Page 86 of Nash Falls

“Her what?” said Ramos.

“Our daughter wanted to be a social media influencer,” explained Nash. “She wanted funding from us and was working up a proposal.”

Summers looked around the room and said, “O-kay. What else?”

“She was asking me some questions about what she should put in it. You know, what would persuade you to fund her, Walter,” she added, speaking directly to him.

Summers said, “Did she mention any plans to travel somewhere? To meet some friends that night?”

“No,” Judith said forcefully. “She just went to her room. Okay? She went to her room and now she’s not there anymore.” She stared at the two policemen. “Find my daughter.”

Then Judith burst into tears and rushed from the room. The flap of her robe knocked over the glass, and water streamed out over the granite top of the coffee table.

Nash had risen to go after her but then decided that would be counterproductive. He sat down and watched the water pool on the granite after righting the glass.

“She’s upset,” he said unnecessarily.

“We understand, Mr. Nash,” said Summers. “So you were in New York?”

“Yes, on business. My plane landed at eight this morning. I went right to my office. I got home at seven, and that’s when we realized Maggie wasn’t here.”

“You hadn’t talked to her by phone during the day?”

“No. I don’t usually call her.”

“Text?”

“No. I had a busy day. And she didn’t text me, which is not unusual.”

“So you came home from work and what?”

“My wife was in the kitchen. I asked her about Maggie. She mentioned she hadn’t seen or talked to her. I went up to her room and got no response. Her car was in the garage. We got into her room and found it empty. But she’d left her wallet, phone, and computer. We called the police, and that’s when the officer found the back door had been forced.”

“The alarm system had not been turned on. Is that usual?” asked Ramos.

“When I’m home I always turn it on. My wife is sometimes not as diligent.”

“I thought it would be the reverse. Women at home alone would want it on.”

“Well, Judith usually does, but I guess she must have forgotten.”

The detectives exchanged a glance that Nash tried and failed to read.

“You can think of no reason why your daughter might have gone off on her own?” asked Summers.

“No, none.”

“Were your relations with her good?”

“Yes. The same with her mother. We’re a happy family.”

“She’s nineteen, you said. Is she in college and off for the summer?”

“No, she… decided to take a gap year.”

“And is thinking of doing this influencer thing?” Ramos reminded him.

“Yes. I was helping her with it.”