According to the report, Autumn had gone to the University of Seattle—partly on scholarship, partly school loans—graduated at the top of her class and then went on to get her teaching degree.
In a subparagraph, her relationship with a guy in college named Steven Elliot was mentioned and two other men with whom she’d had brief affairs, neither of them recent. Pete was extremely thorough.
Ben almost smiled. From the looks of the report, Autumn hadn’t dated a lot. He didn’t believe for a minute she hadn’t been asked.
There was something about Autumn Sommers, something that reached out and snagged a man’s interest. She might not be a buxom blonde with a movie star face, or an exotic, olive-skinned brunette, but with her silky russet curls, green cat-eyes and tight little body, in a different sort of way the woman was sexy as hell.
Ben ignored the unwanted shot of desire that came with the thought, just as he had the surprising physical attraction he had felt for her the moment she had walked into his office. He had clamped down hard on it then, certain she was some kind of crazy. But tonight, when he had seen the quick flash of tears in her eyes, he had felt the pull again.
Autumn was different from the women he dated. She seemed more passionate about life, more vital. If he was honest with himself and circumstances were different, he wouldn’t mind taking Autumn Sommers to bed.
It wasn’t going to happen. Though Pete’s report showed nothing out of the ordinary, past or present, it didn’t mean he could trust her. She could be the world’s smoothest charlatan or simply a nutcase who believed what she was telling him was real.
He made a note to call Pete in the morning to have him check whether Autumn had really made a trip to the prison in Sheridan, find out if she had actually talked to Meeks. In fact, if she had, he would have Pete go up there himself, see if he could confirm what Meeks had said about Molly.
The name whispered though his head as he hadn’t allowed it to in years. What if Molly were actually alive? She’d be twelve years old on August first. If she was alive, what horrors had she suffered in the years since she had been taken? Had she been abused? Molested? Brutalized in some terrible way?
God, he couldn’t bear to think that she was being mistreated. It was one of the reasons, after the long, hopeless search, he had grasped onto the theory that she had been murdered by Meeks. Better to think her dead than alive and suffering.
But the Sommers woman had raised that possibility and he realized that whatever had happened to Molly over the years didn’t matter. If she was alive, he just wanted her home, back where he could take care of her and heal whatever wounds she might have suffered.
A memory arose of the last day he had seen her, standing in the door to his study.
“Daddy! Daddy will you come out to my dollhouse and play with me?”
He was busy. There was always so much to do. But he always made time for Molly.
“All right, angel, what shall we play?” Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her toward the door leading out to the backyard.
“Let’s have a tea party!” Molly said, hugging his neck. A make-believe tea party was her favorite pastime.
“Okay, but you have to pour.”
Molly giggled and rested her head on his shoulder.
Ben closed his eyes against the memory. During the first years after his daughter’s disappearance, he had thought of that day a thousand times. But in the past several years, he had learned to block the memories. They were simply too painful, too destructive.
Now, because of Autumn Sommers, the memory had returned. Ben ignored the burning behind his eyes, leaned back in his chair and fought not to give in to his grief.
Seven
Autumn didn’t hear from Ben on Tuesday. He didn’t call on Wednesday. By Thursday night, she was resigned—if he didn’t get in touch with her by Friday afternoon, she was going to brave his secretary’s wrath, go up to his office and force her way in to see him.
Autumn sighed as she pushed through the door leading into the climbing gym. At least for the past few days she hadn’t been dreaming. Well, except for Monday, the last time she had seen Ben.
Four of her students were already there. As she set her notes on the table, the other two walked in. She was ready to begin the day’s lesson when a tall male figure strode through the door dressed in khaki shorts and a dark green T-shirt with the picture of a kayak plunging through white water and COULONGE GORGE printed on the front.
Autumn tried not to admire Ben McKenzie’s wide shoulders and powerful biceps and the long bands of muscle in his suntanned legs. He was wearing a pair of Reeboks but carried rubber-soled climbing shoes in one hand.
Autumn spoke to him as he walked toward her. “Mr. McKenzie. I’ve been hoping to hear from you. Unfortunately, we’re about to start our lesson. Perhaps after—”
“I signed up for your class at the front desk. I’ve bought the book you recommended and studied the first few chapters…the parts of the class I’ve missed. I’ll be joining your sessions from now on.”
Her mind was spinning. He hadn’t called all week and now he was here? “Could I speak to you for a moment outside?”
“Of course.”
He set his shoes on the floor and followed her.
As soon as the door was closed, Autumn spun to face him. “All right, McKenzie, what’s going on? I’ve been waiting to hear from you all week but you never called. Now you join my class? I’d like to know why.”
Ben shrugged those wide shoulders. “I’m in the sporting goods business. I like hiking, canoeing, kayaking, just about everything. We sell some of the finest climbing gear money can buy but I’ve never tried the sport. I figured this was a good opportunity.”
She clamped her hands on her hips. “Fine. Now, what’s the real reason you’re here?”
Ben’s gaze locked with hers. “You really want to know? I’ll tell you. You came to me with some cock-and-bull story about Molly. I don’t know you from Adam but just because you say so, I’m supposed to believe she’s alive after all these years and you think that together we can find her. If I’m crazy enough to believe you, it will turn my life upside down. There’s a chance my family will hear about it. And if they do, they’ll suffer. You say you need my help? Here’s the deal. I’m not committing to anything until I know who the hell you are.”
She opened her mouth but Ben cut her off.
“I’m not talking about the standard things—that you’re a twenty-seven-year-old schoolteacher or that your father is a retired fireman who lives in Burlington. I mean who you are in here.” He set a fist over his heart. “I need to believe you’re telling me the truth—not just what you believe is the truth. You want something from me, Autumn? Well, I want something from you.”
“How did you know about my father? Did you have me investigated like some kind of criminal?”
“You didn’t think I would?”
Of course he would. With his money and connections, it wouldn’t be that hard to do. “So exactly what is it you want?”
“I want time to get to know you, find out if you’re for real. Once I’m satisfied, you’ll have my complete cooperation.”
“What about Molly? Every day lost is a day we could be looking for her.”
“Molly’s been gone six years. Odds are she’s dead, just like the police believe. I have to think of Katie and Joanne. If this all starts again, questions will be asked, word will get back to them sooner or later. Neither of them or