Page 59 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“The corner was where you were?”

“Yes,” Deluca said. “If she was walking home, she would come past me.”

“But she didn’t?”

“No.”

“What did she do?”

“You have to keep in mind, I was looking back and forth because I was watching other kids.”

“Why did she come to your attention?”

“Because she was alone, and she stayed back, a couple steps off from the others. Then a dark sedan pulled up. It wasn’t new, but it wasn’t junk either.”

“Where?”

“Just past the pick-up line,” Deluca said. “Not where parents usually stop. It was a little off. But she didn’t get in right away. It looked like he said something to her, but I couldn’t hear what it was. Then she looked around. I would’ve walked over to her, but I had too many kids trying to get across the street. I kept an eye on her though.”

“And then?”

“She got in.”

“Like she knew the person?”

“That’s what I thought at the time,” he said. “A kid doesn’t get in a car like that unless they know who’s driving.”

“But?” JP prompted.

Deluca’s jaw tightened. “She didn’t run to it,” he said. “She didn’t smile or wave when she saw the car. She walked slow and careful like she was trying to decide.”

“That part wasn’t in your statement,” JP said.

Deluca gave a dry huff. “I tried,” he said. “The cop writing it down wasn’t interested in my perceptions. He wanted yes or no.”

“And you gave him yes.”

“I had to. She got into the car.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “But she didn’t shut the door right away.”

JP’s attention sharpened. “What do you mean?”

“She sat there a second with the door still open. Then the driver reached over and pulled it shut.”

“You’re sure?”

Deluca met his eyes. “Yeah. That part stuck.”

“Could you see who was driving?”

Deluca shook his head. “No.”

“Not at all?”

“Not clearly,” he said. “The angle was wrong. The sun was coming across the windshield. I saw movement, not a face.”

“But you thought it was someone she knew?”

Deluca shrugged. “The kid didn’t fight. She didn’t run. That’s usually someone they know.”