Page 15 of Once Vanished
Riley watched the woman’s face carefully as she asked, “Has your son contacted you recently, Mrs.Dillard?”
A flicker of something—pain?fear?—crossed Elizabeth Dillard’s features before her social mask reasserted itself.“Leo?No.Not since...”She paused, her perfect composure wavering.“Not since we asked him to leave our home five years ago.”
“Are you certain?”Riley pressed.“No calls, emails, letters, messages through intermediaries?Nothing at all?”
“Nothing,” Elizabeth said firmly.“After what happened with Kelli, we made it clear that he was no longer welcome in our lives.”
Riley remembered learning about what had happened to Kelli.Like the psychopath he was, Leo had driven his younger sister to suicide.
“Charles even had his name removed from the family trusts,” Elizabeth said.She fell silent for a moment then continued, a note of irritation entering her voice.“Your colleague was here earlier this month asking similar questions.Agent Jeffreys, I believe.I told him the same thing.We have not heard from our son.”
“Bill Jeffreys is my partner,” Riley confirmed.“And I apologize for what might seem like harassment, but the situation has...escalated.”
“Escalated how?”Elizabeth’s posture grew even more rigid, if that were possible.
Riley reached into her pocket and withdrew Jilly’s phone.“I received this message a little over an hour ago.”
She held out the phone so Elizabeth could read the text:Special Agent Paige, thought you’d want to know that I’m hoping to mend fences with my family soon.It’s been too long since we’ve had a proper reunion.Of course I’ve got to do this alone.There are some things all of us have to do alone.I’m sure you understand what I mean.Leo.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened slightly as she read.When she looked up, her expression had softened.“Perhaps...perhaps he truly does want reconciliation?People can change, Agent Paige.”
The hope in the woman’s voice struck Riley as tragic.Despite everything Leo had done—everything he’d done to his own sister—his mother still wanted to believe in redemption.It was a sentiment Riley understood all too well, having seen it countless times in the families of killers.The human heart’s capacity for hope was both miraculous and devastating.
“Mrs.Dillard,” Riley said gently, “I’m afraid this message isn’t sincere.It’s meant to be ironic, possibly threatening.”
“You can’t know that,” Elizabeth protested, her carefully constructed façade beginning to crack.“You don’t know my son.”
“He was my student, Mrs.Dillard,” Riley countered.“And since he left the Academy, I’ve had cause to study him carefully.I’ve read every file, interviewed everyone who knew him at Quantico.“
Before Elizabeth could respond, a chime sounded from the phone in Riley’s hand.A new message had arrived.
Riley looked down, her breath catching in her throat as she read:It’s nice of you to stop by and check in on my parents, Riley.I knew you would.
Elizabeth leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Riley’s face.“What is it?What does it say?”
Riley turned the phone so Elizabeth could see.The older woman’s face drained of color.
“Is he—is he watching us now?”Elizabeth whispered, her gaze darting to the windows.
Riley’s mind raced through possibilities.Was Leo nearby, watching the house?Had he planted surveillance equipment?She dismissed both theories—too risky even for him, too easily discovered, too little to gain from it.
“No,” Riley said, her certainty growing.“He’s not watching.He’s anticipating.He knew I would come here after receiving his first message.”She met Elizabeth’s frightened gaze.“Your son has been planning this for a long time, Mrs.Dillard.He’s studied me just as thoroughly as I’ve studied him.”
Another chime from the phone.Riley looked down, her heart hammering as she read:Please tell mother that I’m on my way to stop Kelli from doing herself harm.
Riley frowned, confusion momentarily overriding her dread.Leo’s sister had committed suicide five years ago.Was this some twisted joke?A way to further torment his mother?
And then understanding struck her.
“He’s at the place where Kelli died,” Riley said with sudden certainty.“Or he’s on his way there.”
“What?”Elizabeth whispered, her composure finally crumbling.“Why would he—”
“Because that’s where he’s holding my daughter,” Riley said, the words tasting like ashes in her mouth.
Elizabeth stared at her, uncomprehending.“Your daughter?I don’t understand.”
“Leo has abducted my fifteen-year-old daughter, Jilly,” Riley said, her voice flat, controlled.She couldn’t afford to break down now.“He took her from our home this afternoon, and I believe he’s taken her to the place where your daughter died.”