Abducting Avery ( completed )

Beckett

It was a while before Strife and the other policeman got done interviewing the little girl, enough time for the girl's mother to arrive and the agents to decide they needed to interview her as well.

"Who is she? Did he take her and decide to give her back?" Heather asked Rourke, hope that maybe he'd do the same for her little girl springing up in her. Rourke shook her head, arms crossed over her chest. She'd just got done talking to the mother and daughter, both of which were now leaving. Her hope diminished once again; she was beginning to get used to that feeling of false hope, but it hurt ten times more each time. She knew every minute they wasted here doing what seemed like nothing that man was out there with her daughter, doing who knows what with her.

"No. But she gave us a lot of good information on this guy. His name is Bruno. Unfortunately, he was wearing a hat and she didn't get a good look at his face. We asked how she knew him and her mother said he volunteers at a day care she goes to." Rourke explained.

"Day care? No... I never took Avery to a daycare. Even when I was in the hospital I was made sure she went to her father..." Heather trailed off, widening her eyes at the realization.

"Avery's father has arrived. We kept him outside so he could speak to the search parties, give them some extra information. He should be coming in now. We think it might be better if we interviewed the two of you together. Are you comfortable with that? We will need to keep calm. Keep in mind that even if he took Avery to a day care without your consent he had no idea any of this would happen because of it." Rourke told her gently, forcing a smile at her as Heather nodded.

"Okay." She spoke softly. The woman led her over to her couch where she sat down slowly. Seconds later, her ex Gregory entered the room, sitting down next to her. They exchanged glances before both turned their attention toward Gonzales and Strife, who began to ask them a few questions.

"Mister-" Strife started.

"Please, just call me Gregory."

Heather sighed and Strife nodded.

"Okay, Gregory. We don't blame you for anything, but we need to know if you ever brought your daughter to the Krazy Kids Daycare, and if you did how often."

Gregory tensed, biting his lip. Heather narrowed her eyes at him, wanting to hurt him for even thinking about lying to these people when their daughter was missing. He seemed to understand.

"I uh... Yes. I took her there about every other week that I had her. It started out with me only bringing her there once when I was too busy... But she loved it there so much, and I didn't have anything at the house for her to play with..."

"We understand, sir. We aren't here to question your ability to be a parent. We're here to find out where your daughter is." Gonzales explained gently. Gregory nodded and Heather noticed that the both of them had already begun crying; it was unlike him, but he didn't even bother to hold back any of the tears threatening his eyes. Despite how angry she was at him, she reached over, grabbing his hand and squeezing it gently. Avery was his daughter to, and while there was a part of her wanting to blame him for her disappearance, she knew he needed some sort of comfort and he squeezed back in appreciation.

"Did you ever see a man by the name of Bruno working there? He might have been wearing a hat to cover his face. We have reason to believe this man is most likely somewhat disfigured in the face and would only be comfortable around the children. Around other volunteers or adults like yourself he'd probably freeze up and would avoid any sort of conversation with anyone." Strife asked, giving Gregory a careful glance.

Gregory thought for a few moments, looking down. "I remember seeing a guy there. He was tall, always wore a black cap that came down over his face. Even with the hat on though I-..I could see there was something very wrong with him.. With his face. I was always afraid he would scare Avery so when I dropped her off I usually gave her to one of the other volunteers.... W-why? Do you think it could be him?" He asked, his face lined with worry.

I squeezed his hand tightly before releasing it. Gonzales nodded, then stood up. So did Strife. "Thank you very much, sir." The man told him with an appreciative nod.

"W-where are you going?" Heather asked, turning slightly to watch them as they got ready to leave the house. "Agent Strife and I are going to talk to some of the workers at the daycare to see if they know anything about the man that took your daughter." Gonzales explained. "Agent Rourke will stay here with the both of you just in case he decides to contact you again." With that, the two agents left and Rourke sat down with Heather and Gregory, both of which were crying, their arms wrapped around each other as they tried desperately to comfort the other.

- - - -

Agent Gonzales walked with Strife into the daycare. A perky, young woman with long, red hair stood before them. The smile on her face disappeared as Gonzales and Strife showcased their badges and requested they talk with the woman privately. She obliged, leading them through the daycare to the back. Each made sure to examine their surroundings and all of the volunteers and children, but neither saw Bruno anywhere.

"My name is Alicia Waters, I run this daycare... What is all this about?"

"I'm agent Gonzales, this is agent Strife. We're investigating the disappearance of Avery Hayden along with a few other girls and we think one of your volunteers may be responsible." She explained, shaking the woman's hand after Strife.

"Avery is missing?" The woman asked, widening her eyes with surprise and gasping. Gonzales watched the woman's face fall and gave Strife a careful look.

"Yes. We're here to find the man responsible. Do you know anyone by the name of Bruno who has volunteered here recently?" Strife asked.

"Yes. Oh, that poor man... He only volunteers a few times every couple months. He lost his daughter about three years ago after his wife was labeled an unfit mother and they took little Teresa away from them. He always wears a hat to cover his face because his wife destroyed it they day he told her he wanted a divorce. I don't really know the whole story, she did burn and hit him with frying pan a few times, though. He got the divorce so he could get his daughter back but it was already too late. Teresa had already been placed in a home with foster parents and they weren't going to give her up. Then a year later his ex-wife committed suicide. He doesn't do much talking around here but he loves the children." Alicia explained with a sad expression. It turned worried as the agents nodded to each other.

"What's his full name?"

"Bruno Beckett. Why?"

"That's our man. Thank you very much for your time Ms. Waters. We ask that if Bruno comes by at all that you let him in. We'll have undercover police standing by if he causes any trouble." Strife replied, turning away with Gonzales.

"Should I send the children home?" She asked worriedly, following them back inside the daycare.

"No, keep them here. He isn't a threat to the children. If he suspects anything suspicious he's likely to run and take the girls with him." Gonzales explained as they walked out of the daycare.

Alicia nodded and retreated back into the daycare with a hint of hesitation.

"Have them run his name through the system. Tell them to find everything there is to know about this man - where he lives, what kind of car he drives, everything. Don't release any of it to the media though. If he finds out we're onto him he'll run." Strife instructed. Gonzales nodded.

They got into the car and Gonzales started to make some calls.