yet. We’ve circulated his description and a drawing of him to the public and the media and asked for their help.”
“No hits on him at the Center for Missing and Exploited Children either,” said Laredo.
“It’s like he doesn’t even exist,” said Pine. She looked down at the body. “But he did. He had a life to live. And somebody robbed him of that. And they’re going to pay.”
* * *
On the drive back to Andersonville, Laredo glanced over at Pine, who was driving.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m just fine, Eddie. Didn’t feel a thing back there. How about you? Let’s go get some lunch, maybe a beer. Have some fun.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
She didn’t answer.
“I want to blow the guy’s head off too, Atlee. So what? We can’t. Our job is to catch the son of a bitch, not execute him.”
“I’m not a rookie, so I don’t need the lesson in police ethics, thanks very much. I’m just venting. Is that a crime?”
“No. It’s actually healthy. So go for it.”
“We can’t allow another person to die, Eddie. Not another kid.”
“You think he picked this kid because it was easy? Maybe no family, nobody to look out for him?”
“Why do it the hard way when you don’t have to? But how sick do you have to be to do that to a kid?”
“We usually only deal with sick people, Atlee. By default.” He tapped his fingers on the seat’s armrest. “You thinking about the little girl you saved on the Amber Alert?”
When she didn’t answer, he continued, “You can’t make it personal. You know that as well as I do. In fact, if you remember, you lectured me on that back in DC.”
“The McAllister case,” said Pine automatically.
“Guy raped and imprisoned little girls and had babies with them over fifteen years. And when they hit eighteen he killed them. Doesn’t get any sicker than that. I wanted to put a bullet in his head when we finally got him. And you talked me out of it.”
“I know, Eddie,” said Pine slowly. “I know everything you’re telling me is spot-on. And I accept that. And I’ll do nothing to screw it up when we get to this guy.”
“I never had any doubts about that,” said Laredo firmly.
She glanced at him in surprise. “Really, even after the Amber Alert guy?”
“Hey, everybody gets to vent at least once.”
Pine’s expression softened. “I like Eddie 2.0 a lot better than the previous version.”
“Yeah, even my ex told me that. Denise said it was lousy timing on my part.”
“Well, in life, it’s really all about timing.”
Laredo’s phone rang. He answered it and listened. When he clicked off and didn’t say anything Pine looked at him worriedly.
“Please don’t tell me…”
“No. That was Wallis. It’s good news. They got a lead on the boy. With an address.”
“Where?” she asked.
“You get to go back to Columbus, Georgia.”
Pine hit a U-turn and punched the gas pedal flat to the floor.
Chapter 53
FRANCISCO GOMEZ.
He went by Frankie, Wallis, Pine, and Laredo were told, probably so he could fit in better in his new life.
They were sitting in the front room of a small house far away from the luxurious condo that Hanna Rebane and Beth Clemmons had recently lived in and where Clemmons had died. It was in a neighborhood that had seen better days, and nights. It was working-class, it was hurting, it was a slice of left-behind America.
The woman sitting in a chair across from them was in her forties, with mousy brown hair and wearing a cotton print dress and flat-soled black shoes. Her name was Genie Duncan, and there were plump tears in her eyes.
“Frankie was a good boy,” she said, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
From upstairs Pine could hear kids shouting and laughing, and the tumble and grind of youthful feet threatened the floor joists.
“When did you take him in?” asked Wallis, his official notebook open and ready to go.
“About six months ago. He came from Texas, I believe. Actually, they weren’t very clear on that. We take in kids. We have three with us now.” She stifled a sob. “Not counting Frankie.”
“We?” said Pine. “So, you and your husband?”
“Yes. Roger is at work now. He has a job at a local car dealership.”
“Salesman?” asked Laredo.
“No. He’s a mechanic. Salesmen are paid on commission. We needed something more steady. He’s good at his job and makes okay money. But what they charge per hour for his services, he should make a lot more,” she