invited Virgil inside and led him into the living room, where the rest of the family had gathered.
“Why don’t you sit there, in the blue chair?” Kate said, all too aware of the numerous times Virgil had occupied that chair, discussing one dead end after another in his department’s investigation into the disappearance of Micah and Riley Jo.
Kate, still shaking, sat between Abby and Jesse on the couch.
Virgil leaned forward in the chair, his hands clasped between his knees. “Let me start by saying how sorry I am that y’all have to go through this. I am committed to finding this child. And I won’t rest till we do.” He looked over at Kate. “Tell me about the phone call.”
“I answered the phone,” Kate said. “It was a woman. She sounded a lot older than me and spoke with a twang. All she said was, ‘Ella Tutt’s been taken.’ Needless to say, I was on the phone with DCFS immediately. No one there could tell me anything, so I called the sheriff’s department. Deputy Duncan told me about the 9-1-1 call.”
Virgil moved his gaze from one family member to another and then back to Kate. “Just for the record, I’ll need to know where each of you were this evening.”
“Grandpa and I were down at the pier,” Abby said. “We heard Mama’s emergency whistle and rushed back to the house.”
Jesse looked up at Kate. “I was in the kitchen making hummingbird nectar.”
“What about you, Hawk?” Virgil turned to the fireplace hearth, where Hawk sat.
“I was up yonder on the ridge.” Hawk fiddled with the bottom button on his shirt.
“Any particular reason?”
Hawk bit his lip. “Yes, sir. I needed to get quiet. I have a favorite spot where I go to think.”
“Anybody see you there?”
Hawk’s eyebrows came together. “No. But that’s the whole point of going up there—to get away from everything.”
“How did you know there was a crisis at home?”
“Mama called me on my cell.”
“Did you tell her where you were?”
“I don’t remember.” Hawk looked at Kate and then at the sheriff. “You’re acting like I’m a suspect.”
“I’m just gathering the facts.”
“It sounds as if you don’t believe him,” Kate said. “He was as shocked as I was to hear the news.”
“It’s my job to be objective. I’m sure y’all are disappointed that you’re not allowed to see Ella until her true identity has been confirmed.”
Kate’s heart raced. “Virgil, none of us had anything to do with her being taken from the foster home. We weren’t even told where she was.”
“I’m not saying you did. But we both know the system can get bogged down with rules and regulations, and I could certainly understand you wanting to cut through the red tape.”
“By kidnapping my own daughter?” Kate said. “Then what—hide her for the rest of her life?”
Virgil held up his palm. “Actually, I can’t imagine any of you are foolish enough to complicate things by breaking the law. Especially when you’re so close to finding out if this child is Riley Jo. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask the questions. Kate, would you authorize us to check your phone records and see who the anonymous call came from?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ve got deputies checking the Tutt property,” Virgil said. “We’ll lean on Isaiah and see if he tells us anything. And we’re gathering a list of everyone who knew where Ella’s foster parents live.”
Kate put her face in her hands. “Find her, Virgil. Please … I can’t lose her again.”
A short time later, a handcuffed Isaiah, clad in his orange jumpsuit and leg irons, was brought into an interview room at the county jail, where Virgil and Kevin were waiting for him.
“You ain’t got no cause to have me woke up and drug in here!” Isaiah bellowed as the deputy seated him at the table. “I told you all there is to tell.”
“Not quite,” Virgil said. “Where’s Ella?”
“Well, she sure ain’t with me.”
Virgil leaned forward, his voice deep and threatening. “You do not want to mess with me on this.”
“Your deputies give her to some foster lady, who drove off with her. I ain’t seen her since.”
“Who took her from foster care?”
A devious grin crossed Isaiah’s face, turning his dark eyes to slits. “It sure wasn’t me.”
“But you know who did it.”
“Don’t be puttin’ words in my mouth,” Isaiah said. “Ain’t my fault you can’t hold on to her.”
“You think this is funny?”
“Yep. Considerin’ you treated me like I’m dumber ’n a bucket o’ rocks, and now you’re accusin’ me of