9
Noelle stepped into Sydney’s snug backyard to take a breath and regroup.
The neat house was too quiet. It should have a little girl playing with her toys and a mother hollering for her to come eat lunch.
And a houseguest.
Noelle had contacted the medical examiner, asking if any of the other victims were female with dark-red hair.
Dr. Ruiz said neither of his other two victims, one of whom was male, had red hair and told her he hoped to get to Sydney Beason’s autopsy late that afternoon, but the other two would be the next day.
Dr. Peres had recovered hair from the graves of the skeletal remains.
Both cases were women and their hair was a dark color, but she’d said that hair could absorb color from the dirt, so she couldn’t tell yet.
Again Noelle believed Sydney would have washed the guest room sheets. Especially within the time it would take for buried remains to skeletonize.
I don’t think either of them is our missing houseguest.
Trey Beason had stated on a quick phone call that he didn’t know if any of Sydney’s friends had red hair and had been unaware that someone might be living with her. A call to Sydney’s parents produced the same results.
“I need to interview her parents,” Noelle told Max as he joined her outside in the shade.
“The deputy is still there, waiting for some family friends to be with them. He passed on a few names of Sydney’s friends, and I’ve got someone finding their contact information. The parents are really distraught.”
“Understandable.” Max shoved his hands in his pockets.
He was quiet, and she could tell he was thinking hard. She’d seen the emotions in his face as he looked at the photos of Belle in the hallway. Restrained anger, sorrow, resolve.
“What’s your opinion of the ex-husband?” he asked.
Noelle had considered the question a dozen times. “My gut says he’s telling the truth.”
“Why’d they divorce?”
“He said money issues.”
“Money?” Max was suddenly alert.
“He claims she spent too much.”
“That’s their reason for divorce?”
“I’m sure there’s more to it than that,” Noelle said. Something in Trey’s manner had made her suspect infidelity was involved. “I got the basics out of him, but he was struggling to think straight.”
“What happened to Sydney?” asked a new voice.
Noelle turned to see an older woman had stopped at the open gate. She wore long, pale-blue shorts and white tennis shoes with thick soles. Her silver hair was in a perfect bob, and her gaze was sharp as she looked from Noelle to Max.
“Are you a neighbor?” asked Noelle.
“I live right there.” The woman pointed at the unit directly across the alley.
“How well do you know Sydney?” asked Noelle.
“Enough to know that she’s a darned good mom and that Belle could talk your ear off about Barbie and sea turtles.
What’s happened?” she repeated. “A nice deputy stopped by to ask if I’d seen either of them or any strangers around recently.
He wouldn’t tell me why. He asked about security video, but I don’t have one of those spy doorbells. ”
“What’s your name?” asked Noelle.
“Shireen Stout. I already told the deputy that. Who are you?”
Noelle did introductions, and the woman looked at Max with interest. “FBI? Why?”
“Ms. Stout—” Max started, ignoring her query.
“Shireen, please.”
“Shireen.” He pointed at a big window in her home that looked over the alley. “Is that your bedroom?”
The woman lifted her nose slightly. “It is. But I respect other people’s privacy. Is one of you going to tell me what’s going on or just ask more questions?”
Noelle studied her for a long moment. “I’m sorry, but Sydney has passed away. I can’t say any more at the moment.”
The neighbor gasped and brought her hand to her neck. “And Belle?”
“We’re not sure where Belle is. Do you know of anyone that Sydney would trust to look after her daughter? She’s not at either of her grandparents’.”
“Did someone attack Sydney? Was she killed in her home? Is there a psychopath running around?”
Yes. No. Yes.
“It doesn’t appear anything happened in the home,” Noelle reassured her. “We’re searching it for information.”
“To find Belle.”
“Yes.”
“So that’s why the FBI is here.” Shireen’s gaze went to the Barbie Jeep.
“Such a cute little girl. She’d always run to the fence if she saw me walk by.
She’d popped out a knot in one of the boards to peek through.
” She pointed at a low hole near the gate.
“She’d also put her mouth right up to it to speak, believing I couldn’t hear her if she didn’t. ”
Noelle could imagine the scene. “Did anyone in the neighborhood babysit for her?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Shouldn’t you be out looking for her?”
“We have a lot of people doing exactly that. I’m sure you’ve noticed the officers searching the neighborhood and the surrounding green space,” said Noelle. “Our job is to figure out where to send people.”
“You’ve talked to Sydney’s boyfriend, I assume.”
Noelle caught her breath. Neither Trey nor Sydney’s parents had believed she’d been dating. “Her family was not aware of a boyfriend. Who is he?”
