Page 48 of The Husband's Secret
The older woman’s eyes suddenly opened, and her mouth closed. Brenda almost fainted with relief. Ben reached over and rapped on the door again.
When it opened, Mrs. Lawrence looked from Brenda to Ben and back. “Hello.” She drew the door open wider. “Come in. Sorry if you’ve been knocking awhile. I was taking a little nap.”
“I don’t want to disturb you, Mrs. Lawrence,” Brenda said. “I was wondering if you had heard from Mallory.”
The woman made a face of severe concentration. “No, I don’t think so. You know she’s always busy working. For you.” She smiled big and bright. “I just love when she brings Janey by for a visit. Such a sweet child.”
Brenda managed a stiff nod. “Have you heard from her since she and Janey went up to the cabin?”
Mrs. Lawrence made a new face then, this one confused or uncertain. “I think there must be some miscommunication, hon. None of us ever seemed to have the time to go anymore, so we sold the cabin last spring. She couldn’t be there.”
Something different rushed through Brenda then. Bigger than plain old fear…colder, thicker.Sheer terror. “She told me she was taking Janey to the cabin.” Brenda forced her tone to remain calm despite the hysteria attempting to take hold deep inside her. “Is there someplace else she might have meant?”
“No.” Mrs. Lawrence shook her head. “I can’t think of any place offhand. She would have told me if she was going out of town. Did you try Peter? Maybe she’s at his house.” Her smile returned. “He’ll know where she is. I’m sure of it.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Lawrence,” Brenda managed to say without falling apart. “If you hear from Mallory please ask her to call me.”
“I sure will, hon. I hope you’re holding up okay,” she offered. “Mallory said your husband’s death has been just awful for you.”
Brenda thanked her and then she and Ben rushed away. The idea that her child was missing started to arrow its way into her chest.No, please no.
She told herself Mrs. Lawrence was right. Peter would know…but he was supposed to be with them.
When they were in the car after the usual check that took forever it felt like to Brenda, Ben said, “Where does this Peter live?”
“He has an apartment downtown, but he should be with Mallory.” Hands shaking, she dug out her cell once more. “I have his number.”Please, please let him answer.
Peter picked up on the first ring. “Hey, Brenda.”
Thank God. “Hey, Peter. I need to speak with Mallory. It’s really important.” Brenda held tightly to the phone, her mind whirling with worry and fear and hope and other things she didn’t want to name.
“Ah, sorry, Brenda, but she’s not with me. Maybe Mallory didn’t tell you, but she and I broke up.”
Oh God. No. “Really?” Brenda glanced at Ben, desperately clinging to the ability to hold herself together. “I’m so sorry. When did this happen?”
“Not quite a month ago. She just up and told me one day that we were done. It was a shock, let me tell you. I’d already bought an engagement ring to give her at Christmas. I’m still trying to figure it out.”
“I’m so sorry, Peter.”Hang on… Don’t lose it. “I asked her to take Janey out of town for a couple of days since all this business with Scott has started up again. I thought she said she was going to the cabin. But her mom says they sold the cabin. Do you have any idea where she might have gone instead? She’s not answering today, and I’m a little nervous.”
“I don’t know, Brenda. I mean, gosh, that’s kind of crazy. Maybe she was going through something. I will say that back when we were together—near the end—I got this whole thing in my head that she and Scott were having an affair. Anyway, I don’t know. Whatever is going on, I’m sorry I can’t help you.”
“I… Thank you, Peter. Please tell her to call me if you hear from her.”
“’Course I will, but I’m not expecting to hear from her.”
“Right. Okay. Thanks, Peter.”
Brenda ended the call. “They broke up.” She turned to Ben. “He thought she was having an affair with Scott, but I don’t think so.” She drew in a big breath. “Honestly, at this point I don’t know anything. Except…” She swallowed at the tightening in her throat. “My daughter is missing and I’m terrified.”
“We’re going back to Shelton’s office to file a missing person report,” he assured her. “We may or may not be able to trust him, but we need people on the lookout. There are steps that need to be taken that only the police can take. Now. Right now.”
He was right. Brenda sank back into her seat. Here she’d thought this nightmare couldn’t get any worse. But she had been so very wrong.
Her child was missing.
Chapter Seventeen
Huntsville Police Department
