Page 18 of Three Girls Gone

“Oh, he’s more worked up all right, but there’s also been a lot of cases garnering nationwide attention.”

She had no response. It just put more pressure on everyone’s shoulders. Onhershoulders. “Tell me we’ll have video from the park ASAP.” He didn’t have a chance to update her yet.

“I don’t know aboutASAP. The person I spoke with wasn’t big into committing to a turnaround time.”

“Stay on them.”

“You can bet I will.”

“Good. Now get us over to Mara Bennett.”

Kendra Bennett’s apartment building was only two blocks east of the diner, and Amanda and Trent reached it in a few minutes.

He knocked on the door for unit 405. A short time later, the peephole cover was slid over.

They held up their badges, and the deadbolt was unlocked and the chain undone.

A woman in her early thirties stood there in an oversized sweatshirt and black leggings. Her heap of brown hair was wound in a loose bun on the top of her head. A few strands cascaded at the sides of her face in curly tendrils. She tucked them behind her ears. “Hello?”

“Mara Bennett?” Trent asked her.

“Yes.”

“We’re Detectives Stenson, and Steele,” he said. “We have questions pertaining to Hailey Tanner.”

Mara’s eyes filled with tears, but she nudged out her chin. “Where is Detective McGee?”

“Hailey’s case is ours now. Could we come in?” Amanda asked.

Mara nodded, and the emotion playing out on her face told Amanda she’d seen the news or the Tanners had called.

“Okay.” She backed up and let them inside the small apartment. The compact space was made to feel smaller by oversized furniture and hoards of bric-a-brac. Mara took them to the living room, which offered plenty of seating.

Mara took a chair, and Amanda and Trent sat at opposite ends of the couch.

“We understand this is your sister’s apartment. Is she home?” Amanda wanted to know if they should expect any interruptions.

“Nah, she’s at work. You never said what happened to theother detective.” Mara pinched the bridge of her nose, like she had a headache.

“I think you already know…” Amanda eased in.

Mara pressed her lips together, and tears fell down her cheeks. She swiped them away. “Jean called me. I can’t believe it.”

“You’ve had quite a shock,” Amanda empathized, while not letting go of her suspicions toward the nanny.

“I just had this horrible feeling it would come to this. Jean told me to expect you. You’re with Homicide?”

“We are.” Amanda studied the woman. “Why did you have a horrible feeling?” She tiptoed into potential landmine territory. If Mara was guilty, she didn’t want to spook her.

Mara’s shoulders lowered. “I don’t know. It’s just I think whoever takes a child is a sick person, their heads not quite screwed on right. Do they not realize that a six-year-old is a lot of work?”

“People have kidnapped children because they couldn’t have their own,” Trent put in as he balanced his tablet on his lap.

“I guess so.”

“What had you becoming a nanny?” Her answer could tell them a lot.

“I love children but have no interest in having my own.”