Part 11 (1/2)
”Why do you want it, anyway?”
She reached for her coffee cup. ”I want to have it computer aged. I've seen that done on TV. I want to make absolutely sure the girl in my dream is Molly.”
Ben eyed her with renewed suspicion. ”But you're fairly certain it is.”
”I'm very sure it's her. I just don't want to cut any corners and besides, we'll need it if we're going to start a new search. She's twelve now, not six. We need to be able to show people what she looks like today.”
”All right, I'll take care of it. The company has a very sophisticated Web site. That means we've got some really savvy computer geeks working for us. They'll know how to age the photo or find someone who does.”
Autumn beamed. ”That's great! What else should we do?”
”Well, since you dreamed about the guy who took her, you know what he looks like. Maybe you could go through the mug books down at the police station. See if you recognize a face.”
She took a sip of coffee. ”I already did that. I have a friend named Joe Duffy who's a detective. I spent an afternoon going over photos of known pedophiles in Seattle and the surrounding areas who fit the description.”
”You told this guy Duffy about your dream?”
”I told him there was a man hanging around the school and I wanted to make sure he wasn't any sort of a threat.”
Ben smiled. ”Very clever.”
”I'm not a good liar. I'm amazed Joe actually believed me.”
”It was worth a try, even if it didn't pan out.”
”What else can you think of?”
”I figure we should re-canvas the area where Molly was taken. In the last six years, maybe someone has remembered something they didn't think was important at the time.”
”Good idea. I knew if we put our heads together-”
”Let's not get ahead of ourselves. So far all we have to go on is a dream about a blond guy with a puppy and girl named Ruthie who lives in a house in the mountains.”
”Sorry.” She toyed with her eggs, then finally took a bite. ”So when can we drive out to Issaquah?”
”I'm busy today. I've got some work to do at my office and as soon as I'm finished, I'm taking Katie on a boat trip around the harbor. She loves boats...just about anything to do with water.”
”I'd like to meet her sometime.”
Ben made no reply. He kept his private life private and though Autumn felt a twinge of disappointment that she was excluded, she couldn't really blame him.
”So when can we go out there? We need to get started.”
She could see he was still reluctant. She knew he didn't really believe they would find his daughter so the search was bound to be painful. But unlike Ben, Autumn refused to consider the possibility of failure.
”Ben?”
”All right, how does Monday sound? When do you finish your lessons for the day?”
”I'll be done by two.”
”I'll be working in my office. I'll meet you in the lobby at two-fifteen.”
He didn't suggest she come up. He didn't want people knowing about the search. He was worried about his family finding out. He had mentioned his ex-wife several times. Autumn wondered if he might still be in love with her. The notion bothered her more than it should have.
As soon as they finished their breakfast, Ben grabbed his tuxedo jacket off the back of the chair, stuffed his cufflinks and studs into one of the pockets and slung the coat over his shoulder. ”Thanks for the meal.”
”No problem.”
He opened the door but didn't leave. There was something in his eyes when he looked at her that made her breath catch.
”That kiss last night...I'm afraid this could get complicated.”
Autumn hurriedly shook her head. ”It won't. I won't let it. Last night was just...you know...a fantasy. We're working together, that's all. Strictly a means to an end.”
Ben stared at her a moment, then nodded. As he stepped out into the hall and closed the door, she couldn't tell if he was relieved or disappointed.
Eleven.
Right on schedule, Autumn finished her last private lesson, changed into jeans, a white cotton blouse and brown corduroy sport coat, stepped into a pair of loafers and headed for the lobby. Ben was just coming out of the elevator when she got there.
Earlier that morning, she had been a little surprised when Ben arrived at her climbing session, since he had already made his decision to help her. He didn't need to continue the lessons, but the man was an athlete who liked a challenge and climbing was certainly that. It was obvious by how fast he was improving that he had been reading extensively, had perhaps been getting help from some of the guys who worked at his stores.
He seemed determined to learn and he had a natural knack for the sport, scaling the wall this time all the way to the top without falling. She liked the way he moved, liked to watch the muscles working in his arms and legs as he s.h.i.+fted and pulled himself higher.
After cla.s.s, Josh came in hoping to schedule another weekend trip and she introduced the two men. Their first few moments were spent sizing each other up the way men do, then Ben reminded her of their appointment that afternoon, nodded to Josh and left the climbing gym.
”So what about this weekend?” Josh asked after Ben was gone. ”You must be getting the itch to hit the mountains by now.”
She thought of Molly and the search she was committed to. ”I can't say for sure, Josh. I'm really busy right now.”
He tipped his head toward the door. ”Busy with him?”
Autumn shook her head. ”Not the way you're thinking. We're involved in a project is all.”
Josh's gaze remained on her face. ”Be careful, Autumn. That guy has a major reputation where women are concerned.”
Don't I know.
”You get in too deep with a guy like that you're bound to get hurt.”
Her stomach knotted. ”You don't have to worry, Josh. But thanks anyway.”
That had been two hours ago. Now it was two-fifteen and Autumn stood in the lobby waiting for Ben. She spotted him walking toward her in that purposeful way of his, as if time were a valuable commodity and he didn't want to waste it.
”My car's in the underground parking. Let's go.” He urged her back toward the elevator he had just walked out of, climbed in and hit the b.u.t.ton: Lower Level 1. His car was waiting in the valet area when they got there, a gorgeous silver Mercedes.