Page 25 of Little Child Gone (Nikki Hunt #10)
THIRTEEN
Miller and Nikki decided to talk to the counselors while they waited for Reynolds to send the updated CCTV footage. Nikki’s phone vibrated with a text from Matt Kline, asking for an update. She quickly let him know they were searching for a missing teenager and would get back to him when she could.
“What did Taylor’s teachers say about him?” Nikki asked Miller as they followed Holly through the school.
“Good student, pleasant to everyone but doesn’t seem to be close to a lot of kids, just his band friends. Only issue he’s had is with Adrian Lynch.”
Holly led them to the north wing of the high school. First period was still in session, but students in the halls stopped and stared at the sight of Miller in his uniform and Nikki, her FBI badge attached to the Frank Costanza “Serenity Now” badge reel Courtney had given her for Christmas.
Holly used her own badge to open the door to the Pony Center area. “Technology makes things so much easier. Even the kids can access certain areas with their student IDs.”
During Nikki’s high school years, security had consisted of a couple of guards and front doors that were unlocked early for before-school activities.
They remained unlocked and the school accessible until the custodians locked up for the night.
Everything had been different then; the Columbine massacre hadn’t happened yet, and school still felt like a relatively safe haven.
She couldn’t imagine having to worry about getting shot at school in addition to all the other anxiety that came with high school.
A stocky man with salt-and-pepper hair and a small woman with big glasses and a concerned expression greeted them. Holly introduced Mrs. Fink and Assistant Principal Brad Jameson to Nikki and Miller before heading back to the main office.
“Thank you for your help this morning,” Nikki told Holly before she left. She handed Holly one of her business cards. “Please call if you hear anything, however minimal.”
Assistant Principal Jameson led them to a small conference room and offered them something to drink.
“No, thank you,” Miller answered as everyone sat down. “I trust the principal told you why we’re here?”
Both nodded. “I know you’re labeling him as a missing person,” Mrs. Fink said, “but I bet he just went somewhere. Did his family give you contact information for his friends in Indianapolis?”
“We have them,” Nikki told her. “Do you think he’d take off like that without telling his friends or siblings?”
Mrs. Fink shook her head. “I’m trying not to think the worst. First Eli Robertson, now him.”
“Do you think this is related to Eli’s disappearance?” Johnson asked.
“It’s too early to tell,” Miller said. “Did Eli and Taylor have any classes or extracurriculars together?”
“No,” Johnson said. “Eli loved theatre, and the orchestra handles the music, not the band. I don’t remember Eli ever talking about Taylor. Or vice versa.” He looked at Mrs. Fink. “Did Taylor ever mention Eli?”
“Not before he went missing,” Fink answered. “Taylor brought me a Christmas gift the day we left for break. He mentioned how sad it was for Eli’s family. That’s the first time I’d heard him mention him.”
“I didn’t know kids gave gifts in high school like that,” Nikki said.
“Most don’t,” Johnson said. “But his mom made goodie bags for each teacher. Best peanut butter fudge I’ve ever had.”
Nikki wasn’t surprised to hear Christy had made such an effort. It lined up with what she’d learned about her from Amelia and Neena.
“How did Taylor seem before break?” Nikki asked.
“Fine,” Fink answered. “Excited for the time off like all of us. I didn’t get a chance to see him yesterday.”
“We know about the fight with Adrian Lynch,” Miller asked. “Did Taylor tell you what it was about?”
“Taylor said that Adrian disrespected his sister,” Fink said. “Taylor knew he’d get in trouble, but it was important for him to defend his sister.”
“He ever show any sign of anger issues beyond that incident?” Miller asked. “Or give any hint about issues at home?”
“Taylor’s not an angry kid.” Fink looked at Johnson, who nodded. “He and his mother have certainly had their battles.”
“Can you elaborate?” Nikki asked.
“A lot of it’s normal teenaged stuff,” Fink answered. “But Taylor carries some resentment for his mother, I think. He’s mentioned their lives being bad before his dad came into the picture.”
“Jared, you mean?”
Fink smiled. “Yes, and it just warms my heart. There are plenty of good stepparents out there, but their close relationship is something I don’t see very often. Taylor glows whenever he talks about his dad.”
“How often does he talk about his relationship with his mother?” Nikki asked.
