Her Silent Cry

Fifteen

The FBI’s CARD team immediately sprang into action. Oaks sent several agents to visit all registered sex offenders within the city limits. They took possession of the note for processing. Josie knew if there were prints to be found on the paper, their lab would get the results back much faster than Denton and the State Police. Josie gave Oaks the names of all the parents who had been in the playground when Lucy disappeared, and he sent a team of agents to run background checks on each one of them and to visit each of them at their homes in case they had anything additional to offer.

Oaks was efficient and no-nonsense, delegating and dispensing orders with speed and assurance. Josie liked him instantly. When he had set up the FBI’s mobile command and dispatched his agents, Josie was able to send most of her people as well as the state police officers and sheriff’s deputies home to rest finally. Once things were well in hand, Oaks turned to Josie and said, “Well, shall we go talk to the parents?”

Mettner and Noah stayed behind to offer any support they could to the FBI team at the mobile command station. Josie and Gretchen joined Oaks and a small team of agents, driving the two blocks to the Ross home in a large Chevy Suburban. One of the other agents drove, while Oaks sat in the back seat with Josie and Gretchen. “What do we know about these parents?” He asked.

Gretchen took out her notebook, squinting at it as the vehicle sped along. Josie gave directions to the driver. “He’s in big pharma. Works for Quarmark. Travels a lot. She’s a stay-at-home mom.”

Josie took out her phone and texted Trinity:

Did you get anything on the Ross parents in NYC?

To Gretchen, she said, “You had a chance to interview them more extensively last night, didn’t you?”

Gretchen nodded. “He’s forty-eight, she’s forty-four. He’s from New York City. She’s from a small town in upstate New York. Fulton. She and her two sisters were raised by a single mother. Her mother and one of her sisters died in a car accident when Amy was twenty-two. She never got along with her other sister, so she moved to New York City and never looked back. She was twenty-nine and working as a waitress when she met Colin. They dated for a while, got married, and Colin got the job at Quarmark. They moved out of New York City into a town close to the headquarters for a few years, then moved here. They’ve lived in the same house for the last five years.”

Josie’s phone chirped as a text from Trinity came through.

Nothing juicy. Still working. Will call you later.

“Right here,” Josie told the driver who pulled over.

“Lucy is their first and only child. First marriage for both, first child for both,” Gretchen added.

Josie said, “They have a nanny. She’s out of town. One of our guys did a preliminary interview with her, but we think she should be interviewed more extensively. Lucy’s a first-grader. I think we should also talk to her teacher.”

Oaks nodded. “Will do,” he said. “Looks like they’re still awake.”

It was the middle of the night, but every light in the Ross family’s large two-story colonial-style house was ablaze. The porch light was on and Colin answered quickly. He stared at them, his eyes drifting from Josie and Gretchen to the imposing FBI agents behind them. “Oh my God,” he said. “Is there news? Did you—did something happen?”

Amy ran up behind him, clutching his shoulder to stay upright. “Did you find her?”

Josie said, “I’m very sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Ross. We haven’t located Lucy yet, but there have been some developments. This is Special Agent Ruben Oaks from the FBI and some members of his team. They’re here to help.”

“Please,” Colin said. “Come in.”

The house was warmly decorated in creamy hues with pastel blue accents. Plush carpeting pulled at their feet as they moved from the doorway into the living room. A long cream-colored couch dominated the room. In one corner of the couch, a blanket with Disney princesses on it was bunched up next to two Barbie dolls. On the long, sturdy walnut coffee table sat a juice box, some coloring books and crayons. Next to the couch was a recliner, the same color as the couch. End tables held matching lamps with bases made from light blue ceramic jugs. In one corner of the room, Josie saw a wooden trunk with its lid open, toys and games spilling out of it. On the walls were framed photographs of the Ross family but most of them were of Lucy. In this one room Josie could watch her grow from a small infant to the vibrant seven-year-old Josie had met at the park yesterday. The entire space was like a comforting hug. Josie felt warm and safe here. Surely, Lucy had felt the same. Why had she left? Who had taken her? Would they get her back?

