Page 26 of Little Child Gone

Nikki nodded, confused as Chen unlocked his phone and typed. “Let me search public records to make sure I have the year right.”

She finished her cinnamon roll and let Chen do his thing.

Chen sat his phone down on the table with a smirk. “Stephanie and Daniel Bancroft divorced in 2014. He filed. They had a knock-down-drag-out over assets in court. I don’t know anything about the guy other than he was part of the family and stood to inherit from Karl as long as he stayed married to Stephanie. Guess he couldn’t stick it out any longer.”

Nikki wrote the name down in her notebook. “Daniel Bancroft. Do you know if he’s still living around here?”

“Pretty sure he moved out of state. Spencer didn’t mention him at all?”

“Just briefly,” Nikki said. “I left him a message this morning. I want to talk to him before Stephanie.”

Chen grinned. “Good strategy. Anyway, this is Miller’s jurisdiction,” Chen said. “Why are you talking to me? If you think my going to school with Stephanie will help, I assure you, it won’t.”

“Because of Eli Robertson,” Nikki said. “And Scott Williams. Two teenaged boys that disappeared within a year of each other, and now we’ve found one deceased, who was likely around the same age as the other two when he died. If the toddler is still missing, he could be a victim, too.” The limited information about Eli made it impossible to compare the cases.

Chen leaned back in the booth. “There’s a ten-year gap between crimes.”

“So it seems,” Nikki said. “Liam’s searching for additional missing boys that would fit the age. We may be completely off, but given we currently have two missing teenaged boys and one is confirmed dead, I think we have to at least look at the possibility. The sheriff’s office is handling Scott Willams’ murder, but Miller has been shut out of Eli’s investigation. We’ve offered help but it’s been refused by the assistant chief.”

“I know.” A muscle in Chen’s jaw tightened. “He’s a cool guy in some ways. Supported Chief Ryan becoming the first African American police chief here. But he hates interference from the FBI. He says we can handle the case.”

“Are you?”

“We’ve had surveillance on a family friend for the last week,” Chen said. “I can’t give you details, but they live in Minneapolis. We have reason to believe Eli may still be alive.”

“I assume this family friend is a sex offender?” Nikki asked.

“Two-timer,” Chen said. “Out early on good behavior. Because pedophiles should get multiple chances.”

Scott Williams’ body had been found washed up in the St. Croix River a year ago, weeks after he’d disappeared. His remains had not been in good enough condition for Blanchard to rule out sexual assault. “Do you know if your suspect has any connections to Scott Williams? Could he have taken him as well?”

“Other than attending Stillwater High School, we haven’t found any.”

“Uncle Mark, you cheated!” Lacey’s shrill voice made Nikki laugh. “Stacking draw-twos is against the rules.”

“No, it isn’t,” he retorted. “That’s how we’ve always played, isn’t it, Rory?”

Lacey folded her arms and glared at Rory. “Don’t lie, Dad.”

Hearing Lacey use the word still sent a swell of mixed emotions through Nikki. She loved that Lacey had made the decision, but Nikki would never be able to completely shed the guilt about her ex-husband’s death.

“I won’t.” Rory looked at his older brother. “It’s true. The actual rules say you can’t stack draw-twos, only draw-fours.”

Lacey smirked at Mark. “That means you still have to draw two.”

He rolled his eyes but drew the cards.

Lacey smiled sweetly at Rory. “Sorry.” She dropped a draw-four on top of the pile.

“You put a draw-four on me last time,” he griped.

“I’m trying to win. Suck it up, buttercup.”

Nikki and Mark burst out laughing. She’d learned a long time ago not to go after Lacey in UNO. She had a knack for always getting a draw-four, especially when she shuffled the cards. That was a trick she’d learned from her ex’s father. Tyler’s parents remained in Lacey’s life, and she usually spent a couple of weeks with them in the summer.

Before she could take her turn, Nikki’s cell vibrated with a call from an Arizona area code. “I have to take this,” she said. “I’ll play next hand.” She left the kitchen, answering the phone before it stopped ringing. “This is Agent Hunt.” Nikki turned down the hall, headed for her office.

“Agent Hunt, this is Patrick Hendrickson returning your call.”

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