Page 64 of Cold Threat

River couldn’t help but smile. She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, causing Beth to giggle. “I can only guess how hard this has been on you and your family,” she said. “But please believe me when I say that I’d lay my life down to protect Tony. I’ll always do everything I can to keep him safe.”

Beth was quiet and looked away. At first River was surprised by her reaction, but suddenly, she understood.

“How did you find out?” she asked.

“I know when Ray is keeping something from me,” she said. “I knew there was something wrong with the Christmas card that arrived here for you. I made him tell me what it really meant.”

“I worry that being here is putting Tony in danger,” River said. “Maybe I should leave.”

Beth reached over and took her hands. “No. You’re safer here. Besides, no one’s going anywhere once that storm hits.”

“I can get a taxi to a hotel in town. Tony doesn’t have to knowwhere I am. I ... I really think I need to keep my distance. Just in case.”

“You may think I’m telling you this only because it’s the right thing to say,” Beth said, “but after being around you two, I honestly believe you’re wrong. And so was I. Somehow, you’re stronger when you’re together. Walking away from my son would make him weaker. More vulnerable. I can’t explain it, but I know it’s true.” Her eyes bored into River’s. “Listen to your heart. What I’m saying is true, isn’t it?”

Now it was River’s turn for tears. Finally, she nodded. “I never thought of it quite that way before, but yes. In my heart, I believe you’re right.” She gently let go of Beth’s hands. “Okay, I won’t leave. For now. But if I ever believe that being near him will put him at risk, I’ll go. You have my word.”

“I hope that day never comes. I think if you left his life, it would break my son’s heart.”

Although she didn’t say it, River knew it would break hers as well.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SEVEN

River was going over their profile again. No matter what they did or how well she felt they understood the Snowman, she had a nagging feeling they were missing something. She just couldn’t put her finger on it.

A little after ten o’clock, the door to the office opened and Ray walked in. “Tony’s still with Aimee?” he asked.

“Yes. He should be back soon.”

Ray nodded. “Good. I have some new information.”

“Do you want to wait for him?”

“I can’t,” Ray said. “Burlington doesn’t have a lot of crime, but unfortunately, around Christmas it seems to get worse. We’ve got some burglaries to investigate. Nothing major, but the people who were robbed deserve our full attention. We’ve got some suspects, but we need to round them up and see if we can at least let the victims know we’ve recovered some of their items. My visit with Sandra Cooper will have to wait. I’m sorry.”

“I understand.”

“I sent you some photos before I left the station. Have you seen them yet?”

River shook her head. “Haven’t checked. I’ll do it now.” River clicked over to her email. Seconds later she was opening pictures of a young boy and an even younger girl.

Ray walked up behind her. “The boy is Michael Wilson. These are some of his early school photos. I couldn’t find all of them.”

Michael Wilson was an attractive boy with blue eyes and blond hair. Although he was attempting to smile, there wasn’t any joy in it. Or in his intense eyes. In all three pictures, he was leaning his cheek on his hand, a classic school pose that wasn’t used much anymore.

“This is it?” River asked. “No other photos?”

“No. He was enrolled for three more years in the same school, but I guess he didn’t show up for picture day.”

“What about a driver’s license photo?” River asked.

“Nothing. He has a Social Security number, but it’s never been used.”

“You said he had a decent foster family?”

Ray nodded. “Seems like it. Until the father died, that is. Then Michael disappeared.”

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