Evidence of Marriage by Ann Voss Peterson Read Free Book Online

the sound muted, their conversation lapped against her mind. “He said something else, too.”
    â€œWhat?” Reed stepped toward her and took the remote from her hand.
    She let him have it, concentrating on the memories tightening her throat and rasping along her nerves. “Something about the desperation a parent feels when they’ve lost a child.”
    â€œHe was referring to Vincent Bertram kidnapping you.”
    â€œI know. But the way he said it was weird. Pointed. What if he meant this woman, too?”
    â€œPossible. If the copycat stalked the victim ahead of time.”
    She glanced at the missing-person’s report lying on the desk. Or the copycat knew what the report said. An uneasy feeling pinched the back of Diana’s neck. She shook her head, trying to dispel the feeling and the thought that inspired it. She could feel Perreth watching her from the mouth of the conference room. She knew he beat his wife. Reed’s confronting him about it was the cause of the bad blood between them. But any other suspicions she had were pure imagination. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m reaching on that. But the location of the Laundromat is still reason to look into this further.”
    Reed pointed the remote at the player. The images of her and Kane slowed to a natural cadence. On the screen, Diana started walking for the door, then suddenly turned around. Reed turned up the sound.
    â€œWhat did you say?” Diana’s voice sounded tinny, like a distant echo on the tape, but her words were clear.
    â€œHe took her last night. After stopping in at your sister’s wedding reception to pay his respects.”
    â€œThe Copycat Killer?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œHow do you know this?”
    â€œI know a lot of things, Diana. Like the desperation a parent feels when kept away from a child. Especially when she needs you most. I could tell you all about it if you would visit me.”
    He stopped the tape, freezing Kane and Diana on the screen. “Is that the part you meant?”
    She nodded. “Do you think I’m just reading into what he said?”
    â€œMaybe. But the location of the Laundromat is enough reason to check it out.” Switching off the television and removing the tape, he strode to his desk and plucked his suit jacket from the back of his chair. “Nikki, call me if any more reports come in.”
    â€œWill do.”
    â€œAnd keep trying to find Meredith Unger. Irealize it’s Sunday, but it seems damn suspicious she picked today to fall off the edge of the earth.”
    â€œI’ll find her.”
    Reed glanced at Perreth. “We wait on the press.”
    Perreth glowered in answer.
    Reed didn’t seem to notice. His focus skimmed over Perreth and landed on Diana. “You’re coming with me.”
    Â 
    D IANA SETTLED HERSELF into the passenger seat of Reed’s sedan, secured the seat belt across her chest and peered out the bug-spattered windshield. “So what were you and Perreth discussing in there?”
    Reed shifted the car into gear. Eyes glued to the road ahead, he merged with traffic flowing a block off the capitol square, but instead of turning down East Washington Avenue and heading for Nadine Washburn’s east-side home, he kept going, circling the state capitol grounds.
    Diana dug her fingers into the car’s armrest. “Reed? Where are we going?” When he had asked her to go with him, she’d assumed he was taking her to question Nadine’s mother. It was beginning to look as though she should have remembered the old saying about assuming making an ass of you and me.
    â€œ You’re going to the hotel where Sylvie and Bryce are staying. They booked you a room adjoining theirs. An officer is posted in the hall. You’ll be safe there.”
    â€œI’d be safe with Nikki at the station.”
    â€œYes, you and Nikki and the reporters I’m sure Perreth will try