False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [93]
“I can’t think of any. She’d find a phone, unless she was involved in an accident or—”
“Look, Ethan, don’t go there. Zoe and Pierce have until the banks close to get the money ready to wire. Right now, we have to assume that Cowan thinks that’s what they’re in the process of doing.”
“Or maybe he forced Vanessa to tell him what they’re really doing,” Ethan said. “At which point, she becomes dispensable. Sheriff, I’ve been around Vanessa’s mother too long to beat around the bush. Just talk straight with me. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”
“It would be a mistake to try and read my mind, Ethan. I don’t like the smell of this either, but there are a number of possibilities. I’ve been doing this job too long to jump the gun. I’ve apprised Police Chief Norman of the situation and put out an APB on Vanessa and on Cowen. And we’re trying to track her cell phone. The best thing you can do is go home and wait for me to call with updates.”
“All right. I’m just pulling up in front of the Corbins’ house,” Ethan said. “I’ll be home with Carter in fifteen minutes.”
“I’ve got to head out to Roux River Park. We’ve been on the verge of a race riot for days, but with Remy’s funeral Mass tomorrow, it’s about to blow up. We’ve brought in officers from New Iberia, Lafayette, Morgan City, and Franklin. I’ve been asked to do a press conference in twenty minutes. Don’t worry. I won’t let up on finding Vanessa. And as soon as I can spare them, I’m sending two deputies out to the manor house to stay with Zoe and Pierce. If you hear from Vanessa, I want to know immediately.”
Vanessa stopped to rest, her wounded shoulder hot and throbbing. She examined the bleeding scratches on her arms and hands and wondered if she had been able to keep her face from looking as if she’d been whipped.
Rain continued to fall. At least it was cooler and she wasn’t bothered by insects at the moment. How much farther could it be until she came out on the other side?
She started to take a step and froze. What was that noise? She crouched down and listened intently, rain rolling down her back. Had she imagined it? It almost sounded like a dog’s bark—but in the middle of a cane field? Was it a wild animal?
Father, help! You directed all those animals to the ark, surely you can send this one to the opposite end of the cane field.
There it was again—not a dog’s bark. A man’s hearty sneeze! Did it come from behind her or ahead of her—to the right or to the left? Was it Shapiro tracking her? Or could it have been a field worker? Had she come to the road?
She didn’t move. Or breathe. She heard another sound. It was getting louder. Finally she recognized it as the same sound she had been making—shoes sloshing on the wet ground. She crouched lower, hugging her knees, fear boxing her heart like a punching bag. Through the cane stalks, she spotted a glint of blue and a pair of hairy legs—distinctly Shapiro’s—about two rows over. Had he been following her? Or was he merely searching?
The Broussards’ prepaid cell phone rang. Pierce groped for it and put it to his ear.
“Hello.”
“Pierce, it’s Ethan. Have you heard from Vanessa yet?”
“No. Jude called and told us she wasn’t returning your calls. I’m so sorry, man. We should’ve never let you get involved in this.”
“Hey, it was our choice. We wanted to help. There might be a good explanation for why Vanessa isn’t returning my calls. But to be on the safe side, the sheriff put out an APB on her and on Cowen. They’re also going to track her cell phone.”
“This whole thing seems surreal.”
“Sure does,” Ethan said.
“Did you pick Carter up at the Corbins’?”
“I did. Poor little guy was ready to come home. He’s confused why Mommy isn’t here. I really don’t know what to tell him.”
Pierce heard the angst between the lines and shot Zoe a disgusted look he was sure would remind her that this was all her fault.
“Have you heard anything about the racial problem brewing at Roux River Park?” Ethan said.
“What now? Here, let me put this on