Chapter 23
Sean had to be careful about how he navigated this next conversation. Given Frank’s history and the previous allegations leveraged against them, he was taking the lead as the prime suspect, at least in the disappearance of young Karla.
But Sean wasn’t blind to the abuse that the man might still be inflicting on his own family. Sean was confident that he could handle Frank physically, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t inflict all sorts of damage before he was subdued.
Violence was always a last resort. Fights were unpredictable and dangerous. One wrong move could change everything. Sean wasn’t sure if it would come to that, but he was prepared for the worst.
Frank was in the mechanical room, where the hotel’s HVAC system and backup generator were located. Frank had the side of the generator open, hands covered in grease, as he checked a cluster of wiring.
“Mr. Maynard,” Sean said. “I was hoping to have a word.”
“What about?” Frank asked, still focused on the wires.
Sean didn’t believe in wasting time, so he removed the underwear from his pocket and held it up for Frank to see. “About this.”
Frank finally glanced at Sean, and when he saw the underwear, his expression remained blank. “What the hell is that?”
“I was hoping you could tell me,” Sean answered.
“Why would I know?” Frank asked.
“It was found in your trash can,” Sean said.
Frank stiffened, his cheeks reddening, like watching a shark’s eyes roll back before it attacked. “What?”
“I know about your history, Mr. Maynard,” Sean replied. “And right now, I’m looking for a reason not to arrest you.”
Frank continued to boil with anger, his fists clenched at his sides, and without another word, he rushed past Sean.
Sean quickly followed Frank, but he was careful not to draw attention. He didn’t want this to turn physical, but Frank was on the warpath as he returned to his room, and Sean feared the man was going to explode in violence.
“What did you do, boy?” Frank shouted.
“I-I-I didn’t do anything!” Stuart moved behind his mother, doing everything he could to avoid getting in his father’s path, and his mother stood up.
“Frank, stop,” Margaret hissed, and then looked past her husband toward Sean, who entered the room.
“He has done this before,” Frank said. “Stealing things that don’t belong to him!”
Frank raised his voice, and then stepped toward his son again, who continued to cower behind his mother. But Frank was now very aware of Sean’s presence. The father wasn’t going to do anything that would land him in handcuffs. At least not yet.
Sean looked at the young boy. He focused on him and no one else. He had always been good at connecting with children. It was one reason he had been so excited when Jennie became pregnant.
Children were the reason for existence. So, when he saw parents like Frank speaking down to their children, it made him angry in a way he couldn’t express except as disgust.
“Stuart,” Sean said, dropping to a knee so he was eye level with the boy, who sat on the bed next to his mother. “Did you find that underwear?”
Stuart’s eyes were wide, hazel colored, which matched his auburn hair. It was strikingly similar to Jennie’s. Perhaps that’s also why he felt the protective need to help that child.
“It’s important that you tell me the truth,” Sean said. “I won’t be angry, and you won’t be in trouble. I need to know where these came from.”
Stuart looked at Sean, then to his mother, who nodded encouragingly. He then looked at Sean and nodded.
“You little pervert?—”
Sean stood up so fast and with such intensity that Frank stumbled backward and bumped into the dresser. Sean didn’t raise his hand to the father or even say a word, but his presence was enough to keep Frank from speaking up again.
Sean slowly turned back to Stuart, relaxing a bit to make sure the boy didn’t remain afraid. He stepped closer, then sat on the edge of the bed opposite Stuart. “Why did you take these?”
“I found them,” Stuart answered.
“Where did you find them?” Sean asked.
“In the room with the glass ceiling and walls,” Stuart answered. “Where the rose garden is.”
Sean remembered how Karla had been excited about the roses in the glass-encased atrium inside the hotel. “When did you find these?”
“This morning,” Stuart answered.
“Do you remember what time?” Sean asked.
Stuart looked up. “Ummm. Before breakfast. Before everyone woke up.”
“You left the room this morning?” His mother asked.
Stuart nodded. “I wanted to go with Karla.”
Sean treaded carefully. “Did Karla tell you she was going somewhere?”
“She told me she was meeting someone,” Stuart answered. “In the rose garden.”
“Did she say who?” Sean asked.
Stuart shook his head.
“Did she tell you why she was meeting this person?” Sean asked.
“It was about a rose,” Stuart answered. “A really special rose. She was excited to see it. I asked if I could come, but she said it was just special for her.” He looked down. “I thought maybe I could be special, too.”
So much was going on in that statement that Sean knew he didn’t have the time or training to help the boy properly. But he did have a starting point, and Sean needed to search the atrium.