“Early meeting tomorrow. I’ll pick her up from school.”
Nikki walked him to the front door. “Be careful driving. Roads are still drifting over.”
“I will.” Tyler kissed the side of her head. It would be so easy to melt into his arms and let him distract her for a while, but she wouldn’t use Tyler like that. He deserved better.
Nikki secured both dead bolts and the doorknob’s lock before going to check on her sleeping daughter.
Lacey sprawled in the middle of her bed, blankets on the floor, her favorite stuffed animal on her face. Her wavy, dark hair and blue eyes resembled Nikki’s, but her smile and lighthearted personality came from Tyler. They hadn’t made their marriage work, but they’d definitely made a perfect kid. She considered snuggling up with Lacey, but that always ended in a sleepless night for Nikki. Lacey had been a bed hog since before she could walk.
Nikki took a long shower, letting the hot water massage her tight shoulders and nearly falling asleep. She checked the locks and security system one more time and then crawled into bed with Miller’s case file, along with sticky notes and a pen. She combed through the file, adding a note about anything she needed clarified or wanted to investigate further. It was well into the early hours of the morning when she finally turned off the lamp and tried to sleep.
Her mind still felt wired, but her body quickly succumbed to exhaustion.
She could hear male laughter, followed by a strange buzzing sound and angry shouting.
She was so sick and scared.
Thirteen steps, blood on the stairs.
Nikki, you did this.
Five
Lacey’s boot-clad feet bounced rhythmically against the leather seat of the car, spraying sand and grit everywhere. Lacey sang along with the radio, at least a key higher than the song playing, but at a much louder decibel. “Mommy, this is my favorite song.”
Nikki smiled at her in the rearview mirror. “I thought ‘Uptown Funk’ was your favorite song.”
Thank God for before- and after-school care, she thought, already going over everything she needed to start the investigation today. Lacey had asked why she was going in so early. “You’ve come this early before. A couple of your kindergarten friends will be there,” Nikki had replied.
“Carly and Logan,” Lacey had said. “They have to come early every day.” Lacey shook her head as though that were the worst possible situation. “Mommy, are you really going to be gone all week because of a bad guy?” She knew what Nikki did, that both her parents were the good guys.
“Yes, but we can FaceTime every night,” Nikki had answered.
“I don’t like it.”
“Me either, Lace. But I have to do my job, and it makes more sense for me to stay in town. Besides, you know Daddy will let you eat way more junk food than I do.”
Lacey had grinned. “I already thought of that.”
Nikki stopped in the drop-off lane and then hurried around to help Lacey out of her booster. “Backpack?”
“Check.”
“Hat and gloves?”
“On my head and hands.” She proudly displayed the mismatched gloves. At least they were both wool.
Nikki told Lacey her dad was picking her up from school, wrapped her arms around her daughter and wished she would stay this happy and innocent forever. She watched her run toward her friend, her hat only half on. Two little boys raced past, their mother shouted something from the car, and the older boy waved in response.
Cherish these moments, Nikki wanted to say. Some mothers will never get to drop their kids off at school again.
The Banks family lived in an upscale community on Long Lake that had been cruddy swampland when Nikki was a kid. Now perfectly maintained, sprawling homes with two- and three-car garages lined the lakefront. Between the new construction and exclusive views, the properties’ taxes had to be sky-high.
Nikki wasn’t surprised to see how well John had done for himself as she reached the right turn. He’d come from a wealthy family and been given every opportunity to succeed; that sort of environment made you driven, and it helped that John was charming too.
A gleaming Chevy Tahoe was parked in the driveway, along with an older model Toyota Camry. Nikki parked on the street behind Miller’s cruiser. She secured the emergency brake before she joined him on the sidewalk.
“They must have company,” Miller said. “The Tahoe’s Amy’s and John drives a Lexus. We initially processed both for evidence. Amy was screaming mad, but I told her it was protocol. Roads decent?”
“Mostly. Nice place,” Nikki replied.
“John works for a large pharmaceutical company. He’s pretty high up in the food chain. Amy works part-time as a bank teller so she can be here when the kids get home from school.”
“Madison had one sibling?”
“A little brother. Second grade, I think.”
A tall, sturdy-looking woman came out the front door, pulling it shut behind her. She started sprinkling ice melt on the wide steps.
Nikki glanced at Miller. “Housekeeper?”
He shook his head. “Family friend. Good morning, Mindy.”
“Sergeant Miller, I didn’t realize you were already here. I wanted to make sure these steps weren’t so icy.”
“Mindy Vance, this is Special Agent Nikki Hunt with the FBI.”
“I’m glad to meet you, despite the horrific circumstances.” Mindy’s heavy winter coat added to her plump girth and she was nearly as tall as Miller. “I stopped by to check in on John and Amy.”
“How long have you known the Bankses?” Nikki asked.
“Oh, for a long time,” Mindy said. “Everyone’s just in shock. I guess I’m a bit of a Pollyanna, but I still hoped the girls would come home safe. Amy’s just a wreck. And John’s, well, John.”
“Stoic,” Nikki said. “He was never great at showing his emotions.”
“I think that’s the case with most men in our generation.” Mindy’s smile quickly faltered. “Madison was a good kid. She had such a bright future.”
Miller took the ice melt and started sprinkling it onto the sidewalk.
“Thank you,” Mindy said.
“Did you know Kaylee as well?” Nikki asked.
“No,” Mindy replied. “I don’t visit as often as I should since my husband died, but I wanted to check in on Amy.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Nikki said. “You and Amy are close?”
“Not exactly close. Amy’s very private. But she was a rock after my husband’s death. I just can’t imagine what she’s going through.”
Nikki glanced around at the snow-covered houses. “Is this a tight-knit area?”
“I think so,” Mindy said. “The Burns family at the end of the cul-de-sac throws block parties in the summer. Pays for a live band and funhouses for the kids.”
“People look out for one another,” Nikki said.
“Absolutely.”
“Would they notice a strange person or vehicle hanging around?”
Mindy thought about it for a moment. “Maybe, but there are always visitors. I can’t see anyone paying much attention unless there was some kind of commotion.” She zipped up her coat and pulled on gloves. “I’m sorry to be rude, but I have to get to work.”