Page 65 of Fatal Betrayal

Without Solange's help, getting probable cause and access to the phone would take more time than she had, and she suspected it would lead nowhere. Daniel hadn't left the house without any way to communicate with his friends. He had to have another phone, probably one that couldn't be traced.

She set down the phone, then turned to Solange. "Does he have a car?"

"No."

"How did he leave last night?"

"Someone picked him up. I'm not sure if it was a friend or a ride share."

Everywhere she turned, she ran into a brick wall. She changed directions. "What can you tell me about Kristine Rozic? Do you know anything about her private life? Her friends? Where she goes on her days off?"

"No. Kristine doesn't talk to me much," Solange said. "She keeps to herself."

Solange was giving her nothing, whether that was because she had nothing or she was hiding something, Andi couldn't tell. "We really need to talk to Daniel," she said again. "If he comes home, call me right away." She pulled out a card and handed it to Solange. "It's better for him to cooperate than to stay out of touch for whatever reason he might have."

"I understand, but sometimes, Daniel is gone for a few days at a time," Solange said. "And he doesn't tell me where he's going or when he's coming back."

"I understand. Do his siblings know more about his activities than you do?"

She sighed. "No. They've gotten annoyed with him because of his…drinking. He hasn't been talking to anyone in the family the last several months."

She suspected that Daniel's drinking was just part of a bigger problem with substance abuse. But Solange didn't want to put her son in an even worse light. She might need to track down the siblings and get their take on their brother.

"How's Daniel doing at the gym?" Cooper asked. "Is he enjoying the boxing? I hope it's giving him an outlet for his grief and anger."

"He has been better since he started there," Solange admitted. "I guess punching something helps. He was really upset by his father's death, and I was so lost in grief I didn't help him the way I should have. If he's in trouble, it's my fault."

"Let's hope he's not in trouble," Cooper said. "I know you're worried about your son, just as Neil is worried about Elisa. The best way for us all to move forward is to be honest and forthcoming. You believe Daniel is innocent, so there's no reason to try to protect him. The truth won't hurt him."

"I understand. I'm not trying to protect him. I don't know where he is." Solange walked them to the front door. "Does Neil think Daniel is involved?" she asked.

"I'm sure he doesn't," Cooper answered. "Agent Hart is focused on everyone who has been in the house. Daniel is the only one we can't find, and that's troubling."

"He didn't know he had to stay home. No one told us that. He talked to someone yesterday. He thought he was done."

"I understand," Cooper said. "I realize this is upsetting, Solange, but as a mother you know what Claire is going through, and I'm sure you want to help."

"I do. I really do."

Seeing Solange respond to Cooper reminded Andi of how good Cooper had always been at charming people. His easygoing manner, the way he looked someone straight in the eye, and his soothing smile had always made people loosen their guard. While her impatient desire to get to the truth had made her less interested in soothing and more focused on ruthlessly dragging answers out of people. That hadn't always worked well.

She'd gotten better at varying her interrogation tactics over the years, but she had to admit it had been a while since she'd talked to anyone in such a slow, soothing, compassionate way. There was rarely time for that. Her cases always moved fast, at least at the beginning, when they knew their best chances for finding a child were in the first twenty-four hours.

Unfortunately, they were past that now, and they were no closer to finding Elisa than they'd been yesterday.

Hopefully, they'd have more luck with Shana Grier.

* * *

Andi was frustrated. Cooper could tell that by the way she drove them to Shana Grier's office, jumping between the gas and the brake with a very heavy foot. He was feeling the same way. Every step they took to move forward either just left them stalled or sent them backward. They were getting nowhere fast, and he was beginning to realize just how many more people would need to be interviewed, how many more times they would have to ask the same questions and probably get the same unsatisfying answers. Because they didn't have any good leads. Maybe this one with Shana would pan out, but he doubted it. He couldn't see Shana kidnapping her ex's kid. It seemed like she'd be more likely to try to destroy him another way, like stealing his business or something.

On the other hand, Shana had been incredibly hurt by Neil choosing to have a baby with another woman while refusing to give her a child. Who knew what that had done to her emotionally? It could have hit her so hard that a part of her had broken, which might have led to an irrational and impulsive decision.

Andi pulled into the underground garage for Shana's building, and they took the elevator to the third floor. He'd been in this office once before when he'd first discussed his book with both Neil and Shana. It hadn't changed much. There was a young woman sitting at a reception desk. She waved them toward a small couch to wait until Ms. Grier was off the phone.

There were film and television posters on one wall, some of which had been done when Shana was still working with Neil, although there were some newer projects as well.

"What can you tell me about Neil and Shana?" Andi asked as they sat on the couch together.

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