Missing Pieces (A North and Martin Abduction Mystery Book 2) by James Hunt

Author:James Hunt [Hunt, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-22T22:00:00+00:00

13

A sense of vindication flooded Jim’s veins after he found the symbol on the tree, but he was also rattled. He had no idea what had propelled him to go out into the backyard of the church and look at the tree. He had no evidence to suggest the person responsible would have done something like that, but still, he somehow knew he would find it. It was a moment of pure instinct. But the adulation ended when he saw Kerry and the symbols in Rudy’s notebook.

“Rudy just became our number one suspect,” Kerry said.

Jim understood the decision from an investigative standpoint, but he was floored that Rudy could even be considered a candidate. “How could he have gotten the toxins?” He turned to Kerry, already poking holes in her theory.

“We’re waiting to hear back from VICE on the situation, but he and the victim attend the same school,” Kerry said, and then she gestured to the files Jim had brought with him. “What’s all this?”

“My parents told me about a boy they fostered during their first year,” Jim said. “He was too violent for them to keep.”

Kerry frowned. “I thought your parents never turned anyone away?”

“They don’t,” Jim answered. “So I wanted to find out more about this kid and dug into his past. Turns out he died in a fire at a halfway house shortly after he left my parents’ home.”

“So he died?” Kerry asked. “I don’t see how that’s a lead.”

“The halfway house was bulldozed to the ground, but someone built a church there instead,” Jim said, and then fished out his phone to show Kerry the picture. “I found this freshly carved into one of the trees behind the church.”

Kerry stared at the symbol carved into the bark, retaining her poker face. “There’s no reason Rudy couldn’t have done it.”

“Why would he go there?” Jim asked. “Rudy has no connection to that place. But Charlie Mills does.” He gestured to the pile of files.

Kerry lowered her head. “Jim, we don’t have time to track down dead people. We need to focus on the leads we have. And right now our lead is Rudy.”

“Rudy is the one who’s missing,” Jim said, his tone harsh. “We should be looking for him, not accusing him of murder.”

Kerry sighed, shaking her head. “Fine. Do what you want.” She walked away, leaving Jim alone with his files, and he started to get to work.

Jim opened the file, searching through the pages recorded by the social workers who had handled Charlie’s file throughout his years in the foster care system.

Charlie was given up for adoption by his mother through a closed adoption and never met his biological parents. He was fostered by a family, but shortly after the boy turned three, he was given back to Social Services.

No reason was given for the break in custody.

Charlie bounced around a few more foster homes over the next five years, but between the ages of eight and sixteen, he remained at the King County Orphanage.

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