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“What happened?” I asked her, taking her into my arms.
“She was in the family room with me one moment, and then she was gone the next.”
“What about the security cameras?”
“She never came back after she was seen going in the backyard,” she cried. “Kensi knows not to leave on her own.”
“She wouldn’t go into the water, but we’ll search the shore as well.”
“Did you check the treehouse?” Laura’s whisper barely carried from the room’s corner.
“Yes, of course we checked the treehouse.”
“You should check again. She loves the treehouse. It’s her safe space.”
“We checked three times.” Tiffany’s voice lifted, and Laura sat up.
“We’ll check it again,” I said. “We’ll find her. I’m leaving with the office in two minutes to comb through the property.”
“What if she’s not alone? What if someone took her? I… I thought maybe you took her.” She pointed at Laura.
“I wouldn’t do that to you or James. I know what it feels like to have a child stolen.”
Tension nipped through the room.
“What were you talking about before she left? What was she doing?” I asked.
“I… I left her in the playroom, and I went to the front. She may have overheard me on the phone with my sister.” Tiffany broke into fresh tears.
“What did you say to your sister?” Laura asked.
“I told her about you. I told her you were Kensi’s biological mother, and when we finished talking, the backdoor was open and Kensi was gone.” She covered her face with her hands, sobbing.
“I will find her if it’s the last thing I do. I promise you both.”
Laura shot up to her feet. “I’m coming with you.”
“No. You’re staying here.”
She braced her hands on her hips. “Have you forgotten I was a cop? And now I’m more than that. I’m an investigator and a mother with an instinct. I’m looking for Kensi, and if you try to stop me—”
I lifted my hands in the air. “All right, all right. You’re coming. Tiff, can you stay with Laila and Foxy?”
“I’ve got the kids.” My mother came out of the kitchen. “They’re in the basement with Emma on the pinball machine. Tiffany, come with me. I made you some tea.”
“Thank you, Mom.” I hugged her and took Laura’s hand.
We drove to Tiffany’s in silence. I pushed the car to its limit while Laura held onto the side arm. I had planned a long speech for today, but now I couldn’t find any of my words. I’d wanted to sit Laura down with Tiffany and tell them we could work things out. But now our daughter was missing. My head pulsed with pain and my vision blurred. I cleared my eyes as I turned into the driveway filled with police cars.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“As good as can be.”
“No, I mean it, James. You don’t look well.”
“None of us do right now,” I snapped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“It’s all right. We’re all stressed. Come on. Let’s go look for Kensi. You know this home better than me or the police. There has to be something they missed. Show me the treehouse first.”
