Chapter Twelve #2
Based on these facts, it is the conclusion of the MPD, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals that finding Asher Mayfield—and his son Brecken—is a top priority in the effort to locate the three missing minors.
Due to dyslexia, she never trusted herself when it came to reading and writing, but she didn’t take the time to dither over that and sent her work right to Malone to get the warrants moving.
Then she began making calls to the families, starting with her sister.
Tracy pounced on the call. “What’s up?”
“We had a productive meeting with the FBI and U.S. Marshals and have formed a plan to find Brecken Mayfield and his father, who’s well-known to law enforcement, in the hope that he’ll lead us to his son and the missing kids.”
“That’s it? That’s all you have after almost twenty-four hours?”
The question stung, even if she knew Tracy didn’t mean it as a personal attack.
“That’s actually a lot when you consider how much data we had to sift through to get to this point.
I believe we’re on the right track, and our efforts should yield results.
It might not happen as fast as we’d like it to, but we’re doing everything we can. ”
“That’s easy for you to say when it’s not your kid who’s missing.”
“That’s unfair, Tracy. You know how much I love Ethan. We’re doing everything in our power to find him and bring him home. I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll call you if there’re any developments.”
“Mike’s out driving around, hoping he’ll spot him somewhere. I told him that’s a waste of time, but he didn’t want to hear it.”
“He needs to feel like he’s helping.”
“I hope he’s also looking for a new place to live.”
Sam took a deep breath. “I’ll be back to you soon.”
The line went dead.
Even though she knew exhaustion and emotion were fueling her sister’s words, Sam felt beat up after the conversation. As she found the numbers for the other families, she hoped those conversations went better. She detailed the same recitation of facts that she’d presented to Tracy.
Joaquin Cambra was silent when she finished. “Do you think they’re still alive?” he asked softly.
“I have every hope they are.”
“The longer this goes on, the less hope I have.”
“I’ll keep you apprised of every development.”
“Thank you for your compassion.”
“I’ll be back in touch.”
Luna’s mother, Court, wept through the entire conversation. “I’m so scared for her. All I can think about is all the crazy shit boys have said to her and about her. They think it’s okay to talk to a child that way. Who’s raising them to think that’s acceptable?”
In light of the things Sam had learned about incel culture and the manosphere, she chose to evade that question. Court was better off not knowing those details while her daughter was missing.
“Do you have someone there with you?”
“Jordy is here, and my siblings. My parents are on the way from California. It’s just a nightmare, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, it is. My sister feels the same way you do.”
“C-could I maybe speak to her? Mother to mother? It might help us both.”
“Of course.” Sam recited the landline number at Celia’s home. “I’m sure she’d be glad to hear from you.”
“Thank you so much for everything you’re doing for us.”
“I wish it could be more, but we’re leaving no stone unturned.”
Sam’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. “I’ve got to take another call. I’ll be back to you soon.” She somehow managed to switch over to take a call from Lieutenant Haggerty from Crime Scene. “Hey, Max, what’s up?”
“We’re at the Aherns. I thought you’d want to know we found a handwritten note from Ethan to Luna Ahern, telling her he thought she was pretty and would like to get to know her. He included his phone number and told her to call him anytime.”
“My niece Brooke had confirmed that Ethan knew Luna and they’d been friendly. She said Ethan really liked her but wasn’t sure if it was anything special for Luna.”
“I’ll pass the info about the note to Ruiz.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. I appreciate it.”
“We’re all hoping your nephew gets home safely, Sam.”
“Thank you.” She slapped the phone closed. “Shit, fuck, damn, hell.”
“What?” Nick asked as he returned to the office in time to hear her outburst.
“Crime Scene detectives found a note at Luna’s that can further tie Ethan to her.”
“A note doesn’t mean anything other than that he wrote her a note.”
“I know but… it’s another thing that connects him to her. I’m scared of someone making a case that he was involved in her disappearance, as preposterous as that would be.” She ran a hand over her face as her eyes watered from exhaustion.
“Babe, you need to get some sleep.”
“I couldn’t. Not now.”
“You won’t be any good to Ethan or Tracy if you collapse.”
“I’m a long way from collapsing. When I hit the wall, I’ll say so. I promise.”
He came around the desk. “Come here.”
Sam stood and stepped into his outstretched arms, sinking into his embrace and absorbing the special kind of comfort only he could provide.
The scent of him—citrus and starch and sexy man, the scent of home—helped to calm and center her.
It would’ve been so easy to close her eyes and nod off, but not as long as Ethan was missing.
“Thank you for this. It’s just what I needed.”
“I wish there was more I could do for you.”
“Having you here with me helps. Is everything okay back at La Casa Blanca?”
“For now. A few things brewing, but Terry and Derek have them handled.”
“If you have to go, I understand.”
“I’m where I need to be.”
“It helps to look up and see your face when I start to feel overwhelmed with fear.”
“I’m right here for as long as you need me.”
“Gonna be the rest of my life.”
“That works out well, because your face is my favorite one in the whole wide world.” He caressed her cheek and gave her a soft, sweet kiss. “I’ll be watching my favorite face for signs of impending collapse.”
“Thanks.”
“Love you forever, and I hate to see you suffering.”
“I’ll be okay. I just need to find him.”
“Sam, please tell me you know it’s not solely your responsibility to find him and the others.”
“I do know that, but if I can fix this for him and Tracy—”
“No, no, no. That’s not up to you either. You simply can’t take ownership of successfully solving this case. Because if, God forbid, it ends badly, you’d also take the blame, and I won’t let you do that.”
“We have to find him. We just have to.” She pulled back from him, wiped tears from her face and tried to pull herself together. The longer this went on and the more exhausted she became, the harder it was to maintain any semblance of composure.