First Family (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 4)

Betack said, “You’re right. We’ll cover that end.”

“So what do we do now?” Jane wanted to know.

Sean said, “Can they determine where it was mailed from?”

Jane said, “Dalton, Georgia. At least that’s what the FBI director told me.”

Betack confirmed this with a nod.

“Okay, that’s something. If it was at a specific processing center then there’s a certain radius of postal pickups that are delivered there. That narrows the search down. It’ll require a lot of manpower but they can canvass the area.”

“FBI’s already on it,” said Betack.

Michelle said, “But if I’m the kidnapper I’ll know that and I’ll drive a long way from where I’m holding Willa to make the drop.”

Sean added, “Dalton is in northern Georgia. It’s in relatively easy driving distance from Tennessee, Alabama, and North and South Carolina.”

“Which makes it hard but not impossible,” noted Betack. “And it’s one of the few leads we have.”

Sean looked over to see Jane staring at a photo she held in her hands. She turned it around for them to see. It was a picture of Willa on a horse.

“She’d just turned six. She wanted a pony, of course. I guess all little kids do. Dan was still in the Senate back then. We took her to a little farm out near Purcellville in Virginia. She got right up on that animal and we almost couldn’t get her off. Most kids would’ve been scared to death.”

She slowly put the photo back down.

“A brave girl,” Sean said quietly.

Jane said pointedly, “She is brave and capable, but she’s still a little girl.”

“Does the FBI have any thoughts on motive?” asked Michelle.

“Not as far as I know.”

She looked at Betack, who merely shook his head.

“We talked to Tuck and went by his office.”

“Did you find anything useful?”

Sean squirmed slightly in his chair before glancing uneasily at Betack. “This might get personal.”

Betack looked at the First Lady. “I can leave, Mrs. Cox.”

She thought for a moment. “Fine. Thank you, Agent Betack. The president and I want to be made aware of any developments without delay.”

After Betack left she said, “What do you mean by personal, Sean?”

“Did Pam ever talk to you about any problems in the marriage?”

“Why do you ask that?” Jane said sharply.

“Just covering all the bases,” said Sean. “So was there anything?”

Jane sat back and made a steeple with her hands while she slowly nodded. “It was at the party at Camp David. We were talking about Tuck not being there. That he was away on business. It was really nothing. But—”

“But what?”

“It just seemed that she wanted to say something, but then didn’t. She made a casual comment about Tuck being Tuck. And that he’d be back the next day.” She looked between the pair. “What is it?”