The Promise Read Online Free

Ms. Taylor?”
     
    “Yes?”
     
                  “You have a lot of people looking for you. You gave all of us quite a scare!"
     
                  The voice on the other end of the line drips with sarcasm, "Are you trying to make some kind of joke?"
     
                  The chief was taken aback. "No, I’m not, I am happy you called in. Your family has been worried sick about you."
     
                  "Mr. Parker, this is Alice Taylor. I am Allison's mother. Would you please explain your comments to me?"
     
                  Chief Parker is more than a little embarrassed.  His words did not come easily at that point.
     
    "Mrs. Taylor I sincerely apologize. I was told I had a telephone call from Allison Taylor. My officer must have misunderstood you when you called and gave him your name."
     
                  "I made my name clear when I called but I did mention that I was calling on behalf of my daughter, Allison. That is probably where the confusion occurred.
     
    In any event, I am offering to meet with you and your people to help in whatever way I can to find my child."
     
                  "I understand Mrs. Taylor," whispers Chief Parker as he wipes his forehead with a handkerchief, "Maybe you could come in this afternoon and sit down with our detectives and make a formal statement.
     
    It’s standard procedure for family and friends. It would be very helpful at this particular time."
     
                  "I can come in at two o'clock. Is that be convenient for you?"
     
                  "Two o'clock would be fine. Please ask for Detective Gallagher. He will be expecting you. May I ask you a question?"
     
                  "Yes."
     
                  "Do you have any possible explanation for what may have happened to your daughter?"
     
                  "I do not. I saw Allison the day before she disappeared.  We had lunch together. We were supposed to have lunch again today until her father's secretary called and told me about Allison's situation."
     
                  The chief was flabbergasted. "You mean you didn't know about your daughter's disappearance until this morning!"
     
                  "That is correct."
     
                  "And your husband had his secretary call you?"
     
                  "Mr. Parker, Allison's father and I are not very close. It is however, very distressing news. I will be there at two o'clock. Thank you."
     
                  As Chief Parker hangs up the phone, he looks at Gallagher and Larsen and whistles softly, a habit he uses whenever he is surprised by something intriguing. 
     
    He speaks softly, "As you heard, we still have an active case.  Mrs. Taylor will meet with you at two o'clock this afternoon. Interesting that her ex-husband never informed her until today and even then, he used his secretary to do the dirty work.
     
    Now why would he do that?
     
    Gallagher mused, “Maybe he’s hiding something and is taking his time to get his story figured out.”
     
    Elie laughed, “Or maybe he just doesn’t like his ex-wife!”
     
    The Chief gently dismissed them, “You two go spend some time coming up with all the options on this case. I need  a moment to regroup here and I’m fresh out of coffee."
     
                  The detective and the profiler walked down the hall and into a conference room. For the next two hours they went over the file and wrote down all the possible scenarios for the missing girl. 
     
    Their ideas ranged from the predictable to the ridiculous but they were necessary to keep all their options in front of them.  The list included:
     
    KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM
    KIDNAPPING FOR REVENGE
    KIDNAPPING FOR LOVE
    KIDNAPPING FOR SEX
    KIDNAPPING FOR SEX SLAVE TRADE
    A RUNAWAY
    WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM
    ELOPEMENT
    PLOY BY ALLISON AND/OR HER FATHER