Lullabies and Lies - By Mallory Kane Page 0,16

ever seemed to touch Janie. It was as if she were invisible.

“Tell me, Mr. Mabry. Did you mention the date they left to the police?”

“More’n likely.”

The date was the one thing Janie was so worried about. Hiram had wondered why, until he’d spent a day searching through the newspaper archives, reading every news story from that day fifteen years ago. One story in particular had caught his eye, the story of the disappearance of a toddler from a public space, and suddenly it all made sense. He understood why Janie was so worried.

It was nice, having something on her for a change. Maybe she’d pay him more, when she found out how much he knew.

He knew the truth. Still, if he could find the answer that easily, then so could Sunny Loveless. So could the police. It would be obvious why Ed and Janie had fled town so abruptly. If Loveless had put the when and the why together, and if she’d told the police, Ed and Janie would be toast. And Hiram knew they’d take him down with them.

“Are we done now?”

Hiram shook his head, making a show of writing on the envelope. “Just a couple more questions. How is it you remember the exact date?”

“Why, ’cause their rent was due on the first of the month. They skipped out on me the night before.” He shook his head. “First time I ever had a tenant skip out on me. I’ll never forget it.”

Mabry shuffled over to the stairs and put his hand on the banister. “I gotta get back downstairs. I’m missing Law & Order. The original. That’s my favorite.”

The old man squinted at him. “You sure look familiar. You never lived here—I’d remember that. But you’ve been around before.”

Hiram shook his head. “Not me. I guess I’ve just got one of those faces.”

“Nope. I know I’ve seen you before. Right around the time the Grosses lived here. Let me see that badge again.”

“I’m telling you you’re wrong.”

“And I’m telling you I never forget a face.”

Hiram felt sweat running down the side of his neck and pooling at the base of his spine. He couldn’t afford to have the old man recognize him. He needed to get out of here.

“Well, you forgot this one. I hate that you had to miss Law & Order.” He put out a hand, his heart pounding like a jackhammer. Old men tripped and fell downstairs all the time, didn’t they? “Here. Let me give you a hand.”

Chapter Three

59 hours missing

The next morning Griff slammed the door of his rental car and lifted his gaze to the brick Victorian house with its white gingerbread molding. In the early-morning sunlight it looked elegant and lovely and proud, just like its owner.

A small wood-burned sign hung over the entrance. Loveless, Inc. We Specialize in Happy Endings.

The ache in his chest grew. He ran his palm across his breastbone and took a deep breath.

What would Sunny have to say about happy endings once he told her about the suspicious death Carver had called him about at three o’clock this morning?

Walking up to the front door, he rang the doorbell.

A man of medium height in a wrinkled sport coat opened the door.

Griff showed him his badge. “Griff Stone, FBI.”

The man pulled his coat back to reveal his Nashville Police Department badge. “The Lieutenant told me you might show up.”

He stepped back and Griff strode past him into the foyer. A staircase faced a bay window on his right; there was a closed door on the left wall, and a tall doorway arched ten feet in front of him.

In the doorway between the foyer and the living room, a Queen Anne table served as a reception desk, and behind the table sat a slender elderly lady in a bright pink jogging suit. She had a phone propped between her shoulder and chin and was typing rapidly on a computer keyboard.

“Yes, Mr. Thomas, that’s right. As long as you continue to pay your child support, you can claim the deductions.” Her mouth pursed with disgust as she listened.

Griff let his gaze roam the reception area. It was clean and bright, with gauzy curtains at the windows and family photographs on the walls.

Several of the photos were of Ms. Loveless with a beautiful, fair-skinned baby with downy blond hair. The kidnapped child. He’d seen a newspaper clipping, but now he quickly studied the infant’s features. His gaze took in Ms. Loveless’s happy smile and the brilliant emerald sparkle in her