Page 6 of Once Vanished
Ann Marie’s cheerful voice answered, “Agent Paige!I was just about to—”
“Ann Marie,” Riley cut in, her voice strained.“Leo Dillard has taken Jilly.”
A sharp intake of breath was followed by professional focus.“When?Do we know anything yet?”
“Just happened.Gabriela called me.He came to the house while Jilly was there alone with her.”Riley’s throat constricted around the words.“I’m on my way there now with Bill.”
“What can I do?”
Riley appreciated the young agent’s readiness.In the year since Ann Marie had joined the BAU, Riley had watched her grow from an enthusiastic rookie into a capable agent who could be trusted in a crisis.
“Stand by for now.I’ll know more when we get to the house.But I might need your help later.”
“I’ll be ready,” Ann Marie promised.“And Riley...we’ll find her.”
As she ended the call, Riley stared out at the highway passing in a blur.Bill was pushing the sedan well above the speed limit, lights flashing silently.Unbidden, her mind drifted back to mid-August, to her first real confrontation with Leo Dillard.She’d noticed him watching her during class, his attention more focused than the other trainees.At first, she’d thought it was simply academic interest—some students were naturally more engaged than others.But then came the day after a lecture when he’d lingered behind while the others filed out.
“Professor Paige,” he’d said.“I was hoping to discuss your methods further.Perhaps over dinner?”
Riley had declined politely, explaining her policy against socializing with students.When he moved closer, she insisted that he step away from her and leave.It was only later when he’d approached her in her office and even tried to kiss her that Riley had reported his behavior to the Academy.That had resulted in Leo’s dismissal, but hadn’t removed him from her life.
“I should have seen it,” Riley muttered.
Bill’s glance was sharp.“Seen what?”
“The warning signs with Leo.That first time he approached me—it wasn’t just inappropriate.It was...calculated.”
“Riley, don’t do this to yourself,” Bill said firmly.“There’s no way you could have predicted this.”
Riley fell silent, unable to argue but unwilling to accept absolution.She’d never expected Leo’s obsession with her to consume her family like this.The thought of Jilly—brave, resilient Jilly, who’d already endured so much in her young life—in the hands of a man like him made her feel physically ill.
They arrived at Riley’s house twenty minutes after leaving Quantico, tires screeching on the pavement as Bill pulled into the parking area.Three police cruisers were parked at odd angles in front of her townhouse, their lights still flashing.Officers were moving in and out of her front door.
Riley was out of the car before Bill had fully stopped, her FBI credentials already in her hand as she approached the nearest officer.“Special Agent Riley Paige.I live here.Where’s the officer in charge?”
The young officer pointed toward the house.“Inside, ma’am.Officer Cornelson is coordinating.”
Riley moved quickly up the steps to the front door, Bill at her heels.Inside, a tall, broad-shouldered officer with thick sandy hair approached them.
“Agent Paige?Officer Glenn Cornelson.We responded to your housekeeper’s 911 call.”
Riley shook his hand mechanically.“What do we know so far?”
Cornelson gestured toward the back of the house.“Security system was bypassed somehow.We’ve got a specialist looking at it now.According to your housekeeper, the perpetrator entered through the back door around 3:30 PM.She was downstairs in her apartment when she heard your daughter scream her name.By the time she got upstairs, the man had tased your daughter and subdued her, maybe with chloroform.She couldn’t stop him.”
“Gabriela,” Riley said.“Where is she?”
“In her apartment.She’s pretty shaken up.Said she had her gun on him, but he was using the girl as a shield.She told me his name was Leo Dillard, and she said he posed a threat your family.”
Riley flinched at the thought of Jilly being used as a human barrier.“Did he say anything?”
Cornelson’s expression grew grave.“He told Ms.Gonzales that he was counting on you coming after him.”
“That means he’s escalating.”
From the back of the house, a man in plain clothes emerged carrying a computer tablet.Riley recognized Jay Mathers, a digital forensics specialist with the Fredericksburg Police Department who sometimes worked with the FBI.He was a good man to have on the job.
“Agent Paige,” Mathers said grimly.“I’ve been examining your security system.Someone hacked the back door remotely—bypassed all the safeguards without triggering any alerts.”He shook his head.“Incredible skill.Not many could break into this system.”