Page 20 of Silent Echo

“Could you sit at home if it was your son?”

Preston’s expression softened. “No. But it doesn’t make it right. Fine, you’re here. But you have to do what I say. Can you at least promise me that?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’ll go back to my hotel after you tell me what she said.”

“The woman who threw the party is Rebecca Halstead. She has a son named Daniel. I’m on my way to her house now. And no, you can’t come. Go back to your hotel and wait for me.”

“Please, let me just follow behind you. I’ll stay in the car. I can’t just sit in a room.”

“I’m probably going to regret this. But if you get out of that car—”

Charlotte put her hands up. “I won’t.”

She followed behind the agent, and ten minutes later, they arrived at Rebecca’s house, a pink bungalow in a well-maintained neighborhood. Charlotte watched as Preston knocked on the door, which was opened by a young woman wholooked to be in her early thirties. She had a baby on her hip and a little boy beside her. Charlotte put her car window down so she could hear their conversation.

“Hello, ma’am. I’m Special Agent Preston, and I’d like to ask you some questions.” She flashed her badge.

Rebecca opened the door, and they both went inside.

Charlotte drummed her fingers on the dashboard while she waited. The woman in there had seen her son. Was friends with Penelope. She’d know how Sebastion was doing—whether he seemed scared or hurt. Charlotte had a million questions, and what if Agent Preston didn’t ask them? Almost on autopilot, she jumped out of the car, ran up the walkway to the house, and knocked on the door. A few moments later, Rebecca was back, looking puzzled.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m Agent Preston’s partner. May I please come in?”

“Oh, sure.”

Preston scowled. Her face turned red, but she quickly recovered.

“Sorry, had to take a call,” Charlotte improvised.

“Take a seat,Agent,” Preston said. “Mrs. Halstead was just identifying the children in this picture.”

“This is Simon Logan, Matty Brennan, and this one is Sebastion Miller.” She pointed to Charlotte’s son.

“His name is Sebastion Fleming,” Charlotte said. “He’s my son.”

There was a flicker of recognition on Rebecca’s face. “Fleming, Fleming. Wait. You’re the woman who messaged me?”

Agent Preston sighed loudly, shaking her head.

“Yes, you never answered me.”

“What is this all about?” she said, suddenly defensive.

“I apologize for Mrs. Fleming’s deception. But as a mother, I hope you’ll understand. We have reason to believe that thewoman claiming to be Sebastion’s mother is a suspect in a kidnapping.”

Rebecca’s mouth dropped open. “So, what you wrote to me is true?” she asked Charlotte.

“How long have you known Ms. Miller?” Agent Preston asked.

“Little less than a year. Cathy joined our homeschool group in January. She said she’d adopted Sebastion from an abusive situation and that his mother had lost all her parental rights. She told us that his mother was dangerous and was looking for him. That’s why I didn’t answer your message.”

“Did you inform Ms. Miller about the Facebook message you received?”

“Yes, because I believed her story and wanted to warn her. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“When did you tell her?”

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