Page 74 of Cold Threat

River nodded. “Unless you want me to fall face first into my plate during dinner, that would be a great idea.”

“I really wouldn’t want to see you with mashed potatoes and gravy on your face,” Tony said, grinning.

“Trust me. No one wants to see that.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Tony walked out of the room, and River went over and sat down in Ray’s padded office chair. Her back was sore, but she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the metal chairs. Not really the most comfortable thing to sit on for hours.

She couldn’t help but think about Michael Wilson. He and his sister lost their mother, then their father dumps them into foster care. That would make anyone angry. By the time he left his foster family, he was sixteen. But how does a sixteen-year-old kid just disappear? She knew people did it all the time. Created new identities. It wasn’t that hard. Find someone who died, get a fake driver’s license, then request a social security card and a birth certificate. They’d seen it often enough while working atthe Bureau. But at sixteen? Of course, Michael would have had contact with a lot of kids in the foster care system. Kids who knew the ropes. Maybe it was easier than most people would believe.

River leaned over and rested her head on her arms. She really was tired. She enjoyed being around Beth and Ray, but she was ready to go home. She missed her mother. Which surprised her. Rose’s recent change in behavior was beginning to affect her. River had learned a lot about how to react to Rose. At first, when Rose forgot something, River had tried to help her remember. Unfortunately, it only made her mother more confused. Mrs. Weyland had taught her more successful ways to deal with her mom’s forgetfulness. The truth was, most of the time, River actually enjoyed being around her mother now.

She couldn’t help but think about her brother. He’d asked to bring their father for a visit after the first of the year. The more she’d found out about forgiveness, the more she began to hear a voice inside her urging her to let them come. Well, if it was something God wanted, she knew He’d get her through it. When she went home, she’d ask her mother if she wanted them to visit. If she said yes, she’d call Dan and make the arrangements. It seemed almost impossible that she had changed her mind, but she was finding out that God could do what human beings couldn’t. He had the ability to make His people more like Him. Transform hearts and minds. River found it amazing—and it built hope inside of her.

The door opened, and Tony walked in with a tray that contained a coffee carafe, cups, napkins, and a plate of cookies. River laughed.

“Let me guess. Your mom caught you in the kitchen and insisted on putting this together?”

Tony frowned at her. “I think I should be offended that you don’t think I can be creative—and classy.”

“Oh, I think you can be creative and classy, but not when it comes to assembling food on a tray. The last time we got togetherto watch football, you put a bag of chips and a container of dip on your coffee table. I had to ask you for a napkin.”

It was Tony’s turn to laugh. “Okay, you got me.”

They drank coffee and munched on cookies, not talking much. River was tired of thinking, and she was pretty sure Tony felt the same way. It was nice to know that neither one of them felt pressured to fill the silence with small talk. River was comfortable around Tony. She couldn’t think of anyone else who’d ever made her feel so accepted.

The sound of the front door slamming caused Tony to put down his coffee cup, and then get up and hurry over to open the door to Ray’s office. Although River was certain Ray wouldn’t mind if she sat in his chair, she got up anyway and moved over to one of the metal chairs. Just seconds later, she heard someone bounding up the stairs.

Ray rushed into the room, his face flushed. River wasn’t sure if it was because of the cold or for some other reason.

“That was fast,” Tony said.

“I have something I want to share with you, but first of all, the man sitting in the car outside, he was definitely keeping an eye on you.”

“What?” River said, trying to ignore the fear that washed over her.

“Relax. It was Bobby. He knew I had to go to the station so he drove down the street so he could keep an eye on the house while I was gone.”

“I don’t understand,” Tony said.

“I told him about the card ... and the threat from the Strangler’s partner,” Ray said. “Since he lives so close, I thought it was a good idea to have him as backup if we needed it. He didn’t tell me he was going to park outside tonight where you could see him. I told him that from now on, he needs to let us know before he spooks you again. He felt badly about it.”

River took a deep breath. “I’m sorry we worried. Please let him know we appreciate it, will you?”

Ray nodded. “I will. Bobby’s a great cop. I feel better knowing he realizes what’s going on. If you all ever need help, and I’m not home, give him a call, okay?”

“We will, Dad,” Tony said.

“Good,” he said. “Now, I have something I need to share with you. I found Michael Wilson’s aunt. She lives in Des Moines. Hasn’t seen him since Edward put the kids in foster care.”

“Why didn’t the aunt take Michael and Stacy?” River asked.

“Her daughter had been in a pretty bad automobile accident and needed a lot of care. The aunt didn’t have a way to take the kids. She felt bad about it. When her daughter recovered, a few years later, she looked for them, but no one could tell her where they were.”

Ray walked over to where River sat. “I want to show you something.” Tony pulled his chair up next to her. “The aunt had some pictures of Michael and Stacy when they were young. One of them is very revealing. Do you remember when Angie said she saw a man in her house who had a black spot on his face?”

River and Tony nodded. She had an idea as to where this was going, and it made her heart beat faster. This could be proof that they were right.

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