Josie pushed all the questions and the anxiety they provoked aside and focused on the task at hand. Oaks gestured to the agents he’d brought with him. Josie noticed for the first time that they carried cases. Electronic equipment, she guessed. They’d need to tap into both parents’ cell phones in case the kidnapper called. Oaks said, “My team needs a place to set up. I saw what looked like a dining room table in there. Do you mind?”

“Set up?” Amy said, her voice growing higher pitched. “Set up what?”

Josie held up a hand. “We’ll explain, but please, the sooner we get started, the better. This is all in Lucy’s best interest, I promise.”

“Okay,” Colin agreed. “Go ahead.”

“We’ll need your cell phones as well,” Oaks said. “And the passcodes.”

“You’re scaring me,” Amy said.

Gretchen took out her notebook and pen and handed it to Amy. “We know this is scary, but I promise we will explain everything in a minute. Please just write down the passcodes to your phones here.”

Amy scribbled hers on the pad and handed it to Colin. His hand shook as he jotted his own down. They handed over their cell phones to Gretchen who passed them to one of Oaks’s colleagues. “The screen is shattered,” Colin muttered. “But you’re welcome to it.”

With a nod, Oaks let Josie and Gretchen take the lead since they had already established a rapport with Colin and Amy. Gretchen delivered the news about finding the backpack and then Josie showed them photos of the items found inside it—everything except the note. “Do you recognize these things?” Josie asked.

Both parents stared at the photo of the caterpillars, lip gloss, hair tie and small, stuffed ladybug. Finally, Amy pointed. “That’s her lip gloss. Watermelon flavored. I bought it for her last week. And that’s her hair tie. It was actually mine, but she liked the color and asked me if she could have it, so I gave it to her.”

“What about the toys?” Josie asked.

Amy shook her head. “No, no. Those don’t belong to Lucy.”

Colin said, “Are you sure, Ame?”

Her gaze snapped toward him. “Of course I’m sure.”

“Then where did they come from?” Colin asked. “Where did she get them?”

Before Amy could answer, Gretchen interjected. “We believe she might have been given these items by someone. An adult.”

Colin looked perplexed. “An adult? Like who?”

Josie took her phone back and swiped until a picture of the note appeared. “There’s something else,” she told them. “We found a note in the backpack. We’d like you to have a look at it.”

“A note? What kind of note?” Colin asked as Amy reached out for Josie’s phone. Josie hesitated. “This may be difficult for you both,” she warned them.

“We need to know if you recognize the handwriting,” Gretchen said.

Amy’s hands shook as she and Colin studied the words. Colin’s face paled. “What is this?” he said. “I don’t understand. Someone took her?”

“We believe so,” Josie said.

Gretchen asked, “Do you recognize the handwriting?”

Amy shook her head. Colin said, “No. I don’t recognize it. Who would do this? Who would take our little girl?” Amy began to sob. Colin slid an arm around her shoulders, but she sank lower and lower into the couch. “Oh my God, someone has my baby,” she cried. “Someone has my baby.”

Her face, pale only seconds earlier, turned bright red. With each exclamation, her voice pitched higher and higher. When she pushed her husband’s hand away and jumped up, Josie feared they were going to have a repeat of the hysteria of the night before. Not that she could blame her. Josie thought of little Harris—how much she loved him—and she knew that if anyone ever took him it would break her in ways she couldn’t even imagine.

Josie stood and stepped toward Amy, quickly catching her hands. “Mrs. Ross,” she said. “Please. Look at me.” Amy tried to wrestle her hands away, but Josie held tight. “Please. I need you to stay calm. It’s very important. We need to ask questions that only you can answer, do you understand? These are important questions that might help us find Lucy. Can you help me?”

Amy stared into Josie’s eyes. Her teeth clamped together and a quiet keening sound came from her throat. Josie could feel the tension in her body through her clenched hands. “Please,” Josie said. “I know that this is hard. I know that this feels impossible, but I need your help. Just the way you helped me earlier in the tent. Remember?”

Slowly, Amy nodded.

“Good,” Josie said. “You know Lucy best, right?”

