Page 46 of Dirty Looks

“You’ve been here before?” I asked.

“Several years ago he threw a Christmas party for several hundred people as a thank-you for supporting his election campaign. I believe Jenny was pregnant with their youngest at the time.”

“I didn’t realize you supported his campaign,” I said.

“I didn’t,” Jack said, grinning. “And there are many policies we disagree on. But those things are for the citizens to decide in the voting booth. But he’s a likeable guy and he loves his family. You can see that right off. So it’s easy to put politics aside when you have those kinds of things in common.”

Jack circled the arched driveway and parked so he wouldn’t get blocked in. Unlike my earlier visit, there were several cars parked at the Lidle residence. All of them very expensive.

The front door opened before we could reach the stoop and Everett Lidle stood there waiting for us. He looked like a man who’d been dragged through hell and back again.

He was tall and he carried himself like a man who was used to commanding rooms. He was lean and trim and the slacks and sportcoat he wore didn’t look like a man who’d spent the day on a plane trying to get home to his family. But maybe there were people on the planet who traveled more gracefully than I did.

But his face told a different story. There were dark circles beneath his red-rimmed eyes, and his golden hair looked like he’d run his fingers through it repeatedly. There was a steeliness in his gaze.

“Jack,” he said, holding out his hand.

“Everett,” Jack said, shaking his hand in return.

Everett ushered us inside and closed the door behind him.

“This is my wife,” Jack said. “I don’t think you’ve met.”

“No,” I said, reaching my own hand out. “J.J. Graves. I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances.”

“Me too,” Everett said. “Family is starting to arrive. I hope you don’t mind. I think they’re in the kitchen right now. My sister is trying to get Jenny to take something so she can rest. I hope she listens to her. I wanted a chance to talk to you alone first.”

Everett moved robotically toward the family room I’d been shown to earlier.

“My mother-in-law took the girls with her for a little while. I feel like I’m losing my mind,” he said.

“That’s understandable,” Jack said. “Your whole world just got turned upside down.”

“I got on the first flight I could find to get home,” he said. “Jenny…” He dropped his head in his hands. “My wife and girls are a mess. And my mother. Phin and Janet and I are going to see her in a little while. My whole family is falling apart. I don’t know why this is happening. None of it makes any sense. We’re good people. Why is this happening to us?”

“We’re doing everything we can to find out,” Jack said.

“Who did this to my daughter?” he asked, his voice breaking. “I’ve seen the reports on the news. How she was found. How could anyone do that to a little girl?Mylittle girl.”

“A monster,” Jack said. “There was nothing you or anyone did. A monster is who is to blame. And that monster took Evie from your parents’ home. And that same monster potentially drugged your mother to get Evie out of the house. Has there been anything recent your parents have been concerned about as far as security or employees? Any threats?”

He rubbed his hands over his face. “I don’t think so. They’re not as active as they used to be. Mom loves the house and her horses. She rarely leaves anymore. Most of the staff they’ve had for years. Maybe a new gardener or housemaid every once in a while. And dad is just nosy and likes to be in the middle of things in DC. It keeps him busy.”

“Any problem with any of the staff?” Jack asked.

“Not that I know of,” Everett said, shrugging. “Wait, the trainer. Alex. I remember when Mom brought him on. The security guy, Alan, tried to convince Dad not to hire him because he had a conviction. I don’t remember what for. But Mom was adamant that he was the right guy for the job. He’s been there several years now.”

“Anyone else?” Jack asked. “What about issues with you personally? You’re a public figure. Any threats or disagreements?”

“Threats? No,” he said. “But my days are filled with disagreements. You know how it is. King George County has a lot of people with a lot of opinions. But I’ve never felt unsafe. And my family certainly hasn’t. I’d never put them in danger. My parents are the ones who always led life in the spotlight. And now my brother. I guess my sister too. All I’ve ever wanted was to live a normal life and have a normal family. I don’t know how we can have that now. My oldest daughter is gone. And now Evie. We’ll never be a normal family again.”

“We’re not going to stop until we find out who did this to Evie,” Jack said. “We’re going to bring her justice and put away whoever is responsible.”

“I’d kill him if I got my hands on him,” Everett said, anger flashing in his eyes.

“And I can’t say that I’d blame you,” Jack said. “But let us do our jobs. We’re good at it.”

He nodded and his head jerked up when a door opened somewhere on the other side of the house, followed by muted voices. Everett stood up and Jack and I followed suit as Jenny and several other people walked into the room. Jenny walked right to Everett and he tucked her gently into his arms. Her face was red and swollen from crying, and there was a glassiness inher eyes that made me think Janet had been successful in getting her to take something so she could rest.

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