Captured by S.J. Harper Page A

shower. Do you think—?”
    I turn to Abigail. “Did you ever see him? Could you describe him?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” she replies without hesitation. “He was memorable. Handsomest man I’ve ever seen.” Abigail’s face lights up. “Tall, blond, filled out that uniform like nobody’s business. And he was so nice! Always had a smile and a ‘good day, ma’am’. It’s hard to believe that nice young man would have taken Cooper on Monday then come back the very next day and the one after that.”
    “It’s a lead worth following.” Zack rises and pulls out his cell. “Do you suppose you could describe him to a forensics artist? See if we could come up with a sketch?”
    “I believe I could,” answers Abigail.
    Mr. Anderson rises. “Why not just bring this guy in for questioning right now?”
    Zack doesn’t answer, he’s too busy dialing. “Have them send an artist over to Bee Happy to work with Natalie,” I tell him. He nods, then leaves the room, cell phone to his ear. The low murmur of his conversation drifts back, the details indiscernible.
    The Andersons are both anxious, eager. “It would be best if the artist can work alone with Abigail uninterrupted. Someplace quiet.”
    Brett nods. “You can use my office.”
    “Agent Monroe?” It’s Sophie this time. “Can’t you just go get him?”
    “What we’ve got so far is circumstantial at best. We need a warrant. If we can place the same guy both here and then either at the location of the Boroson boy’s kidnapping or at their home, we’ll be on our way to getting one.”
    “You feel good about this?” asks Sophie. She reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze.
    I look at their faces. The idea that we might finally have a lead in their child’s disappearance is giving them something they’d almost lost—hope.

CHAPTER 8
    Zack and I leave Taft and Biller with the Andersons and head over to Bee Happy Day care. I call ahead. Meredith Lawrence is reportedly at an off-site meeting that should be wrapping up momentarily. I confirm with someone in the office that Natalie Schofield is on duty, and let them know we’re on our way over with a sketch artist.
    When we pull into the parking lot, Meredith Lawrence is right behind us.
    “Do you have news?” she asks.
    We walk together to the entrance.
    Zack, ever the gentleman, opens the door for us. “We’re here to follow up with Natalie Schofield. A sketch artist should be arriving shortly, if she isn’t already here.”
    “Sketch artist? But none of us saw Andy being taken. Did Natalie remember something?” she asks.
    “We’re hoping she can help us produce a likeness of the postman you mentioned,” I volunteer.
    “The one Natalie had such a crush on?”
    Once inside the office it becomes clear that the sketch artist has already arrived. The door to Lawrence’s office is standing open. Natalie and a mid-thirties woman with dark, wavy hair and light brown skin are sitting side by side. The artist has a blank pad of paper in her lap. Lawrence lowers her voice. “You think he might be the one who—?”
    “It’s a possibility,” I say.
    She glances at her watch. “It’s snack time. How long do you think this will take? Not that I want to rush you. I just want to make sure everything is properly covered.”
    Zack glances back over his shoulder. “I’m guessing an hour, give or take. You okay with us taking using your office for that long?”
    The director waves a hand. “Not a problem. I’ll take over Natalie’s duties until she’s through. Unless you need me for something?”
    Zack shakes his head. “No. Go ahead.”
    Meredith Lawrence nods, but doesn’t take her leave. Something seems to be holding her back.
    “What is it?” I ask her.
    Her expression is hesitant. “It’s just hard for me to believe that pleasant young man would have had anything to do with all this. Kidnapping. Murder. I think about that nice smile and it just seems…inconceivable.” Finally, she leaves