Celebrating Tina by Sara Blackard

Author:Sara Blackard [Blackard, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sara Blackard

Thirteen

A week later, Milo scanned the busy Grand Avenue, eyeing the people rushing to their Christmas shopping and praying the sage Outback would drive by. The distraught mom of another missing kid sobbed as she gave her statement to an officer. How was it that this guy had stolen another kid? Lieutenant Stone stomped up, a scowl on his face.

“Another one?” he barked, though he knew the answer.

Milo nodded, his hand rubbing his neck.

Stone cursed low and kicked a clump of snow into the gutter. Nothing ever rattled him, but then again, they’d never had to deal with a spree of kidnapped children. He motioned for Milo to follow and headed down the sidewalk.

“What do we know?” Stone stopped a few stores down, glancing back at the mother.

“Not much.” Milo ground his teeth. “The kidnapper drives a sage older model Outback.”

Stone groaned and rubbed his hand down his face. “Half of Garfield County has that car.”

“He’s getting bolder, taking the kid in broad daylight.” Milo motioned at the busy street. “Callahan’s back at the precinct going through traffic videos. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

“What about the storefronts’ surveillance?” Stone pointed to buildings.

“I have officers going to businesses, but almost all of the buildings are managed by leasing companies. It’ll take time tracking down the videos.”

Milo’s stomach growled loudly, and Stone’s eyebrow rose. “When was the last time you ate?”

Milo shrugged. He’d had a Poptart on the way into the precinct. Eating didn’t seem important when children were missing. His eyelids gritted like sandpaper as he blinked. Too many late nights trying to track down the kidnapper.

Three kids in three weeks. He’d spent the entire week scouring the video feeds from both crimes and had nothing they could go on. They’d likely never find the children alive.

Was it wrong that he’d been praying for a trafficking ring rather than a homicidal psychopath? At least then they might find them. The sickening fear that had plagued him since Thanksgiving soured his gut. Even then, the kids were probably long gone. That whoever was doing this would choose the holidays just showed how heartless they were.

“I’ve called Tina. She’s bringing Scout down.” Milo sighed, the weight of not finding the kids bent his shoulders. “Maybe they can give us something to work with.”

“When you’re done here, I want you to take the rest of the day off.”

“But, sir…”

“Bishop, you’ve been going nonstop for a week. I need you at a hundred percent.” Stone crossed his arms. “You’re taking the rest of the day off and that’s an order.”

It didn’t seem right to not go down to the precinct, but Milo also knew exhaustion was fraying his brain. Maybe he could go home and pull up the case on his laptop.

“So, you and Tina West?” Stone smiled smugly before he sobered. “I’ve known that girl forever. She was always so quiet, but I guess after what happened to her parents it’s not a surprise. Always figured she’d become an accountant or librarian, something calm, not S&R.

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