“Fourteen.”
A too-familiar rush of dread hit Jenna. She took a breath and forced herself to concentrate. There was nothing worse than hearing a child had gone missing. “What time did she wake you and did you go check her room?”
“Of course I did. She’s been having the same dream for a week but there’s never anyone there. It was late, around midnight, I guess, I’m not sure.”
“Have you checked to make sure she isn’t at a friend’s house?” Jenna exchanged a glance with Kane. “Did she have any reason to want to run away?”
“No, she has no reason to run away. Look, Sheriff, someone’s taken her. We’ve called everyone and searched the ranch and she isn’t here or with any of her friends. I’m certain someone has abducted her. Lindy wouldn’t leave home without her cellphone. It’s never out of her hand. Her bed is a mess and the blankets are in a trail to the door, like someone dragged her out of bed. She’s only wearing her PJs and all her clothes are here. It was freezing last night and we’re miles from her friends.” He took a breath. “You have to listen to me. We can’t wait and see if she turns up, you have to do something now.”
The man was frantic and speaking fast to get his point across. Jenna frowned. “Okay, we’ll start a search immediately. Give me your contact information and a description of Lindy so I can get the ball rolling. What was she wearing?”
“Bright pink PJs with white bunnies on them.”
She made notes. “If you could email me a recent photograph of her, I’ll organize an AMBER Alert and search and rescue immediately. Don’t touch anything in her room. We’ll be right there to see if there’s any evidence of a break-in.” She gave him the sheriff’s department email address and her cellphone number.
“I’ll send her photograph right away.”
She disconnected and turned her attention to Rowley. “I’m leaving you in charge while I go with Kane to the Rosens’ residence. Take down what I need you to do.”
“Fire away, ma’am.” Rowley had his notebook open and pen raised.
Nerves rattled with the urgency required for a missing child, Jenna took a deep breath. If someone had abducted Lindy from her home as her father thought, then every second she delayed in searching was crucial. “Right now this is a missing girl, who’s likely a victim of a crime. Set up an AMBER Alert and a BOLO, then send out a media release. Contact search and rescue – they’ll be able to cover more ground. Register Lindy Rosen on the National Crime Information Center’s Missing Persons File. As soon as this story hits the media, you’ll have a flood of volunteers; call in Webber to assist you in organizing a ground search of a two-mile radius of her home. See if you can get a couple of forest wardens to assist.” She waited for him to stop writing. “Any questions?”
“Nope.” Rowley stood and hurried from the room.
Sorting priorities in her mind, Jenna picked up the phone. “Maggie, call the Blackwater and Louan sheriff’s departments and inform them we need assistance on a missing child case – we’ll need roadblocks set up north and south of the highway. Rowley has all the details.”
A missing child needed all the resources she could muster. She ran a hand through her hair, going down a mental list of things she needed to do. The first twenty-four hours were crucial. She called Wolfe to explain. “If it’s a kidnapping as Mr. Rosen suggests, we’ll need a phone tap or at least a phone to record calls and someone to stay with the parents. I’ll need Webber and I’ll pull in some deputies from Blackwater.”
“I’ll supply everything you need for the phone tap. Send me the coordinates and I’ll meet you at the Rosens’ to do a forensic sweep.” She could hear Wolfe throwing things into a bag. “Make sure the parents don’t touch anything.”
“Already done.” Jenna chewed on her bottom lip. “I’ll call in Walters to handle the phone tap.” Her semi-retired kindly deputy would be a good choice to remain with the family and monitor the calls. He’d also keep a record of everyone moving in and out of the house. “We’re leaving now.” She disconnected and frowned at Kane. “Remind me never to tempt fate again.”
* * *
On the drive to the Rosens’ ranch, Jenna received an update from Rowley. In the short time since they’d left the sheriff’s department, the local media’s broadcast of the missing girl had volunteers flocking into town to help search.
They took the sweeping driveway to the Rosens’ ranch-style house and Jenna scrutinized the surroundings. The house was part of Glacial Heights, a new spacious residential area on the outskirts of town opposite Stanton Forest. The houses, surrounded by landscaped gardens of over ten acres or more, were set far apart. The new development on this side of town was popular with the influx of people moving to Black Rock Falls. Mayor Petersham had cashed in on the flood of tourists following the town’s serial killer notoriety and announced contracts in his last budget for a ski resort, a whitewater rapids retreat, mountain bike adventures and a stack of new residential building projects.
Jenna glanced at Kane. “It’s hard to believe the upmarket side of town has spread this far north in such a short time.” She shook her head. “I wonder if the Rosens have security.”
“I can’t see any signs of a CCTV set-up on the perimeter and the gate is open.” Kane slowed his vehicle and scanned the area. “Not that surveillance would help. The expanse of trees surrounding the house would conceal an intruder moving in and out of the property.”
Jenna peered ahead. “The tire tracks overlap in the driveway as well. They must’ve had quite a few visitors recently. They’ll all make our list of suspects.”
“If the front door was open and the alarm deactivated, I’d say Lindy knew her kidnapper.” Kane pulled the truck to a halt and slid from the vehicle, then opened the back door and unclipped his bloodhound, Duke, from his harness. “Duke might be able to track her.”
Jenna bent to pat Duke on the head. “I’m sure he will.”
She glanced down the long driveway as a white van turned through the gate. “Ah good, Wolfe is here. I figured another set of eyes would help and Rowley told me he’s bringing Atohi Blackhawk with him as well.”
Jenna had known Atohi Blackhawk for some time. The Native American often came down from the res to work for Wolfe as a tracker and his knowledge of the local area was outs
tanding.
“How did he drag him down from the res so fast?” Kane slowed and parked on a gravel area close to the house.
“Sheer luck. Atohi pulled up as Wolfe was heading to his van. He’d heard about Lindy on his car radio and offered to help.” Jenna slid from the passenger seat. She had only just reached the steps when a man rushed out the door. She took in the man’s haggard appearance. “Mr. Rosen?” When the man nodded, she squeezed his arm. “We’re here to help find Lindy. May we speak inside?”