Andrea Kane - The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

Hope stepped away from her mother and dashed the tears off her cheeks. “That’s why you’re here,” she informed Sidney. She gestured toward the group of waiting professionals. “It certainly isn’t for a family reunion. So go see what you can do.”

Sidney was entrenched in mug shots and recaps when Casey’s cell phone rang.

“Hey,” Ryan greeted her. “Marc called and told me what’s going on. Sidney Akerman there yet?”

“He got here about an hour ago,” Casey replied quietly. “I’m not sure what’s going on. The FBI’s not in a sharing mood. They’re pissed at me about the ransom drop. By their rules, I should have shared my suspicions with them before I took off to follow Hope.”

“Yeah, well, by their rules I wouldn’t be calling you with this interesting bit of info.”

“I’m listening.”

“Henry Kenyon’s construction company was bought up after he died. Guess who the buyer was? Bennato Construction, employer of one Joe Deale.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. And from what I’m pulling up, Bennato is connected- mob connected.”

“This one I’m going to share,” Casey said.

“By all means.” Ryan chuckled. “It might get you back into Hutch’s good graces.”

“Goodbye, Ryan.”

“One more thing. When the FBI wants to pick up Deale, he’s at the Laketown Bridge. They’re repaving.”

“Thanks.” Casey ended the call on her BlackBerry.

“That was one of my associates,” she announced to the task force. “Evidently, the construction company Sidney worked for was bought up after the owner died.”

Guy Adams shot her an impatient look. “So?”

“So the company who bought it is Bennato. I’m sure you know they’re reputed to have mob connections.”

“We’re aware of that.”

“Wait a minute.” Hutch rapidly scanned his notes. “Claudia Mitchell’s fiancé works for Bennato.”

“Exactly,” Casey replied. “Joe Deale. I doubt that’s a coincidence. Nor is the fact that Bennato recently repaved the parking lot and playground of Krissy’s elementary school. Joe worked on that project.”

There was a long moment of silence.

“How is it you have access to all that information?” Guy asked in a clipped tone.

“That’s not important. I just do. I also know he’s at the Laketown Bridge right now, working on a repaving job.”

“Let’s bring him in- now. ” Peg was already at the door as she spoke.

Hope was thoughtful for a moment after the handful of agents peeled out. Her brows were knit together in concentration.

“Bennato,” she murmured. “Edward, didn’t you represent someone by that name a while back?”

Edward cleared his throat. “More than a while. Over a decade.” This was one he clearly wished his wife had forgotten.

“Was it the same Bennato as the one Casey is referring to?”

“Yes, Hope, it was. Tony Bennato. But I represented him on a domestic, not a business matter.”

“What kind of domestic matter?” Casey asked at once.

“A rather complicated divorce.”

“Really. That’s unusual, considering you’re not a matrimonial attorney.”

Edward bristled. “There were some criminal charges involved. Bennato’s ex was suing him on charges of assault and ongoing physical abuse. It was a high-profile case for me at the time. So I took it.”

“And you won, of course.”

“I did.” Edward’s jaw was working. “Any organized crime allegations didn’t impact my defense preparation. Nor were they a factor in the trial.”

“How much were you paid?” Hutch inquired. He and Grace had stayed behind to continue their behavioral analyses, while several of the CARD team members and investigative agents had taken off to bring in Joe Deale.

“How would I remember that? It was over ten years ago.”

Hutch gave an offhand shrug. “I’m just curious if Tony Bennato paid you by check or cash.”

Hope shifted a bit at the question, uncomfortably lowering her gaze.

Edward was far less subtle and far more vocal. “Are you accusing me of something, Agent Hutchinson?”

“No. I’m just trying to establish the nature of your business relationship with Mr. Bennato.”

“I defended him,” Edward said. “He was found to be innocent of all charges. Further, he walked away with most of his monetary assets. He was happy. I was happy. Our relationship ended there. And I’ve had no contact with him since.”

“Wow,” Casey commented. “That must have been some defense you mounted.”

“I’m an excellent attorney, Ms. Woods. My reputation speaks for itself.”

“Indeed, it does.”

Casey made sure to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. Still, from the corner of her eye, she saw Ashley-who was standing in the far corner of the hallway-wince. The poor girl obviously thought Casey was making a veiled reference to Edward’s infidelity. The truth was, that was the last thing on her mind. What she was thinking was what a sleazebag Edward was, and how she wouldn’t dismiss the prospect of his own mob dealings.

“The fact is, Tony Bennato would have no reason to hold a grudge against me,” Edward was concluding. “And, if he did, he wouldn’t have shelved it for ten years. Krissy wasn’t even born when I handled his case.”

“Point taken,” Hutch replied. “Unless there were some under-the-table payments involved. Those tend to prompt very long memories, and very high expectations. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Edward’s only response was a glittering stare.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” Hutch continued. “Unless you’d rather save us some time and tell us how you collected your legal fees from Mr. Bennato.”

“I have nothing to say. Feel free to call my accountant and discuss my finances to your heart’s content, Agent Hutchinson.”

“Now that would be a waste of time, and we both know it. You’re an intelligent, resourceful man. If you’d conducted any illegal or unethical transactions, you’d be sure to cover them.” Hutch’s expression stayed totally neutral. “Your reaction, on the other hand, has been anything but a waste of time. My suggestion? Don’t get too comfortable. Right now, our only priority is to bring your daughter home, safe and sound. But, once that’s done, I’m sure our Organized Crime division will be eager to chat with you.”

Ashley pulled Edward aside the instant it was feasible without raising any red flags.

“I have to talk to you,” she said in a low, urgent tone.

“Not now,” Edward replied, teeth clenched. “Not after that interrogation.”

“It might throw fuel on the fire of what lies ahead,” Ashley returned, her eyes wide and frightened. “Please, Edward. Give me a minute.”

Edward glanced around. Hope was talking with her mother. Sidney was working with the sketch artist. And Casey Woods was in the middle of a heated debate with Agent Hutchinson.

With a jerk of his head, Edward signaled for Ashley to follow him into the kitchen.

“What is it?” he demanded. “This is definitely not the time.”

“Casey Woods knows about us,” Ashley replied without preliminaries.

“What the hell do you mean she knows about us? That’s impossible. You must have misunderstood.”

“Hardly. She cornered me early today. First, she pressured me to tell her what was going on to make your wife so jumpy. She sensed that I knew something. When I refused to share what I knew, she not-so-subtly reassured me that she didn’t plan on telling Judge Willis that you and I are sleeping together- but that she’d really appreciate if I reconsidered sharing what I knew about Judge Willis’s jittery state. A sort of one hand washes the other. Does that sound to you like I misunderstood?”