Page 61 of Bring Them Home

Dr. Tanner had read Zoe’s story because Zoe said it was all right for her to. Amanda had a few minutes with Dr. Tanner after Zoe’s time ended.

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but her teacher’s murder has brought her past wounds to the surface,” Dr. Tanner told Amanda.

“I feared it would, and that’s why I called your office.”

“It was the best thing you could have done, and it meant a lot to her that you came along.”

The therapist’s words were still filtering through Amanda’s mind when she dropped Zoe off at school and headed for Hannah’s Diner. Their parking lot was packed, and she debated whether it was worth waiting in line. But there would be a Hannah’s coffee on the other end. After the last twenty-four hours she’d had, she could use the pick-me-up. Coffee was comfort in a cup. She didn’t trust anyone who said otherwise.

Amanda’s phone rang just as she got out of her car. Trent’s name splashed on the screen, and she answered. “Good morning.”

Trent reciprocated the greeting and added, “I’ve got a potential lead on Bill Johnson. I came in early this morning and dug deeper into him and his family. His father is deceased, but it turns out Bill’s mother lives out near Haymarket. The woman is eighty-two. It’s a feat she’s living on her own still, but I’m thinking it’s possible Bill and Peggy Johnson could be holding Valerie and Brooke there without the older woman’s knowledge. She does have some land.”

Amanda turned back around and got into her Honda. “Let’s head out there and see. I’ll meet you at Central in ten.”

“I’ll be waiting.” With that, he ended the call.

As she left the lot, she thought it would be worth missing out on a Hannah’s coffee if the detour saved a woman and her daughter. She hoped to hell that would be the case.

Amanda knocked on the door of the farmhouse, and footsteps padded toward them. Then stopped on the other side.

“Who is it?” a woman asked. Her voice was frail.

Janet Johnson. “Prince William County PD, ma’am,” Amanda responded, and the door was cracked open.

An elderly woman had her bright blue eyes fixed on her and Trent. “Yes? What’s the matter?”

“Just to confirm, are you Janet Johnson?” Amanda asked her.

“This is my home, so, yes.”

“We’re Detectives Steele and Stenson. We’re looking for your son, Bill Johnson. Is he here?” There was no black cargo van in the driveway, but there was a barn out back.

“No.”

“Have you seen him recently?”

“Yes. He left about a half hour ago.”

Would he leave if Valerie and Brooke were on the property? Amanda wasn’t sure if it would stop him. He could have them secured somewhere he didn’t fear his mother would find them. It was even possible that Peggy was here watching over them. “Was he here with Peggy?”

Janet balled up her face and spat on the front porch, just missing Trent’s shoe. “That woman is nothing but trouble. She’s not welcome here.”

All right… Though Peggy could be here, kept out of Janet’s sight. “Would we be able to look around your property, ma’am?”

“What for?”

“Your son and Peggy are persons of interest in a police investigation.” Something told Amanda that holding back specific mention of abduction and murder was the wise course. “You said that Peggy is trouble. What did you mean by that?”

Janet thrust out her chin. “Just that. Always talking like a smart-ass and putting grandiose ideas into my boy’s head. She’s why he’s broke.”

Nothing illegal by the sound of it. Not that this dampened Amanda’s suspicion about Peggy. “So, could we look around?”

“No.”

“May I ask why not?” Amanda said.

The woman stiffened her shoulders. “You can ask all you want, but this here is my property. You live as long as I have, you’ll see all sorts of injustices. There are thousands of innocent people sitting on death row as we speak. It’s an absolute tragedy. So, no, I don’t want you poking your nose in my business and making up evidence against my son. I’d like you to leave immediately.” Janet closed the door in their faces, not giving them a chance to respond.