Page 44 of All He Takes
They went up to the door and knocked loudly. Nothing. Again, and there was a noise somewhere in the house--the sound of an infant crying. Nicky had read in his file that he had a kid, a baby, and for a moment, she hoped that maybe she was wrong about this.
But then she remembered the mugshot... and the sexual battery charge in his twenties... no, this wasn't a man with a completely innocent past, even if he did have a life and a family now.
The baby's cries stopped. After a moment, a man wearing a white tee and plaid pajamas answered. He had an eerily calm expression--just like the mugshot--but he was a very normal-looking man. Average height, brown hair and eyes, Caucasian. At first glance, one wouldn't guess anything was off about him at all.
But Nicky saw something in his eyes--something empty.
"Excuse me?" he said. "It's very late--"
"Mr. Harold Smith?" Nicky asked.
"Yes?" the man said. "Can I help you?"
"We're here to ask you a few questions." Nicky flashed her badge, along with Ken. "I'm Agent Nicky Lyons. This is my partner, Agent Ken Walker. We're sorry to bother you so late."
A calm smile spread on his lips. "Oh... that is okay. It's a good thing we called the nanny in tonight to help with JJ... my wife is at work."
"Does your wife often work nights?" Ken asked.
"She does," said Harold. "She's a nurse. Oncology. Quite the spectacular woman. But I stay at home to take care of our son. Sometimes I need a little help, though."
"So, your nanny is inside," Nicky clarified.
"Yes," Harold said. "She's in the den. Do you need to speak with her?"
"When she's available, that would be great," Nicky said.
He opened the door wider. "Well, please, come in."
Nicky nodded to Ken, and they stepped inside.
Harold's house was warm, cozy, and tastefully decorated. It was also immaculate. It was like a show home. The floors were spotless, and the walls were covered in framed family photos.
"My wife is a bit of a neat freak," Harold said. "She loves taking care of things. It's her calling."
"What about you?" Nicky asked.
"Me?" Harold said. "I don't think I have a calling. I just do whatever I'm needed to do." He smiled. "It's a good thing I'm needed at home."
"Yeah," Nicky said. "You're a family man."
"Yes," Harold said.
"Do you know why we're here?" Ken asked.
"No idea," said Harold. "I barely even leave the house anymore."
"What do you do at home?" Ken asked.
"Take care of JJ, make arts and crafts... what else can a stay-at-home dad do? It's a bit of a dream come true, if I'm being honest."
"Do you have any hobbies?" Ken asked.
"I don't have time for hobbies," Harold said, with a laugh. "But I do love to draw and paint, and I do quite a bit of sewing during my free time."
"Sewing?" Ken said.
"Yes," Harold said. "It's not very manly, but I enjoy it."
