Vendetta (2 page)

Nikki nodded, then glanced at the gash where she'd noticed the blood earlier. “You know you don't have to baby me.”

He smiled at her and shook his head. “You've always been there for me, Nikki. Just let me do the same thing for you.”

Five minutes later, she sat on the tailgate of Tyler's pickup truck in the parking lot while he pulled out the first-aid kit and started cleaning her wound. He washed away the trail of blood caked with dirt from the mountainside, then covered it with an antibacterial spray.

Nikki winced.

“You're worse than Liam,” he teased.

“Funny, but that stuff—whatever it is—stings. Remember you're going to school to be a psychologist, not a doctor, Mr. Grant.”

“I think I can handle this assignment, Special Agent Boyd.”

She laughed, thankful that most of the panic was finally wearing off, because she still had her eye on conquering a couple of climbing routes that had gotten the best of her the last time she was here. Today, she was determined to stay focused and make it to the top of at least one of them.

Her phone rang, and she pulled it out of her back pocket.

She glanced at the caller ID. Unknown. “I should ignore it, but it could be my sister-in-law trying to get ahold of me. She was supposed to go see her obstetrician this morning.”

“Anything wrong?”

“Maybe. She's only got a couple weeks before her due date, but she started bleeding last night.”

Which had Nikki worried. She'd watched Matt and Jamie navigate an emotional roller coaster through eight years of infertility and three miscarriages. This pregnancy finally promised the first grandbaby of the family, and just last week they'd finished the nursery. If anything went wrong now . . .

“Go ahead.” Tyler pressed a butterfly Band-Aid over her cut. “I've got my phone on in case Liam needs me. You'd better answer.”

Nikki nodded and took the call.

“Agent Boyd.” The voice of her boss, Tom Carter, took Nikki by surprise. “How is the great outdoors treating you?”

She glanced at Tyler, who'd started putting the first-aid supplies back into the plastic case. “I'm fine, sir, thanks.”

“Good. Listen, I hate to put a wrinkle in your day, but I have a favor to ask of you.”

Nikki frowned. Saying no to her boss was somehow harder than saying no to her mother. “I'm here with Tyler Grant, sir, we're—”

“I remember you mentioned you were going climbing.” He paused. “Today's the anniversary of his wife's death, right?”

“Yeah.”

“How's he doing?”

Tyler had met her boss during a joint military training exercise designed to increase the military's ability to function in an urban setting. According to Carter, he'd been highly impressed with Tyler's skills and instincts.

“He's okay. We're having a good time. The weather's perfect.” There was no use mentioning she'd been clinging to the side of a cliff a few minutes ago, afraid for her life. “What's the favor, sir?”

“I just got a call from a friend. Actually, I went to university with his father, and we stayed close until he died. The son's name is Kyle Ellison. He's not far from where you are with his sixteen-year-old sister, celebrating her birthday over the weekend. Problem is, she went out for a walk this morning and didn't return.”

Nikki glanced at her watch. It was just past eight. “Has he called the local authorities?”

“Not yet. He's convinced she probably just wandered off the path to get a closer look at some wildlife and sprained her ankle, something like that. He called me for advice.”

“How long has she been gone?”

“He's not sure. She was gone when he got up, around seven.”

Which meant they were already looking at a minimum of two hours ago, and maybe longer.

There was another pause on the line before her boss spoke
again. “Listen, all I'm asking is for you to look into it for me. I'll text you the address of the private cabin where they're staying. Interview the brother and the girl's friends, then pass it on to the local law enforcement if you need to. The boy's scared.”

“Okay. I'll see what I can do.”

Nikki hung up the phone and glanced down at her climbing clothes. With her tan, lightweight climbing pants, orange T-shirt, and hiking shoes, she wasn't exactly dressed for the job, but it would have to do for now.

She jumped down from the tailgate. “That was my boss.”

“What did he want?” Tyler asked.

