Chapter 5
FIVE
Amanda called the twenty-four-hour line for the property management company, and they were going to notify on-site security personnel to expect them.
She leaned back against the headrest as she rode shotgun, and Trent got them to the mall. “So we were mistaken about the son. He had nothing to do with why his family is missing. Does the father?”
Trent turned to face her. “Too early to say.”
He’s refusing to talk this out? She pushed down her irritation.
He’d been rather broody since Carter turned up.
Was she being egotistical to think Trent’s mood traced back to that?
After all, he was in a happy relationship.
A serious one, at that. Why should he care about Carter?
Besides, it didn’t matter anyway. There wasn’t a future for the two of them.
And if he wasn’t going to brainstorm out loud, that wasn’t going to stop her.
“I’m just thinking the son’s condition must be serious to be in a hospital for that long.
The medical bills could have been stacking up, getting out of control.
The father didn’t see a way out, so he and his wife—working together—took off with their teenage daughter.
They figured the boy was in excellent hands at the hospital.
He’d end up in the system, but he’d be cared for. ”
“And the abandoned car? How do you explain that?” Trent still didn’t bother to glance over at her.
“A production, staged to look like something happened to them. They’d have to know the mall would report the car after some time had passed. By then, they’d be long gone.”
“Somewhere down Interstate 66.”
“Paul’s phone was, anyhow.” Though the chances of finding it would be overcoming impossible odds. There was too much ground to cover.
It was just after midnight when Trent pulled into the lot for Potomac Mills mall.
It was a barren wasteland of concrete at this hour.
The headlights from a sedan shone across the pavement, catching her eyes.
The vehicle turned toward them, and Amanda made out the lettering on the side. Potomac Mills Mall Security.
The car pulled up next to them and stopped.
Trent shifted their vehicle into park and cut the engine, and they both got out.
They held up their badges to the man as they approached him.
He was still behind the wheel, but a few beats later, he was getting out.
Even if he was the person they were supposed to meet, she could understand his apprehension at coming across someone late at night.
She tucked her badge away as she said, “Prince William County PD.”
Trent stepped up next to her and clipped his badge to his waistband. “Detectives Stenson and Steele. You are?”
“Danny Combs, mall security.” His head turned at the sight of two police cruisers pulling into the lot. “What’s going on?”
“We were told someone from the security team would meet us here to show us security footage. Is that you?” Amanda asked.
“Yeah, that’s me.” Danny smiled.
“Then you know that we’re trying to find out what happened to a family,” she told him.
“They’re unreachable.”
“That’s one way of putting it, but we believe it’s more complicated than that,” Amanda said.
“Is that why you came with a party?” He nudged his head toward the patrol officers.
“One of the family’s phones pinged on a tower near the mall, but we believe it may be somewhere on the property.
” She’d squeezed in a call about this to dispatch.
Officers must just be getting here now. “Are there cameras on this part of the lot?” She gestured toward where the Charger had been parked, hoping the quick question would keep his focus on them and not the uniforms.
“You bet. Let me guess. This have to do with that orange Dodge Charger that was parked here for days?”
“It does,” Amanda confirmed.
“I’m the one that reported it to mall management.
I noticed it during my rounds, though the car’s hard to miss.
You’d be surprised how many people park here and go somewhere else.
It’s crazy, but the mall’s policy lets them stay for a while.
That car was there since Saturday. That was pushing things. ”
“Which I understand. The video…?” Her blunt request could be seen as rude, but if the Archer family were out there against their will, they could be in grave danger.
“Right. Yes. Let me get you to it.”