Murder Inside the Beltway - Margaret Truman [73]
Kloss joined the Rollinses in the car. “Look,” he said, “I’ll have every available cop in the city scouring the Mall for your daughter. If she’s anywhere near, we’ll find her. Did either of you notice anyone suspicious when you were walking around, especially after you came out to get your car?”
“No,” Rollins said. “Well…”
“Yes, sir?”
“There was a man who was looking at me funny. I can’t be sure. It might have been my imagination.”
“Description?”
“He had a sweatshirt on, a red one. No, more maroon. And a baseball cap.”
“Team logo?”
“Not that I noticed.”
“What about a car?”
“Car?” Jerry and Sue said in unison.
“In the event whoever took her used a car.”
“Oh, my God,” Sue said.
“I didn’t see any car,” Jerry said. “Did you, Sue?”
“No.” She began to sob into her hands. Her husband put his arm around her and uttered words meant to comfort.
“We’ll get out an Amber Alert. Tough without a vehicle to ID, but someone might see her and respond. I want you two to drive back to your house. We need a picture of your daughter as soon as possible. Do you have one?”
“Of course.”
“Multiple pictures, if possible. Are you okay to drive?”
“Yes,” Jerry said.
“I want detectives with you.”
“Is that really necessary?” Rollins asked.
“I prefer it, sir.”
“Okay. Ready, Sue?”
“What will happen to her?” she asked.
“We’ll do everything we can to get her home safe,” Kloss said.
He looked through the open door to where Jackson and Hall stood, got out of the car, and approached them. “Matt, I’d like you to go with Mr. and Mrs. Rollins in their car. They’re driving home.”
“Right,” Matt said. “By the way, this is my partner, Detective Hall. Mary Hall.”
“Okay, Mary,” Kloss said. “Since you two work together, how about you go with Matt? Wouldn’t hurt to have a woman with the mother.” He noted her concerned expression.
“Problem?”
“No, sir. It’s just that we’re assigned to Walt Hatcher’s unit and—”
“Don’t worry about Hatcher,” Kloss said. “I’ll square it with him. Right now, I need help and I need it fast. When you get to their house, keep them calm, drapes closed. I’ll get a tech unit there to monitor the phones. See what you can get from any callers, people who might have it in for the family. You know who we’re dealing with?”
“It’s Jerry Rollins,” Jackson said.
“One in the same.”
“High profile,” Mary said.
“With plenty of people who might have it in for him. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
• • •
The ride to the Rollins home in Foggy Bottom took only minutes. Jackson had offered to drive, but Rollins wouldn’t hear of it. Silence reigned throughout the short trip and until they’d entered the house. Mary immediately went to the front windows and drew down olive-green duvet shades. Sue asked why she’d done that. “Orders,” Mary said. “It’s better.” She gave the street a quick scan before drawing the final shade.
Sue Rollins gathered up a selection of photographs of Samantha and handed them to an officer, who quickly left the house to put them into circulation. Jerry Rollins headed for his first-floor study: “I need to make some calls,” he announced.
“I wouldn’t, sir,” Jackson said, “not until Detective Kloss gets here. He’ll manage the case. They’re sending a tech unit to put taps on your phones.”
“Your mother,” Rollins said to his wife. “She’ll hear it on the radio or TV and—”
“No, Jerry. Please.”
“Did you see any press before we left?” Rollins asked Sue.
She nodded. “A WTOP car was pulling up.”
“Damn!” Rollins said.
“Sir,” Jackson said, “any chance of getting a cup of coffee?”
The Rollinses looked quizzically at him. So did Mary.
Jackson smiled. “I think we should all sit down, have a cup of coffee, and wait calmly. Maybe we can use the time for you to fill me in on anyone who might have had a grudge against you or your daughter, someone with a motive to have taken her.”
“Motive?” Rollins blurted. “What sick bastard could have a motive for taking a beautiful, precious, innocent