Page 53 of Lion’s Den

“All right, Sedona.” Isaac patted her hand. “You walked Julio around the building to the front where his brother was waiting and helped him into the truck. Then what did you do?”

“Returned to the faculty parking lot at the back of the school. That’s where my vehicle was parked.”

“Close your eyes again. What do you see?”

“Two men.”

“What were they doing?”

“Talking and watching me.”

“Did they say anything to you?”

She shook her head.

“You said three men were there when you left the building, but when you came back around the building after seeing Julio off, you mentioned two men. Where was the third man, Sedona?”

“I didn’t see him, but I just kept going. I should have stopped. I should have gone back into the school.”

“Sedona, stop.” Cam couldn’t stand by while she blamed herself for what happened. “You had no reason to suspect that someone was waiting to kidnap you.”

“Do you know why they were behind the school?” Isaac asked.

Another head shake from Sedona.

“I’ll look around online to see if something went down in the neighborhood,” Rhys said.

“I didn’t even think about that.”

He shrugged. “That’s why you have us in your corner.”

“Did Julio mention seeing those men before?” Isaac asked.

“Not to me.”

“Would he have talked to someone else? Perhaps his mother?”

“Not about that night. Remember, his sister didn’t want their mother to find out that she’d forgotten the backpack at school.”

“What about before that night? Is it possible he mentioned the men or their vehicle to his brother or sister?”

“Not his sister. He’s very protective of her. That’s why he volunteered to come back to school to get her backpack.”

Cam frowned. “Don’t instructors lock their doors at night?”

“Yes, we do. Well, I do, at least. I remember now that Julio mentioned talking to the janitor. Perhaps he let Julio into the room if Jill locked her door.”

“Janitor’s name?” Rhys had his laptop booted up and ready to go.

“Alan Cromwell. He’s a really nice guy and would never hurt one of those children.”

“Maybe not intentionally, but it happens, Sedona.”

Cam turned to Rhys. “Look for traffic cams in the area around the school, as well as security cameras.”

“On it.”

He shifted his attention to Sedona again. “Let’s go back further into your past.”