Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
More people than she would’ve thought could fit into the Shrine conference room had managed to wedge themselves in here for an update briefing. Eliana drank sweet coffee from a paper cup, trying to get something in her stomach.
On her way into work this morning, she’d instructed the driver to go by Carlos’s house so she could look around.
But wandering through his empty place before the sun even came up didn’t make her feel better about where he was.
Not any more than standing in Patience’s foyer gave her any ideas where the older woman might be.
She had found Carlos’s police shield on a chain on his nightstand and brought it with her, tucked in her pocket for safekeeping.
Even if wanting part of him close to her wasn’t something she was going to dwell on, she would still do it.
And she’d focus on finding him, not wishing for what she didn’t have.
“Okay. If I could have all of your attention…” Director Caughton moved to the front of the room.
“Today is going to be a busy day for us at the Shrine, so we need to move along with this update meeting.” She looked at the older Indian man in the corner wearing a Chicago PD uniform.
“Chief Deepak Chaudhary will go first, and then FBI Special Agent Laramee Fox.”
Tony shifted in the chair beside Eliana, the seat to her right creaking under him. Her persistent shadow since she’d returned to her job yesterday…for who knew how long.
She bit her lip and tried to ignore him.
According to Tony, there would be no more walking away from him. He’d even gone so far as to force her to promise him she wouldn’t leave without telling him where she was going.
If she was going to be honest, she didn’t mind having a bodyguard, given everything currently going on. The problem was that it seemed like everyone else was in danger of being kidnapped, not her.
She couldn’t figure out what was happening.
“Thank you, Director.” Chief Chaudhary was shorter than Sylvia, but in his full uniform and wearing his police officer hat, he still managed to look imposing.
“Officer Ryson has been missing for ten hours now, along with the two detectives believed to be the ones who took him,” he explained.
“Since then, an elderly woman, Patience Atherton, has also gone missing. We are also aware that Carolena Diaz, who works here at this museum, is unaccounted for. I can assure all of you that the department is doing everything at our disposal to account for their whereabouts.”
He continued, “Given the Shrine will be hosting this gathering of religious leaders today, I suggest that you leave it in the hands of law enforcement to find these people.”
Eliana took another sip of her coffee because the alternative would be to jump up and say something she regretted.
All she had right now was a hair trigger attitude and a distinct lack of the skills needed to actually resolve the situation.
Not to mention the sneaking suspicion that she was the focus of most of this.
Special Agent Laramee Fox moved to the front of the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, the FBI’s focus is the Reverence Sisters and their connection to these disappearances. But I can assure you that we will be actively looking for all three of the missing people.”
One of the doctors who worked at the Shrine in research, sitting across the table, said, “Do we have any idea why they might have been taken?”
“The matter is complex.” Chaudhary glanced at Eliana, then back at the scientist. “But the reason behind their disappearance is unlikely to aid us in discovering their whereabouts.”
Tony directed his question at the front of the room. “What about evidence collected from the house where Luci Ryson was discovered? The FBI had it under surveillance for some time. Was anything learned that will help the investigation?”
Eliana drank another sip of coffee, ignoring the tone in his voice.
Tony and Special Agent Fox were never going to get to the point where they might be friends.
The FBI agent and her partner didn’t look happy to be here, but Eliana had thought that was because they felt guilty over the fact Carlos had been targeted.
Special Agent Glor glanced at his partner, then said, “Physical evidence from the house all connects back to Officer Ryson’s sister, who I believe is in the hospital currently.”
Eliana said, “Even if she wakes up, she likely won’t ever be the same.”
Special Agent Fox looked at her. “Have you considered the fact that it may have been done in order to make a statement to you?”
Eliana fired back, “Have you considered the fact I was up all night staring at the ceiling, wondering if all of this is happening because of me?”
She didn’t wait long enough for anyone to answer her question.
She didn’t really need an answer, anyway so she continued, “My best friend, Carolena Diaz. The guy I’m closest to.
My neighbor that I take care of. Taking one would be enough, but all three?
Maybe the whole point is to put me on edge.
That, or sooner or later, I’ll hear from them, and all three of their lives will be threatened to get me to do something. ”
What it could be that would necessitate three people had to be the collateral, she had no idea. She didn’t want to wonder about that.
Chief Chaudhary nodded. “In the event that happens, please contact the police department as soon as you hear something.”
Eliana nodded.
Tony patted her arm and leaned over. “The Board of Governors won’t let anything happen to you.”
She glanced at him, unsure whether that was going to turn out to be a positive thing. More likely, it could very well be a trap of an entirely different kind.
Special Agent Fox said, “The FBI has been looking into Carolena Diaz since her disappearance. Prior to your arrival in Chicago, she was close friends with Raquel Maloney. What we found indicates they spent a considerable amount of time together, not so much time conversing online or via messaging.”
“So you think the reason Carolena hasn’t shown up is because she’s also part of the Reverence Sisters?
Is that it?” Eliana shook her head. “There’s no way she’s one of them.
She wouldn’t have been friends with me for so long and never even mentioned any religion, Bible study, or anything.
In fact, her lifestyle seemed more like the opposite.
I was trying to witness to her, not the other way around. ”
“It’s a lead we are going to follow,” Fox responded.
