Page 82 of Girl in the Water

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Ian

By the time Ian and Daniela got back to the See-Love-Aid hostel, the Heyerdahls had also returned. They invited Ian and Daniela into their room, offering the two chairs. Carmen was sitting on her bed, her right foot up on the bed, elevated, with a wet cloth on her ankle. She kept one hand on the crib.

Phil sat behind her, a hand around her waist, supporting her.

They told their story, pretty much what the detective had related, but with a lot more tears.

The young couple were in their mid-twenties, collapsed, no other word for it. They looked as if they’d been through war, eyes red, faces pallid. Their gazes were dazed, as if they hadn’t slept since their baby had disappeared.

Ian ruthlessly punched back every dark memory that tried to rise from his past.

“Lila is such a good baby,” Carmen said. “She rarely fusses. That’s why I knew I could leave her for a few minutes. We felt we were surrounded by friends.” Tears poured down her face. “I thought it was safe.”

Ian wished he had access to the other visiting volunteers who’d been here at the time, but when their two weeks had ended, they’d all gone home, scattered to the four corners of the world. Only the Heyerdahls remained. The new batch of volunteers currently in residence hadn’t been in Brazil when the baby had been kidnapped. Ian saw little point in questioning them.

“Did anyone pay special attention to Lila?” Daniela asked gently.

The mother sobbed harder.

The father, Phil Heyerdahl, said, “Everyone did. She was the darling of the group. She was handed from lap to lap, entertained. We had no shortage of people offering to watch her, even change diapers.” He pulled a little rolled-up mat from under the bed. “Even the teens. Look. They made her a changing mat.”

Carmen sank against his chest behind her but kept a hand on the crib, as if needing that connection.

“How about when you were out in the city? Anyone come up to you? Did you ever feel watched?” Ian asked.

Phil dropped the changing mat onto the other bed. “I’m big and blond and blue-eyed. I stand out a little among the locals, but not that much. There are plenty of other tourists. So some people looked, but nothing unusual. Carmen looks local.” He kissed the top of his wife’s head, folded both arms around her. “We asked these questions ourselves a hundred times.”

“We gave DNA to the local police,” Carmen said. “Her hair from her little brush. So if any child is found…”

“That’s very good,” Daniela immediately reassured her. “If the police have DNA, they can identify her.”

“Even if they don’t find her right away.” Tears rolled down Carmen’s face. “Babies change so fast.”

A knock came on the door, and Carol stuck her head in. “Sorry. I’ll come back later,” she said, then backed out and closed the door behind her.

Ian decided he’d check on her later, ask if she needed anything. He didn’t think she should be here this close to giving birth, but that wasn’t his decision. Best he could do was help with what he could. He remembered Linda at this stage of the pregnancy, feet swollen, heartburn out of control, general twenty-four-seven misery.

“That’s Carol, one of the permanent staff,” Phil Heyerdahl said.

“We’ve met.” Ian drew his attention back to the man.

“She’s about to have a baby.” Carmen flashed a miserable look. “I feel like I should offer her the crib, but I just can’t. When we find Lila… She’s only six months old.” Caught herself. “Almost seven now. But she still needs the crib.”

Six months old. The memories overwhelmed Ian, the twins sitting up for the first time while he’d been home on leave, making all kinds of sweet sounds, but not words yet.

He’d had plans for their first birthday. He was going to order a rent-a-petting-zoo visit over the Internet, have them show up at the house. He’d found a place that did that. They had a pony, a goat, a piglet, and two bunnies. He’d wanted to make sure Connor and Colin would have a good time, even if he was half a world away.

He rubbed his eyes. Filled his lungs. Looked at the Heyerdahls.

He’d always done his best on every case he’d investigated for CPRU, but somehow, baby Lila was fast becoming personal.

He took in every detail of the room, the parents, the way they talked, the tone, the words, the body language. He watched and listened while Daniela asked questions and consoled the mother.

The Heyerdahls seemed ridiculously grateful that Ian and Daniela had come all the way from the US to help them. Ian didn’t want their gratitude. Not until he brought that baby back.

After the interview, Daniela went to talk to the girls again, while Ian went outside. He needed some air, so he walked around the building, all the way to the back.