40
The next morning Max returned to the sheriff’s office after clearing a lead about Belle in person.
The waste of time had made him grumpy.
A woman had anonymously called the FBI to report that she’d seen a little blonde girl late at night at one of her neighbor’s upstairs windows and that he had no children.
The man had a record for domestic violence, and the address was local.
The leads had slowed to a trickle, so Max had gone in person and knocked on the man’s door, noting that the home didn’t have an upstairs.
The man let him in and told Max he suspected the report had come from his ex-girlfriend, who’d been harassing him nonstop for months.
Max next went to her home, and the woman confessed to the false report the moment she saw Max’s ID.
What did she think would happen?
Now back at the sheriff’s office, he’d just asked Noelle about updates on Emma when his cell phone rang, showing a call from Sydney Beason’s parents.
“Agent Rhodes,” he answered.
“She’s back! Belle is here!” shrieked Sydney’s mother. “She was just dropped off at our house! And she’s fine!” Then Max heard nothing but gasping sobs on the call as shock rocked through him.
She’s back?
Noelle stared at him, having heard the woman’s shouts. Max hit the speaker button. “Ms. Sanders, are you all right?” he asked. “You’re saying Belle is back?”
“She’s here!” came the voice of Sydney’s father. “My God. She’s been returned!”
“Is she okay?” asked Max. “Who returned her?” He fought to keep his voice steady, his gaze locked with Noelle’s.
After all this time, she was simply returned home?
It’s over?
Noelle made a call, requesting a deputy immediately to the grandparents’ home.
“Belle’s okay, and it was a woman who delivered her,” said Sydney’s father. “She came to the front door and knocked. I opened the door and she stood there holding Belle’s hand, calm as you please.”
“Describe the woman,” said Max.
“The woman told us to call the police immediately,” Sydney’s father continued, as his wife’s wails started up again in the background. “She said it was important that we protect Belle. That someone would try to kidnap her. So we called you.”
“A deputy is on his way,” said Max as Noelle nodded. “What’d this woman look like?” he repeated.
“She was probably in her late thirties, small with dark-red hair. She drove away in Sydney’s minivan!”
Fake Elise.
“Get a BOLO out—” Max started.
“Already on it,” said Noelle. Louder she asked, “Mr. Sanders, how is Belle?”
“She looks good,” he said, his voice shaking. “She’s clean and healthy and happy to see us.”
“She’s not scared?” asked Max. He jerked his head toward the door, and Noelle grabbed her bag. Together they headed to the exit.
“No. Belle hugged the woman before she left. Agent Rhodes, this woman seemed absolutely serious that Belle could be in danger. Do you think she was lying just to get away?”
“Maybe,” said Max. “But let’s take all precautions.”
“I locked the doors,” he said.
“Mr. Sanders,” said Noelle as they jogged to Max’s SUV. “Would you ask Belle if she knows the name of the woman who brought her?”
“Belle, honey,” he said. “Hey, sweetie. Look at me for a minute.” Belle’s muffled voice sounded in the background. “Yes, I know Grandma’s crying, but she’s okay. She’s just happy to see you. Belle, do you know the name of the lady who brought you here?”
“Elise.” Belle’s clear voice came through the speaker.
Max exchanged a look with Noelle as they climbed in his vehicle.
We were right!
“Who is Elise?” asked Sydney’s father, confusion in his tone.
“Mommy’s friend.”
“Isn’t that the name of the missing roommate?” Mr. Sanders asked into his phone.
“Yes,” said Noelle, as Max started the vehicle. “We’ve been trying hard to find her, but we’ve learned that’s not her real name.”
“This woman—Elise—also said she was going to eliminate the threat against Belle,” said Sydney’s father.
“I asked what that meant, and she said, ‘After I get through with him, he won’t hurt anyone like he did with Sydney.’ That sounded like a bunch of bullshit, but I got to tell you, her tone and eyes were dead serious.
” He sobbed, fighting to catch his breath.
“Do you think she was involved in Sydney’s murder? ”
“We’ll find out,” said Max.
Clearly she’s involved.
“But why on earth—a sheriff’s vehicle just pulled up,” he said. “Thank God. I don’t understand what the fuck is happening.”
“We’re on our way, Mr. Sanders,” said Max. “I’m going to hang up, but we’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” He ended the call.
“My heart is pounding,” he told Noelle as he gripped the steering wheel. “I can’t believe Elise simply dropped her off.”
“Me neither. I’m so relieved Belle is okay, but we’ve got to find Elise—or whatever her name is,” said Noelle. “Do you think Belle is truly in danger?”
“Someone killed her mother,” said Max. “My guess is that Elise and Belle have been with that person this whole time. Maybe she decided she’d had enough and brought Belle back, but now she knows he’ll be angry about it. Why didn’t she just bring her to the police?”
“We’ve had several sightings of a couple with Belle,” Noelle pointed out. “Well, with a little blonde girl.”
“I need to see Belle in person,” said Max, still in shock. “I won’t fully believe it until I see her.”
Noelle took his hand and squeezed it tight. “She’s safe. You did it.”
“I did nothing,” he muttered. “Hundreds of people have been searching for her, and she’s simply returned?”
“It couldn’t have ended better,” said Noelle. Her elation abruptly vanished, her expression tightening. “The search for Emma needs to do the same.”
“It will,” he told her. “I have no doubts.” He glanced at his dashboard as his phone rang again. Eagle’s Nest PD showed as the caller. “Looks like they already heard about Belle.” He tapped his screen. “Agent Rhodes.”
“Ben Cooley here,” Ben said in a voice so loud that Noelle adjusted the volume. “I just pulled over a speeding vehicle, and when I ran the plate, I got a notice that the FBI is looking for it. Specifically said to contact you, Agent Rhodes.”
Please be a minivan.
“What kind of vehicle, Ben?” Max asked.
“Toyota Sienna minivan. The driver’s not happy with me.” He chuckled. “Name’s Elise Nunevillier. Idaho license.”
Yes!
Max looked at Noelle. “Change of plans,” she said.
He nodded and pulled a U-turn. “Ben, is she secure?”
“I’ve got her keys. Want me to bring her in?”
“Cuff her, Ben. She’ll try to run. She’s wanted for the kidnapping of Belle Beason. We’ll meet you at the Eagle’s Nest police station in thirty minutes.”
“Well, now! You don’t say! I’ll be darned. What a witch! Shows what karma can happen when you drive too fast. You want me to ask her where that little girl is?”
“No. Belle is home and just fine. That woman dropped her off at her grandparents’ not long ago.”
“Thank the Lord,” Ben said fervently. “I’ll keep my eye on this one.”
“Thank you, Ben. See you soon.” Max ended the call and pressed on the accelerator.
“Ben’s right about karma,” said Noelle, blowing out a breath, relief on her face. “I’ve got a lot of questions for this woman.”
“You and me both.”