“My situation with you was different. Besides, the longer this thing drags on the more vulnerable we are. I wear this beard and long hair but we live openly here. I don’t like it.”

“Then move back to Modesto, I don’t care.”

“Where I go, Jimmy goes.”

She was instantly apologetic. She came and pressed his head to her chest. “I’m sorry, that was thoughtless. I know you’re under a lot of pressure. I’ll do everything I can to get David to listen to reason. All I’m saying is that at one point we might have to take matters into our own hands.”

Her chest took the sting out of his anxiety. He spoke in a muffled voice.

“Which means?” he asked.

“Nothing. We just have to keep our options open.”

“Okay,” he said, not sure what he was agreeing to. “Did the FBI call again?”

Amy began to put on her makeup. She never used to wear it. “Yes. This black guy, Agent Fitzsimmons, Charlie, called. Our main contact person, Kelly, took a leave of absence. Can you believe that? Jimmy is God knows where and she takes a vacation.”

“God’s not the only one who knows where your son is.”

“That’s not my point. Kelly doesn’t know that and she takes off. To think I really believed she cared about me. She was probably just trying to further her career. When the ransom went south, she split.” Amy added, “I hate people like that.”

“She might not be gone for good.”

Amy shook her head. “I don’t care what she does.” “How long ago did she take her leave?”

“Two weeks ago.”

Matt was curious. “Was Kelly in charge of the case?”

“Not technically. Agent Bane, the head of the L.A. office, was the top boss. Kelly was our personal liaison.”

“Did you ever tell her about me?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m the one who kidnapped your son and if she’s real smart it’s always possible she could figure that out. Did you tell her about me or not?”

“I told her you were dead.”

“Did you tell her how I died?”

“Yes.”

“How did she take it?”

“I don’t know. She believed me. Why wouldn’t she believe me?”

“What I mean is, did she persist in questioning you about me?”

Amy was in front of the mirror, lipstick in hand. She stopped and stared at him in the glass. “She was curious about you. She wanted to know if I cared about you.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That I loved you, of course.”

“Did she wonder why you married David?”

“I think everyone who meets David wonders why I married him.”

“Amy. Tell me everything she asked.”

“I don’t remember everything. But I know she never considered you a suspect. You don’t have to worry about that.”