“Is this the father?” he said as he narrowed his eyes at Cooper.
“I am.”
“He is,” she confirmed.
“Where were you this afternoon between three thirty and four?”
“He didn’t take—”
“It’s okay,” Cooper said. “He has to ask me that.” He put his arm around her. “I was in Myrtle Beach when Kendall called me to tell me our daughter was missing. I can give you proof of that.”
The detective’s gaze shifted to her. “You didn’t tell me the father was in the picture.”
“I would imagine all she was thinking about was finding Livie.” Cooper smiled at her.
“You didn’t ask,” she said. Taking a clue from Cooper, she didn’t offer that she’d only recently learned who Livie’s father was.
“So, you two are together?”
Kendall didn’t like the detective’s suspicious tone, but she wasn’t sure how to answer.
“It’s complicated,” Cooper said. “But ourcomplicateddoesn’t have anything to do with our daughter being missing. I’d like an update on what you know so far.”
“You need to leave the investigation to the police, Mr… .”
Oh, she hadn’t introduced them. “This is Cooper Devlin. Cooper, Detective Rossi.”
Cooper held out his hand, and, she thought, the detective reluctantly shook his hand. “Sorry we’re meeting under this circumstance, Detective. I’d like to see the video from the grocery store.”
“This is police business, Mr. Devlin. You need to leave this to us.”
“No, this is a daughter missing. Our daughter. We have a right to know what you do.”
“Cooper finds missing children,” Kendall said. “He’s good at it.”
“Kendall’s right. My team and I are one of the best at finding missing children. We have resources you probably only dream about. We can work together, Detective, or I’ll go it alone. Don’t care either way, but I will find my daughter with or without you.”
“I don’t appreciate your attitude,” the detective said. “You interfere with my investigation, I’ll throw you in a cell.”
“You can try.”
“Stop it.” Kendall stepped between the two men before they decided fighting it out was the thing to do. “This isn’t helping.” She glared at the detective. “Why wouldn’t you want the help of someone who specializes in finding missing children? Go lookup The Phoenix Three, then come tell me you don’t want to utilize his expertise.” She turned to Cooper. “This isn’t helping.”
His smile and his eyes turned soft. “You’re right. But I won’t stand by and do nothing.”
“Of course not, but the two of you fighting isn’t going to find Livie.”
The detective made a phone call. “It’s me. Check out an outfit called The Phoenix Three, then call me back.” He slipped his phone back in his pocket. “You have a card?”
Cooper took one from his wallet and handed it to the detective. “My cell phone is the second number. I want to see the video from the grocery store.”
Detective Rossi stuck the card in his shirt pocket. “When I hear back with a report on you and your company, I’ll call you.” He nodded at her as he walked out.
“What now?” she said. “I don’t think I can handle just waiting around for something to happen.”
“Me either. If Olivia should find a way to call you, will it be on your landline or your cell phone? Does she even know your number?”
“Yes, I made her memorize it, and I don’t have a landline, so it will be my cell.”