She led him past a dining room that seemed to serve as a home office. A computer was set up on the table beside stacks of manila files. He followed her into a living room that smelled like a bakery. Antonio’s stomach started to growl. Toys littered the floor, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was playing on the TV.

The girls had dropped their backpacks by the breakfast table and were in the kitchen raiding a pan of cookies.

“Rachel, Becca, y’all take your snack outside.”

They loaded up two cookies each and headed for the back door.

The little one grabbed her mother’s leg and plugged her thumb into her mouth, gazing up at Antonio with big brown eyes. She wore a glittery lavender dress with a princess on the front.

He smiled down at her. “Are you Elsa?”

She ducked behind her mom.

“She’s Anna today. This is her Halloween costume.” Kate grabbed a cookie off the pan on the counter and handed it to her. “Go on outside and swing, sweetie. Get Becca to push you.”

The girl took the cookie and went outside, and Kate watched through the window as she ran to the wooden playscape.

“So.” She gave him a tense smile. “You’re familiar with Frozen. Do you have kids?”

“Just nieces and nephews.” He looked out at the backyard. “Three girls must keep you busy.”

“Four. I’ve got a fifteen-year-old, too. She’s at drill team practice.” She picked up a pan from the counter and held it up. “Would you like one? Oatmeal chocolate chip.”

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Have a seat. Please.”

He pulled out a chair and tugged the notebook from his back pocket. He’d worn his blazer over here to conceal his gun, which was more formal than he liked. But he’d found that house calls went better when people weren’t distracted by his weapon.

She sank into the chair at the head of the table and pressed her hand to her chest.

“When I first saw you, I thought . . .” She shook her head.

“I’m sorry.” He knew what she’d thought, and he felt like crap. “I should have called first.”

“No, it’s fine.”

He opened the notebook and took out a pen. “I won’t take much of your time. I just have a few follow-up questions.”

And he’d wanted to meet her. Phone interviews were okay, but he got way more information face to face.

He cleared his throat. “First, thanks for filing the missing-person report. It should help expedite things.”

She nodded.

“We’re still waiting on Vanessa’s cell phone records. We’re trying to understand her activities leading up to Sunday night, and who she was with.”

“Can’t you get a warrant for that? I would think since you found blood in the car, it would be urgent.”