Page 6 of Delivering David

Still later thatmorning

“Haveyou been able to reach anyone at Tennessee Children’s Services?” Suzanne asked.

She and Elaine Prescott sat on the sofa in the latter’s office at Families United. After the former director was caught in a pedophile sting this past autumn, Elaine was appointed as the agency’s acting director and was expected to be made director after the first of the new year.

“No.” Elaine sounded rueful as she filled their cups with strong black tea from a china pot. “With Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, they’re running with a skeleton staff, and Mercy’s supervisor Lucinda Gonzalez, is out until Monday. And like Mercy, I don’t want to share her suspicions with just anyone. With her suspicions about that couple at the shelter Tennessee Cares operates being involved with both the Campbell and Clark sisters disappearing, it will become a problem between the two agencies. And Tennessee Cares is closing at noon today. We’re stuck with waiting.”

“It doesn’t seem right not to call someone,” Suzanne insisted, putting down her cup. “But I’m grateful Families United is open, and you gave up your day off to help with this.”

“You know I’d do that.” Concern drew Elaine’s eyebrows together. “Was there a reason you didn’t tell Grant Miller what Mercy told you yesterday?’

Suzanne shook her head. “I guess I was too stunned to think about it, especially after that guy attacked me.”

“Completely understandable,” Elaine agreed. “You were in shock about Mercy and David too.”

“And when Sergeant Miller texted me this morning, he only said none of Mercy’s neighbors saw or heard anything last night and had no idea where David might be,” Suzanne continued. Heart aching, she added, “and I have no idea where he would go.”

“You need to let Grant Miller know what Mercy told you right now,” Elaine urged. “Has he notified Mercy’s family yet?”

“He said they found her cell phone crushed into bits,” Suzanne said sadly. “So was the Snoopy-Woodstock phone in David’s room. I also forget to tell him Mercy’s parents are in Europe, and she didn’t tell me where they were going.

“Oh dear,” Elaine sighed. "Someone’s going to need to identify Mercy’s body.”

Her statement chased the cup’s warmth from Suzanne’s hands, and she quickly set it on the table in front of them. “Oh, Lord,” she whispered. “I can’t–what if Grant Miller asks me to do that?”

“I’ll go with you if he does,” Elaine offered quickly. “But you need to text him right now and tell–”

A quick knock at Elaine’s partially open door cut her off as office manager Barbara Simmons stepped inside. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Elaine,” she said. “But that guy you were expecting is here. Sergeant Kristopher Brower?”

“Thank you, Barbara,” Elaine said. “Why are you grinning like a cat in a room full of canaries?”

“‘Cause he’s the best-looking thing on two legs that I’ve seen in a month of Sundays,” Barbara declared. “A little whipped cream and a cherry on top and he’d be good enough to eat.”

“You’re terrible,” Elaine scolded but she was smiling. “What would Fred say if he heard you talking like that? And about a younger man?”

Barbara winked. “Never hurts to look,” she declared. “But I knew when I first laid eyes on my husband of fifty years, he was my one and only. I’ll go fetch your visitor.”

She left, whistlingDeck the Hallsand despite the situation, Suzanne laughed, grateful for the break in the sorrow. “I’d hate to think of what would happen if Barbara left Families United.”

“Hush,” Elaine scolded. “She’s under strict orders not to retire until she turns one hundred, so we’ve got her for almost another thirty years.”

“Sergeant Kristopher Brower,” Barbara announced from the doorway. A tall man in black trousers and heavy black jacket waited behind her.

“Kristopher, come in.” Elaine rose to greet him. “You look nearly frozen. Thanks, Barbara.”

He entered, then turned and said, “Thank you, Mrs. Simmons,” before looking back at them. “Good to see you again, Elaine,” he said, taking off his gloves and putting them in his jacket pocket.

“You too, Kristopher,” Elaine said. “No doubt, Hank has already filled you in on the situation.”

“He has,” Sergeant Brower confirmed as Suzanne stood and Elaine said, “Suzanne, meet Sergeant Kristopher Brower, US Army, retired, now with Brotherhood Protectors. Kristopher, this is my friend and colleague, Suzanne Bennett. She and Mercy Phillips were friends.”

He came forward to offer Suzanne his hand. Strength pulsated there as his long fingers wrapped around hers, his skin warm and soothing. He looked like he was right at six feet tall which meant she’d have to wear heels to kiss him.

Good Heavens! Where did that come from? Barbara, you are a bad influence.Suzanne gave herself a swift, mental kick but had to admit with his short black hair, pencil thin moustache and hazel eyes, Sergeant Kristopher Brower made a very nice package indeed, even without whipped cream and a cherry.

“I see you have coffee,” Sergeant Brower said, gesturing at the machine on the stand in the corner. “I’ll help myself before we get started.”

When he rejoined them, he sat in the high back chair in front of the table and crossed his legs. “I’m sorry to meet you under the present circumstances and also for your loss, Ms. Bennett,” he said. “Have we learned anything since yesterday about Mrs. Phillips murder or her son’s whereabouts?”

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