Page 72 of Bring Them Home

“When was this?”

Trent laid out the day and time from the receipt.

“I worked that day, and I remember her coming in but I don’t recall seeing her with anyone.”

Amanda deflated. “Well, the video could help us.”

Carla moved the mouse around and clicked some buttons on the keyboard. A moment later, she was wheeling back and walking out from behind the desk. “It’s ready for you. All you have to do is hit play. The other controls are right there too if you need to reverse, forward, or play it in slow motion. It’s just like any media player app. Come get me when you’re finished, and I’ll email a copy of the footage you want to you.”

“Thank you,” Amanda told her.

Carla left, and Trent walked around the desk and sat down. “If you don’t object…”

“Not at all.” She stood behind his shoulder and watched the screen as he hit play.

On screen, they watched as Valerie walked into the coffee shop solo and ordered a drink and a cupcake. She sat at a table for several minutes drinking her coffee and eating her treat. She didn’t look around like most people who were waiting for someone. Ten minutes later, she got up with her coffee, but left the wrapper and a bunched-up napkin on the table. Almost immediately a woman with long, straight blond hair, wearing large dark-tinted sunglasses took over her table. She dropped into the chair Valerie had abandoned, pushed aside the wrapper, but swooped up the napkin. She unfolded it, and a vee formed in her brow line above her glasses. Seconds later, she left the coffee shop.

Trent stopped the playback. “Did Valerie write a message on that napkin for this woman?”

“I’d say so, but talk about a clandestine meetup. And whatever the message was, this woman looks upset by it.”

Trent reversed and zoomed in on the stranger’s face. “The video quality is good, but those sunglasses obscure her facial features. Whatever the case, she’s not the woman from the mall’s security footage. Her size and body shape doesn’t fit.”

Tall as me, five-nine… with straight blond hair, but it looked too perfect, ya know… a wig. That was the description Brooke’s friends had given of a woman they’d seen following Brooke on several occasions. A woman Sadie had also said disappeared like a ghost when Brooke headed over to talk to her.

Like a ghost…

Just like Abigail McGee had disappeared from her life eight years ago as if vanishing into thin air. Could it be…? The woman’s hair on the screen didn’t look natural; it was perfect with no strand out of place. “Trent, I think we just found our female stalker.”

“Sure, but who is she?”

“That’s a question I intend to answer.” Though Amanda already had a strong suspicion she knew this woman’s identity.

THIRTY-FIVE

Amanda and Trent left Caffeine Café with a copy of the video footage in hand. Trent had also snapped a closeup shot of the woman from the screen. They headed back to Central and were having the parents of Brooke’s friends bring the girls in so they could talk to both of them at once.

When the girls arrived, they took them into the soft interview room that was set up like a living room. It was often where family members were brought in to question. The teens convinced both sets of parents to let them go in alone. The teens weren’t as nervous as the last time they spoke, and their eyes scanned Amanda and Trent. It was as if they were holding their breath waiting to hear what they were there to say.

“We haven’t found Brooke or her mother yet.” Amanda wanted to get that out upfront. “But we are doing all that we can. When Detective Stenson and I spoke to you last time, you mentioned that a woman had been following Brooke.”

Trent got out his phone and took it over to the girls, who were seated on the couch. “Does this woman look familiar to you?”

“Oh my God, that’s her.” Sadie’s eyes widened.

“Did she take Brooke?” Charlotte’s voice was soft and timid. While she was asking, it was like she wasn’t sure if she wanted the answer.

“We don’t know if or how she is involved,” Amanda told them.

“Where did you get that photo?” Sadie met Amanda’s gaze.

“We came across it while following a lead.” Amanda rose to her feet while Trent pocketed his phone and waited for her to join him near the door. “Just try to stay positive, okay, and take care of yourselves. Also, let others help you, like Ms. Horne at your school.” Even better than talking to their parents was availing themselves of the school counselor who would have the necessary training to help with such situations.

After the girls left with their parents, Amanda and Trent returned to their desks.

“I think we need to talk about it,” Trent said.

“About…?”