Page 25 of Bone Echo

“Car accidents, drownings. If you can imagine it, it happened. About forty were terminated.”

“You’re suggesting,” Kurt said, “this was done on purpose?”

Cuddahy shook his head. “I’m not suggesting anything. I’m telling you. You have no idea what these people are capable of. They’re ruthless. All that matters is their work.”

“What complications promoted termination?” Audra asked, taking the words right out of Kurt’s mouth.

“One or both parents discovered there was something going on or the child started talking about things they shouldn’t. They were seen as security risks. Others developed profound cognitive issues.”

“What about Ella?” Kurt asked. Surely if she had been marked for termination Meltzer wouldn’t have taken eighteen months to get around to it. Still, a new level of fear churned inside him.

“Number 14—Ella—is their top success,” Cuddahy explained. “They’re not going to allow anything to happen to her. She is listed as number one in the top five. This is why Meltzer followed her here. That, I’m sad to say, is likely why your wife was murdered—to stop her interference.”

Just when Kurt thought the man could say nothing that would rattle him more than he already had, he learned he was wrong. The air refused to fill his lungs. “How do you know that?”

Cuddahy’s face was grim. “She was on the termination list as were numerous others. We were able to retrieve some documents.”

Kurt wanted to rip Meltzer or Lawler or whoever the hell he was apart.

“He’s planning to leave for Europe tomorrow.” Audra’s words were barely a whisper but they cut through the haze of fury shrouding Kurt.

Cuddahy said, “We will find him.”

The coffee Kurt had swallowed turned to acid in his stomach. “We’ve had dozens of officers, deputies and civilians searching for hours and we’ve found nothing. The bastard has fallen off the face of the earth—and taken my daughter with him. His home is clean—nothing that ties him to wrong doing of any sort. Nothing that ties him to anything, frankly.” That sinking feeling of defeatcircled inside Kurt. “We haven’t found a trace of evidence that gives us a direction. All we have is my missing daughter and two murder victims who damned well didn’t deserve to die.”

“I know it’s late and I know you’re exhausted and desperate,” Cuddahy said, “but I need you to walk me through everything that’s happened and your every response to it. You have to trust me when I say I will help you find him. I’ve done this more times than I care to say.”

At this point, Kurt figured he had nothing left to lose…except his daughter. If trusting this man would help, he would do it. He would do anything. “All right,” he began, “it started with a double homicide.”

Half an hour and another cup of coffee later, Kurt with Audra’s help had brought this stranger who appeared out of nowhere up to speed.

“He has what he wanted,” Cuddahy said. “Now he has to get her to safety—what he considers safety. Some place where he can nurture the skills they manipulated.”

His words made Kurt feel sick. “We’re watching all forms of public transportation. Rental car centers.”

Cuddahy thought about this for a moment. “He will have planned extensively. Getting your daughter away is his top priority. If he hasn’t done that already, then there’s a reason. He’s laying low waiting for something. A transportation connection. A landing confirmation. Something that facilitates their escape.”

“Why did he take so long to get around to making a move?” Audra asked. “He was here for eighteen months.”

“As long as there was no threat to him, there was no reason to go. He could monitor her progress right here in relative safety and without anyone knowing who he was. Something must have happened to prompt a move. He wouldn’t have taken the risk otherwise.”

Kurt got it now. “Ella remembered him from before. She told her friend whose folks were murdered that she intended to tell me.”

“Then that was the impetus,” Cuddahy confirmed. “All we have to do is learn how he planned to go.”

“We’ve questioned folks about any missing vehicles or boats. No one is missing anything. He may have had a vehicle hidden somewhere.” Kurt resisted that feeling of defeat. He would not let this son of a bitch win.

“What about private planes,” Cuddahy countered. “I noticed Bald Mountain Airport is very close.”

“We have someone monitoring the incoming and outgoing flight schedules.”

“All right then,” Cuddahy said. “What about part time residents? Have those empty homes been checked? The garages? Any vehicles they leave here when they’re gone.”

“Every house in this part of the county has been checked,” Kurt confirmed. “Vehicles…”

Then it hit him.

“The yachts.” Kurt pushed to his feet, the possibility hitting him like a bullet to the brain. “Some of the part time residents have yachts that stay in the harbor. They’re maintained by a local service. But I spoke to him personally, Josh Morris. He has checked every single one.”

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