Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

The trees lining the street swayed gently in the breeze, and birds chirped merrily from their perches overhead. He parked his cruiser in front of the living facility, his gaze scanning the surface. Yvonne had told her Aunt Agnes he was coming—he just hoped like hell she could give him some answers.

Inside the facility, the receptionist directed him to the correct room, and Cam made his way down the winding hallways to room 46. He knocked, and after a few moments, the door creaked open. A petite, elderly woman with kind eyes and a welcoming smile stood in the doorway.

"Lieutenant McCoy, right?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.

"Yes, ma'am," Cam replied, offering a reassuring smile. "Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Mrs. Duncan."

"Please, call me Agnes," she said, stepping aside to let him in. "Come in, come in. Would you like some tea?"

"Tea would be great, thank you," Cam said, stepping into the cozy living room. Agnes shuffled into the kitchen to prepare the tea, and Cam took the opportunity to glance around. A large floral couch took up most of the living space, and old photographs dotted various surfaces.

Agnes returned with a tray holding a teapot and two delicate china cups. She set it down on the coffee table and poured them each a cup before settling into her armchair. "So, Lieutenant," she began, "what can I help you with?"

Cam took a sip of the tea, savoring the warmth before responding. "I'm looking into the disappearance of Misty Collins, and I understand you lived across from them at the time."

"Sure did." She nodded and took a sip of her tea, a slight palsy to her movement. "They were a beautiful family, so happy together… Until they weren't."

"Did Dennis and Misty ever argue?"

"Oh, no." She laughed. "Those two were a perfect match. Dennis made a good choice for his second wife. The first one, not so much."

Cam tipped his head. "What happened to his first wife?"

She waved a hand in the air. "She took off when David was just a little thing. She was young, felt like she missed out on her childhood so she ran off to some big city."

The corners of her lips turned down. "I think that's what hurt Dennis the most when Misty took off. He never expected it."

"Can you tell me what you remember about that day?"

"I saw her leave that afternoon. I was sitting in the living room watching my shows. The window looked right out over the street." She took another sip of tea. "It never made sense until I heard she was missing, but…" She trailed off with a little shake of her head. "I was never sure."

Cam tipped his head. "What's that?"

"Well…" She hesitated for a long moment. "I don't think Misty was alone when she left."

"There was another person in the car?"

Agnes nodded, looking pained. "At first I thought it was Dennis, but the build wasn't quite right. I didn't get a look at his face, mind you, but I'm positive it was a man."

"Did you tell the police?"

"Later." She nodded. "After things settled down a bit. But it made sense that she was running away, if she was having an affair and all."

"Did you ever see a man at the house?"

"Never." She shook her head. "It caught me so off guard, I didn't want to believe it at first. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but I know what I saw."

"You have no idea who it might have been?"

"Sorry." She shook her head again. "I didn't have my glasses on at the time. I remember thinking it was strange at the time, but a few hours later I heard about her leaving, and… Well, you know the rest."

"Dennis was supposedly at work that day. Did he happen to come home for lunch that day?"

"No." She shook her head. "He always stayed at the factory during lunch. Sometimes David would come home."

"David?" Cam's brow lifted at the mention of Misty's stepson. "He came home for lunch?"

"Only once in a while, but school wasn't as strict back in those days. And it's a short walk to their house."

"What can you tell me about David?"

Agnes nodded slowly, her expression lightening a bit. "He adored her, you know. Wherever Misty was, you'd find David close by." She chuckled. "He was like a puppy, that one."

"So he and Misty got along okay?"

"Like two peas in a pod. David didn't have a maternal figure growing up, and Misty really took him under her wing. He was completely enamored of her."

Her eyes grew distant as she recalled the past. "It was a difficult time. Misty was such a kind woman. She didn't deserve what happened."

"Do you remember if David was around on the day Misty disappeared?" Cam pressed, leaning forward slightly.

Agnes frowned, her brows knitting together in concentration. "Not that I remember. I'm sure the police asked him the same thing at the time."

"I'm sure they did," Cam said placatingly. "I was just hoping if he was around, he might have seen or heard something."

"I don't remember seeing him," Agnes replied, "but I suppose anything is possible. He might have come through the backyard. He did that sometimes."

"You said you were watching your shows when Misty left—do you remember what time that was?" The report didn't state an exact time, and Cam was curious if it coincided with the school's lunch hour.

She tipped her head in thought. "Maybe one o'clock?"

"Is that what time David would come home for lunch?"

"Oh, heavens no." She let out a little laugh. "They started the day so early, they would eat around ten or eleven, if I remember correctly."

Damn. Even if David had come home for lunch, Misty had left almost a full two hours later. Still, maybe he'd noticed something about her behavior that day that could help. "Thank you, Mrs. Duncan. I really appreciate you taking the time to speak with me."

He thanked Agnes for her help and promised to keep her informed of any developments. As he left the facility, Cam couldn't shake the feeling that he was onto something. He drove back to the station, replaying Agnes's words in his mind.

Once he'd settled at his desk, Cam reached for his phone and dialed Collins's number again. One ring rolled into two, then finally sent him to the same automated voice messaging system. He hung up and tapped the phone against his lips. Had David seen something that day?

His fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard as he typed "David Collins" into the employee database. The search yielded a list of possible matches, and Cam honed in on David's most recent place of employment: a construction company named Ridgeway Builders. He picked up the phone and dialed the number listed on the screen.

"Ridgeway Builders, this is Amanda. How can I help you?" a cheerful voice answered.

"Good morning, Amanda. This is Lieutenant Cam McCoy with the Brookhaven Sheriff's Department . I'm trying to get in touch with one of your former employees, David Collins. I haven't been able to reach him, and I'm hoping you can help."

There was a brief pause before Amanda replied. "I'll transfer you to his former supervisor, Mr. Harlan. Please hold."

A minute later, a gruff voice came on the line. "This is Frank Harlan. What can I do for you, Lieutenant?"

"Mr. Harlan, I'm looking for David Collins. I understand he worked for you recently."

"That's right. David was with us until a few weeks ago."

Cam jotted down notes as he continued. "I've been trying to get in touch with him but haven't had any luck. Do you happen to know where he might be?"

Frank sighed, a sound of regret and resignation. "David quit suddenly. Said he had some personal issues to sort out. I tried to get more information out of him, but he was pretty tight-lipped. Mentioned he was planning to move, but didn't specify where."

"Did he leave any forwarding address or contact information?"

"Afraid not, Lieutenant. He cleared out his locker and left without much of a word. I wish I could be more helpful."

"Anything at all you can remember might help us. Did he seem different before he left? Any changes in behavior or anything that stood out?"

Frank hesitated before answering. "He seemed more on edge, but I just chalked it up to stress. Construction work's not for everyone."

Cam thanked Frank and ended the call, a sense of unease settling in his chest. He needed to speak with David now more than ever.