“Yeah. Gabby had a dentist appointment at 10:00. It was probably close to 11:00 before we got there.”

“I’m looking at a sign-in sheet that indicates 10:50. Does that sound right?”

“Sure. Close enough.”

“Where was this sign-in sheet when you signed it?”

“By the office. I saw Benita and she said that she’d walk Gabby to her classroom. So I signed the sheet and left.”

“Benita?”

“Benita Garza. She’s my mother-in-law. Gabby’s grandmother. She works part-time at the learning center as their cook.”

“Okay, thank you. Do you recall, Mr. Bridge, if there was any other signature on the sheet when you signed it?”

“You know, I’m pretty sure there was. I remember looking at it to see if I recognized the name as one of the kids from Emma’s room, but I didn’t. I wouldn’t be able to tell you who it was, though. Can’t remember that.”

“That’s no problem. Thank you very much for your help. And thank you again for being part of the search party.”

Rena ended the call. “That’s that,” she said. “I suppose we should verify with Alice Quest and with Benita Garza that they escorted children back to rooms.”

“Odd given that Alice was in a room.”

“Yeah. But if it’s like everything else tonight, there’s probably a perfectly reasonable explanation.” Her tone was bitter.

“Don’t get discouraged, Morgan. It’s early yet.”

“It’s dark and she’s five.”

“I know. Let’s go talk to Alice.”

Four

Alice was in her office. Her back turned to the door. Filing papers into hanging folders in the cabinet behind her desk. She turned when she heard them. “I never get a chance to do this,” she said, with no inflection.

A childcare center had a weird feel to it when there were no children there. Likely she felt it even more acutely because she was so used to the noises, the smells, the laughter, the tears. It was probably time for all of them to get out of there for the night.

“Alice, there are two parent signatures on the sign-in sheet that was next to your office door.”

“I know. I checked it once Troy relayed to me what his mother-in-law had said about dropping Emma off in the lobby with Kara Wiese. Elaine Broadstreet never signed it.”

“Right. For the two parents who did, do you know who escorted them to their rooms?”