Page 34 of Bring Them Home

Amanda handed the woman her card before turning to leave. To think they came here with their suspicions about Noelle, even whether she’d admit to being holed up with Phillip Daily in a motel room. As it turned out, it couldn’t have been easier. Aside from watching a marriage combust…

As they loaded back into the car, Trent said, “I guess we need to cut Daily loose.”

“Guess so.” Putting us back to ground zero…

“Where do you say we concentrate our efforts now? I’m thinking we dig into Paul’s life.”

“The wise course of action. He was the one who was murdered. Why don’t you take us over to Dumfries Elementary, and we’ll talk to the principal and some of Paul’s colleagues?”

“You sure?”

“It has to be tackled at some point. No time like the present.” Especially when a mother and her daughter are still unaccounted for…

SEVENTEEN

They stopped for a quick bite to eat on the way to the school. Amanda’s stomach was rumbling so loudly, there might as well have been a megaphone held against it. She texted her mother to say she needed to take her up on her offer. Her mother was quick to respond, saying she’d pick Zoe up from school and plan to spend the night at Amanda’s house. She was eager to get even more time with her granddaughter. Amanda didn’t tell her about Paul Archer’s murder; she’d rather do that face to face.

Briggs messaged while they were eating. He’d passed information about the case to a fellow detective on the day shift. There still wasn’t anything back from the carrier, but it sounded hopeful they’d have something on their servers for Valerie’s phone going back to last Friday. As for the histories requested for Paul’s and Brooke’s numbers, nothing flagged.

Amanda hustled through the hallways because it was getting close to the end of the school day. The last thing she wanted was for Zoe to catch sight of her and ask why they were there. The girl was too smart and would know something was wrong. And the school wasn’t the place Amanda wanted to have the conversation about Mr. Archer with Zoe.

In the principal’s office, a woman with a pleasant smile greeted them. Her name was Anna Ward, and Amanda had met her before.

“Ms. Steele, is everything all right? Do you need me to get Zoe from class for you?”

“No, I’m here for another reason. We need to speak to the principal.”

Anna’s eyes caught the badge clipped onto Trent’s waistband and met Amanda’s gaze. Said nothing.

“Is it still—” Amanda stopped talking when Anna shook her head.

“It’s Ivan Zimmerman now. Can I tell him what this is regarding?”

“Just a police matter.”

Anna didn’t respond for a few beats, just kept watching them. “Okay, I’ll let him know you’re here.”

A glint in Anna’s eyes told Amanda she’d pieced it together. One missing teacher plus two police detectives equaled something bad. “Thank you.”

Anna got on her phone and was giving them the go-ahead after a few seconds. All she told the principal was one of the students’ parents needed a word with him and provided Zoe’s name.

“Amanda Steele, you’re Zoe’s mother. Nice to meet you.” A man wearing a pale-gray suit was seated behind the desk and waved for her to come in. His gaze traveled over her, then Trent. “You’re Zoe’s father?”

“No, I…” Trent fumbled.

“Mr. Zimmerman, I am Zoe’s mother, but I’m not here in that capacity. This is Detective Trent Stenson, my partner.”

Ivan’s face took on sharp edges, and he leaned back in his chair. “Please, sit.” He gestured to the visitor chairs across from him.

Once they got situated, he said, “This is about Paul Archer.” Not said as a question.

“It is,” she told him. “Paul Archer was found dead this morning. He was murdered.”

Ivan’s eyes blanked over, and he licked his lips. “I figured something must have happened to explain his absence. He didn’t seem like the type to no-show.”

“You just started with the school this year?” Trent asked.

“I did, but it’s only the students who get the entire summer off. The teachers and I have work to do. I didn’t get to know him a lot, just enough that I didn’t see him not showing up without an explanation. His fellow teachers couldn’t understand it either, and they knew him better than I did.”