Blind Faith - Sharon Sala Page 0,10
out of her hat today. They needed a break of some kind to point him in the right direction.
* * *
Wyrick made the calls to set up the interviews just after 7:00 a.m. She apologized for the early time, then explained what she needed.
Trish’s mother, Beth, was immediately on board.
“Yes, ma’am. Trish will be more than willing to help you in any way she can. She’s in the shower right now. What time do you plan to come here?”
“I’m beginning with her, so eight o’clock.”
Beth glanced at the clock. That was forty-five minutes away.
“She’s staying home from school, so we’ll be waiting,” she said.
“Thank you,” Wyrick said. “I’ll see you soon.”
The next call she made was to Nita Wells, Randall’s mother. She was immediately on the defensive, and complaining about the timing of the call.
“You should have called sooner. My son is getting ready to leave for school, and he’s already talked to the police,” Nita said.
“So, he’s going to be late for school today, and it doesn’t matter what Randall told the police. Charlie Dodge is not the police. He was hired specifically by Tony Dawson’s parents. Are you unwilling to help them find him?”
“No, no, of course not,” Nita Wells said.
“I have your address. I’ll be there a little after 9:00 a.m.,” Wyrick said, then hung up and made her last call to Justin’s mother, Andrea Young. She answered in a sleepy voice.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Young, my name is Wyrick. I work for the private investigator the Dawson family hired to look for Tony.”
“Oh, uh, yes, what can I do for you?” Andrea said.
“Charlie Dodge is already on-site searching, and I need to talk to Justin this morning.”
“I don’t know what else we can tell you, and he’s getting ready for school.”
“I’m sorry, but he’s going to have to be late for school, and you can’t tell me anything, Mrs. Young. I need to talk to Justin because he was there.”
“He told the police every—”
“Charlie Dodge is not the police. Are you refusing to help?” Wyrick asked.
“No, of course not. When do you want me to—?”
“I have your address. I’ll be there before ten.”
“But Justin has a test and—”
“With all due respect, Tony Dawson is our priority. No one knows where he is. If he needs medical attention. If he has no shelter from the elements. Just make sure your son is there when I arrive.”
“Fine. But we’ll be right there with you when you talk to him,” she said.
“I fully expect you to be,” Wyrick said, leaving her to think about that for a while.
She guessed teenage boys with things to hide would be hard to break, so this morning she dressed to intimidate.
They’d smirk about her bald head and flat chest and she knew it, so she chose a low-cut black leather vest that revealed more than enough of the red-and-black dragon tattoo, a black bolero jacket, red leather pants and knee-high black boots. Then she slashed black shadow across her lids, bringing the shape to wicked winged points at the corners of her temples. If they weren’t scared before, they were going to be when she got through with them.
She gathered up an extra phone to video the interviews and her iPad with the notes she already had on it, then left her apartment.
Her landlord, Merlin, was outside in the driveway picking up the morning paper as she circled the mansion and headed for the main gate. Wyrick smiled. Merlin was old-school. He refused to read newspapers online. She waved at him as she passed.
When he smiled and waved back, she thought he looked pale, and when she glanced up in the rearview mirror, he appeared to be walking stooped over.
It made her wonder how old Merlin was. In her mind, he was timeless and ageless—like the Merlin of fantasy. She made a mental note to check in on him tonight, and headed for the Caldwell residence.
Since all four of the kids went to the same school, they lived within easy driving distance of each other, and talking to Trish Caldwell was first on today’s agenda.
The Caldwell residence was a nice but unassuming home. Wyrick already knew Beth Caldwell was a widow, and she was also a teacher in an elementary school in the same district where her daughter went to high school, which meant they were off for the same holidays and school breaks. A handy setup for a single parent.
Wyrick pulled up in the drive and parked. She grabbed her bag and slung it over