“Y-yes,” Amy whispered.

“Okay, let’s sit and you and Mr. Ross can help us right now by answering some questions. Some of them are going to seem strange but it’s important that you answer all of them. Can you do that for me? For Lucy?”

Amy nodded and sank back onto the couch, but she didn’t let go of Josie’s hands. The bones in Josie’s fingers ached. Josie had no choice but to sit down next to her.

Oaks stepped forward and motioned for Colin to take a seat as well. He said, “Mr. and Mrs. Ross, have you noticed anyone unusual hanging around lately? Outside the house, at Lucy’s school, when you’re out?”

Colin said, “I travel a lot so Amy would have a better idea of that.”

“No, I haven’t seen anyone who seemed suspicious or out of place, but our nanny, Jaclyn has Lucy after school most afternoons. You should talk to her.”

“We will,” Oaks said. “How long has Jaclyn worked for you?”

“For three years,” Amy answered. “She’s a college student. Very sweet. She’s graduating soon so we’re going to lose her, I’m sure. Lucy adores her. She’s very responsible.”

Oaks looked at Colin. “Mr. Ross?”

“Oh,” Colin said. “Yeah, Jaclyn’s great. A godsend.”

“Do either of you have any reason to believe that Jaclyn could want to take Lucy for any reason?”

“What?” Amy said. “No. That’s absurd. Jaclyn would never—”

Oaks waved a hand around the room. “This is a lovely home you have here and I assume you are financially comfortable. Jaclyn could have had help from someone else. Perhaps she saw an opportunity to line her pockets?”

“No,” Amy said firmly. “Jaclyn would never do something like that. Never. We pay her well. Two years ago she ran into some trouble with her housing and we were happy to help her out with a security deposit on a new place. She knows she can come to us if she’s in a jam. She’s family to us.”

“Amy’s right,” Colin agreed. “I know you need to explore every avenue, but I don’t think Jaclyn had anything to do with this.”

“Does Jaclyn have a boyfriend?” Oaks asked. “That you know of?”

Amy said, “No, she’s single. She had one her freshman year but not since then.”

“Okay,” Oaks said. “Now, can you think of anyone who would have any reason to take Lucy?”

“No,” Colin said. “No one at all.”

“Is there anyone either of you have been having trouble with lately? Feuding or fighting with?”

Colin shook his head. “No. No one.”

Amy cleared her throat. Josie could feel her squeezing her hands harder. She said, “Your job, Colin.”

He looked at his wife. “What?”

Louder, Amy repeated, “Your job. Those death threats.”

Josie said, “What death threats?”

Colin turned toward Amy and Josie. “Oh, those are nothing.”

Amy’s voice was venomous. “Nothing? Our daughter is missing, Colin. Who would want to take our baby? Who? You got death threats not even two months ago.”

Again, Josie said, “What death threats?”

With a heavy sigh, Colin put his face in his hands.

Amy said, “He is in charge of pricing the drugs that Quarmark puts out in the U.S. market. He decides how much people have to pay for them.”

Colin’s head lifted. “I don’t decide. There’s a team of people and an unimaginable amount of research that goes into these things. It’s not like I slap a price tag on these drugs without due diligence.”

“But you are in charge of that team,” Amy said. “Ultimately, you give the go-ahead. Those threats came to Quarmark addressed to you.”

Oaks said, “This is something we need to look into, Mr. Ross.”

“People were upset about how expensive one of Quarmark’s new drugs was?” Gretchen asked.

Colin nodded.

Gretchen said, “Which drug?”

Colin sighed again, clearly uncomfortable.

“Just tell them,” Amy demanded.

“You have to understand what goes into these things,” Colin began.

Amy made a noise deep in her throat. “Don’t even try to justify it, Colin. It was never justifiable, and you know it.”

“My company is a for-profit company. If I don’t help them make a profit, I don’t get to keep my job.”

Amy thrust her chin forward. She squeezed Josie’s fingers again, as if drawing strength. “It was a cancer drug. Revolutionary. It stops most cancers from metastasizing. Stops the spread. It could save millions, or at least extend their lives.”