“Not often,” Fink said. “He never really came to me for a counseling session, per se. He was a happy kid. But it was obvious their relationship isn’t the same as his and his dad’s.
He didn’t have to tell me much about before Jared came into their lives for me to know he had issues with his mom.
I noticed he seemed more tense when he talked about her. ”
“Did he give you the impression he was afraid of her?”
“No,” Fink said. “It was more exasperation and bitterness,” Fink continued.
“She keeps a perfect house and stays home to take care of his youngest sister. I got the impression Christy tries very hard to make up for the past, but in all the wrong ways. Taylor did tell me she cares more about appearances than them sometimes. He walked that comment back, but I knew he meant it.”
“Back to the fight with Adrian Lynch,” Nikki asked. “How was Taylor when he came back from suspension?”
“The same, as far as I know,” Fink said. “His grades are steady. He participates in class and hasn’t had an issue with anyone else.”
“Agreed,” Johnson said. “I’m in charge of bringing kids back in after suspensions, making sure things go smoothly. I haven’t been around him as much as Mrs. Fink, but he didn’t seem any different to me.”
“What about friends?” Miller asked.
“He only talked about Neena and Logan,” Fink said. “I got the impression he was friendly with everyone but kept his circle very small. He didn’t share a lot of personal information in class like some kids do.”
“I know you can’t tell us anything Logan or Neena have told you in confidence, but did Taylor ever mention being angry or fighting with one of them? Or where he might go if he did?” Miller asked.
“No,” Fink answered. “He just didn’t share that much about his life. I can say I never heard him say anything negative about them.”
“And Logan has an exemplary record,” Johnson said. “Neena, too.”
“I’ve spoken to Neena already,” Nikki said. “But Logan isn’t at school today. His mother called him in sick.”
“You think they could be together?” Johnson asked. “Logan’s counselor is in a meeting, but I don’t think Logan would defy his parents like that. And his mother called in. She’s an accountant, works from home.”
Neena had already given her Logan’s address, but Nikki had been worried about Logan being a minor home alone when they showed up to talk to him.
Nikki and Miller both left their information with the counselor and Assistant Principal Jameson escorted them to the main entrance and promised to let them know if he learned anything more.
Northern wind made Nikki’s face feel like an ice block. Miller checked his phone and cursed. “Reynolds is still working on getting CCTV.”
“Let’s head to Logan’s then,” Nikki said. “I’m sure Neena has told him. And it sounds like his mom should be there. Surely Reynolds will have the footage by then.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure this kid didn’t just disappear for a while,” Miller said, starting his SUV. “Maybe he’s trying to punish his mother for something.”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like he’d do that to his siblings,” Nikki reminded him. “But everyone has secrets.”
“The obvious suspect is Christy,” Miller said. “Maybe she did pick him up and they argued, and something happened.”
“Taylor’s taller than his mom,” Nikki said. “I don’t think she could physically overpower him.”
“But if she was driving, she could have had something in her hand and snapped,” Miller said. “Hits him harder than intended.”
Nikki couldn’t dismiss it outright. “Then Christy manages to drag him out of the vehicle and leave him somewhere?” The idea didn’t sit well with her. “At this point, I’d believe that Taylor ran off before Christy hurt him. And we don’t have enough for a search warrant for her Tahoe.”
“Yet,” Miller answered. “Let’s see what Logan knows. And we need to talk to Jared separately. Get him away from his wife and see if he shares anything else.”
“I want to go back and look at Taylor’s room after we talk to Logan and his mother,” she reminded Miller.
“Hopefully I can talk to Christy privately then.” She unlocked her phone and quickly found Logan’s social media profiles on Instagram and Snapchat and skimmed through the last couple of weeks.
He posted a couple of times a day, usually about band or something after school.
Nikki logged into Facebook next. Logan didn’t have an account, but his mother did.
Like everyone else, her Facebook page showed only the good parts of their lives.
They’d had a wonderful Christmas, attending Midnight Mass on New Year’s Eve.
Logan was an only child, so his mother’s page mostly revolved around him.
From all appearances, he did well in school and band and didn’t get into trouble.
She scrolled through the photos, noting one of a smiling Taylor, Logan and Neena in their marching band uniforms after a football game.
The photo was several months old, but Taylor appeared as happy as his friends.