie
shook
her
head
and
frowned.
“But
what
about
the
man
?
Two
different
people
saw
the
man
and
the
truck.”

“It
makes
sense,
Aggie.
If
she’s
out
of
the
country,
she
has
a
perfect
alibi.
She
buys
the
right
truck,
hires
someone,
and
then
skedaddles
out
of
the
country.
I
bet
the
plan
was
to
take
her
that
day
all
along.
She’s
gone
when
Ellie
is
taken
but
arrives
the
next
day?
It’s
too
coincidental.
There
are
no
coincidences
in
crime.
Ellie
isn’t
with
a
stranger
for
too
long…”

William’s
explanation
faded
into
the
kind
of
watery
garbled
nonsense
of
movies.
Her
mind
tried
to
hear
what
he
said
,
but
failed.
Her
forehead
must
have
wrinkled
in
concentration,
because
he
shook
her
shoulder
gently.
“Aggie?”

“Wha—”

“Did
you
eat
this
morning?
Sleep
last
night?”

“Neither.
Mom
and
Dad
are
coming.
I
should
get
home,
but
is
there
something
I
should
do?
Can
do?
How
sure
are
you?”
As
if
her
mind
had
the
fog
wiped
from
it,
the
questions
flew
faster
than
William
could
answer.
“Should
I
mention
the
possibility
of
Geraldine,
or
is
it
too
early?
It’
d
really
be
good
for
Mom,
but
I
don’t
want
her
to
crash
harder
if
we’re
wrong.”