Free Evil Without a Face by Jordan Dane Page B

you recognize the description? Would Nikki know someone who owned a Subaru like that?”
    Payton shrugged and looked at his sister, who was shaking her head.
    “Susannah says no, Fitz,” Joe replied. “Did you run the tag?”
    “Yeah, we did. I got Anchorage looking into it now.”
    Joe narrowed his eyes, an uncharacteristic look of concern on his normally stoic face. With the Alaska State Troopers main headquarters located in Anchorage, Payton suspected Anchorage troopers would get involved sooner or later, but this soon? By Joe’s expression, it looked as if he had the same question.
    In most states, troopers focused on traffic and highway patrol duties, but due to the limited accessibility and government presence within the state, the Alaska State Troopers enforced all criminal laws too. They served as primary law enforcement for most Alaska residents. For the Anchorage headquarters to get involved so soon after Nikki’s disappearance, Payton drew one conclusion. The troopers had begun to realize that Nikki wasn’t just another runaway.
    “Not that I’m complaining, but why is Anchorage involved so soon?” Joe asked.
    “It appears we got enough of a partial to ID the vehicle, so we’re running a background check on the owner of record. It’s registered to a local schoolteacher in Anchorage. They’re bringing her in for questioning. I’m heading there now, but before I leave town, do you know any reason why Nikki would get into the car of a woman teacher from Anchorage?”
    Payton turned to his sister. By the look on her face, he knew she was thinking the same thing. The implication of Nikki being taken to Anchorage by a stranger chilled them both.
    “I want in on this, Fitz. Stay put. I’m heading your way.” Joe didn’t hesitate. Nor did he ask Payton and Susannah for consent to get involved. After all, family didn’t need permission.
    Joe ended the call, not waiting to hear the man’s objections. “We need you by the phone, Susannah, in case Nikki calls. Can you handle it alone?”
    His sister nodded, her eyes filled with cautious hope. “Do you think she’s there, Joe…in Anchorage? With this teacher?”
    “We won’t know until we question the woman, but anything is possible. We’ll call you when we know something.” After Joe gave Susannah’s arm a reassuring squeeze, he fixed his dark eyes on Payton. “You’re driving, hotshot.”
    Payton leaned over to give his sister a kiss on the cheek, but before he pulled away, Susannah grabbed his arm.
    “Please…find her, Payton. She’s all I’ve got.” Fresh tears filled her tired eyes.
    Payton wrapped her in his arms and held her. “You’ve got Joe and me on your side too, sis. We’ll find her.”
    He only hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.
    Downtown Chicago
    The late afternoon sun poked through the clouds, resurrecting her mood from the depths of where it had been, but not by much. Still, it felt good to get out from under the dismal clean-up of her apartment. Sam had helped until her shift at Cop Town. Together, they had made progress, but after Sam left, the task became torturous. Once Jess got her front door replaced and secured, she had to get out. And only one thing dominated her mind.
    Baker’s damned laptop. And Seth Harper had it.
    With feet planted on the sidewalk of Lake Shore Drive, she reread the street address scribbled in her own handwriting, completely stumped. When she looked up to confirm the number, the exclusive condominium project and the spectacular view overlooking the glistening waters of the Chicago harbor baffled her. Scrawled on a piece of torn paper, the address had been taken from her employment record of one Seth Harper, her first and only new hire. And from the outside of the building looking up, she counted the floors to make sure her suspicions were correct.
    “Well, I’ll be damned.” She didn’t believe her eyes.
    At the light, she walked across the street, making an effort not to limp.