Page 84 of Fallen Creed

“In other words, don’t underestimate these girls.”

“That would be my best advice.”

“It makes me more concerned about Ryder and Grace.”

“Pakula brought me his shirt.”

Maggie stopped mid-pace. She crossed her arms around herself. The panic had settled too close to the surface and threatened to suck her breath away.

“Is there a chance it’s not Ryder’s blood?” Maggie asked, thinking about the white jacket.

“I suppose it’s possible.”

The silence that followed revealed Lucy believed it was his.

“The wound,” Maggie finally managed to say. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“Abdominal wounds can be tricky. They tend to bleed profusely.”

Abdominal wound.

Maggie closed her eyes and swallowed her emotion. Would she have preferred the medical examiner not to share her expertise? Would she prefer she lied and said it didn’t look bad?

“How are you holding up?” Lucy asked.

It would be ridiculous to claim she was fine when, in fact, she was far from fine. Instead, she told the truth. “Lucy, I’m terrified we’ll be too late.”

—65—

Maggie’s second phone call picked up after only two rings.

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Hobbs?”

“Yes?”

“My name’s Maggie O’Dell. I’m a special agent with the FBI.”

“Oh my God! Emma. Have you found her?”

“I’m sorry, that’s not why I’m calling.” Maggie winced at the woman’s anticipation.

She expected as much, but it didn’t make things easier. And although she’d gone over in her mind what she’d say, it already sounded hollow and insincere. Like it or not, there was no way she could tell her Emma might be safe and okay in Nebraska when she had no clue whether that was true.

“Actually, I have some questions,” Maggie said.

“More questions? I told the police there’s no way my daughter would hurt another person, unless it was in self defense.”

“You’re referring to Gina Franklin’s murder?”

“Yes. Isn’t that what this is about? That’s all you people seem to care about.”

By “you people” Maggie knew she meant law enforcement. She didn’t mind being clumped together, but technically, she spent most of her time investigating and not enforcing. The distinction didn’t matter to families hoping for any news about their loved ones.

“My questions are about Emma,” she told Mrs. Hobbs. When she remained quiet, Maggie couldn’t move forward without asking, “Why haven’t you filed a missing person report?”

Alonzo said Emma Hobbs was seventeen. Her mother’s address was listed as her home when she disappeared.