Eliana glanced at Chief Chaudhary. “If Detectives Wallace and Maloney are really working for someone else, will another set of investigators be working the Shrine murders?”
The chief glanced at Sylvia, then replied to Eliana, “In the light of these disappearances and the tight timing of wanting to find them before the worst happens, the murder investigations will be put on the back burner.”
“That might be exactly what she wants you to do.” Eliana looked at Sylvia. “It’s probably the reason why she’s gotten away with it for so long. Because something else happens, and everyone is distracted by it.”
Sylvia shot her a pointed look. “We won’t let that happen.”
Chief Chaudhary said, “I’d like to know who the ‘she’ is that you are referring to.”
Before Eliana could explain to a room full of people that she had a conversation with Lydia Rosenberg last night, Sylvia said, “The Shrine is following its own line of investigation, but our inquiries aren’t yet complete.
At such time as we are able to provide the police department with actual evidence to support our suppositions, that is precisely what we will do. ”
Eliana frowned. If it took being that diplomatic to be the director of the Shrine, she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to do it. Regardless of what anyone else here intended for her future. Or Tony’s thoughts about destiny.
Special Agents Fox and Glor turned to Sylvia and the police department chief. The four of them started an animated conversation among themselves.
Eliana went back to her coffee while several of the scientists around the room got up and headed out.
She glanced at Tony and saw the tattoo on his forearm, where he’d rolled up his sleeves.
Bear. Another thing she didn’t want to get stalled out thinking on for too long.
Distracted from what she should actually be doing.
Not that she entirely understood what that was.
Eliana had tried to call Maloney or Wallace last night, using the business card Wallace had given her. Of course, there had been no answer, and why would there be? They already had everything they wanted. What did they need to gain from her? Someone, somewhere, was rearranging pieces on the board.
Kind of like the game Lydia had said they were going to play.
But if this really was the work of the Mother and not Lydia Rosenberg, they still had no clue who she was and few avenues to find out.
Tony looked at his watch. A second later, he smacked the outside of her arm with the back of his hand, like a light tap. “Come on.” He pushed his chair back and stood.
She did the same. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
She rolled her eyes, but given his expression, she didn’t think it was bad. It seemed more like he thought it was the good kind of surprise. “I’m not sure how much more I can handle.”
“I know.” Tony glanced over as they walked. “I want to tell you we’ll get them back, but I can’t make promises I won’t be able to keep. All I can do is tell you that we’re doing everything we can to find them.”
Eliana let out a slow breath, sick to her stomach with worry. The muscles in her throat tight from nearly being strangled.
He slowed at the door to the public part of the museum, on the ground floor.
“I don’t doubt that.” She pushed through the door, eager to get this over with. “But the bottom line is the Reverence Sisters took them, and we have no idea who the Mother is.”
“I might be able to help with that,” a familiar voice said.
Eliana spun around to see her sister about ten feet away, backdropped by an ocean of tables covered with white linens. A chandelier. A stage to the right, with a podium. And Maizie Morrow, Milwaukee police captain. The sight of her was enough to spark tears in Eliana’s eyes.
A single sob escaped, and she rushed to her sister, hugging her tight.
Face in her sister’s long blond curls. Even if she had two kids and a husband, and a decorated career in law enforcement, Maizie still looked at least ten years younger than she was.
Kept trim. It was enough to make Eliana resent her, but Maizie was the best sister and always had been.
“We’ll get them back.” Maizie held her tight.
Eliana leaned back, swiping her cheeks. “How? And what did you mean when you said you could help with that? You know who the Mother is?”
Maizie had a file in her hand and a huge leather briefcase-sized purse over one shoulder. “I did some digging. I think I came up with something.”
“You stay with Eliana. I’ll get Sylvia.” Tony started to turn away.
“Really, Bear?” Maizie lifted her chin. She almost looked sad. Plus, maybe a little disappointed.
He shrugged. “What do you want me to say? You really need me to apologize for something that happened twenty-five years ago?”
“You made a choice. I make choices every day, and I choose to live with the consequences. When I mess up, I admit it and ask for forgiveness.”
“And when people you care about are in trouble, you show up to help them.” Tony folded his arms.
“Good.” Eliana glanced between Tony and her sister. “Then we’re all on the same page. This is about finding Carlos and my friends, and not about anything else.”
Tony said nothing.
Maizie was the first to cave. “It’s good to see you, Bear.”
“No one’s called me that in a long time.” His expression softened, and he came over to give her sister a hug. “It’s good to see you too, Maze.”
A camera flash erupted in Eliana’s face.
She spun to find a guy lowering his camera. He couldn’t have been more than five foot five, wearing slacks and a shirt. His forehead seemed clammy.
“It’s really you!” he exclaimed, juggling the camera to dig a small device out of his pocket.
He held it up to her. “People are saying the rapture is upon us. Can you confirm what you’ve seen with all the chaos in Chicago, the religious leaders making this pact, and the ‘two witnesses’ said to have risen at the morgue? ”
Tony stepped between them, forcing the guy back. “Get outta here.”
“The press has a right to ask questions!”
“Get!”
Maizie motioned for Eliana to go with her through the doors. “Come on. I’ll show you what I’ve found out.”