Page 59 of Kidnapped in Dark Waters
Jacque gazed at him sharply. “It’s like that?”
Luke offered the man a weak smile. “It’s like that,” he replied.
“I really wish I could help you, but I haven’t heard anything.”
“I knew it was a long shot,” Luke replied and stood. “Thanks for your time.”
“No problem.” Jacque walked with him to the door. “I hope you find her safe and sound.” For a moment Jacque’s green eyes darkened. “Because there’s nothing worse than losing somebody you love.”
“Thanks again.” Luke walked slowly away from the shanty, despair once again filling his heart…his very soul. It had been so long now, too long. Three nights she’d been with her kidnapper unless he’d already… He snapped his thoughts away from that torturous thought. It couldn’t be too late to save her. It just couldn’t be.
It was just about ten o’clock when he arrived back at the station. In the murder room, half a dozen officers were gathered along with Daniel and Clay.
“Luke,” Daniel greeted him. “We’ve decided to start a grid search of the town. I want officers knocking on doors and asking questions,” he said. “What I need you to do is go to the café. Annie called a few minutes ago and said she’d put together a platter of sweet rolls and pastries for the officers. We’ll put it in the break room where they can grab one and go. So, if you want to head over there now, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll go right now.”
He left the murder room and headed back to his patrol car. It took him only minutes to arrive and park in the café’s lot where Dominique’s car was still parked by the dumpster. The sight of it wrenched his heart.
This was the crime scene, but it had yielded no answers. They had used a locksmith to get into the car, but nothing of value had been found inside. The entire area had been meticulously searched and the officers had found nothing useful.
He was slowly losing hope and that frightened him. He headed around the building to the front door. He stopped just inside the entrance and gazed around, somehow seeking her where he knew she wouldn’t be. He didn’t know how long he’d been standing there when Sunny approached him.
“Officer Madison, can I help you?” she asked softly.
“Yeah, I was sent to pick up a platter that Annie prepared for the men at the station,” he replied.
“Oh yes, it’s in the break room. She has it all ready to go. Just follow me.”
He walked behind Sunny and she led him to the small break room. Lockers lined one wall. There was a round table and in the center of it was a large platter of breakfast sweets wrapped in plastic.
“No news yet?” Sunny asked.
“None,” Luke replied grimly.
Sunny lightly touched Luke’s shoulder. “I know you miss her…we all do. All her regulars ask about her every day—well, all of them but Burt.”
“He doesn’t ask about her?” Luke asked in surprise.
“He hasn’t been in for breakfast since she disappeared.” She leaned over the table and grabbed the large platter. “Here you are,” she said as she handed it to him. “I hope all the officers enjoy it.”
“Thanks, and please tell Annie thank you. It was very thoughtful of her to do this,” he replied.
“I’ll tell her.” She walked with him back to the front door. “You have to find her, Luke.” Sunny’s blue eyes filled with tears.
“We’re doing everything possible,” he replied, emotion rising up inside him. “I’ll see you later.” He hurried out the front door before he embarrassed himself by blubbering in front of Sunny.
Dominique was missing and he was picking up pastries from the café. He had a feeling Daniel was just trying to keep him busy, but he didn’t want to be the errand guy, he needed to be involved in the search.
As he pulled out of the café parking lot to head back to the station, something niggled in the back of his brain, but he didn’t know what it was.
He arrived back and carried the platter inside to the break room, where he placed it in the center of the table. Nobody was in there at the moment and there was nobody in the murder room. Apparently, all the officers had left to begin the grid search.
He found Daniel in his office and sank down in the chair across from him. “The platter is here. Now you need to tell me where to go to help in the search.”
“Luke, you’re exhausted. You haven’t really slept or eaten in days. You need to go home and get some rest and leave the search to the other men.”
“You know I can’t do that,” Luke replied. “I need to be here in case something breaks.” He frowned, the niggling feeling back inside his head. Somehow, he was missing something…something that could be important. The thought suddenly unfolded in his brain.
