Page 14 of Three Girls Gone

Blond Bob lifted her ID, making Amanda lean in to read the print.Vanessa Stuart.

“All good, then?” Stuart asked that with such bold arrogance that the back of Amanda’s neck tightened.

“Yep.” Amanda didn’t move, though.

Stuart took the first step and looked over her shoulder. “We’ve got this under control. You can go back to what you were doing.”

“Actually, two more things. One, you’ll need to collect a tutu and the pair of ballet slippers from her closet to compare to what the girl was found in.” They’d make sure the size, brand, and designer names matched.

“And the second?” Stuart huffed with impatience.

“Keep me posted.” Amanda handed her business card to Stuart.

“Will do.” She tucked the card into a back pocket of her black jeans.

Amanda returned to the group in the front sitting room but didn’t sit down. She shared with everyone, “The CSIs are upstairs processing the room. They know the situation and what to look for.”

Those words were enough to summon Trent to put his tablet away. He pushed it into the inside pocket of his coat and stood.

“Again, we are very sorry for your loss and wish we had come with better news,” she offered the Tanners.

“I just can’t.” Tears pooled in Jean’s eyes. “Until now, there was hope. Now, we’ll be burying our miracle. How am I supposed to accept this?”

“One day at a time,” Amanda said. “One breath at a time. Eventually it will get somewhat easier to put one foot in front of the other.”

“You’ve lost a child.” Spoken as more comment than question, but Amanda nodded.

“A daughter. Her name was Lindsey. Almost eleven years ago now.” She rounded up, leaving out the month count even in her head. For years, Amanda broke it down to months, weeks, and days. She didn’t like to think her grief was gone, as if it meant she no longer cared. It was preferable to believe it was just buried deeper down.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Jean offered.

“Thank you.” Zoe had played a huge role in healing her. So had Trent. And to think that she initially resisted being partnered with him. But working with him reintroduced joy and purpose back to her career. In the accident’s aftermath, her life was as fulfilling as a hamster wheel. Go to bed, wake up, work, go to bed, wake up, work… “One day, you’ll look back and realize how far you’ve come and how much you’ve healed.”

“I just can’t see that yet.”

“It takes time, and neither of you are alone in this. Just be patient with yourself and each other.” She didn’t have in-house support, and she’d turned her back on the help offered by her family. A decision she came to regret.

“We’ll try,” Jean said, taking her husband’s hand.

“There are also professional therapists that can come and talk with you. I’m not sure if my colleague shared the number with you for Victim Services…?” Amanda looked at McGee.

He nodded. “They have the number.”

“We’ll be okay,” Vincent said, though his voice wavered, exposing his claim as a lie.

“I appreciate you want to be strong for your family, but there’s no shame in getting help. Everyone needs it sometimes, and no one should go through what you and your wife are alone,” Amanda told him.

Vincent said nothing, but nodded.

Amanda got into the car with Trent and Detective McGee.

“Trent and I need to revisit the nanny and former employee, Potter, but I’m also interested in that client dinner party,” she said.

“As Vincent told you, these people hold prestigious positions in the community,” McGee said.

“I wouldn’t care if one was the President of the United States.”Okay, that was a tad dramatic…“Just because someone has a respected position doesn’t mean they are innocent of wrongdoing. Did you question these people?”

“No, but I looked into them.”