Page 50 of Bring Them Home

Visits to Valerie Archer’s friends didn’t accomplish anything for the investigation. It only served to upset more people. Neither of them had any idea why someone would want to do this to Valerie or her family.

After leaving them in tears, Amanda and Trent headed to Woodbridge Trust & Bridge Co. Amanda stewed in the passenger seat, frustrated by their lack of progress. While she and Trent followed every lead and twist, a mother and daughter were suffering. Or could be… if they’re still alive. She shook the treacherous thought aside, refusing to give in to the fear they were too late to save them.

The bank’s security guard stood inside the doors and was sporting a black eye. He dipped his head at them when they walked into the bank.

“Where could we find the branch manager?” Amanda asked him.

“That would be Emmerson McCormick this week.” The man pointed at the first office on the right.

“Thank you.” Amanda would pursue what was meant by this week with Emmerson.

On their way, Amanda noted that no one was in line for either of the two tellers. Even she couldn’t remember the last time she set foot in the bank. Online banking made it too convenient to take care of everything from home.

When they reached the office, she read the lettering on the glass. It included McCormick’s name with the title of assistant branch manager. Was he acting as the manager this week because Valerie was a no-show? Unfortunately, no one was inside.

“Can I help you?” a man said from behind her and Trent.

She gestured toward the glass. “We’re looking for him.”

“You found him. What would you like?” It was a cool reception. He must have pegged them right off as cops, failing to see they could also be prospective clients.

“We’re Detectives Steele and Stenson,” she told him. “We’d like to speak with you about one of the bank’s employees, Valerie Archer.”

“You mean that Valerie?” Emmerson nudged his head toward a framed photograph on a wall near the customer service desk with Valerie’s name embossed on a gold plate beneath it. “She’s the bank’s manager.”

Not that her position changes the fact we want to talk about her… “Yes, that Valerie.”

“Is something wrong?”

Despite his question, Amanda didn’t sense any genuine worry. If she were to guess, Valerie’s absence didn’t flag. That meant she must have booked some time off. But one step at a time. “We would be happy to answer that, but it would be best if we could talk in your office.”

“I have an appointment in five minutes, but, yes, of course.” Emmerson looked at the woman at the customer service desk and pointed toward Amanda and Trent. She nodded, picking up on the assistant manager’s request to let his client know he might be delayed.

Emmerson gestured for them to enter his office and sit in the visitor chairs. He swept in behind them, shut the door, and sat at his desk.

Once everyone was seated, Amanda got started. “When was the last time you saw Valerie?” She’d love clarity on why this man wasn’t more unsettled.

“Last Friday.” He danced his gaze between them. “Why are the police interested in Valerie?”

He has no clue she is missing… In his defense, the Archers’ abduction and Paul’s murder hadn’t hit the news, but still. “Weren’t you concerned when she never showed up for work this week?”

“Not at all. She wasn’t expected in. She had this week booked off.”

That explained why her absence hadn’t raised any red flags. Though the timing did. Not that she could put her finger on why. “Was this something she had planned for a while?”

“A few months.”

Less likely to carry any meaning then… “Do you know what her plans were?”

“No, absolutely not, and it wasn’t any of my business. I report to her, but I know that she’s going through a stressful time with her son being ill. He needs a bone marrow transplant soon or he will die. As far as I know, she just needed time off to rest and recharge some.”

Amanda could only imagine the toll such a situation would take on a mother. Her heart ached for the woman. But she also had to think like a cop. Was something sinister buried in the timing of the vacation? Had the abduction been staged to cover up a scheme to run away with her daughter and another lover? Phillip Daily had been cleared, and he was the only one on her phone, but she might have been better at covering her tracks with someone else. But what would have a loving mother abandoning her sick son and hating her husband that much? Though she wouldn’t be the first. But her thoughts felt like nothing more than runaway imaginings. She shook them aside but still asked, “How did Valerie seem on Friday?” If she had orchestrated the “abduction” of her husband and daughter, and his murder, it reasoned she’d be acting out of character, absent-minded, making mistakes.

“All I can tell you is she didn’t have a good last day to see her off on her vacation.”

Trent leaned forward. “Why is that?”

“I probably shouldn’t say.” His brow wrinkled. “What’s going on anyway? Is Valerie okay?”