Deception Read Online Free Page B

or her child? She stared down at the license, barely able to breathe.
    Her heart reached out to Jamie’s.
    Where are you, sis? Are you in trouble?
    Nothing. No answers. No connection with her twin. Tears dripped on the license she still held. It didn’t matter. She knew the answer.
    Jamie hadn’t left this house willingly.
     
     
     
     

7
     
    After Patti pulled herself together, she went to her own purse for the number the policeman had given her. What was his name? She found the note.
    Carter Caldwell, Sergeant.
    She would not wait until Monday morning to file a missing person report. She didn’t care about the rules. It was crucial Jamie be treated as a missing person now. Every minute her sister was gone, made it less likely...
    She shook the thoughts away.
    No, I refuse to think like that. Not going to do it. Only positive thoughts.
    She pulled out her cell phone out and hit the numbers, hoping he’d be reasonable.
    “Caldwell here.”
    “Sergeant Caldwell, this is Patti Jakowski, Sabrina’s au—”
    “Did your sister come back, or have you heard from her?”
    “No, she didn’t come back. I was calling because I found her purse.”
    “And?”
    Patti felt foolish. Why had she ever thought a man would understand? “Women never leave the house without their purse. They just don’t do that. S…s…something must have happened. It just doesn’t make sense.”
    There was silence on the other end. “I see what you’re getting at, but I hardly think finding her purse indicates foul play.”
    “If Jamie was on some business trip somewhere, she would need her ID. I...I don’t think she planned on leaving.”
    There was a long silence. Finally he spoke. “I’m on my way, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
    The detective hung up before Patti could tell him he needed to file a missing person report.
    She rummaged through Jamie’s closet and picked out a simple sundress to wear.
    Patti went to the guest room and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were red and swollen and her hair was a mess. She felt dirty and grimy from the airplane ride. She peeled off her clothes and jumped in the shower.
    Anna knocked on the door. “The policeman is here. He said you called him.”
    “Thanks, Anna.”
    Patti picked up her own purse, as well as Jamie’s.
    Anna waited for Patti outside the door. “Sabrina is ready for bed. Would you like to say goodnight before she falls asleep?”
    Patti nodded.
    Anna smiled at her. “I will be in my own room if you need me.”
    “OK. Can you tell Detective Caldwell I’ll be down after I tuck Sabrina in?”
    Anna nodded and walked away.
    Patti couldn’t decide if the woman was upset at her for calling the detective. Probably not. It was an awkward situation for both of them.
    Patti walked into Sabrina’s room. It was a room fit for a princess. It was all pink and lacy with a canopy bed. The walls had a continuous mural that extended to all four of them, with castles, a pretty garden, and princesses. A little girl’s dream of what a bedroom should be.
    Jamie had made sure Sabrina had the luxuries their parents hadn’t been able to give them.
    Sabrina was propped up on the bed amid a mountain of pillows with her thumb in her mouth.
    “Hi, sweetie. Are you ready to go to bed?”
    The little girl nodded but said nothing. Her dark brown gaze followed Patti’s movements.
    “It’s been a long day, huh.”
    Sabrina removed her thumb. “Where’s mommy? Her didn’t say goodbye.”
    Out of the mouth of babes.
    “I don’t know where she is, but you’re not to worry about it, OK? Your mommy loves you.”
    Another tiny nod, but tears pooled in Sabrina’s chocolate brown eyes.
    Patti leaned down and hugged her niece. Her own worry moved up another notch. “Now are you ready for a story?”
    A little smile.
    After Patti read two stories, Sabrina’s little eyes fluttered closed and she slept.
    Patti removed the little girl’s thumb from her mouth and left the room.
    She walked down