Its too early to tell that, Amanda said as she patted Fishers shoulder. Right now all we know is that Kelly didnt show up for her bridal shower and hasnt contacted you. Maybe Sergeant Thorpe is right and Kelly just needed some time alone. She could have ducked out to think things over before the wedding.
No, Fisher said with a firm shake of his head. Kelly wouldnt run out on me. She loved me, and I loved her. She was excited about the wedding.
Hes right, Lambert said. Kelly wasnt the kind of girl to run out on anyone. She was dependable, smart, had a good head on her shoulders. He fumbled with his phone and angled it toward Amanda. Even if she did want some time, she would have told one of us. Ive called her at least fifty times in the last few hours, and she hasnt answered or returned my calls.
Ive called her, too, Fisher said, pulling out his phone. Ive sent dozens of texts, too, but she hasnt responded. I even drove by her place, but her car wasnt there and neither was she.
What kind of car does she drive? Amanda asked.
A red Toyota.
Do you know the license plate?
He jotted it on a sticky note from her desk.
Sergeant Thorpe exhaled. I understand your concern, he said in a gruff voice. Sheriff Blair and I will do everything we can to find your daughter.
Amandas lungs squeezed for air as she stepped aside to call her deputy, Joe Morgan. She quickly explained the situation.
Drive around and see if you can find Kellys car. She drives a red Toyota. She gave him the license plate and hung up. Maybe if they located Kellys car, theyd find a clue as to what had happened to her.
She just hoped they found her alive.
* * *
JUSTIN CONSIDERED THE circumstances and knew he had to remain objective and treat this womans disappearance like he would any other case. To assume Kelly had been abducted by the same person whod killed the woman in the creekand possibly a half dozen others who still hadnt been locatedwas too presumptuous.
Making assumptions was dangerous. It could lead him to miss important details and send him on a wild goose chase.
After all, it was possible that Kellys fiancé was lying. He and Kelly could have had a major blow-up and she could have run off. She might need time to compose herself before contacting her father. Or hell, she might be off planning some sort of surprise for her fiancé.
But his gut instincts told him they were dealing with a serial criminal whod been kidnapping female victims for nearly a decade and would continue until he was stopped.
But he wouldnt be doing his job if he didnt explore every option. With the publicity surrounding the ongoing missing-persons case, someone could use the disappearances as a smoke screen to cover up a more personal murder.
Like a fiancé getting rid of his girlfriend if she decided to call off the wedding...
Sheriff, why dont you take Mr. Lambert back for coffee while I talk to Mr. Fisher for a few minutes?
Amandas gaze met his, questions looming, but separating victims or suspects was customary, so she nodded.
Come on, Mr. Lambert. Ill start the paperwork for the missing-persons report. She glanced at Justin and Fisher. Would you guys like coffee?
Fisher shook his head no. I dont think my stomach could handle it right now.
Coffee would be good, Justin said. Black.
Her brows rose a second as if to say that she wasnt his maid, and his mouth quirked. After all, she had offered.
She led Lambert back through the door to the back and returned a moment later with a bottle of water for Fisher and a cup of coffee for him.
Thanks, he said with a small smile.
A zing of something like attraction hit him when her hand brushed his as she gave him the mug. Her mouth
twisted into a frown as if shed noticed it, too, and she jerked her hand away and rushed back to talk to Lambert.
Sweat trickled down Fishers forehead. Was he simply upset about Kellys disappearance or was he nervous because he was hiding something?
Justin took a sip of coffee, surprised at the taste. Most law enforcement workers could handle a gun but didnt know a flying fig about how to brew decent coffee.
Amanda Blair could do both. Intriguing.
Mr. Fisher, how long have you and Kelly been together? Justin asked.
Fisher gripped the water bottle with white-knuckled hands. We knew each other in high school but didnt date until our senior year. We got engaged last Christmas. Kelly took some time after high school to do some mission trips, then decided to get her teaching degree. She just graduated with a masters in education and is looking for a teaching job.
What do you do?
Fisher shrugged. Im a financial consultant. I just started with a new company in Austin. We were moving there after the wedding.
Any problems between you and Kelly lately?
Fisher shook his head, his leg bouncing up and down. No.
No recent fights? Arguments over where youd live? Money?
Not really. We get along great.
Do you and Kelly live together?
Fisher nodded. We moved in together our senior year of college.
What did her father think about that?