The Night Monster_ A Novel of Suspense - James Swain [58]
“You must be Suzie Knockman,” I said. “My name is Jack. I’m working with the police.”
Suzie eyed me suspiciously. She wore the uniform of girls her age: pink shorts, a colorful T-shirt, tanned arms and legs. She carried a backpack loaded with stuff and a pillow popping out of the top. I guessed she’d planned to stay away from home for a while.
“Is my stepfather going to jail?” she asked.
I glanced over my shoulder. Richard Knockman was being put into the back of a cruiser, the uniform holding his head down. I turned back to her.
“Yes. He’s going to jail.”
“They won’t let him out on bail, will they?”
I shook my head. If I’d left any legacy as a detective, it was that every judge in the county had gotten an education about child molesters, and never let them post bail.
“He’s going away for a long time,” I said.
“Good. What’s your name again?” Suzie asked.
“It’s Jack.”
A cell phone appeared in Suzie’s hand. She said her mother’s name and the phone dialed itself. She lifted the phone to her face.
“Hey, Mom. It’s me. Some surfer dude named Jack wants to escort me back to the house. He says he’s working with the police. He’s got this neat-looking dog.”
I hid a smile. I’d been called a lot of names recently—most of them unpleasant—and Suzie’s description of me and Buster told me there was still hope. Suzie said good-bye to her mother and flipped the phone shut.
“Mom says you’re okay. Let’s go.”
We started toward her house. Her movements were slow, and I sensed that she was afraid to go back to that house. I wanted to tell her that her life was about to get a lot better, but I knew that these words would have to come from her mother, or someone else she trusted. Several times she glanced yearningly at Buster.
“Do you like dogs?” I asked.
“Yeah, but my stepfather Richard wouldn’t let me get one. I think he was afraid I’d keep it in my room.”
We stopped at the corner, and Suzie leaned down to pet Buster. That was when I saw the tears pouring down her face. It made my heart ache to think that Richard Knockman had been controlling her life like this, and I handed her the leash.
“Why don’t you walk him?” I said.
“Cool,” she said, managing a half smile.
CHAPTER 28
ebecca Knockman was standing on the sidewalk in front of her house with Burrell. Suzie ran to her mother, and they embraced. Looking for missing kids didn’t always have happy endings, and I probably should have been celebrating, only I was in no mood for that. Sara Long was still being held captive by a couple of sociopaths, and I needed to rescue her. Burrell came down the sidewalk toward me.
“I need to take Suzie and her mother to headquarters and get statements from them,” Burrell said. “Follow me, and I’ll get the unit started on your request.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
I pulled my keys out of my pocket. My heart was pounding the way it did when I was working a case, my radar on full alert. I was ready to slay the dragon. Burrell placed her hand on my arm.
“Hold on a second,” she said.
I gazed into her eyes. Their expression was one of concern.
“I don’t want us to be at odds, Jack,” she said.
“Nothing wrong with an argument between friends,” I said.
“It was more than that.”
I looked deeply into Burrell’s slate-blue eyes. I had hurt her. She was one of the best friends I had, and there was no excuse for that.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
Burrell crossed her arms in front of her chest and waited me out. I didn’t know what else to do, so I gave her a hug. She didn’t seem to mind that I was covered in sweat, and hugged me right back.
“That’s more like it,” she said.
I followed Burrell to police headquarters on Andrews Avenue. She got me a visitor’s pass at the front desk and took me upstairs to the War Room, which was used as a strategy center during emergencies like wildfires and hurricanes.
“I need to get the Knockmans squared away,” Burrell said. “Stay here, and I’ll send over the other detectives from Missing Persons so you