Page 53 of Lost Lake
El didn’t like the answer, but she understood that as well. “Is there someone on staff who Kenna was particularly close to?”
“As I said before, she kept her personal life separate and didn’t really connect.”
“Okay.” El got out her business card for Bonnie. “I’ll let you know if I’ll be returning for those interviews or with a warrant. If you think of anything helpful, you can reach me at any number on my card.”
Bonnie turned the card over to study it before looking back up. “Can you let me know when you find Lucy and when Kenna’s funeral is scheduled?”
Gabe nodded and swallowed hard. “Sorry to be the bearer of such bad news.”
Bonnie crossed her arms. “I can’t imagine having to tell the rest of the staff and parents. Oh, and the children. The poor children. It’ll be a huge blow to all of them.”
“Thanks again.” Gabe quickly pushed outside and held the door for El, then came alongside her as they walked to the car. “You buy anything she said?”
“I feel like there was some truth in there, but the question I have is, when was she putting on a show for us or telling the truth? After what you said about the staff not getting along with her, if we did come back to interview them, she might tell them what to say to us.”
“Do you think she has anything to do with Kenna’s death and Lucy’s disappearance?”
“I don’t know. This one’s got me puzzled. I noticed the many awards in the lobby saying this is a highly respected daycare, so I have to figure something good is happening here. But is there something illegal going on underneath? I don’t know. And if there is, is it connected to Kenna? I don’t know that either.”
“Let’s get Hayden to dig deep on Bonnie and this place. Hopefully, he’ll find information to help clarify our questions.” After getting in the vehicle, he grabbed his phone and started thumbing the screen.
She suspected he was sending the text to Hayden.
His phone dinged. “Hayden will get started with our request right away.”
“Thanks.” El buckled her seatbelt. “So Brad confirmed Kenna’s parents live in Gold Beach?”
“Yeah, in a retirement village like my mom said.” Gabe shoved his phone into his pocket.
“Are you up for seeing them now?”
He scowled. “Not something I really want to do, but we need to do it.”
“I’ll text the deputy who’s coming to pick up the evidence that he can meet us before we talk to them.”
El sent a text then got her vehicle on the road, her palms getting sweaty. She loved her job. She didn’t love doing a death notification call. One of the most difficult parts of her job. It was easier with two officers present, but today her partner was a man with very strong feelings about Kenna’s parents.
The interview would be similar to the one with his parents, at least in the emotional stakes for Gabe. Her too, as she watched him suffer even more. She wanted to take his pain away, or at least talk to him about it so he could find some release beforehis emotions exploded. But he went through Lucy’s backpack, holding each item as time ticked slowly by.
Fifteen miles in, she glanced at him. He’d placed Lucy’s backpack and papers on his lap, the sweater resting on top, and he was holding them close. She really couldn’t imagine his pain now, but if they were to lose Lucy too…
She wouldn’t let that happen. They needed to work harder. Smarter. Do something extraordinary to find her. They’d already passed the golden window when finding a child alive was more likely. Golden window or not, she would choose to believe Lucy was still alive and proceed with that in her mind and heart. And she needed Gabe to be able to focus.
Talking it out should help. “That was hard.”
He nodded, but didn’t speak.
She wouldn’t give up. “Kenna leaving the backpack when it was out of character for her adds to the theory that she wanted to get to you quickly.”
He gave a single nod. “Unfortunately, we’re no closer to finding out why she stopped at the lake instead, and if she knew her attacker. I was really hoping we would learn something from one of the people we talked to today.”
“Me too, but the day isn’t done. Don’t get your hopes up for her parents. Being estranged from her, I doubt they’ll have anything to give us.”
“Other than heartburn, you mean.” His mouth turned down. “But I won’t lose hope. Not while my team is still working the investigation. We’ve been known to pull off things others can’t. When we get back to town, I’d like to meet with them and review their tasks. Hopefully they found something to help.”
El didn’t hold out any hope for such a thing.
Not because she didn’t trust their abilities or think they wouldn’t find any leads. But if they’d discovered anythingrelated to Lucy, they would’ve called or texted Gabe by now. Still, with his mood, she wouldn’t mention that.
