shook his head again. “She’s sticking to her story that she went to bed and didn’t wake up until I came in the next morning.”
Pounding echoed through the house, waylaying Jonathan’s next question.
“I should get that…” William gestured toward the door. “I’m pretty sure Presley doesn’t want to talk to anyone else right now.”
“We have other aspects of the case to look into,” Jonathan offered. “We’ll get out of your way for now.”
William nodded and went to answer the door.
Jonathan hung back, letting the others go before him. He took one last lingering look at the child’s room. Afraid of strangers. Possibly left at home alone. No signs of forced entry or struggle.
Polly was taken by someone she knew. Or she remained asleep during the abduction.
Jonathan’s money was on the former.
By the time he reached the living room, William had opened the door to an older man.
“William, what’s going on here?” The man looked past William to Jonathan. “Who is this?”
Melissa stepped forward. “Chief, this is Jonathan Foley, a friend of mine.”
Jonathan knew all about Chief Reed Talbot, having read a lengthy profile on the man. The chief glared at Melissa, then at Jonathan. “Presley called all upset about some stranger interrogating her about Polly’s disappearance.”
Jonathan thrust out his hand. “Jonathan Foley. I apologize for not making your office my first stop, but I wasn’t sure you’d be available under the circumstances.”
Talbot’s gaze narrowed with suspicion. “I’ve been heading the search for Polly. That’s where I should be now.” He tossed this statement, chock-full of accusation, at Melissa.
“I don’t want to get in your way, Chief,” Jonathan insisted. “I’m just here to provide any support I can to a friend.”
“Then I’m sure you’ll want to hear the news I’ve come to pass along.”
Melissa’s breath caught. William’s eyes widened with hope.
“We’ve learned Stevie Price’s whereabouts,” the chief announced in a rather flat tone.
“Is Polly with him?” Melissa asked, her voice scarcely a whisper.
The chief shook his head. “No, but at least this latest break clears up that question. An eye witness saw Stevie board a bus for Nashville that left early in the evening. Well before the child went missing.”
Jonathan recalled reading that a local had gone missing the same day as the child. A local who not only knew Polly but who played with her frequently.
The confirmation that the child wasn’t with that missing local opened up the possibility that she was with a stranger. But Jonathan’s instincts still leaned toward an intimate—someone the child knew well.
If she was still alive.
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