Dead River Read Online Free PDF Page B

fine,” Averly said softly.
    Adam nodded.
    “I was calling to see if everything’s all right,” Jessica said. “I saw the police cars earlier.”
    “Sure, Jessica, everything’s okay.”
    “Did you find Sara Ann?”
    Adam paused a few seconds, trying to dislodge the lump in this throat. “She’s out somewhere.”
    “Well, good. You know, I got real concerned earlier when you were here and asked if I’d seen her. You know, the last time I saw her was Thursday. I was walking Mr. Ruggles and saw Sara Ann in the car with that boy she sees—”
    “Yes, Jessica, you told me,” Adam interrupted.
    “Well anyway, after you left I went outside and took Mr. Ruggles with me. You know he’ll only go outside in the summer when there’s no sun. So since it was cloudy I took him with me and walked down the driveway to the road. But the thunder scared him so we had to go back to the house.”
    Carillo raised his right index finger and twirled it around, indicating for Adam to continue talking.
    “Yes, Jessica. The thunder scared Mr. Ruggles.”
    “That’s right. So when we got back to the house I called Sara Ann, but she didn’t answer.”
    “What? You called Sara Ann?”
    “Yes.”
    “On her cell phone?”
    “Yes, I thought I did, but she didn’t answer. It was a man’s voice.”
    Adam shook his head as he rolled his eyes back and then looked over at Averly. “That was me, Jessica.”
    “It was?”
    “Yes, it was. Did you try calling again right away?”
    “Yes, I did. But a man answered.”
    Adam sighed hard. “That was me, Jessica.”
    “Oh.”
    “Did you use your cell phone or your regular phone to call Sara Ann?”
    “I used my cell phone.”
    Adam nodded at both detectives. “Do you know if Harry has the caller ID blocked on your phone?”
    “The what?”
    Peter Carillo gave a thumbs-up indicating he had a trace.
    “Jessica, I’ve got to go now.”
    “Okay. Tell Sara Ann to come by and see me sometime.”
    “I will.”
    “I got a trace,” Carillo said. “The equipment’s working fine.”
    “What’s with the call to your daughter’s cell phone?” Averly asked Adam.
    “When I went to the end of the driveway earlier today to wait for the police, Sara Ann’s phone rang in her car,” Adam explained. “It was Mrs. Cleveland, our neighbor, trying to locate Sara Ann.”
    Averly half-shrugged his shoulders and continued with his instructions. “As I was saying, if someone calls, talk in a non-threatening tone.”
    “Should I answer the phone?” Adam asked.
    “Either you or your wife can; however, don’t let your daughter answer.”
    Dawn furrowed her brow and stared at the detective.
    “You will probably get phone calls from friends and relatives, like the last one,” Averly said, as he pointed toward the phone. “They’ll want to talk about what has happened, but try not to talk too long. Sara Ann’s disappearance will probably make the late news tonight, and unless we find her, tomorrow it will be a major story,” he said with a sardonic tone.
    “Isn’t that good?” Adam asked.
    “Sure it’s good because they’ll run the story on the news and show your daughter’s picture.”
    “Right.”
    “But—”
    “But what?”
    Averly took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Look, Mr. Riley, if your daughter isn’t found soon the media will be all over this place. They’ll be a major inconvenience and annoyance to your family. And many times they get in our way. All in all, they’re a big pain.”
    “I understand.”
    “Now if the caller is someone who has Sara Ann, try to keep them talking as long as you can. The same way you just did with your neighbor.”
    “I don’t know if I could do that. You know, talk the same way to someone who’s abducted my daughter.”
    “I know, but it’s important to stay calm.”
    “I’ll try, but it won’t be easy.”
    Averly gave Adam a half-smile. “That’s about it. Are there any questions?”
    “I can’t think of any right