Page 2 of Three Girls Gone

“And you are?”

She stiffened. “Detective Steele,” she offered, choosing not to offer her given name.

“Detective Stenson,” Trent piped in.

“Why didn’t you hand this over to Homicide? A little girl was taken, endangered,” she said.

“First of all, I have superiors who I answer to, and they make the decisions.”

So he doesn’t like to shoulder any responsibility…

“And second, the parents are wealthy. Considering the evidence, everything pointed to it being a kidnapping for ransom. That falls within our purview to handle. We never thought that she would be—” He closed his mouth and shook his head. “Not that I need to explain myself to you. We’re where we are. Nothing we can do about it now.”

“Really? That’s your take on this? Simple acceptance?” she said, thinking he was letting himself off easy.

“Listen, if I knew we’d land here, of course I would have fought for the case to be reassigned. Unfortunately, I wasn’t equipped with a crystal ball.”

Maybe McGee was shielding himself from regret, but his callous sarcasm had her temper flaring. Crystal ball or not, the PWCPD had failed Hailey. Herself included. When Amanda had first heard about Hailey Tanner, she never expected a happy ending, but she didn’t insert herself into the investigation. She could justify this decision because of her heavy caseload. After all, the other victims she fought for deserved her focus. But look where that had gotten the girl. Where it had gotten all of them. They were too late to save her. And now, they had to hunt a killer.

TWO

Amanda had a hard time prying her gaze from the child. So small, so innocent, so fragile, so very dead…

“I’ll need to notify the girl’s parents,” McGee said.

The detective’s words pulled Amanda from her reflection. “Oh, no, you won’t. That’s our job.” Some child abductions were orchestrated by the parents, whether it be for financial reasons or otherwise. She and Trent needed to gauge their reactions.

“Her parents aren’t in on this, if that’s what you’re thinking. Trust me.”

“No offense, Detective, but I don’t know you or the Tanners. Stenson and I will deliver the news. You can join us.” One concession she was willing to make.

“Whatever you’d like.” He flailed an arm.

The detective was clearly dealing with his own issues, but this was about Hailey and finding her killer. There wasn’t time to waste on personal feelings or perceived slights.

“I just thought since I have a relationship with them already, it might be easier for them to hear it from me.”

His concern for the Tanners’ feelings suggested hishardened demeanor was a wall he hid behind. She might have judged him too soon. “I get that, but nothing will make hearing about their daughter’s murder easier for them.”

“You might have a point, but are we going to head out?” McGee jacked a thumb toward the lot.

“Not quite yet,” Amanda told him.

“You want her parents to wait longer?”

“It’s not about that,” Amanda said. “Right now, the Tanners have hope. Once we show up, that’s gone. There’s no way I’m doing that until I have something more to say than their daughter is dead.”

McGee held up a hand. “Fine, but it would be tragic if the Tanners heard about their daughter from someone else.”

“Like the media?” she said, and McGee nodded. “I agree with you there.”

“Well, I worry how long it’s going to take to get some answers. I don’t even see the medical examiner on scene to give us cause or time of death.”

Officer Wyatt popped his head into the door opening. “Everyone’s been called. I’m sure they’ll be here soon.”

Crime Scene and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner were stationed in Manassas. Not accounting for traffic, it was a thirty-minute drive away. And that had no bearing on whether there was available manpower.

Amanda leaned closer to the girl. “There is petechiae in her eyes.”