Henry Polk walked up, arms folded across his chest, a concerned expression on his face. Oliver nodded to him, but his thoughts were on Garrett.

Oliver remembered Garrett’s semi-confession to him earlier this week. He also remembered the numerous fights and the problems the Coopers had had. But would Janie really walk away from her children?

As he watched Tess on the phone, he knew the answer was no.

Tess finished the call and returned to Oliver’s side. “Casey said that Janie was quite agitated when she dropped the baby off. Casey told her she could watch Anna all day if she needed her to because it was her day off from the bookstore. She figured Janie needed some time to herself, thought she was doing her a favor. But when she’d heard nothing from Janie by three, she started calling her, getting voice mail.”

“She wouldn’t leave the kids.”

Tess looked away and said nothing, then walked over to Garrett. “Garrett, the last time I was here, your house was trashed, and you and Janie had a horrible fight. Now you admit that you fought again. Are you sure she didn’t just leave, maybe got tired of all the fighting?”

“She wouldn’t.” His voice broke and Oliver watched him struggle for control. “We fight, but she loves our kids. She’d kick me out before she’d leave them.”

Tess looked at Oliver. The cop face was gone, and he could see worry there. Then she turned to Bender. “Curtis should be at Walmart by now. Talk to him for me; ask if there’s anything at all out of order there.”

Bender nodded and stepped aside, pulling out his phone.

There was a slight shift in Garrett’s body language, a tiny bit of tension gone. “Thank you, Chief. Thank you. Find her. Please.”

As Oliver watched Tess, he could tell something was bugging her. He knew that most of the time when women disappeared and foul play was suspected, the husband was the prime suspect. But Oliver knew Garrett, and while he was a lazy lout, Oliver doubted the man had it in him to hurt Janie. What was Tess thinking?

“Garrett, I get the distinct impression that you’re not telling me something,” she said finally.

Oliver did a double take, continually amazed at the sixth sense Tess seemed to have when talking to people. Garrett’s semi-confession came to mind again. If Garrett didn’t come clean now, Oliver knew he would have to tell Tess what Garrett had told him.

“I’m just worried, Chief—worried that something bad has happened to her.”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why? Was she having a problem with someone at work?”

“No.”

“Then why are you so certain something bad happened?”

“Random stuff happens! Look at what just happened to Tami.”