Page 3 of Glimmer in the Darkness

“What’s one more?”

Vince chuckled. “Been studying the crowd. Sick people who do stuff like this, they like to see the results of their evil, you know?”

James tore his gaze away from the press conference, though the scene was magnetic, like all great tragedies are.

On TV, police detectives wore suits, but Vince had on khakis and a golf shirt. Blending in. “See anything interesting?”

“Just locals. Some families on vacation who couldn’t get away fast enough. Nobody noteworthy.”

“How’s the investigation going?” James asked. “Anything new?”

“Nothing. Kid was playing in her grandparents’ backyard one minute, gone the next. Just like the girl last month.”

“But you think she’s still close?”

He shrugged. “Normally we wouldn’t, but last time, if the kidnapper’d taken her away, why come back to dump the body? She’s gotta be nearby.”

James wondered if by “she,” Vince referred to the child or the kidnapper. He wondered, but he didn’t ask.

Dylan O’Donnell approached, his red hair bright in the morning sunshine. He shook both men’s hands. “What can I do to help?”

O’Donnell was a private investigator who specialized in finding lost people. But not kidnapped people, as far as James knew. Runaways and homeless loved ones. Addicts, alcoholics, the mentally ill.

Vince said, “Nothing at the moment.”

“Chelsea thought she might offer a reward for the kid’s safe return.” Dylan’s wife was the president and CEO of Hamilton Clothiers, the town’s largest industry and the state’s largest single employer.

A reward seemed like a good idea to James, but Vince said, “Take it up with the chief, but I don’t think that’s the way to go. This person’s a serial kidnapper and murderer. We gotta catch her”—Vince’s gaze flicked to James—“or him. Not fund the operation.”

Her.

Everyone thought it was her.

Even though he was a newcomer to town, Dylan knew the story, and he glanced at James too. “Let me know. Money, time, expertise. We’re happy to help however we can.”

“Will do.” Vince waited until Dylan was a good distance away before he spoke again. “I’d take him more seriously if his hair weren’t the color of a firetruck.”

“I hear he’s good, though.”

“I wish I could put him to work. Truth is, we got nothing. The kid just vanished.”

They listened to the mayor drone on for a few minutes. There wasn’t much to say, but he managed to use a lot of words to say it.

James asked, “How’s Lorelai doing?”

The hard lines in his friend’s face softened. “Good. Real good. I don’t know what she sees in a guy like me.”

“I always figured she’s slow-witted.”

Vince liked that.

“You gonna make it official?”

“I hope. She thinks it’s too soon, but I’m ready.”

Vince’s mother had died a few months before. As far back as anybody could remember, it had only been Vince and his mom. Vince had taken the death hard.

“You doing okay?” James asked. “Anything I can—?”