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“Next,” he calls out, loud enough for his crew to return.
Patrick escorts a man in a navy suit into the room. The suit makes him look distinguished, professional, unlike Patrick in his expensive suits that somehow still look cheap on him.
O’Leary stands. Comes around the table, grips the man’s hand. “Michael, thanks for coming.”
“No need to get up,” the accountant says. “My secretary said it was urgent?”
O’Leary shoos his men out again, this time to some grumbling at the musical chairs. He motions for his accountant to join him at the table. “Get you something to eat? A drink?”
“Thank you, I’m great.”
O’Leary nods. “I’m sorry to have you rush over here. It’s not urgent. I’m not sure why my people said that. But I’m glad you came.”
Michael seems nervous, which is understandable. An accountant for O’Leary should be worried about so much as a rounding error.
“This is kinda awkward,” O’Leary says. He wipes his mouth with his napkin, throws it on his plate.
Michael holds O’Leary’s gaze.
“It’s about my boy, Anthony.”
Michael immediately relaxes. His nervous demeanor turns curious. “Oh yeah? How’s he liking the Academy?”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”
Michael tilts his head.
“My wife, she’s laying up nights worried about him. Anthony’s withdrawn, not talking to us, and Gina thinks something may be going on at school. She thought maybe your daughter might, I don’t know, have some insights. It being such a small school and all.”
“Taylor hasn’t mentioned anything. But you know teenagers.…”
O’Leary offers a knowing nod.
“I’ll be happy to talk to her. If Anthony’s having trouble making friends, I’m sure she can help out.”
O’Leary puts a hand on the accountant’s shoulder and squeezes. “That would mean a lot to me and my wife.”
“I’m sure it’s just a period of adjustment and once he finds his people it will be fine.” He smiles.
Michael Harper is a nice man. It’s a wonder he ever got mixed up with O’Leary. But lots of nice men do.
“Anyway, I’ll talk to Taylor. If there’s any way she can help, I’m sure she will.”
“I will be in debt to you both.”
“It’s nothing.” Michael smiles, shakes his head a little. “Kids, right?”
14
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS
Investigation tip: Want to know someone’s secrets from when they were young? Talk to their high-school friends. Interviewing Alison Lane’s friends is probably beyond Poppy’s authority since she’s been officially assigned only to weed out crank tips, but she can’t take any more fool’s errands today. And, besides, the sheriff made her the KBI’s point of contact, so she’s simply following up on the note KBI found in Alison’s handbag. If she can find the book Alison used for that weird code, it might yield a genuine lead.
One thing seems certain, at least to Poppy: Alison was concerned for her well-being, and it damn well wasn’t the Missouri River Killer who had her spooked. The media hadn’t picked up on MRK’s spree until after Alison disappeared. So what was she afraid of? Who was she afraid of? It had to be someone closer to home.
Poppy texted her brother for the names of Alison Lane’s friends. Dash texted back three: Ruby Quinn, Juliette Bishop, and Chrissy Roberts. Once she saw the names, Poppy immediately remembered the trio. Three spritely cheerleaders. Popular seniors who didn’t give an underclassman like Poppy the time of day. When she asked Dash if he had their contact information, her brother said no but directed her to another key investigative tool: social media.
But it turns out Poppy doesn’t have to electronically stalk the women. Ruby Quinn’s phone number is in the investigation file. There are no interview notes, but Poppy’s predecessor Buckman must’ve spoken to Ruby shortly after the abduction. It’s been five years and Ruby has probably moved out of her parents’ house, but they’ll have her current number.