She hesitated. “A favor.”

“He wants you to work a case.”

Nikki nodded, trying to read Tyler's expression. “It shouldn't take long. A quick interview about a missing girl who's probably just lost out here somewhere.”

“I don't mind.” He shot her a smile. “As long as I get some of your mama's cooking as soon as we're done.”

Nikki laughed, hoping he truly didn't mind. She'd already begun sorting through the limited information she had. Because with missing persons cases, time was never on their side. If the girl
had
been abducted, at a mile a minute she could easily be across the state border by now. But hopefully the girl's brother was right. She'd simply gone out walking and gotten lost or turned her ankle. Most kids who went missing were found.

Nikki tossed Tyler the truck keys that he'd laid on the tailgate. “They're staying in a private cabin not far from here. I'll pull up the directions on my phone while you drive.”

The familiar feeling of guilt swirled through her as she slid into the truck and fastened her seat belt. Because not knowing what's happening to someone you love can be the hardest thing in the world to handle. And something she understood far too well.

Nikki shelved the guilt and worry as Tyler followed the narrow country road toward the cabin. The first forty-eight hours of a missing person investigation were the most crucial. Technology, including public alerts and cooperation between law enforcement agencies, had enabled officers to solve cases quicker. Especially when a possible abduction was indicated. Tyler slowed down as he drove onto the shaded drive in front of the address her boss had texted her.

Nikki pocketed her phone. “That's got to be it.”

The two-story cabin sat back from the road, its large front window overlooking the scenic view. The nearest neighbor had to be at least a mile away.

Tyler let out a low whistle as they exited the truck and started up the gravel drive. “Someone's got a bit of money to throw around. It's undeniably a step or two up from camping.” He stopped halfway up the driveway when she didn't respond. “You okay with this?”

“Definitely. It's my job.” She glanced at him, willing herself
to remain impartial and professional. It
was
her job. Bringing her own baggage with her wasn't an option.

A young man stepped out onto the front porch and into the early morning sun. Late twenties with a slender build, he wore blue jeans and a long-sleeved gray polo shirt.

“You must be the detective?” he said, worry lines creasing his forehead.

Nikki held out her hand. “Special Agent Nikki Boyd. I work with your father's friend Tom Carter, with the state's Missing Persons Task Force. This is Tyler Grant. We were out rappelling when Agent Carter called me.”

“Kyle Ellison,” he said, shaking her hand. “He told me you were going to come by. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, though my gut tells me I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill here.”

“It's always better to report something like this right away on the off chance you're wrong,” Nikki said.

“That's exactly what he told me. Why don't you both come in?” He stepped back into the house, holding the door open for them. “Do you want some coffee? I just put a fresh pot on.”

A hint of cinnamon mingled with the scent of pine as they stepped into the large open space that included the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

“Coffee would be nice,” Nikki said.

“I agree,” Tyler added. “Thanks.”

Kyle grabbed magazines, DVD cases, and empty microwave popcorn bags from the leather couch and offered them a seat before heading to the kitchen. Nikki took in the details of the room. The inside of the cabin was warm with its massive stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings. There were a few pieces of local artwork on the wall, some colorful pillows on the couches, but few personal touches. Which meant that more than likely the house was a rental property used by tourists throughout the year.

“This place is beautiful,” Tyler said.

“Yeah, it is.” Kyle grabbed two mugs from the cupboard and filled them from the coffeepot.

“Is it yours?” Nikki slid into one of the leather couches next to Tyler.

“Are you kidding?” Kyle laughed as he handed them their coffees and sat down across from them. “I don't make this kind of money. When Bridget asked to have her birthday out here, I spoke with a friend of mine who let me have it for the weekend. I figured a girl's sixteenth birthday only comes around once in a lifetime. I wanted it to be special. No roughing it.”

“What did you plan to do while you were here?” Nikki asked.

