Bone Cold by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online Page A

gone looking for them before this morning.
    “Is someone checking out the husband’s alibi?” That part didn’t sit right with her. “He could be hoping to blame whatever he’s done on our guy.”
    “A couple of Silver Springs detectives have grilled him unmercifully. He hasn’t copped to anything yet, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t guilty. He claims he was at home all night, but no one can confirm his whereabouts.”
    The whole story sounded suspect. It would take time to reconstruct the last twenty-four hours in the Cashion family’s lives.
    The door opened and before he spoke or she looked up Sarah knew Tom Cuddahy had entered the conference room. A shiver swept across her flesh as if the very air had abruptly been charged by his presence.
    “Chief Larson, Sarah,” he acknowledged, “they said I’d find you here. I’m a little early, I hope that works.”
    From the corner of her eye, she saw the chief wheel around and thrust out his hand. “Of course. Of course,” Larson said, a smile in his voice. “It’s been a while.”
    “Too long,” Tom agreed.
    Sarah took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and did what she had to do. “Hello, Tom. I’m sure you’d like to get started, so if you and the chief will take a seat we’ll get to it.”
    Tom walked straight to where she felt nailed to the floor and smiled down at her. Sarah stiffened, terrified he would hug her. If he touched her…
    As if he understood that touching was off limits, he gave her a nod. “It’s good to see you, Sarah.” He searched her face a little longer than was comfortable. “You look well.”
    She had taken care to dress in a reserved, professional manner today. The navy jacket and slacks along with a conservative white blouse and practical black leather flats completed the all-business image she’d been going for. She’d tucked her dark hair into a thick silver clasp and had kept her hand light when it came to make-up, as she usually did. She wanted him to see a confident woman, a hardworking detective. Not the shattered being he’d carried into that treatment center eighteen months ago.
    “I am well. Thank you.”
    “Good,” Tom said, a glimmer of approval in those assessing green eyes.
    Sarah could scarcely bear to look. Sophie had his eyes… and his black hair. The memory twisted in her chest.
    “How about coffee all around?” the chief said, splintering the tension that had started building the moment her husband entered the room.
    “Coffee would be great,” Tom announced. “I’m anxious to have a look at what your Task Force has on this cluster of abductions.” He indicated the case board.
    “No coffee for me.” She didn’t need the caffeine. “Water, please.”
    When the chief had disappeared down the long corridor running parallel to the conference room, her attention moved reluctantly back to Tom.
    “You really do look good, Sarah,” he repeated. “I’m glad.”
    “I guess you had your doubts about whether I’d ever be all right again.” She picked up the main case file she’d compiled and offered it to the man with whom she’d once shared every part of her being. Voices and images flashed in her mind. Her screaming and sobbing. Him pleading with her to listen to reason.
    “Sarah, I—”
    She held up a hand. “You’re here to talk about the missing children.”
    He gave her a nod and accepted the folder. “Two plus weeks and no clues, no bodies?”
    “Nothing. The only conclusion I’ve reached is that he’s collecting them for—” she shrugged, hating like hell that the gesture looked so helpless “—God only knows what.”
    Tom reviewed the faces on the board. Four little girls and three boys. And maybe another little girl in Silver Springs.
    All waiting to be found.
    “Well,” he turned back to Sarah, “I’m afraid this is far more complicated than just some unsub amassing assets.”
    Renewed tension slid through her. “You have reason to believe these abductions are