“On Todd Williams,” the detective clarified. “Turns out he’s got a record, both juvenile and adult. He did time for burglary and theft.”
“That’s right.” Though she hadn’t known about the juvenile stuff until after he’d broken into her parents’ mansion and tried to steal what was “rightfully” his. His prison time had come after their divorce.
“We’ve got a call in to his parole officer. They’re going to be bringing Williams in for questioning.”
Again, Morgan nodded. They could question the devil for all she cared. She just wanted her son found.
“What kind of relationship does Williams have with your parents?”
“After he stole from them and they prosecuted him, you mean?”
“They were one of the counts in his conviction?”
She nodded.
“Before or after your divorce?”
“He stole from them before. The conviction came after.”
“What kind of relationship do your parents have with Sammie?”
“My mother sees him regularly. My father never comes to our home or takes Sammie anywhere.”
“Your parents are divorced?” The woman looked down at her paperwork. “I’m sorry, I thought…”
“They aren’t divorced,” Morgan clarified. “My father sees Sammie when my mother brings him to their place, but he and I have been in a standoff since before Sammie was born. After my marriage to Todd broke up, he offered to take me back into his fold, but only if I live at home with him and my mother and do exactly as I’m told. If I don’t live by his dictates, he has nothing to do with me. He won’t go to any of Sammie’s functions if I’m there. Though, to be fair, I believe that if I was incapable of providing for Sammie, my father wouldn’t let us starve. As it is, he’s content to let me penny-pinch, drive a used car and live in a smallish duplex. And I’m perfectly happy to do so if it means I can be my own person and live my life and raise my son in the way I feel is best.”
“Mmm.” The detective’s compassionate glance, her knowing tone, left Morgan feeling far too exposed. And ready to spill all at the same time.
She wanted her son found. No matter what embarrassing and humiliating shortcomings she had to confess.
“So your parents don’t help you out financially at all? N
ot even with Sammie?”
“No. My mother buys gifts for Sammie occasionally and my father doesn’t object, as long as I don’t benefit financially. It’s his way of teaching me a lesson. My father isn’t evil. He’s just cold. And certain that he’s always right.”
But he would not do anything, ever, to hurt his grandson. Or Morgan, either, in a physical sense.
“You have no siblings, right?”
“Right.”
Morgan jumped as a knock sounded on the door to the small room.
“Excuse me.” With papers in hand, Detective Martin left Morgan alone.
She was back in a couple of seconds.
“Todd Williams is here. We’re going to question him.”
“You really think he could have taken Sammie?”
Elaine Martin shrugged. “If his money pool is running low. I know you said his wife is rich but he could be into gambling. Or he could have taken your son if he wants to get back at your folks for rejecting him to begin with and then pressing the charges that sent him to prison. Either motive is solid. It’s our job to find out who has motive and to investigate every possibility as quickly as possible.”
Morgan felt like she might throw up. This couldn’t be happening. “But if he took him, he’d have to do something with him.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “He couldn’t take him home… .”
Sammie? Oh, God. Her breath caught. Where are you, Sammie?