Andrea Kane - The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

“A bottle of perfume, and a locket,” Casey murmured. “Interesting.”

“What does it mean?” Hope was shaking from head to toe. “He didn’t touch any of my expensive jewelry or anything else of value.”

“Tell me about the locket,” Hutch instructed. “Did it open? Was there a photograph inside?”

“The locket was heart shaped. There were two photos inside. One of Krissy and one of me.”

“And the perfume?”

“It’s my regular scent- Joy, ” Hope supplied. “I almost always wear it. I kept the bottle in plain sight.”

Hutch leaned his head back and drew a sharp breath. “He was right here under our noses while we were all at the police station.”

“Quite a risk he took,” Grace added thoughtfully. “A pretty daring-and desperate-act.” She turned to Hope. “I know you’re badly thrown by this. But there’s a big upside. It tells us that Krissy is probably alive.”

“I agree.” Hutch nodded. “The kidnapper took personal things-things that would remind Krissy of you. That suggests he’s trying to put her at ease, to soothe her. Which not only means she’s alive, it means he’s struggling to make her happy. That’s not the act of a killer, not when you combine it with the risk he took coming here, knowing full well that the task force is all over this case.”

“He waited until we all cleared out,” Don said. “That means he’s watching the house.”

“We expected as much.”

A nod. “He caught Will Dugan alone and on the phone. It was the only time in the past two days that he could get in and out without running into an entourage of law enforcement. Once again, it emphasizes that we’re not dealing with an amateur. Every step he takes is well thought out and painstakingly executed.”

Casey turned to Sergeant Bennett of the North Castle P.D. “Can I give Claire Hedgleigh a call? I know she’s working for you on this case. Maybe she can pick up on something from the scene.”

“Good idea.” Bennett nodded. “But I’ll take care of contacting her.”

Claire arrived a short time later. She was still bothered by all the loose, unconnected threads of her visions, none of which she could weave into a cohesive braid. Now, she was stunned by the brazen act of the kidnapper, breaking into the Willises’ house- again. But she was eager to get to the master bedroom to see if anything came to her-anything that would integrate her flashes of insight.

“How’s Ashley?” she asked as soon as she entered the room. “Is she badly hurt?”

“No. Just a concussion,” Hope supplied, visibly relieved by that aspect of the equation. “No internal injuries. Some deep cuts and a nasty lump on the back of her head, though. The doctors are keeping her overnight for monitoring, just to be on the safe side. But we’ll be able to pick her up tomorrow so she can recoup at home.”

“Guilt,” Claire pronounced abruptly. “I’m sorry to interrupt you. But I’m picking up on an overwhelming sense of guilt in this room.”

“That would be mine,” Hope said grimly. “I should have been here to prevent this.”

“None of this was your fault,” Casey responded at once. “Nor was it Ashley’s. It’s too bad that Agent Dugan was on the phone. But no one could anticipate this.”

“I’m pretty pissed off at myself, as well,” S.A. Dugan responded. “I can’t believe someone got by me.”

“This is a big house and there are back stairs,” Claire murmured, still half inside her own head. “But there’s another energy here. A new one. The kidnapper’s.”

“A kidnapper with a conscience,” Hutch muttered. “More personal traits.”

“Not just personal-feminine,” Claire amended. “My sense is that the intruder was a woman. She came specifically to get the special items that would ease Krissy’s separation anxiety.” A furrowed brow. “It’s a female’s energy-not dense or heavy like a man’s would be. More light and airy.”

“So you think the alpha male who’s running the show sent his female accomplice to do the dirty work.” Casey pursed her lips and nodded. “It makes sense. He’d get his desired results, and he wouldn’t be the one taking the risk.”

Hutch was scowling. “None of this feels right. A mobster with a grudge. One who demanded, and got, ransom money, but is still not satisfied. He also doesn’t seem to want an eye for an eye. He wants Krissy alive, but is showing no signs of returning her-just as Felicity Akerman was never returned or recovered. What’s this man’s end goal? Just to make Sidney Akerman’s family suffer?”

There were no ready answers.

“Are you sure nothing else was taken?” Claire asked Hope as she moved slowly around the room. She paused next to the empty space on the dresser. “The jewelry box was in this spot?”

“Yes,” Peg confirmed. “ERT took it for evidentiary purposes. And, according to Judge Willis, nothing else was taken other than what we’ve discussed.”

“Just the locket was taken from the jewelry box? You’re sure?”

“I’m sure,” Hope verified. “I checked the box three times. All my jewelry was untouched.”

“Do you have a red stone? A ring, a necklace, maybe earrings?”

Hope shook her head. “I have an opal necklace that projects a variety of colors. But none of them is red.”

“A ruby.” Claire stated it with certainty. “It’s a ruby.” She brushed her fingertips over the spot that had held the jewelry box. “And it’s not in the box that was here. Do you keep jewels anywhere else in the house?”

“No. I’m not really a jewelry person.”

“What about Krissy? Does she have any ruby studs, or fake stones that look like rubies?”

“She doesn’t have any jewelry, much less rubies. She doesn’t even like rubies, other than the name. It’s the one she gave to-” Hope stopped, her breath catching in her throat. “Ruby,” she whispered. “I never thought of that. I never checked…”

“Ruby?” Grace demanded.

“Krissy’s stuffed robin.” Hope was already halfway to the door. “She plays with her and Oreo all the time.”

By the time everyone had reached Krissy’s room, Hope was standing next to the shelves beside Krissy’s bed and was gazing at the top one, a stricken expression on her face.

“She’s gone. Nest and all.” Slowly, Hope turned. “Oreo and Ruby are like an imaginary family to Krissy. Oreo and Ruby are best friends, and Krissy is their nanny, like Ashley is to her.”

“That explains my dream,” Claire murmured. “It’s why Oreo was crying. And who he was missing. Ruby.” At the puzzled glances aimed her way, Claire explained the specifics of her dream.

“Once again, an attempt to make Krissy feel less lonely, more normal,” Sergeant Bennett concluded. “Nice work, Claire.” He was well aware that the FBI-particularly the BAU-was on the fence about Claire’s abilities. He couldn’t miss this opportunity to drive home the legitimacy of her gift.

Casey spoke up. “Not just more normal, more at home. The kidnappers are trying to recreate the securities of Krissy’s world. Her mother’s scent. A locket with pictures of the two of them side by side. And Krissy’s two closest inanimate friends in the world, the ones she keeps with her at night in the haven of her bedroom. These people want her to want to stay where she is, not just to tolerate it.”

“A willing captive,” Claire agreed. “Which she hasn’t been until now. She’s desperate to come home. The kidnappers are hoping to win her over.”

“Oh, God.” Hope sank down onto Krissy’s bed. “What if they’re unsuccessful? Krissy is so strong willed. What if she fights them? What if they hurt her?”