“How much is Quarmark charging for it?” Oaks asked.

There was a long silence. Finally, Amy said, “Colin’s team priced it at fifteen thousand dollars a month. Insurance companies cover a lot of it, but people are still paying thousands of dollars a month in copays for it. Thousands. What cancer patient do you know who has thousands of dollars laying around to pay for one drug?”

“Ame,” Colin cautioned.

Trying to keep them on track, Josie interjected, “You got death threats after the drug went onto the market?”

“Not right away,” Colin said. “But after several months, we started to get them.”

“You started to get them,” Amy clarified.

“I got most of them. It’s public record that I’m the head of pricing.”

“How did these threats arrive?” Gretchen asked.

“Some by mail, some by email,” Colin said. “All to my office which is almost two hours from here. I mean I travel most of the time, and even when I’m home I don’t need to be in the office all the time. But these people didn’t target me at home—only at work.”

Josie said, “It’s not that hard to find out where someone lives, Mr. Ross.”

“Do you have copies of these threats?” Oaks asked.

“In my desk at work. I have copies of everything. I turned over the originals and any emails to our legal department, but I kept copies.”

“Why did you keep copies?” Gretchen asked.

He shrugged. “Just in case… something happened, I guess.”

Oaks said, “We’re going to need those. I’ll send an agent with you when we’re done here to retrieve them. We’ll wait till first light. We’ll track down every person who threatened you or your team and pay them a visit.”

Amy’s grip on Josie’s fingers finally loosened. “Thank you,” she mumbled.

Colin said, “Fine, but I think this is a long shot. Why would someone angry over the price of a cancer drug take my child?”

“What’s more precious than your own life?” Josie said. “For a parent? What matters more than your own life?”

Colin didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. They all knew the answer. You didn’t have to be a parent to recognize that the bond between a parent and their child could be one of the most powerful things in the world.

“There’s something else I’d like you both to do for us. It’s pretty standard. Of course you can refuse, but we hope you won’t.”

Colin said, “What is it?”

“I’d like you both to take polygraph tests.”

“What?” Amy gasped. Josie nearly cried out when the pressure on her fingers became unbearable. “Why? You think we did this?”

“No,” Oaks said. “But it doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what the evidence in the case shows. In almost every abduction case, we have to look at the parents first. Eliminate them so that we can direct our resources to other, more fruitful avenues of investigation.”

“We were both there,” Amy said. She looked at Josie. “You were there. You saw us.”

“I did,” Josie answered. “But Amy, this really is standard procedure. You both take them, you both pass, and your involvement in Lucy’s kidnapping can be ruled out.”

“How could we have kidnapped her?” Amy went on. “Why? Why would either of us stage our own child’s kidnapping?”

Oaks said, “Exactly. So it shouldn’t be an issue to do the polygraphs.”

Colin said, “Ame, it’s fine. Let’s just do it, okay? We need to keep the focus on finding Lucy.”

Amy didn’t say anything, but she didn’t protest further.

Oaks said, “I’ll have the polygrapher here as soon as possible. Now, based on the content of the note found in Lucy’s backpack, we believe this kidnapper is going to try to contact you. Do you have a landline?”

“No,” Colin said. “Just our cell phones.”

“Not a surprise these days.” Oaks said. “What my team is doing in there right now is setting up their computers so that we can intercept and trace any incoming calls to either of your cell phones. Now, we have to do this through the legal department of your cell phone carrier. You’ll have to sign some consent forms.”

“Done,” Colin said.

“Great. We’d like you to answer your cell phones as normal. Keep them charged up. We’ll get it set up so that we can hear whatever you’re hearing. Keep in mind, this isn’t like television or like the old days—we don’t need you to keep the kidnapper on the phone for any amount of time. With Wi-Fi and IP addresses and the software we’ve got, everything can be traced and tracked quickly. We get a call, we pinpoint a location, we send a team out. That’s how we’re going to do this.”

Colin and Amy nodded. Finally, Amy relinquished her grip on Josie’s hands.

“Now,” Oaks said. “If you’ll come into the other room where my team has set up, we’ll get started.”