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“Got it.” He points at a chair. “Can I sit?”
“Of course. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No. Thanks. I’m hoping to make this stop quick. I have brunch plans. I know yesterday you said you wanted my perspective, but as I told you on my way in this morning, it sounds like you are about to have the full services of the FBI at your disposal. We’re pulling together a child abduction response team as we speak.”
“That’s good. I suppose you heard about the spliced video?”
“Agent Makowzki mentioned it. He’s the one out of the San Diego office who called me. My supervisor knew I planned to come talk to you. Hear you out. But I doubt I’ll be assigned to the case. It’ll run out of the San Diego office.”
He scratches his jaw. His gaze travels back to Alex. She is admittedly an attractive woman. Even on a Saturday morning with her dark hair pulled back into a braid. But his extended gaze has me wanting to rip him out of his seat and send him on his way. The irrational desire is a new one for me. I’ve never considered myself the jealous type.
“Are you assisting from a criminal profile perspective? Like your dad?” Ryland asks Alex.
“I believe the person who took Sophia knew her. The spliced video and the cleaned home do not speak to a random kidnapping. We can apply the standard profile of a kidnapper, but it’s not highly relevant at this juncture. To answer your question, Agent Ryland, about why I am involved?” He gives a perfunctory nod. “I am a family friend of the Sullivans.”
“So, he knows your dad, too?” This time she gives a curt nod. “That makes sense. If I were him, I’d call you, too.”
Alex’s back straightens, and she grows taller in her chair. The top of her head is now higher than Agent Ryland’s, and she faces him head on.
Ryland crosses one leg over his knee, seemingly unaffected. He taps his thigh with his hand. This isn’t his case. He doesn’t care.
“We’re researching frequent visitors to Jackson Sullivan’s San Diego home. We’re also looking into anyone high within the organization. Can the FBI help us with background checks? Or any information you might have on them?”
“Sullivan Arms is a weapons manufacturer. The ATF might have more information than we do. But we can definitely assist you. You’re thinking it’s someone with his company? Not someone from her school?”
“We’ve reviewed all of her social media. There’s nothing suspicious. We met with the students in her class and the faculty.”
“Nothing?” he asks.
“Nothing caught our attention as suspicious,” I answer.
It is quite possible an interview with an FBI agent might deliver different reactions in an interview setting. But I can be an intimidating person, and I didn’t pick up on anything other than genuine concern.
“Send your list to research over. They’re gathering the team today, but I can send it over to have someone work on it. It’ll give you and the team a head-start tomorrow morning.” He looks at us both, sets his phone down, and hits record. “Why don’t you give me a rundown of where you are in the case? I’ll send the audio over to the team lead, whoever that’s going to be.” Agent Ryland slings an arm over an adjacent chair. “Once I get this, I’ll head out.”
Alex turns those green eyes to me, tentative.
“Take it,” I say.
She places one hand over the other on the table and begins speaking with an air of confidence. “Sophia Sullivan was last seen at four thirty p.m. on Monday. The video splice removed the bulk of that day from the side camera view. We have no record of what time she actually went missing. Jack Sullivan came home at around nine p.m. and couldn’t locate her. None of her friends heard from her, but she did like several TikTok posts from six thirty to seven p.m. Her phone, an iPad, and her laptop were all found in her bedroom. Her laptop was charging, the other devices were not. There was no sign of struggle in the house, but the cleaning service cleaned the morning before we arrived at the scene. I spoke to the cleaning service, and they didn’t observe any sign of struggle or anything out of place. We have no suspicious persons. We have no leads. Jack Sullivan procured Arrow Security’s services Tuesday morning, as well as mine. He expressed concern at that point in time about the media. I’ve known Jack Sullivan for over fifteen years and can attest that his concern for the media is within character. The spliced video shows foul play. Jack Sullivan did not initially want to go to the media, but as of last night, with no other leads, he did. He has hired a PR firm, which is helping him. Arrow has a team that will go through Sullivan’s contacts, searching for any more connections, this afternoon. Did I miss anything?”
“I think you got it all.” Her concise summary laid it out well.
“And once the FBI is involved, Sullivan plans to continue paying you both?” Ryland asks, moving on to address the business at hand.
“Ultimately, that’s up to Jack Sullivan, but it’s my understanding he wants as many resources as possible working to bring his daughter home.”
“What are you doing?” He directs his question to Alex. “Are you a profiler, like your pops?”
“I’m a criminal and behavioral psychologist. And, as I said, I am a family friend of the Sullivans. Sophia’s mother was a close friend of mine. I’ll be involved, paid or unpaid, until she’s found.”
“Dr. Rolfe is a value to the team. Do you have a specific concern we need to address?” Agent Ryland is making me regret ever asking him up here.
“No. Nepotism is interesting to me.” Alex opens her mouth at the insult.
“There’s no nepotism. I don’t give a damn about her father, and I’d hire her on her own merit.”
Ryland holds his hand up as if I have a gun pointed at him. I don’t, but I’d halfway like to. His behavior is bizarre to me. Why does he care so much about her father?
