Geneva
She’d made the same mistake often enough for it to become a habit. Geneva sat inside the SUV, gripping the steering wheel as if her life depended on it. She wanted to storm into the police station so badly, but once more she’d forgotten to clue Spence in on what she was about to do.
A five-minute phone call brought him up to date and he agreed to meet her there. By then, she had calmed down some, but didn’t understand Christian’s disappearance and how the media had gotten wind of it so fast.
On the sidewalk, Spence held her in place by the shoulders. “I know this is hard to swallow but take it easy on the officers. Please.”
She straightened his tie to avoid his eyes. “That will be difficult, so I’m not making any promises. “
“They’ll be more cooperative, not to mention sympathetic to our case, if we treat them with respect.”
She patted his chest and pitched her voice louder to combat the passing traffic. “I think you should quit while you’re ahead. You’re not telling me anything I don’t know. “
“And yet you’ve made up your mind to give them hell.”
“I’ve done no such thing.” She shook her head and gripped his arm. “But I do want to know how something like this could happen.”
“He’s young and foolish,” Spence said, “That explains a lot. He probably panicked and ran.”
“Thank goodness the media picked up on it, otherwise he might have been halfway to Mexico by now.”
Spence rested one hand in the middle of her back as they approached reception. The officer on duty asked them to take a seat and nearly twenty minutes went by before they were shown into Officer Harrison’s office.
“Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Leighton.” He stood to greet them and waved to indicate that they should sit. “It’s good to see you both again. I’m fairly certain why you’re here.”
“Well, in that case, we can go straight to business.” Geneva settled into the seat, determined not to give away her anxiety. While placing the handbag on her lap, her gaze never left Officer Harrison. “Please tell me that you have Christian Skyers back in custody.”
“Not yet, Mrs. Leighton, but I’m sure that will change by the end of the day.”
Smiling sweetly, she said, “The last time we saw each other, I told you this police department could not possibly need my help. Now I’m not so sure.”
“Are you offering?” Officer Harrison asked, glancing at Spence.
On another visit, his sly expression might have amused her, but not today. “I don’t understand how you can have a rapist running loose on the streets of Coral Gables. And from what I’ve heard, this might not be his first time.”
“You know a lot for someone who’s not interested in helping the police,” Officer Harrison snapped.
She raised both eyebrows. “When it comes to my daughter, everything related to this case is of interest to me.”
His gaze went to Spence again, then slid back to her. “Can I take it that you’re serious about assisting us?”
“I didn’t exactly say that. What I’m interested in is finding out what you’re doing about getting that young man back behind bars.”
“There is a process—”
“I don’t care about that. What I want to know is when my daughter can feel safe again. She’s the one who let me know he was nowhere to be found, and she’s understandably upset.” She moved to the edge of the seat, frowning. “And by the way, has he done a DNA test yet?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Is there anything you can tell me with any level of confidence?” Geneva said, with a nasty edge to her voice.
Officer Harrison’s neck flushed, and a pink tide climbed toward his face while Spence squeezed her hand.
“I’m sure you understand my wife’s concern, since getting to this point has taken several months,” Spence said. “She’s been under a lot of stress from taking care of our daughter since the attack.”
The policeman dipped his head once. “Please remember we’ve not had the case that long. We’re doing everything we can to move things along quickly, based on the evidence we have.”
His words sounded like what they were, useless platitudes. “What the hell else do you need? I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what else is necessary after giving you the dress she was wearing when she was assaulted, plus the rape kit you received. In my view, all you need now is to get hold of the criminal you released.”
In a chilly tone, the officer said, “Your daughter’s case is not the only one we’re dealing with, Mrs. Leighton.”
“I’m fully aware of that, Officer Harrison.”
Spence’s soothing voice cut the tension in the air-conditioned room. “Can you tell us anything at all about how the young man disappeared, and when we can expect to receive an update?”
“We’re doing all we can to locate young Mr. Skyers. His parents are cooperating, so I have every confidence we will find him soon.”
“Can you tell me one thing, please?” She grabbed Spence’s thigh to ground herself.
“Sure, if it’s in my power.”
“You couldn’t answer earlier, but I’m asking as a concerned parent. Did that DNA test prove conclusively that Skyers raped my daughter?”
His curt nod surprised her.
She sagged against the back of the chair and looked across at Spence, who seemed stricken. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Harrison waved away her thanks. “That’s okay. In the meantime, I’d urge you not to do anything foolish.”
Her response was quick. “The thought never crossed my mind.”
“I wish I could believe you.” He shifted a file to the side in an impatient sweep of his hand. In a grudging tone, he said, “You may think you’re slick, but one day …”
Every shred of good will disappeared, and she snapped, “Why don’t you actually do what the government pays you for? To serve and protect, not harass a grieving parent.”
His eyes glimmered. “Mrs. Leighton, you’re out of line.”
Geneva pulled in a breath to speak, but Spence’s glare stopped her. A few dozen choice words came to her lips, but she kept her cool and said nothing. He could play Mr. Nice Guy with the know-it-all, slow-acting officer sitting opposite them, but the police weren’t leaving her any choice.
Christian Skyers may have run, but he couldn’t hide. Not as long as technology was her friend. It didn’t matter where he went; she’d find him.
The seriousness of the charges dictated that the law would deal harshly with him, but she didn’t have the confidence they would close their investigation swiftly enough to bring his case to trial. Radcliff Skyers was an influential man, which made it possible for justice to fall by the wayside. Either Christian or she would die before that happened.
Her resolve hardened while Officer Harrison pinned her with a steely gaze, as if she were a nuisance he couldn’t wait to be rid of. If he knew what was good for him, he’d find that rapist before the sun set this evening. She picked up her handbag and took Spence’s hand, urging him out of the chair. “I have to get back to Alexia, plus there’s something important I must do before that.”
Officer Harrison’s eyes sharpened, and she gave him a smug smile. Let him wonder what her next move would be. She had more than enough tricks to keep him occupied.