Page 8 of Kidnapping of a Myth

“That’s a good choice,” Bel called after her as she sat back down and pulled her cell from her pocket. She dialed the number on the post-it note, feeling Eamon’s stare on her as if it were his hands exploring every inch of her skin.I love you. I love you. I love you.He didn’t say it with his voice, but every molecule contained in his body screamed it as the phone rang.

“This is Desmee,”a gruff male voice answered on the second ring.

“Hello, I’m de—” Bel caught herself before the word escaped. “My name is Bel, and I’m here with Eamon Stone.” She tapped the speaker icon on her phone so Eamon could participate in the conversation. “Wendy Darling told us you were expecting our call.”

“Yes, of course,” the head of security said. “What can I do for you, Miss…”

“Bel,” she answered. “Just Bel.”

“Very good,” Desmee said, and if he found her evasiveness odd, he kept his thoughts to himself.

“How long have you worked for the Darlings?” Bel asked.

“Twenty years. I was brought onto the team when Wendy was a toddler, and when my predecessor retired, Wendy promoted me to head of security. I actually might have met you in passing, Mr. Stone. I vaguely remember your name. You’re a big guy, right? Lighter hair? Black eyes.”

“Yes, that’s me,” Eamon chimed in. “We crossed paths, but at the time, you worked with Mrs. Darling and the children. I don’t believe we were introduced.”

“We weren’t,” Desmee said. “It’s just hard to forget a man as massive as you. From what I remember, Mr. Darling spokehighly of you, so thank you for stepping in. I feel sick that I’m not there.”

“I’m glad I can be of service,” Eamon said.

“That’s why we’re calling,” Bel resumed control of the conversation. “Not only are John and Michael missing, but so is their driver. Wendy said he’s been a long-time employee and is reliable. She also mentioned he passed his background checks.”

“He did, and you’re trying to determine if his disappearance makes him a victim or a suspect,” Desmee said.

“Exactly.”

“Peter Pann has worked for us for two years. I’ll have to check his file to confirm the exact dates, but we hired him shortly after she met Henry Night. She was in a rough spot after her parents’ deaths, trying to handle the company, her mourning, and becoming a parent, but Henry helped pull her out of her depression. She started smiling again, and while grief still plagued her, she began to heal. I needed to hire a new driver for the boys since she enrolled them in boarding school, but Wendy didn’t approve my request until after she and Henry started dating.”

“Why was that?” Bel asked.

“She was overwhelmed after the funerals. Becoming a parent and a CEO overnight was too much to handle. She tried to shoulder the burden alone, but the stress took its toll. Entering a stable relationship relieved some of that pressure, though, and she finally approved the new hires. Peter was one of the first, and we’ve never had a problem with him. He’s been incredibly reliable.”

“In your professional opinion, could he have done this?” Bel asked.

“I want to say absolutely not,” Desmee said. “I personally vetted him. He’s a quiet man, but an excellent driver with a stellar record. I doubt he’s capable of anything this heinous, butin my line of work, you learn the hard way that people are often good at hiding their darkness. I only say that, though, because I don’t want my words to cause you to overlook something, but I find his involvement highly improbable.”

“So, it looks like we might have a third victim,” Bel said.

“As much as I hate to agree, I’m afraid so.”

“Do you have Peter’s address?” she asked.

“I do.”

“Could you do me a favor and stop by? I doubt it, but on the slight chance he returned home, we can ask him what happened. Who knows, maybe he had one too many drinks after he dropped off the boys and is nursing a hangover, or perhaps he fell ill. There might be something helpful at his place.”

“Of course,” Desmee said. “I’ll run over now. Do I call you back at this number?”

“Please.”

“Thanks. Before I go, is there anything else you need?”

“Not at the moment, no. I mostly wanted to hear your opinion of the driver, since he was the last person to see John and Michael.”

“Got it. Well, I’ll call back after I stop by Peter’s,” Desmee said. “Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s something I can do.”

“Thank you.” Bel hung up her cell and rubbed her face with frustration.

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