Shireen shrugged. “Don’t know his name, but I know he was her boyfriend.
They had long kisses goodbye next to his bright-blue Jeep right there.
” She pointed at a parking space in the alley near Sydney’s fence.
“The Jeep was frequently in that spot. Sometimes overnight.” Noelle had already noticed several cars parked in the alley due to each of the townhomes having only a single-car garage on the front side.
“Belle was excited about the Jeep. She told me it was just like hers but big and blue.”
“What’d he look like?” asked Max.
“Always had a cap on, but he had brown hair. Tall. Not fat, not thin. Probably anywhere between thirty-five and forty-five years old.”
Noelle sent a text to Evan.
There’s a boyfriend. Check neighborhood videos for a bright blue jeep
Maybe we can get a plate.
“What other vehicles would you see parked in that spot?” asked Noelle.
“I don’t know. It was usually empty except for him.” She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I don’t know what her roommate drove. I assume she parked on the street out front. But I’m sure you have that information.”
“You’re talking about the red-haired woman?” Noelle asked casually.
“Of course.” She looked from Noelle to Max, and understanding dawned in her eyes. “Don’t tell me you don’t know her either.”
“We don’t. What can you tell us about her?”
Shireen thought for a long moment. “I think I first saw her about a month ago. The weather started getting nicer, and she and Sydney would often be on the patio with a bottle of wine. I assumed she was just a friend until I noticed she was frequently in the kitchen and sometimes she was alone outside with Belle.”
“Like a live-in nanny?” asked Noelle. “Do you know her name?”
“I don’t think you share a bottle of wine with your nanny three times a week, and I can’t recall hearing her name. I never had a chance to speak to her.”
Noelle was having second thoughts about Shireen’s proclamation about respecting Sydney’s privacy. “Age? Build?”
“Thirty-five or forty, I’d say. Typical pale skin of a redhead. Slender. Is she missing too?”
“We’re not sure,” said Noelle. “She hasn’t been here today. Maybe she’ll show up this evening and know where Belle is.” She sent Evan another text describing the woman.
Shireen stepped closer and lowered her voice. “You don’t think she kidnapped that little girl, do you?”
It’s crossed my mind.
“We’re keeping all our options open until we get some answers. Do you recall the last time you saw any of them? Including the boyfriend?” asked Noelle.
“Let’s see.” The neighbor tapped her lips with a finger, her gaze absently scanning the yard.
“I had book club the Thursday before last. We met at Linda’s.
She lives two streets over, so I walked.
I spoke to Sydney right here on my way to the meeting.
She was spraying weeds along the fence on the alley side, and her gate was open.
She asked what I thought about the book because she’d read it last year.
” Shireen thought for another minute. “That was our last conversation. I guess there won’t be any more,” she added in a forlorn tone.
“Now I’m glad I didn’t tell her to pull the weeds instead of spraying them so that our final interaction was positive.
We agreed that we didn’t enjoy the book.
Neither of us liked the unreliable narrator aspect. ”
Noelle filled in the timeline in her head. Shireen had seen Sydney on Thursday, eleven days ago. Trey saw her after that when he had Belle for the weekend.
So he said.
“Was Belle with her?”
“No. She must have been inside.”
“Do you recall seeing the other woman after that?”
Shireen thought and gave a disappointed shake of her head. “I’m honestly not certain.”
Noelle handed her a business card, and Max did the same. “You’ve been very helpful. Please call if you think of any other details we should know.”
The woman looked at the cards and then speculatively eyed Max. “Are you single? I have a daughter I think you might like to meet.”
Noelle bit her lip, holding back her amusement.
Max gave Shireen a slow grin. “I appreciate that, but I’m in a great relationship.”
“So technically you’re still single.” Determination entered the woman’s gaze.
“I’m definitely off the market.”
“Do you mind if I pass on your number? Just in case.”
She’s not giving up.
“I do mind,” he said emphatically.
“You won’t sway him,” added Noelle. “They’re nuts about each other. It’s adorable.”
“Well, I tried,” Shireen said with a rueful gaze. “You wouldn’t believe the types of men she dates. Useless bastards. All of them.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Max’s voice was strained.
He’s trying not to laugh.
Noelle took pity on him. “We should get back inside. Nice to meet you, Shireen.” She grabbed Max’s elbow and hustled him indoors.
“Adorable?” he asked. He leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed his arms, his gaze intent on her.
“Absolutely. People say it all the time,” she said with a straight face.
His mouth dropped open the slightest bit. “They do?”
“No. But I know they’re thinking it.”
Disappointment flashed.
She grinned. “Okay, Mr. Adorable. Let’s go talk to Sydney’s parents.”