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“The ERT team found a cell phone in the shed,” he told the officer tersely. “One of those old Firefly phones they used to make for kids so the parents could program it to receive and call out only one number. There’s no redial function or call history. One of the buttons needed to make an emergency call was disabled. We suspect Tillman used it to keep tabs on the boy, and we need that phonenumber.”
“Awarrant…”
“Is in the works. But it will take hours to get the records of incoming calls, and maybe the boy can help. He might have used the cell at some point to call Tillman. We want to ask him a fewquestions.”
“I don’t know…the boys’ parents are here. I think they’re ready to take him home until an official interview can takeplace.”
“We have Dr. Alexa Hayden on our task force, and I think she’s the one person who could coax the boy to answer a few questions without further traumatizing him. Run that by the parents.” Ethan held while the officer conveyed hisrequest.
“You realize the parents are going to believe I’m a child psychologist.” It was clear that Alexa wasn’t comfortable with thedeception.
“That’s what I’m counting on.” He was undeterred by her frown. “With your background, you’ll know exactly how to speak to him. And he’s the quickest avenue to the information weneed.”
She looked unconvinced, but she subsided. Ethan couldn’t stem his feeling of urgency. If the parents agreed, the boy was unlikely to be harmed by answering a few questions. And if he had the information Ethan sought, it would save them hours of waiting for the cell company to come through withrecords.
When they were this close to capturing Tillman, they needed to take every advantage theycould.
“The parents agreed to ashortinterview.” The officer had come back on the speakerphone. “I’ll set up a video chat if you give me yourinformation.”
As Ethan supplied the call details, Alexa pulled the pins from her hair and speared her fingers through the strands to loosen them around her shoulders. His throat dried when he recalled taking the same action himself last night. Logically, he knew she was preparing to face the boy. With her hair loose, she’d look younger. Moreapproachable.
But there was no denying the instant bolt of lust that twisted through him at the sight. It was a byproduct of last night. He knew that. The control he’d maintained since she’d walked into the airport wasn’t nearly as easy to regain after it’d beenunchained.
He noted Nyle’s eyes on Alexa and his slack-jawed reaction. “Roll your tongue back into your mouth,” he muttered in an aside to the man. And he refused to label his irritation aspossessiveness.
The officer shot him a look. Grinned. “I’m married, notdead.”
Ethan’s laptop rang. He crossed to where he’d left it on the table and waited for Alexa to join him. She sat down in front of it as he accepted the call. Bannon hadn’t returned from getting the warrant signed, but Nyle and McManus drew closer so they could hear the conversation while staying out of thepicture.
The boy was older than he’d first appeared. Nine, maybe. And Ethan could see how pale and thin he was. Malnourished, likely. One fist clenched by his side. One more charge to bring againstTillman.
An RCMP officer in the background made the introductions. “Logan Sherwood and his parents, Marcia and TreySherwood.”
The boy was sitting in between his parents, who both had their arms around him as if they could shield him from future harm. His face was half turned into his dad’s shoulder. Ethan’s anticipation chilled a bit. The kid didn’t look any toocooperative.
“Hi, Logan.” Alexa’s voice was easy. “My name is Alexa. I’m so glad to be able to talk to you. I’ve never met a real-life herobefore.”
The boy shifted his face so both eyes were visible, but made noresponse.
“You know what a hero is, Logan?” she continued, propping her chin on one fist. “It’s someone who’s really scared, but they’re still brave. I think you’ve been very brave for a long time, haven’tyou?”
Logan’s expression was uncertain. “I wasscared.”
Alexa’s eyes widened. “Of course you were. Any of us would have been. But you stayed strong and smart and waited for someone to come help. That’s what heroesdo.”
He inched away from his father. “I had to learn things,” he said in a near whisper. “I had to learn what he wanted me to know or else he’d hurtme.”
Because he was watching so closely, Ethan caught the slight wince in Alexa’s eyes, but her voice was steady. “He’s a bad man, Logan. He’s never going to hurt youagain.”
Sounding unconvinced, he asked, “Is he ever coming backhere?”
She leaned toward the screen, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Can I tell you a secret?” She waited for his slow nod before continuing. “The RCMP team here is very close to catching him. He won’t be getting back there everagain.”
The boy said nothing but straightened in his chair. Ethan suppressed a surge of pride. Alexa could establish a rapport withanyone.
“Can you tell me about some of the things you had tolearn?”
“Mostly stuff about the insects he kept. The dragonflies, especially. I had to know how to feed them and keep the right temperature during the winter.” His voice grew a bit more animated. “I had to learn the real name for them.Anisoptera.”