Temporary Partner

PTE

pped his brow. Beads of sweat rolled down his temples. "Best I can tell you is we have a missing five- month-old baby

ter reported a woman, and I quote, 'Screaming her head off.' The mother, Clara Paquet, is inconsolable, as you can plainly hear. I can barely get her to

minous at all

kidnapper left us a little

which is why

ng I feared I might not want to see. In my experience, gifts and parental

we faced. They were r

egged a ti

een taken some time between three thirty and when the mother discovered him gone, which, based on

in the picture? Is

ow where he is, and like I said, the mother is out of h

to

use

tone. Never mind. Not impo

some information. She wasn't responding well to a male influence. I've had two constables search th

neighbor who

ut she's itching to get back to her ho

keyo gestured at the house down the block. "She isn't close with the family, so she

time to shave before I flew out the door. The thick stubble went against my personal

k and the next shut down. Ho

ription of the baby and photos. I don't even know what the dad drives, so I couldn't give any more than

the h

ng his onyx eyes, I read the truth of hi

nse Unit what's happened and have them shore up the water traffic within a thirty-mil

s,

me in, so you tell me what your gut is saying because if we

l be honest with you, Detective. I don't know. Logic says there's some famil

second-guessing?" "Yes, s

n toward the house with the balloons. "Send a couple of your constables to see if anyone saw or heard a

group of constables. "Nelly,

who's not, what they know, what they saw. Ask if anyone has home security

alone o

." "Done." Ikeyo waved a hand at the front door. "Shall w

ounced and took t

ing

had that

baby, that'd be our best- case

It was crisp and affluent. Nothing indicated the couple had an infant. Everything was pristine. Spotless. Dust-free and in perfect order. White walls and white leather furniture, custom-built cabinetry with glass door

ike money an

ne overlooked the sitting room below. Paintings hung on the walls, and potted

as experience in the social services area and has worked as a family liaison in the

her ch

N

in here." "Isn'

o a laundry room and what looked like the exit to the garage, then I scanned a sm

a marble-topped table. The rest of the seating was high-backed leather chairs. A cream-colored area rug sat square underneath, giving comfort and warmth

ntertops reflected the afternoon sun that shone through the patio doors and large windows. White painted cabinets lined the walls wi

ed a barbecue, cushioned wicker deck

A manicured lawn and garden stretched

tomach, her expression mirroring the older woman's. The young girl shared the same shade of hair that hung in matching braids over her shoulders. A conical birthday hat sat crooked on her head, the elastic dig

rphy from down the road. Sh

? It's Lucy's birthday. All

?" I asked the little girl, fin

e flicking up to che

" I asked when she retu

eld up fiv

. That's a big num

mile before she buried her f

r residence right now talking with your guests to see if they have any more i

know. Clara's husband is probably away on a

elationship wi

're acquainted. I wouldn't call us friends. We've ch

atement for our records. Leave your contact information with one of the officers in case I have questions th

Ikeyo gestured to the hallw

and backyard where I was told I'd find Clara