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for a while. Then I’d see Ashley’s face and I just couldn’t get any sleep. She is so dear and sweet. J.T. dotes on her. You should see them together when she comes down to the station. Such patience, showing her what he does. I just don’t understand how someone could take—” Distress on her face, Susan shook her head. “Sorry. I shouldn’t go on like that. And certainly J.T. doesn’t need to hear me carrying on. He’s got enough to deal with.”
    â€œI don’t see how anyone could ever take a child, but it happens and the parents’ lives are never the same.”
    â€œEven when the child is found?”
    â€œTheir sense of security is stripped away.”
    A thoughtful expression appeared on Susan’s face. “Ah, I never considered that.”
    The aroma of the brew flavored the air and for a few seconds Madison shut her eyes and relished the smell. “Thanks for the coffee. I was about to tape my eyelids open.”
    J.T.’s secretary chuckled. “I know the feeling. It’s been a long night for everyone here.”
    â€œAnd today will be a long day.” Madison rose from the desk she had commandeered from one of the deputies. “How’s J.T. holding up?” She’d been reviewing the neighbors’ statements and had been working on a list of people to interview again while J.T., her boss and Kirk had finalized the search protocol and gone over the case to date.
    â€œI don’t know how he keeps going. I would have fallen apart hours ago.” Susan walked to the next desk to hand one of the FBI agents a mug of coffee.
    Madison again searched for J.T. in the large room, realizing that periodically throughout the night she had done that very thing. By the time she’d left last summer they had become friends. She hated seeing a friend going through such pain. She wished she could do more for him.
    J.T. moved away from the dry erase board and stopped in front of a table where a map of the region was spread out. He pointed to an area and said something to Matthew. The lead agent nodded, then gestured to another place.
    Exhaustion carved deep lines into J.T.’s face—a face that under normal circumstances had a lot of character. At the moment it just looked plain tired. Even in the middle of the murder investigation last year, J.T.’s gray eyes would sparkle with life and humor. What she saw now was a dull pewter color. A sudden urge to comfort him flooded her. Surprised by the emotion, she turned away and picked up her list to give to Rachel.
    â€œThese are the people I want to interview again, with Mrs. Goldsmith at the top.”
    Rachel glanced up. “She usually gets up early.”
    â€œSo six-thirty won’t be too early then?”
    â€œNope, and knowing Mrs. Goldsmith, she wouldn’t mind being awakened—if she even got any rest.”
    â€œI suspect there are a lot of townspeople who aren’t sleeping right now.”
    â€œYeah, J.T. is a good sheriff and friend to many.” Rachel clicked the computer program she was working in shut. “You aren’t going to participate in the search of the lake area?”
    â€œNot until I’ve interviewed all these people. They may remember something they didn’t last night.”
    â€œDo you want me to come with you?”
    â€œNo, I’m sure even with the added volunteers from Central City J.T. could use everyone possible to help in the search. He’ll need you there.”
    â€œFirst, I’ve got to finish up here. Then I plan on being in the thick of things. I’d do anything for J.T. He believed in me when no one else did.”
    â€œHe did?”
    â€œYeah, I’d always wanted to be a law enforcement officer, but no one around here thought I would be any good. Too petite, not to mention the fact I’m a woman.”
    â€œI always wanted to be in law enforcement, too.”
    â€œIt