“Sam and I left at six thirty last night and got back around ten?”
“Was she acting strange at all to you? Secretive, maybe?” She shook her head. “Did she mention anything to you about where she was going when she left?”
“No, although she was texting someone when we arrived. She updated us on how the night went, how Violet had gone to sleep by nine thirty. Then we paid her, and she left. I just assumed she would be going home.”
“How well do you know Darcy? Would you say she’s been acting differently the past few weeks?”
“She was in my senior lit class this last semester, and she’s babysat for me for the past year, so I think I know her fairly well. But up until last night, we hadn’t seen each other since her graduation.” She looked off for a moment, recalling something. “She has seemed happier the past couple of months. More outgoing. Even had a little makeover. She was becoming almost like an all-new girl. I assumed it was just the excitement of moving onto the next stage of her life, moving away for coll—” Allie stopped abruptly and shot a quick glance at Meredith.
“No, please, continue, Al.” Meredith’s use of the nickname seemed anything but friendly. “Tell him all about how excited Darcy wa
s to move across the country to get away from me. With no influence whatsoever from her favorite teacher, who, incidentally, went to the same school.”
Allie sighed and leaned back to look at Meredith. “I’ve told you before, Meredith. The decision was Darcy’s. She came to me with the catalog for Wellesley already in hand. It’s one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country—what else was I going to do but encourage her to follow her dreams?”
“I think we’re digressing here,” he said, noting the slight twitch that had developed under Meredith’s eye. “Did Darcy mention to you anything about a new boyfriend?”
Allie looked even more uncomfortable and kept her gaze down. “I do think she was seeing someone. It’s pretty new,” she added hastily at Meredith’s quick intake of breath.
It wasn’t hard to see that Meredith was jealous of the relationship that had developed between her daughter and her daughter’s teacher. Although he was certain there was a lot more than just that.
Allie continued. “Bryce Bauer was in my senior lit class, along with Darcy. From my own observations, Darcy has been harboring a crush on him since the beginning of the year. Maybe longer. When I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago”—she touched the bandage covering one of her arms—“they came to see me. Together. And from the looks they were giving each other, I guessed that they were seeing each other. I wanted to ask her more about it last night, but with Sam around, she would never open up.”
“Sam…?”
This time Allie actually blushed and looked away for a minute. “Sam Fratto. You may remember him from school?”
“Yeah. I think I remember him.”
Who hadn’t known Mr. Popularity? Even though Travis’s friendship with Allie had been casual in high school, he remembered how crazy she’d been for the soccer star who’d been completely oblivious to her affections. Sam had better know what a catch he had in Allie.
“Do you have any contact information for Bryce?” he continued. “I’d like to speak to him.”
“I have a student directory.” Allie bounded up from the couch. “I think it’s in my room somewhere. Give me a minute.”
The loud ticking from the clock perched on the mantel was the only sound in the room for a few long seconds after Allie left the room. He waited for it…
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me who you were,” she almost hissed.
Meredith’s outrage, as if he’d somehow wronged her, was starting to piss him off. “I didn’t think a stroll down memory lane was going to get us any closer to finding out what happened to your daughter. I would have told you. Eventually. What difference does it make?”
“All the difference. First, I don’t like to be the butt of anyone’s joke, which I get the distinct impression was why you didn’t tell me.”
She had a point.
“Second,” she continued, “the nature of our previous relationship gives me some pause as to whether you’d be an effective choice here, looking for my daughter. You obviously would have some…bias that could affect your judgment. Contacting your security agency was my father’s idea, but I’m not without my own connections. I know a few important media personalities, and I could take this to them directly. Maybe go national if that’s what’s necessary.”
He crossed his legs in front of him, taking his time. He could just walk now. Say the hell with it. But he had to remember why he did this. To help people. Maybe not Meredith—God, no—but if there was an eighteen-year-old girl out there in trouble, he felt a duty, an obligation, to try and help her.
“Yes. You could go that route,” he drawled. “But until you know for sure what you’re dealing with, I’d want to hold off on bringing that kind of scrutiny to the case. I know you’re dead set on the idea foul play is involved, but imagine for just a moment the impossible scenario that you’re wrong. That Darcy took off for the weekend of her own choice. She could be humiliated. A nationwide joke. Not the tone she’d want to set when she’s leaving for college, and I doubt it would endear you to her more than you already are. Also not the tone you want to take on the investigation until you know more of what and who you’re dealing with.” He paused for drama. “They might find the easiest solution to the media attention is to get rid of her entirely.”
That definitely got her attention, as her eyes widened.
“Let’s check this kid out, see what he knows. Maybe help us figure out what’s going on. If Darcy has taken off voluntarily, he could tell us. Then we can both go our separate ways.”
This seemed to reach her. “Fine. In the meantime, perhaps you can better remember to share everything you might know. No more secrets.”
He could humor her. “Okay. Let me start again. Hey, Meredith. Good to see you. What? You don’t remember me? I’m the guy who the varsity team pantsed at the homecoming pep rally. Twice. You were a total bitch to me back then and, frankly, I couldn’t care less about catching up, so let’s just cut to the chase and tell me about your daughter. Better?”