“And I, you,” Frances retorted tartly.
Patches of color once again flamed on Daisy’s cheeks, spurred no doubt by the indignation Walker could see flashing in her eyes.
“Blast it all, I’m as shocked as you are that he’s not where I left him,” she snapped. Quickly she amended, “No, I take that back. I’m not shocked at all. The boy’s life has been a shambles since his mother died. He hasn’t felt as if he truly belonged anywhere. It’s little wonder that he doesn’t trust a single adult to keep a promise, not even me.”
“Exactly what did you promise him?” Walker asked.
“That no one would take him away from here unless we all decided it was for the best, him included.”
“Daisy, he’s just a boy,” Frances said with a dismayed sigh. “Why would you make him a promise you knew you couldn’t possibly keep?”
“I intended to keep it,” Ms. Spencer shot back.
“Maybe we should just focus on finding him,” Walker suggested. “We can work out the rest of this later.”
“I agree,” the social worker said at once. “I think we’d better get Tucker over here.”
“Who’s Tucker?” Walker asked, grasping at last that there was a whole lot more going on here than he could begin to fathom. Unfortunately there was no time to ask the right questions or to try to sort out the clues.
“My brother,” Daisy answered, just as Frances said, “The sheriff.”
“Then, by all means, let’s get him over here,” Walker agreed, just as two men came strolling around the corner of the house, one of them carrying what looked to be a foil-covered pie.
“Tucker, Tommy’s vanished,” Daisy said, automatically taking the dish from his hands. “You have to do something.”
“What do you mean, he’s vanished?”
“While your sister kept me occupied in her living room with an endless barrage of questions, my nephew bolted,” Walker explained succinctly. “I’m Walker Ames, by the way. Detective Walker Ames.”
“He’s a D.C. policeman,” Daisy said derisively. “One who apparently likes to make unfounded accusations. I did not deliberately try to assist Tommy in making a getaway. Not that I blame him. He’s had far too much disruption in his life lately. He’s just beginning to feel secure again.”
“In a few days with you?” Walker asked.
She gave him a defiant look. “Exactly. Because he knows I care about him. He doesn’t even know who you are. Why would you expect him to choose you over me?”
“I guess the gloves are off,” the other newcomer observed with a sigh. “Sis, you’re not helping matters.”
Walker grinned as she whirled on the other man.
“Bobby Spencer, you’re supposed to be on my side,” she said indignantly.
“I am, always,” he insisted. “And right now you need to keep your mouth shut.”
Fury danced in her eyes. “I most certainly will not.”
Walker grinned. “Don’t shut her up. I’m finding her comments enlightening.”
“Enough,” Tucker said firmly. “Let’s all settle down and establish what we know. Daisy, when was the last time you saw Tommy?”
“He was finishing his supper when his uncle and Frances arrived. I left him in the kitchen. That was around six.”
“And it’s nearly seven now. Why the delay?”
“I had a few questions,” Daisy said defensively.
Bobby rolled his eyes and shot a sympathetic look at Walker.
“How did Tommy feel about meeting his uncle?” the sheriff asked.
“I’ve already told you. He wasn’t happy about it,” she said.
“And I’m sure you did everything you could to see that he felt that way,” Walker said, surprised by the depth of his anger that someone who didn’t even know him would try to turn his own nephew against him.
“I did not. I told him he had to give you a chance, that I was sure there was an explanation for why he’d never even heard of you or why you’d never been to visit.”
“Phrased like that, I can see why he’d be anxious to meet me,” Walker snapped.
Daisy Spencer looked exactly the way he imagined a mother tiger would look right before it took on a predator threatening her young. Despite his exasperation with the woman, he couldn’t help admiring her fierce protectiveness when it came to Tommy. A part of him was glad that his nephew had someone like that in his corner.
“Shouldn’t we stop wasting time hurling accusations and look for Tommy?” Frances suggested mildly. “It’ll be dark soon, and I don’t like the idea of him being outside all alone once the temperature starts to drop. It gets cold along the river this time of year. And there are the cliffs…” Her voice trailed off, leaving the dire implication unspoken.
“Absolutely,” Tucker agreed. “Frances, you stay right here in case Tommy shows up. Bobby, you go search along the river. I’ll go door-to-door here in town. Walker, you and Daisy can drive up and down the streets and along the highway.”
“Together?” Daisy asked as if she’d rather eat worms.
“Yes,” Tucker said in a tone that didn’t permit an argument. “Walker doesn’t know his way around the area.”
“Fine,” she said. “But I’m driving.”
“Whatever,” Walker agreed, following her to a nice, sedate little sedan that suited her perfectly. No flash and dazzle for this woman. She probably never drove the car over the speed limit.
Her agitation was plain as she started the car, grinding the engine in the process. She threw it into reverse and shot out of her driveway in a way that had even a veteran of high-speed chases clinging to the armrest with a white-knuckled grip. It was the second time today he’d misjudged a woman in this town.
“Don’t take out your frustration with me on the car,” he suggested quietly as she skidded around the corner onto another tree-lined street. “Getting us killed won’t help anyone, least of all Tommy.”
“Oh, go to hell,” she snapped. “This is all your fault.”
“You’ll have to explain that one to me.”
“It just is.”
Walker bit back a grin. “Now there’s a rational bit of logic. How very female.”
She slammed on the brakes so hard, he almost banged his head on the windshield. When he’d recovered, he turned to find her staring straight ahead with what might have been tears glistening on her cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her.
“What? I thought I heard you apologizing.”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” she retorted.
“Maybe we ought to start over. I don’t think we understand each other’s point of view here.”
“Probably not,” she conceded with a sigh. “It’s just that Tommy means a lot to me. I don’t want to see him hurt.”
“Believe it or not, Ms. Spencer, neither do I.”
She finally turned to face him. “Since it looks like it’s going to be a long night, maybe you ought to call me Daisy.”