Mariah Stewart - Cry Mercy

“Those kids of yours still giving you grief, Els?”

She rested one elbow on the counter. “My daughter Regina blows in last week with both her kids in tow. Says she got evicted from her place and had no where else to go. Tell it to their father, I tell her.” She shook her head. “But no. So here I am, at my age, the son moved back home last year, now the daughter with her kids…” She blew out a breath laden with exasperation. “So I figure the only way I'll be able to experience retirement is vicariously, through my friends.”

“I were you, I'd be moving to a smaller place. No room for anyone to move in, take advantage of you.”

“Don't think I haven't thought of it, Sarge, but hey, your kids are your kids, right? What are you gonna do? Pray for a windfall, is all.”

The bell over the door rang as another customer came in, and she slapped her hand on the counter. “Good seeing you, Sarge.”

“You too, Elsie.” He took his drink and walked to the small park at the corner, found a bench and took a seat and thought about his retirement. His pension wasn't going to go as far as he'd hoped it would. He couldn't say he wasn't worried about that. Thirty-three years as a cop and he'd be leaving without a whole lot to show for it.

Windfall.

That's what was really on his mind.

He'd heard the rumors on the street, he'd even been slipped a phone number in the bar the other night, just in case he heard something. He suspected that most of the members of the force had been given the same number. Would anyone hesitate to use it? Anyone other than Steffie, that is?

The whole thing had been odd, Ann disappearing like that, just taking off. Steffie's explanation that she'd quit and left without notice because she was sick. Well, that just wasn't credible. Steffie and Ann had been best friends. Steffie was the godmother to Ann's daughter. He could buy the part about Ann quitting and not giving notice once the story about Navarro started circulating, but not that Steffie didn't know where she'd gone. And Steffie didn't even seem that upset. All she ever said was that Ann did what Ann thought was best for her. If she wanted anyone to know where she was, she'd let them know.

Then out of the blue, there's this call about Emme Caldwell.

No, not out of the blue. Mallory Russo said she spoke with Steffie a few weeks ago. What had that been about?

He thought he might know.

He went back to his office and closed the door behind him, then went through his top drawer until he found the crumpled piece of paper. He smoothed it out and before he could change his mind, he dialed the number. It rang four times before a man answered.

“This is Carl Whittaker. Tell Mr. Navarro I might know where he can find his daughter…”

Susanna will be here in a minute,” Mallory told Emme as she came into the conference room. “She's on the phone but she's wrapping up the call now.”

Emme nodded and went over the mental notes she'd made on her way back to Conroy. She'd called Mallory from the car and brought her up-to-date, but Mal thought everyone should know where things stood. Nick had insisted on following her back and had wanted to sit in on the meeting. Since no one had objected, he'd taken a place at the table and now waited for Emme to begin.

“I figured out where I knew you from.” Robert slapped Nick on the back as he came into the room. “Six years ago, you had a 1970 Aston Martin for sale at an auto show in New York.”

Nick thought for a moment, then nodded. “I was selling it for a client. You were at that show?”

“Yeah, I wanted that car in the worst way.” Robert made his way around the table and seated himself across from Nick. “I couldn't afford it then. Now, when I can, I can't find one.”

“That year's tough to find,” Nick agreed, “but they do come on the market from time to time. I can ask around for you if you want.”

“I want.” Robert nodded enthusiastically. “As soon as I saw that Firebird out there, it jogged my memory. You deal in classics, right?”

“Mostly, yes.”

“I checked you out at the time. You had a good reputation.”

“I like to believe I still do.”

“Okay, boys, continue the man talk later.” Susanna, the last arrival, seated herself. “It's getting late.”

To Emme she said, “Father Kevin is on his way over but he said to start without him. He said to tell you he'll bring Chloe here so not to rush things thinking you have to get to school.”

“Thanks, Susanna. And thanks, Father Kevin.” Emme looked around. “Where's Trula?”

“She wasn't sure she was supposed to be included,” Susanna told her.

“Can we get her up here?” Emme glanced from one face to the next.

“Yes, she should be here. She always has good insights.” Mallory left the room. “I'll be right back.”

“So, Nick, about the car…” Robert tapped on the tabletop.

Mallory came back into the room and Trula followed moments later. Trula rested a hand on Emme's shoulder and leaned over to tell her, “I put those roses you brought back with you in a vase. They're on the counter in the kitchen. Make sure you take them with you when you go.”

“Thanks, Trula.” Emme patted Trula's hand before the woman took her seat.

Mallory sat at the head of the table at one end, Emme the other. “Okay, everyone, Emme's going to bring us up-to-date on the progress of our first case. Nick Perone, who sent the application in to us, is here. He's been working with Emme because of the number of young people associated with the case, some of whom might be put off by being questioned by a PI, but are okay talking to Belinda's uncle. Emme?”

Emme walked them through the case, from finding Heaven's Gate and discovering that Nick's sister had used a sperm donor to conceive Belinda, through finding the donor siblings, to finding the DNA report from the lab Belinda had used.

“I have a question,” Trula asked. “How many of these donor siblings did Belinda have?”

“Nine.”

“Of those nine, how many have you met or spoken with?”

Emme paused to think. “We've only met Hayley in person. But we spoke with Ali on the phone, and we spoke with Henry. We-Nick and I-were supposed to meet Lori and Henry at the zoo on Saturday, but they had car trouble and never showed.”

“So did you set another meeting with them?”

“Actually,” Emme said uneasily, “I haven't heard from them at all. I've called and emailed, but neither of them have responded.”

“Odd, wouldn't you say?” Trula asked.

“Very. As far as the others are concerned, I've emailed every one of them, and have posted on their message board.”

“How many of them answered you?”

“All except Ava, Jessica, and Justin.” Emme frowned and looked at Nick. “That's right, isn't it?”

He nodded. “Hayley said Ava is in Boston in grad school-I'm guessing she isn't real active right now on the message board, and maybe she doesn't keep up with the email from the kids.”

“The kids?” Susanna raised an eyebrow.

“Hayley said that Ava was twenty-four. Most of the others are in their late teens or early twenties. At sixteen, Hayley is the youngest, but Ava seems to respond to her via personal email. The impression I have is that she's busy with school and she doesn't really want to be bothered by the group.”

“What about Jessica?” Susanna asked. “Does she not want to be bothered either?”

“Hayley said her father was transferred to France last year, and the family relocated. They haven't heard from her since she left.”

“They do have the Internet in France, right?” Trula said dryly. “And what about this kid, Justin, why hasn't he checked in? Did he respond to your email about the DNA swab?”