Colorado Abduction - By Cassie Miles & Marie Ferrarella Page 0,50
sick animal. When she chats with the owner, she uses that tone.”
“Right,” Dylan said. “It’s her ‘Don’t Panic’ voice. She’s trying to tell us to stay calm. Damn it, she always puts other people first.”
“Lucas,” Burke said, “what’s your impression?”
“Didn’t look like she’d been hurt none.”
Carolyn studied the old, bowlegged cowboy. He sat on the edge of the sofa, leaning forward. His hair looked like it hadn’t been washed recently, and his stubble was a couple of days old. More than anyone else in the room, he showed signs of falling apart. She wanted to believe it was because he was concerned about Nicole. But if he was the traitor, he’d feel guilty. Remorse would gnaw at his gut.
“Okay, Smith,” Burke said. “Give us a profiler’s opinion.”
As Agent Smith stepped in front of the screen, Carolyn realized how short he was, probably only five feet seven inches, with square shoulders and a thick torso. His blond hair was cut short, military-style, and it made his head seem square.
“It’s all good,” he said. “As Lucas pointed out, she doesn’t appear to be injured. Or drugged. The tone that Carolyn referred to as bedside manner might not only be for our benefit. She could have established a rapport with the kidnappers. That’s positive.”
“Why?” Dylan asked.
“In captivity, a hostage undergoes feelings of panic, fear and rage,” he lectured. “Nicole appears to be suppressing those primal reactions. Instead, she’s cooperating, forcing the kidnappers to see her as an individual, convincing them that she’s on their side. In that circumstance, they’re far less likely to hurt her.”
As Burke paced across the floor, Carolyn couldn’t help admiring the way he moved. Smooth, long strides. He said, “We’re going to play this tape several times. I want you to look for any clue to her whereabouts. Nicole might be giving us some kind of signal.”
“Like what?” Polly asked.
“A facial expression. The way she blinks. The way she phrases her words.”
As she watched, again and again, Carolyn’s anger returned. She wished she could jump inside the picture and drag Nicole home.
In the Polaroid, Nicole had put them on the right track with hand signals indicating the Circle M. This time, she seemed to be doing the same thing.
She had gestured twice. Once to tuck her hair behind her ear, forming a circle. Then she stroked her finger along the line of her mouth. Actually, three fingers. A sideways M.
Nicole’s message was the same: Circle M.
Carolyn looked toward Lucas. If he was in communication with the SOF, she didn’t want to say anything in front of him. He might report back and get Nicole in trouble. Why was Burke allowing Lucas to stay in the room?
“I’m drawing a blank,” Polly said. “Anybody need coffee?”
Carolyn raised her hand. “I do.”
Coffee and some kind of breakfast sounded heavenly. She followed Polly into the kitchen and poured herself a mug. “Thanks for moving up to the house, Polly. Did you sleep well?”
“I did, thank you. My husband could hardly close his eyes. He’s so excited about being in the middle of all this. Not that he’s happy about the kidnapping.”
“Of course not.” Carolyn understood that Polly’s husband and his illness took precedence over anything else. “How long have you and Juan been married?”
“Almost twenty years. Second marriage for both of us.” She grinned. “And the second time’s the charm.”
They had a good marriage, and Carolyn wondered what went into that kind of relationship. Was it something she could learn? “How did you know you and Juan were in love? Was it fast as lightning?”
“More like a slow, gathering storm. We were friends for months before anything happened. But as soon as he kissed me, I knew he was the man I’d spend the rest of my life with.”
“All it took was one kiss?”
Polly raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking a lot of questions, Carolyn. This wouldn’t have anything to do with that good-looking FBI agent, would it?”
She wasn’t ready to talk about Burke, not even to Polly. Carolyn sipped her coffee. “Where do you think Nicole got that blouse?”
“Not sure, but I was glad to see her in clean clothes.” Polly opened the fridge and took out an orange. “You didn’t answer my question about Burke.”
“I guess I didn’t.”
“The way you were brought up, surrounded by cowboys and having to be as tough as they are, you need a man who’s as strong-willed and stubborn as you. Burke would be a good match for you.”