The Girl Who Disappeared Twice (Forensic Instincts 1)

“At the Willises. We’ll be leaving to interview a person of interest in a few minutes—with a warrant.”

“Are the Willises with you?”

“Yes. But they won’t be traveling with us.”

“I know who your person of interest is. Don’t go to Sunny Gardens,” Casey asked fervently. “Please. Not until we get to you. It’s urgent that you wait—with Hope and Edward. What we have for you is explosive.”

“Casey, I’m not playing games with you anymore. We have a job to do.”

“And you’ll do it perfectly once you have the missing pieces. If not, you’ll blow it all. Please stay put.”

A long pause. “How far away are you?”

“We can be there in forty-five minutes. Ryan’s flooring the gas.”

“Fine. Forty-five minutes is all you’ve got. Then we’re leaving.”

“Fair enough. We’ll be there.”

Patrick was pacing on the Willises’ front lawn when the van screeched up to the curb. He strode across the lawn and met Casey as she jumped out.

“What did you find?” he demanded.

“Something that will help solve both cases.” Casey was already hurrying toward the house. “I don’t know where Krissy is—yet. But I will. We will. Till then, I don’t believe she’s in danger.”

“You’d better be right. And your information had better be good.”

“I am and it is. What does the task force know?”

“Everything about Linda Turner. First of all, they drew the same conclusion we did. But they needed grounds to descend on Sunny Gardens. So they got them. Since Linda was clearly

trying to keep her condition a secret, the task force got a list of doctors she’d worked with when she was employed by the hospital. In no time, they found the private practice of the semiretired doctor who was treating her. The pharmacy she used was two blocks away from his office.”

“Who gave them what they needed—the doctor or the pharmacist?”

“Both. All her medical records were confidential, but Peg spoke to one pharmacist who recognized Linda, and who said they hadn’t been supplying her with prescription meds for over a month. The pharmacist’s impression was that Linda was moving to an on-site facility. When the task force took that information to the doctor, and impressed upon him the urgency of the situation, the doctor confirmed that he’d recommended Sunny Gardens to Linda. Between that, and the fact that Claudia Mitchell was murdered right after interviewing at that facility…”

“The task force got the warrants they needed. So they were on their way to Sunny Gardens when I called.”

“Oh, yeah. They were furious about waiting. Peg put her neck on the line for you, amid lots of dissent. So, like I said, you’d better have some hard, solid evidence to give them.”

“And, like I said, I do.” Casey paused outside the front door. “Thank you, Patrick. I know how hard this was for you, not only because of how badly you want to solve the Felicity Akerman case, but because you strayed a hair from the straight and narrow.”

His jaw tightened. “I did it for one reason—I think you’re good enough to crack this without being bogged down by bullshit. That doesn’t mean I approve of your methods. It means I’m desperate enough to tolerate them.”

“Let’s get inside.” Marc had come up behind them, along with Ryan, who was carrying his laptop and the shocking video—if Peg chose to see it.

The whole group went inside, converging in the media room, where most of the task force, including Hutch and Grace, along with Claire, the Willises, and Vera and Sidney Akerman were waiting.

Hope practically raced forward, grabbing Casey’s arm with sheer desperation. “Did you find Linda? Was she at that place Sunny Gardens?”

“Yes.” Casey studied Hope intently, saw the genuine emotion in her eyes. Not that any confirmation was necessary. Still, she was relieved to get it.

“Did you talk to her? Did she tell you where Krissy was?”

Casey turned to Peg. In the process, she spotted Hutch, and tried to ignore the blazing fury in his eyes.

“Linda Turner has a new name and a surprising accomplice. Don’t ask me how I know. Just accept it as a hot tip. The sooner you can act on this, the better.”