“It’s pretty damned clear, isn’t it? I think Charity Spritz found out about that baby and knows where he or she is. She talked with a nurse who had worked at Cahill House during those years, but so far, I haven’t found out what was divulged.”

“Do you know the nurse’s name?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

“Shouldn’t we tell the cops?”

“What?” His head whipped around. “No. I don’t trust ’em, and you shouldn’t either. Remember why you called me in the first place: You’re still their number-one suspect. They don’t need any help. They have the technology and manpower to figure this out. If you want me on your side, then the cops are out. You decide.” He checked his watch, then finished his beer. “Gotta run. I just wanted to talk to you face-to-face.”

“You think my phone’s being bugged?” James asked.

“Just being careful. By the way, I swept this place since the cops searched it. Looks clean.”

“Not every cop is dirty.”

“Yeah, I know, but you just don’t know which ones are clean. So . . . let’s just keep all this on the down low.” Rowdy snapped his laptop closed and pushed back his chair. “I’ll let you know what else I find. Shouldn’t take too long. And then we’ll settle up.” He stuffed his equipment into the battered case and headed for the front door. “And, James,” he said, as he stepped onto the porch, “be careful, okay? The reporter’s dead. Probably because of you. And a woman’s missing, again, probably because she was close to you, so watch your ass, okay? And while you’re at it? Why don’t you try hiding your spare key someplace where a three-year-old can’t find it?”

CHAPTER 40

CHAPTER 40

Darkness had fallen by the time the search crew was finished going over Sinclaire’s cabin, and the cold was getting to them. Rivers rubbed his gloved hands together to conjure up warmth, while Mendoza stomped her feet in the snow.

Upon spying Megan Travers’s car in the garage, Mendoza had called for backup and gotten a search warrant. Rivers had phoned Harold Sinclaire, and Sinclaire, shocked, had agreed to meet them at the property and had given them the code to a lockbox near the front door with a hidden key. With the owner’s permission on top of the search warrant, Rivers and Mendoza had searched through the house and grounds. The car in the garage had turned out to be Megan Travers’s, and her phone, laptop, and purse were inside.