Page 30 of Scorched

The cop skidded to a halt in front of Paul. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t haul your butt to jail for driving like that on a school campus.” He sucked in enough air to fill his lungs, his dark-eyed gaze angry.

Raising his hands, Paul smiled. “Hey, I was only trying to slow him down.”

“We know where he lives. I’ll catch up with him later.”

Paul pulled out his FBI credentials. “FBI Special Agent Paul Fletcher.”

The cop’s hands slid off his hips and he relaxed a little. “Okay, that’s a reason. I’m not so sure it’s good enough to justify reckless driving on campus, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. What brings you here?”

Paul studied him. He didn’t appear to be nervous about an FBI agent showing up. If he’d had anything to do with his girlfriend’s disappearance, he wasn’t giving any signs via body language.

“You know Mary Alice Fenton?” Paul asked.

The cop stiffened, his eyes narrowing. “Yeah, why?”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“Last night around eleven o’clock.” His eyes widened. “Is Mary okay? What’s this all about?”

Paul hadn’t planned to question the boyfriend until the sheriff arrived, but he was here, and the opportunity had presented itself. “Her apartment door was open this morning. The manager got concerned and called her office. She didn’t show up for work today. Did she say anything to you about that?”

Officer West shoved a hand through his hair. “Jesus. No. No, she didn’t say anything about missing work.” He looked around. “I should go check on her.”

“I just came from Miss Fenton’s apartment. The Kendall County sheriff is there now, waiting for state crime scene investigators. Do you know if Miss Fenton has a cell phone?”

“Yeah, she does.” Officer West pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and punched one of the numbers, his expression hopeful.

Paul waited, quietly.

After a long minute, the younger man hit the off button, his body sagging. “Her voicemail picked up.”

If the cell phone had been in the apartment, the sheriff would have found it by now. But why would she leave her apartment with her cell phone and not her purse or keys?

“I really should go over to her place.”

Paul shook his head. “They wouldn’t let you in andshe’s not there.” His gut told him the police officer had nothing to do with his girlfriend’s disappearance, but he wasn’t ruling anything out yet.

Officer West held out his hands. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t do nothing.”

“You can start by getting on the phone with all your mutual friends. See if anyone has seen her.” Paul pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it to the officer. “If you hear anything at all, give me a call or call the sheriff.”

“I will.” Officer West tucked the card into his pocket and stared at the fence the young punk had jumped.

Paul would bet he wasn’t seeing the kid or the fence.

The school bell rang. Paul glanced at his watch. Elise was getting off work now. He could meet her at her classroom and escort her home. First, he’d better move his car out of the middle of the road before the stampede of teenagers exited campus.

When he passed through the main entrance, Elise was leaving the office, a tissue clutched in her hand and her eyes red-rimmed. When she spotted him, she hurried toward him.

Paul opened his arms, and she fell into them.

“Ewww, Ms. Johnson.” A passing student snickered, the smirk on his face freezing when Paul glared at him.

Elise pushed Paul to arms length and then stepped away. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a really bad day.”

“Want to tell me about it?”

She gave him a half smile. “Later. I need to get home to my boys.”

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