Hiding Within The Betrayal

Chapter Thirty Two: Not a microwave meal

We drove over to the address of the parents who Patrick had suspected to have taken the child. Parents who weren't actually parents at all, they had the man's niece with them when they went to the park and they both left separately with a young girl. Jaylan had similar attributes to the niece and must have been smuggled out of the park based on the fact that their similar attributes helped to disguise who she was. We found out that they went to school with one another, a different school to the friend which explains why she wasn't mentioned.

I was used to going in alone, that wasn't the case here.

"You cover the front door," I told Patrick, "Andrew come with me and we will wait at the back gate."

"Where are the police?" Brileigh whimpered like an afraid child.

Patrick turned over his shoulder to answer, "They have been called, we have permission to inspect the house." He turned back to me, "though that isn't what you have in mind is it?"

I found it impressive that he knew what I was thinking before I had so much as opened my mouth. Shaking my head, "They will assume that as a small investigating team, that only two people have come so I assume that while one of them distracts you at the door, the other will try to make a quick escape via the back door, in which case they will run straight into me."

That is exactly what happened.

Less than five minutes after Patrick had knocked on their front door for the father to anwer, the side door creaked open. An unknowing mother and the stolen child walked straight into Andrew and I. Grinning to the lady, "Hello there, I'm Detective Degarmo. Have you heard of me before? I'm the one who's going to send you to jail."

She turned back to the house to flee, abandoning the child with us but it was no use, the police had just pulled up onto the street and were ready to take them both away in handcuffs. My team and I stood with Jaylan at the front of the property. Overhearing the cries of the wannabe mother who wept about how they couldn't conceive a child of their own. That they had done it out of love, the father was more reserved but seemingly had the same intentions.

I was taken aside by the officers to discuss what had happened and briefed them about the situation on Patrick's behalf since they understandably assumed that I was lead on the case.

That talk must have lasted ten minutes. By then, I was joined by Patrick, "Coffee?"

I turned to him holding out a cup for me. Not far down the round was a small cafe so I can only assume he had gone off while I was involved with the officers. I grimaced at the thought of another shitty coffee. But to be polite, I took it, "Thanks."

We both turned to see Andrew and Brileigh, who were watching over the child. As I had expected, she still seemed overwhelmed by the entire situation. Just as well we found Jaylan alive and unharmed. I can't even begin to imagine how the intern would have taken to finding a dead body on her first field trip out of the office.

"She hasn't been out on any search missions has she Degarmo?"

I folded my arms, taking a sip from the devil's cup before I answered him, "What gives you that impression?

Entirely serious, "Why has it taken so long for you to bring her?"

Outraged, "Are you telling me how to do my job Detective Callaghan?"

"No. No of course not." He stammered, "I'm just curious as to why."

There were truthfully two reasons as to why. Finally turning to him, "When I know where a child has been taken, I often come alone. I might have the police meet me but it is rare that I bring anyone from the company with me."