Rountree turned to face her. “No, we haven’t found him either. But that’s a nice segue for us to talk, isn’t it?” She made a face at Henry, one that prompted him to giggle. “Ah, if only we could just talk to this little guy for a while. Right? It’s been a long twelve hours or so, hasn’t it?”

Sam nodded. She looked young and small in the kitchen lights, standing in front of the authority figure. Like Henry’s older sister. Or a youthful-looking babysitter. “You can ask me whatever you want to ask me. It’s okay.”

“I hate to break up the party, but maybe you should give little Mr. Man back to his mama. That way you and I can drive down to our station and talk there. Do you have a car here?”

“No. Ryan drove me.”

“Even better. I’ll drive you back to your car when you’re finished with us. Okay?”

Rountree sounded cheery and peppy. Her tone failed to match the mood of the circumstances.

Sam agreed to the plan, and she gently handed Henry back to Amanda. She kissed him lightly on the forehead before turning to Rountree.

“Okay, Detective, I’m ready.”

“What about us, Detective?” Amanda asked. “That guy tried to get inside our house. He got into their house. Are we safe?”

“We can step up the patrols in the area, but it’s a busy time. We’re getting pulled in a lot of different directions today. Didn’t you say something earlier about going to your parents’?”

Amanda nodded. “That’s what I was getting ready to do when that man showed up.”

“Then I say head over there,” Rountree said. “I’m sure they’d be happy to see their grandbaby.”

Rountree pointed to the back door, but Sam hesitated for a moment. She looked uncertain, like she couldn’t decide what she wanted to do.

“Miss Edson?” Rountree said. “Are you ready?”

“Well,” Sam said. “I just . . . the police station?”

“Yes,” Rountree said. “The police station.”

Sam stood there a moment longer, and then she nodded her head. “Right. Okay, sure. I’ll call the florist on the way and let them know I’m going to be late.”

Finally, the two of them walked out.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

When Sam and Rountree were gone, Amanda went upstairs with Henry to finish getting everything together for their imminent departure. I felt a little at sea. I wandered around the house, once again making sure the doors and windows were locked. And they were. Still. From the night before.

I took out my phone and checked Twitter. I followed a number of local news outlets as well as the local police. I’d found they provided so much information I almost never read the local newspaper anymore.