“Bridget loves the outdoors. She wanted to bring a couple of her friends up here, do some hiking. We're supposed to go white-water rafting today.”

“Can I ask you why you didn't call the local police first, Mr. Ellison?”

“Please, call me Kyle.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “I thought about calling the police, but like I said, I was afraid I was overreacting. Bridget's . . . well . . . she's a typical teen, and you know how teenagers are. She flies off the handle, then five minutes later, I'm the best brother in the world. She told her friends she was going for a walk, and to be honest, I have no reason not to believe that's exactly what she's doing.”

“Except for the fact that it's been a couple of hours now, and she hasn't come home,” Nikki said, praying he was right.

Kyle shifted in his chair. “Yes. And she's not answering her cell, which really isn't like her.”

“When was the last time you saw her?” Nikki asked.

“Late last night. The girls stayed up late watching movies. I crashed somewhere around one this morning, I guess, after playing games on my computer. The girls were upstairs in one
of the rooms. I tried to stay out of the way. Everything seemed fine when I went to bed.”

“Did you go out and look for her this morning?” Nikki took a sip of the coffee, thankful it was strong, the way she liked it.

“The girls and I spent an hour searching the trails nearby before calling Agent Carter.”

“What about a fight? Any problems with you or her friends?” Tyler asked.

“No. She seemed to be having a good time.”

Nikki glanced at Tyler, then back to Kyle. “There must be some reason you think it might be more than simply an early morning walk for you to decide to involve the authorities.”

“No . . . yes . . . I don't know.” Kyle stood up, walked to the window, and stared out across the sunlit field. “Bridget and I have had our differences over the years, but she's my sister, and I love her. I panicked when I found out she'd been gone so long. All I could think to do was call my dad's old friend.”

Nikki would buy his explanation. For now. But she couldn't ignore the fact that far more children were abducted by family members than nonfamily members. She couldn't dismiss the possibility that Kyle knew more than he was admitting.

“Has Bridget ever run away before?”

“She's gotten mad a couple of times and run off in a huff, but never for long. She went through a rough patch a few months ago, but things have actually been going better lately. She's finishing her sophomore year of high school, excels in sports, and has a few close friends.” Kyle shook his head, still staring out the window. “I work a lot, which I know isn't good, but I really don't have a choice. And things have been going well between us . . . or so I thought.”

Nikki studied Kyle's behavior—hands fisted at his sides, jaw taut, breathing faster than normal—but it was from her own experience that she could deduce what he was thinking.
Assuming he was innocent, he was walking backward along the morning's timeframe in his mind. Wondering if he'd missed a warning sign. Wondering if he'd missed something crucial that could have avoided this situation. Asking himself over and over if Bridget's life was in danger.

“Kyle.” Nikki leaned forward. “Why don't you sit down and tell us everything that happened over the past twenty-four hours. The sooner we can find out exactly what happened, the better.”

“Okay . . .” Kyle pulled himself away from the window and sat back down in his chair. “We . . . we got here yesterday evening around six. Today's a school holiday, so it gave us an extra-long weekend. Bridget invited a couple of friends to celebrate her birthday with her—Mia Foster and Chloe Rogers.”

“Did you stop on the way here?”

“Just for an early dinner. Once we arrived, we went for a short hike before dark, then planned what we wanted to do today. After that, the girls just hung out in their room for the rest of the evening. Bridget seemed . . . happy.”

“When did you notice she was missing?”

Kyle's fingers gripped the sides of the chair. “I got up this morning around seven, and noticed that the alarm to the house was turned off. Nothing seemed to be missing or out of place, so I went to check on the girls. That's when I discovered she was gone.”

“And the girls? What do they know?”

Kyle shrugged. “Apparently Bridget told them she wanted to watch the sunrise and was going out for a walk.”

“What time?”

“They weren't sure but said it was still pretty dark. Five . . . maybe closer to six? They fell back asleep and didn't wake up until I went to check on them.”

“What about her things? Are they still here?”

