False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [84]
“Give me the bottom line.”
“Using their SoleSearcher database,” she said, “the FBI was able to identify three distinct shoe impressions on the ground directly under the place where Remy was found hanging. The size twelve Converse high-top was Remy’s. They also found a men’s size eleven North Face summer sneaker, and a men’s size ten and a half Columbia Newton Ridge hiking boot. Can’t get any more specific than that.”
“Good,” Jude said. “All we need now are suspects.”
“Also, the fourth shoe impression we cast on the Vincent farm and also on the grounds at Langley Manor fit a Sears and Roebuck loafer sold in 2001 and 2002. They noted the soles were extremely worn.”
“That’s interesting,” Jude said. “Seems an odd shoe to wear when traipsing around the two properties.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Not exactly a hiking boot.”
“No, but it’s not something we’re going to find in everyone’s closet either. Okay, Aimee, thanks.”
“Are you finding everything where Zoe said it was?”
“Yeah, it’s all here. We should be done shortly. I was about to check with the team at Roux River Park and see if they found anything near the first turn on Landry Trail where Shapiro threatened her. I really can’t afford to pull our people off the other details to get this done. But I don’t want to be investigating another murder either. Let’s find this guy.”
Vanessa drove west on Grace Creek Boulevard and out of the city limits of Les Barbes, Shapiro now holding a gun on her.
“Where are we going?” she asked for the third time, hating that her voice was shaking as much as the rest of her.
Was his silence a ploy to intimidate her? How much longer could she pretend not to know where the Broussards were before Shapiro starting hurting her? Did he really believe she knew—or was he just fishing? How far was he willing to go to find out?
At least her gut feeling that he didn’t know where Carter was seemed to be correct. Why else would he have stopped threatening to hurt her son if she didn’t talk? But did that make the situation any less dire? If she gave in and told Shapiro where Zoe and Pierce were, wouldn’t he dispose of her—and then go after them? And if she didn’t tell, wouldn’t he try to force it out of her? Her only way out of this alive was to catch him off guard and make a run for it the first chance she got.
Lord, show me what to do. I need wisdom. And angels!
“Turn right on Plantation Highway,” he ordered.
“Why won’t you tell me where we’re going?” she asked, not expecting a response.
Vanessa turned on her blinker and exited at Plantation Highway. She stopped at the stop sign and made a right turn as she was told. Why did he make her take this exit? Langley Manor was only another mile on this road. Did he know Zoe and Pierce were there? Had he been playing her all along?
She stole a glance at Shapiro in the rearview mirror. His eyes laughed at her mockingly. She shuddered, her heart hammering so wildly that she felt light-headed and wondered if she had any business driving.
“Slow down and get ready to turn,” he said.
“Where? There’s no cross street for several miles.”
“Shut up and just do it.”
At least he wasn’t going to Langley Manor. Vanessa slowed the car. “Do you want me to pull over?”
“No. There’s an unmarked road up ahead.”
The Vincent place? Did he know?
“There—on the right. Turn.”
Vanessa turned onto the road, feeling the same panic she did after Drew was shot and she thought the killer was coming back for her. The last thing she wanted was to be alone in that farmhouse with Shapiro.
If she were going to survive this, didn’t she have to be smart? Didn’t she have to win his confidence? Didn’t she have to make her move at just the right moment?
Lord, make me gentle as a lamb and shrewd as a serpent. I belong to You. You live in me. Don’t let him desecrate this temple.
“There’s a wooden bridge up ahead. Turn left at the mailbox just beyond it. You’ll see the name Vincent on it.”
Vanessa did as she was instructed, more panicked by the minute. Why was he bringing her out