Beyond the Roses by Mary Cantell

Author:Mary Cantell [Cantell, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, mother-daughter, mystery, hometown, love
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-10-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Unable to sit still, Lissa paced up and down the front room of her apartment. For the next hour, questions circled in her mind. How would they go about the investigation? Would the detective work alone or be assigned a team? How long was this going to take? Either way, she wanted to be involved. Panic swept through her. Every minute away from looking for her daughter was a minute wasted. She was not going to desert her.

“I want to go back, Brian,” she said, anxiously, darting to the closet. “I need to be there.” She slipped into her jacket, grabbed her keys, and opened the door.

“I can’t just sit here and worry.”

****

Several police cars formed a barrier on the road leading to the Golden Meadows estates, all with their flashers on. A K-9 unit truck sat off to the side next to a local news station’s van. Pulling up to the scene felt surreal.

“The detective didn’t waste any time,” Brian said. “I’m impressed.”

“I’m so n-nervous, Brian,” Lissa, flushed with adrenaline, stammered. “I can barely talk.”

“Let me do the talking then.” He pulled her closer and gently warmed her hands in his.

“Thanks. I’d probably sound drunk.” I don’t really care what they think… I just want my daughter. Lissa struggled to remind herself that this was in God’s hands.

Brian pulled up to one of the officers standing by the side of the road. “Evening, Officer. I’m Brian Pickering. This is Melissa Logan, the mother of the missing child.” Brian flashed his Department of Defense credentials to the police deputy on watch. “I assume the road is blocked for the investigation?”

“Yes, sir, it is.”

“May we go in? We want to help in the search.”

The deputy’s eyebrows knit when he bent down to peer inside the car. He straightened and held up a finger. “Just a minute. Radio 331 to supervisor 123.”

“Radio 123.”

“Sir, I have the missing person’s mother with me and—”

Brian held up his security ID, and the officer leaned forward to inspect it.

“—and a Mr. Brian Pickering.”

“Pickering? DOD’s Pickering?” came the static reply over the radio.

“Looks like it, sir. They say they want to assist in the search. Permission to let them through, sir?”

“Go ahead.”

“Copy that.” He leaned in toward the window. “Go ahead, sir.”

Brian drove through the barricade and parked behind one of several police cars sprawled on the road leading to the Golden Meadows housing development. The sound of barking dogs came from somewhere in the parcel of nearby woods. Another stab of panic hit her gut. They got out of the car, and she latched onto Brian’s arm as they made their way over to one of the officers on duty.

“Evening, sir,” Brian said. “I’m Brian Pickering, and this is Melissa Logan, the missing girl’s mother.”

“Evening, I’m Sgt. Matthews.”

“We were looking for Detective Hastings,” Brian said.

“Hastings? He’s around here somewhere. I’ll page him.”

A sickening chill ran through her despite the warmth of Brian’s body next to hers. Lacy, where are you? Why did you run away?

The night sky held a scattering of stars that glowed bright as neon.

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