15

“You are not going to believe this.” Zink said the moment Conrad walked back into the station.

“Probably not, but try me.” He stretched and tried to stifle a yawn. He failed. The caffeine was wearing off. He needed to get some sleep or he wouldn’t be able to function.

“Ramona Dye and Veronica Minor are the same person. Ramona’s Utah driver’s license pic confirms it. Both came up with no known information under the criminal database.” She looked at him with triumph in her eyes.

“Go ahead and say it.”

“Say what?”

“That you were right and I was wrong. Something isn’t right about the pretty flower lady.”

“I would never gloat. At least, not much. Besides, we don’t really know anything for sure yet. But something’s going on. What else did you find out from Ricky?”

“That David Hamm was at Veronica’s apartment.” He went on to explain the mix-up.

“Mmm. Interesting. We know he didn’t arrive until this morning, or at least that’s when he rented the car. So the question is what’s he got to do with all this?”

“I can’t believe Veronica kidnapped Emily.”

“You need to start thinking like a cop not a love-sick teenager. It’s been a while since you’ve been in a relationship. Maybe you should get—”

“Don’t go there, Zink.”

She grinned. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot you’re an unmarried Christian and that means celibacy. Right?”

“My sex life, or lack thereof, is not up for discussion. The question is, who is Veronica Minor slash Ramona Dye or whatever name she’s going by now, and did she have something to do with Emily’s kidnapping. And why is David Hamm looking for her?”

“That’s the question.”

“So...what’s the answer?”

Zink clicked her nails on the desk for several moments, and then looked up at him. “Maybe Veronica and David are a different story altogether. Maybe they don’t have anything to do with Emily.”

He forced his voice to be patient. “But it was your theory, Zink. Remember?”

“I know it was, but Jasmine seemed to be such a great kid. Bright and sweet. Kidnapped kids...” her voice trailed off.

He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Your radar must be on the fritz. Better call the repairman.”

“I wonder how he just happened to show up at her apartment today of all days? And why did he lie to you and say he was from Circleville? Explain that to me.”

He shrugged. “I can’t. Why don’t you see if you can find out anything about him? You’ve got his home address. See if you can find a home number and call him. Maybe check out the local hotels and see if he’s staying in one.”

She nodded and went to her desk.

Conrad went to his own computer and began cold calling every car rental place in or near the Columbus airport. On the sixth call, he found the right place. When he finished, he looked over at Zink. “Good news and bad.”

“Of course. Nothing’s ever easy.”

“The good news is she definitely rented a car. Bad news, no GPS or TrackTime.”

“Then, it doesn’t do us a whole lot of good.”

“What did you find out about David Hamm?”

“Not much. No home phone, and according to Mapfind that address doesn’t exist. And none of the hotels I’ve called so far have him registered.”

“They gave you the info?”

She shrugged. “It helps to have grown up here. I know most of the people in one way or another. I still have a few more to try. “

“Mmm. Things get curiouser and curiouser, don’t they, Officer Zink?”

The chief of police walked in, his face almost as red as his hair and mustache. “I’m sick of this. Those people act like we’re idiots just because we work in a small town.”

Ben Martin was normally easy-going, but he wasn’t a happy camper at the moment. Conrad didn’t blame him. Frustration gnawed at him, too. All he had was questions. He wanted some answers.

“What’s the problem now?” Zink asked.

Conrad knew what she was doing—giving the chief time to vent. He obviously needed to.

“The head honcho from the state police suggested I should check for known sexual offenders in the area. As if we didn’t do that within the first hour Emily was missing. They don’t even want to use this place as their headquarters. They’ve set up at the State Patrol Headquarters instead.”

That was a slap in the face. Conrad knew the answer but asked the question anyway. “Have they found anything?”

“Nothing useful. They told me to go get some rest.”

A nap was sounding better and better to him, but it would have to wait for a little while. Conrad walked over to Ben. “We might have a lead, but we aren’t sure.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Veronica Minor, the woman who owns that flower shop, left town in a real hurry.”

“And that makes you suspicious...why?”

“No, what makes us suspicious is she rented a car under an alias. And apparently lived under the alias in Utah until a few months ago when she moved in using the name Veronica Minor.”

Ben arched a red brow at him. “That’s something. Keep checking.”

Suzanne walked over to them. “And she was the last person who saw Emily.”

“And you think her own kid would lie for her?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” Conrad paused. “And we don’t even know if Jasmine is really her child. We’re having trouble finding any reliable information about either of them.”

Ben looked over at Zink. “What do you think, Suzanne?”

“Something’s going on with her. We just aren’t sure if it has to do with Emily or something else.”

“She doesn’t fit the profile the FBI gave us. They think it’s a man in his mid to late twenties.”

“They’ve been wrong before.”

“Yes, they have.”

Ben Martin sighed. “You know, I never wanted this job.”

Zink laughed. “You say that every time a real problem comes up.”

“And I’m going to keep on saying it. OK, you can dig a little deeper but don’t waste too much time on her. They’re setting up another search. This time outside city limits, but I want us as a department to be there, too.”

Zink looked at the chief. “Well, you might want to call Nick. He went home to take a nap.”

Ben Martin’s eyes narrowed. “A nap?”

“That’s what he said. A nap.”

The chief arched a bushy red brow. “Call him and the other part-timers. Tell them to be at the search this afternoon.”

Zink nodded and walked back to her own desk.

Conrad nodded. “Then there’s this other guy?”

“What other guy?”

“Well, it’s not much, but we came across him today at the flower shop. He said he was from Circleville and wanted to buy flowers, but he lied. And he was at Veronica Minor’s apartment.” Conrad told the chief what they knew about David Hamm.

When Conrad finished, Zink looked over at them. “I just had a thought. Maybe this Hamm guy is Veronica’s ex, and she’s hiding from him. After Jasmine was on TV, she got worried about him seeing them and decided to leave.”

“She said her husband died.” Conrad pointed out.

“That would be the simplest way to hide from an abusive husband. That could also explain the aliases. And that would mean she didn’t have anything to do with the kidnapping.”

Conrad stared at her. “Maybe it’s just me because I’m so tired, but you sure do seem to be flip-flopping about this woman.”

“You’re the one who told me not to jump to conclusions.” She smiled sweetly. “I’m keeping an open mind.”

“So was I. If you’re right, she could be in danger, as well.”

“When it rains, it pours,” Ben said as he filled a cup with coffee.

Zink shook her head as she put the phone down.” Nick’s not answering his home or cell phone.”

“Keep trying.” Ben blew on the coffee and looked at Zink, his eyes probing. “Are you OK, Zink? If this is too much for you, you can let the rest of us handle it. There’s no shame in it.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine. I wish people would stop worrying about me. It’s not the same at all, Ben. Just let me do my job and let me help bring Emily back to her parents.”

The chief nodded, but he didn’t look any more convinced than Conrad was.