“I want to call Shep on Skype. Want to come upstairs with me, June?”
“I’ve never been there.”
“Really? I assumed . . .”
“I offered to come and be with Tasha when Hilton died, but she wanted to be alone for awhile, so I didn’t push it.”
Cait stopped on the second floor to guide June through the sitting room, guest bedroom, bath, and kitchenette, and then showed her the hundreds of books filling shelves that Marcus had built for Tasha. A small older television sat on a table in a corner, but Cait had been too busy to turn it on. When she had time, she preferred to read, run, or pull out her yoga mat and work out.
Cait unlocked the door to the third floor master suite. June gasped. “Oh, it’s like living in a tree house.” The sun bled through the three rectangular stained-glass panels at the top of each window in the bay area, casting shades of gold, red, blue, and green over the bedroom. June went to the windows and looked out over the golden hills. “I feel Tasha’s presence. Maybe it’s the lavender smell she loved.”
“Her wardrobe still smells like lavender.”
“Ignore me and make your call while I enjoy the view.”
Cait went to the desk and opened her laptop. “Shep stays late to write reports. If he’s there, you can meet him.” She sat in the eco-friendly chair, tapped a few keystrokes, and soon Skype was up and running and Shep appeared on the screen.
“Hey, Cait,” Shep said.
Cait smiled. “Someone’s here I’d like you to meet.” Cait introduced June to Shep.
Shep smiled. “I’ve heard about you, June.”
June smiled. “And I’ve heard about you. It’s so nice to meet you. I’ll leave you two talk.”
“Cait, does Manning know yet that you know his dad was African-American?”
“Not yet.” She picked up a Chinese health ball and rotated it in the palm of her hand. “Was there any criminal activity discovered in his background check?”
“No. He wouldn’t be allowed into a war zone if he’d been convicted of a serious crime. Is there reason to believe he has a record?”
“No, but he’s hiding something, and that bothers me. He acts like he’s doing us a favor by coming here. He’s getting on my nerves.”
“No one’s as innocent as a newborn baby. I stole a comic book once from the corner drug store when I was a kid,” he joked.
She laughed. “Shame on you. I snatched an ice cream bar once,” she confessed. She glanced at June staring out the window. “Shep, someone went over the wall at the Elizabethan theater. He left a stick of gum in a trunk full of wigs.”
“He wants to disguise himself, but a medieval wig would only make him stand out.”
“He’s not very smart. Rook and SWAT went to Pagan Alley this morning, a hangout where we thought Wally was hiding. Someone had been there but was gone when SWAT arrived. I haven’t talked to Rook since then and don’t know what he plans to do next, but the actors return tomorrow.” She set the health ball back on its pad. “Had a call from Actors’ Equity. They’re losing patience with me.”
“Maybe it’s time I talk to Wally’s mother.”
She leaned closer to the screen. “Do you know where she lives?”
“I’ll find her.” He saluted and signed off.
“Shep reminds me of RT,” June said.
Cait smiled. “I’m lucky to call them friends.”
Someone knocked on the door at the foot of the stairs.
“Cait?”
Cait jumped up. “That’s Marcus. Maybe the police found Wally.”
“Detective Rook and Ilia are here,” Marcus said when Cait opened the door.
Worry lines etched his brow and his hands ran over his spiked hair, signs she recognized that meant he was anxious. “Is something wrong?”
“They’re here about Fumié.”
Rook and Ilia stood in the middle of the kitchen when Cait walked in. “Vanicheque told you Pagan Alley was a bust?” Rook asked.
Cait nodded. “Does that have something to do with Fumié?”
“I hope not, but Ilia thinks she’s missing. Have you heard from her?”
“Not since yesterday.” Cait looked at Ilia. “What makes you think she’s missing?”
“She was going to help me with my coffee table book,” Ilia said. “We were supposed to meet downtown at Peet’s coffee, but she didn’t show.” He fiddled with the camera dangling from around his neck. “That’s not like her.”
Cait fought the urge to assure him Fumié was okay. She was young and ambitious and had many interests. “Did you call her parents?”
He tugged at the collar of his sports shirt, as if it was too tight. “They thought she was with me.”
“You tried her cell phone?” Cait said.
He nodded. “Of course. That’s the first thing I did.”
Now I’m worried. Her missing couldn’t have anything to do with Wally. Could it? Cait looked at Rook as she felt a surge of panic racing through her body. “We’ll search for her.”
“It hasn’t been twenty-four hours since she was last seen,” Rook said.
“The hell with that, Detective,” Cait said. “You know Fumié. At least look for her Jeep. It’s old and could have broken down.”
He hesitated. “I’ll pull Vanicheque and have him cruise the area between her house and here,” Rook said. “Would that satisfy you?”
Cait nodded. “It’s a start.”
He reached for his phone. “What’s her address?”
“She lives at her family’s ranch east of here,” Ilia said. “I’ll go with the officer and show him.”
Rook nodded. “Go with Officer Vanicheque. Perough can stay here.” He spoke into his phone. “We have a situation. Fumié appears to be missing.”
Fumié missing? This can’t be happening. The words hit Cait like the sting of a Taser. She felt as if she’d been hurled through the air and caught up in a cyclone.
“They’ll find her,” Marcus said after Rook and Ilia left. “Fumié’s tough. She’s trained in martial arts and knows how to use a gun.”
Cait knew he was trying to convince himself Fumié was safe. She flashed on Chip Fallon. He was murdered for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Could the same have happened to Fumié?
“I’m sure there’s a logical reason for her to be out of touch,” June said. “Young girls today are constantly multitasking. Isn’t she leaving soon for a park ranger school? Maybe something came up about that.”
“She would have told her mother,” Cait said. “I blame myself if anything happened to her. I should have insisted she stay away until Wally is arrested.”
“Come on, Cait,” Jim said. “She’s young with a mind of her own. You can’t protect everyone.”
She glanced at the clock. It’s almost five. What if Fumié isn’t found before dark?
Marcus made a fresh pot of coffee and set out clean mugs.
Minutes ticked off the clock.
Cait refilled Niki’s bowls.
Cait’s cell phone beeped. She grabbed it. “Did they find her?”
“Not yet,” Rook said. “Vanicheque extended their search for Fumié’s car. Ray and I will be at the Elizabethan awhile longer, and then we’ll go over to the Blackfriars and catch up with Perough. We’ll let you know when you can lock up.”
Cait paced. “I need to help look for her. Someone can ride with me in my car.”
“Wait a little longer,” Rook said. “Then we’ll see.”
“Half an hour, then I’m out of here.”
“Where do you think Manning’s gone?” Jim asked.
For the past couple of hours, she’d forgotten about Manning. “Probably with Wally.”
They jumped when someone knocked on the door. When Cait opened it, Rook and Perough were standing on the step.
“They found Fumié?”
Rook shook his head, his expression grim. “No. But they found her Jeep.”
Cait fought her rising panic. “What about Fumié?”
“No sign of her.”
Oh my God. He took her.