“As far as I could tell. Everything but her phone.”

“And you said you tried to call her?”

“Of course.” Kyle frowned. He was getting agitated again. “I called a couple dozen times, but she didn't answer. Which isn't like Bridget, trust me. The girl's phone is like another appendage. She never goes anywhere without it. If she's not texting, she's posting selfies.”

Tyler cupped his coffee mug between his hands. “What about your parents? Are they around?”

“I've been her legal guardian for the past year. Our mother . . .” Kyle's gaze dropped. “She's an addict and emotionally unstable. She walked out a couple years ago. That's when I realized I needed to step in.”

“And your father?” Nikki asked. “I understand he passed away.”

“Died of a heart attack five years ago. I think that's what set my mother off into a downward spiral. She really never recovered after his death.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Yeah, me too. It's not exactly been smooth sailing. Agent Carter has helped me, even with my getting custody of Bridget, but . . . I don't know. I love my mother, but Bridget and I are better off without her in our lives.” Kyle stared at his hands now clenched in his lap. “I'm sorry. I realize I'm a bit high-strung at the moment. I just never expected to be the father figure to a teen. Now this . . . I don't know what to do.”

Despite his distress, Nikki needed to press forward. “What do you do for a living?”

“I work in the IT department at Zamcore Pharmaceuticals in Nashville.”

“What exactly do you do there?”

“I analyze and install programs, repair and maintain servers, you name it. If it's broken, I troubleshoot the problem.”

“Any enemies?”

“Enemies?” Kyle shook his head. “It's not exactly a high-profile job.”

“These are just routine questions we need to ask,” Nikki said. “I do think we need to call in the local authorities and start an official search for your sister.” She caught the panic in Kyle's eyes. “If we start with the assumption she's lost or hurt, the local authorities will be best equipped to organize a ground search of the area.”

He caught Nikki's gaze. “What if that assumption is wrong? What if someone did take her?”

“Is there any reason for us to believe that?” she asked.

“No . . . I don't think so. It's just that I'm responsible for my sister. I can't just . . . lose her.”

She set her coffee cup down on the end table. “I don't know what happened to your sister, but I'll be honest with you. At this point, without more information, an abduction isn't something we can completely dismiss. Not yet, anyway. But the good news is that stranger abductions are far rarer than the media likes to portray. Statistically, parents are the most dangerous kidnappers, and that doesn't seem likely in this case. For teenagers—if this simply isn't just a case of her getting lost—we can't rule out the possibility that she's run away.”

Kyle's eyes narrowed. “Why would Bridget run away? We get along okay for the most part. I pay for everything, plus she gets an allowance. If anything, I'm too easy on her.”

“We have to look at all the possibilities.”

“Wait a minute.” Kyle shook his head. “You think . . . you think I had something to do with this?”

Nikki kept her voice level. “I don't know enough to make a judgment about what happened, but in a situation like this, we have to look at all the options. Which sometimes means we have to ask hard questions.”

“Like if I had something to do with her disappearance.” Kyle
stood and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, his brow furrowing in anger. “You know . . . you have no idea what I'm going through. My sister's missing. I'm responsible for her, and now you're blaming me.”

Nikki felt the punch to her gut.

“No one's blaming you.” Tyler leaned forward. “And actually, she does know what you're going through.”

Nikki glanced at Tyler and felt a surge of resentment. Keeping her emotions separate was difficult but necessary. It was what allowed her to do her job. Now Kyle was looking at her, clearly waiting for an explanation. An explanation she didn't want to give him.

She took a deep breath, then forced herself to hold his gaze and give him the answer he was waiting for. “My sister disappeared ten years ago.”

“Really? Wow . . . I'm sorry.” Kyle sat back down, clasping his hands together in front of him. “Did you ever find her?”

Her hand went automatically to the heart necklace where she kept Sarah's photo, wondering what she'd look like today if she walked through the door. “Not yet.”