"No record of Ann and Paul Davidson at the airport, bus station or train station," Kenny verified. "No sign of their cars either."
"But she was at the soccer field two days ago?" Jimmy verified. "Per your wife?"
My wife who is out with some of those women now, Kenny thought. "Yeah. They talked spa and shopping. No mention of her kids or husband. There is Isabella Davidson too…where is she?"
"How well does Max know her?"
No, he thought, no, I'm not dragging her into this any farther. My Max who was ready to go play detective last night…because it's who she is. Damn it, what did I do to her? "Well enough. Our kids are friends, I don't know what she does with them all day. She was talking about how much she hates brunch."
"She mention anyplace they may go?"
"No…I asked her, okay? She's a little shocked over it…She doesn't want to believe it."
But she does, Jimmy thought, because of Josh. Underneath that perfect mom façade, she's still a cop, she isn't just baking cookies and playing patty cake. "I get that this is hard for you."
Kenny shook his head. "I'm fine. Really…It has nothing to do with that."
Lies, Jimmy thought, as he looked away. How do they ever get over this? Kenny burying it and Max jumping into fulltime mommy-hood? This isn't going to last forever, something is going to give with them. Probably with Max, she can't play pretend forever.
"Okay then. We're going to bring in everyone the Davidson's know. Start with their friends, work out to teachers, coaches, everyone. That includes Max too."
"She's out with them now. I'll call her. You're going to question Max?"
She attracts some crazies, Jimmy thought, a lot of crazies. I can almost understand why Kenny wanted her to stay home with the kids…I just can't believe she agreed to it. "She's Ann friend. She identified the victim for us, which we're keeping quiet."
Keep her safe, he thought, no, she told me she was fine…she's full of crap. And a great Mom, she's so great at it. Another kid, she mentioned it, do we really want to do that? That's five at home… God, she looks good pregnant. "She appreciates it. She's keeping her mouth shut too, don't worry about it."
Because she's still a cop, Jimmy thought, I can't believe she did this. "How did she meet these people?"
"Just through what she took the kids to. Sports, pre-school, they're…she likes them. Natalie, I really think, wants to give her a makeover or something, then drag her off to the country club. She likes them."
"Forget calling her, I'll go talk to her myself. Go find the others."
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"Uh, huh," Max said, as Emily continued to babble. "Em, that's great."
"Mommy! You're not listening!"
Max groaned internally, as she locked the front door behind her. Setting Lindsay down. "Nate, homework."
"I hate homework," he stated. "Why do I have to do it?"
"Because your teachers want to torment you," she replied, before she could think better of it. "And you'll get into a good college."
Nate laughed, as he took an apple. "Can I tell them you said that, Mom?"
Max froze, unsure of what to say or do. What did he just call me? Mom? He looks as shocked as I do…and he's nine. "That homework will get you into a good college, absolutely."
"Mommy, are you Nate's Mommy?" Emily piped up.
What do I say? Why isn't there a manual for this? "If he wants me to be, I'd love to."
Nate grinned. "Really? I mean…my Mom she…I miss her. Can I just…call you that sometimes?"
"Oh, Nate, so do I. Of course you can."
"Can I do homework?" Emily asked, tugging on Nate's sleeve. "Please?"
"You can do my fractions," he said, taking her hand. "Come on, Em."
I'm going to cry, Max thought, watching them walk off to the living room together. Calling me Mom? That…Wow. Oh, Caroline, I wish you were still here to see them growing up. Jumping a bit, at the knock at the door, she shook off the odd feeling. Yanking it open again. "Hi."
"Max," Jimmy said, regarding her for a long moment.
He thinks I threw it all away, she thought, and I'm a huge disappointment. Why is he here…Oh, God. "Is Kenny okay?"
The wife, he thought, seeing the fear in eyes. "Max, he's fine. I'm here to question you about Ann Davidson."
"It's really Nigel?" she asked quietly. "I wanted it to be wrong."
It hits home with both of them, he thought, watching her for a long moment. It's still a little raw. Pulling out a tap recorder, he said. "I'm sorry. Tell me about Ann and Paul. How did you meet them?"
She leaned up against the counter, hating it and knowing why he was doing it. "I met Ann through preschool, her daughter, Bella, is in Emily's class. They also do gymnastics together…Nigel goes to the same swim class as Lindsay. We go to know each other, and…we just talk about, just stuff."
"Stuff? Care to elaborate?"
"Mom stuff. Healthy recipes, sales, teachers, newest must have toys and clothes, our kids, husbands…it's all kind of…why are you looking at me like that?"
"You. Talking about that stuff all day."
"What's wrong with it?"
Don't, Jimmy thought, looking back at her. She made her choice, Jill certainly thinks it was the right one. No, I don't care how great a mom she is, how great she says she's doing, it's crap. "It's not who you are. You're a cop, and you know it. I know you did this because Kenny asked you too, that you did it for him. I know he's been extremely overprotective of you and the kids this past year and a half. That all he wants is for all of you to be safe. You can't live like that forever. If this is really what you want, if you're really happy being a stay at home mom, great, I won't mention it again. But if you're not…you can't lie to yourself forever."
Max fell silent at that, unsure of what to say. Nail on the head, she thought, and I know Kenny wouldn't of told him all of that. Be honest. "I wouldn't of even thought of it if he didn't bring it up. We went through a lot, it changed both of us…It's important to him."
"Just him?"
"I wouldn't trade this time with them for anything. And he's okay, Jimmy. I forced a couple things down his throat a few days ago, and…he is. There is a lot we're dealing with, but…he's okay. I'm okay. Don't you want to know about Ann?"
She seems okay, he thought, regarding is deputy for a long moment. This isn't Max, he thought, she isn't this person. Kenny has her barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, with their 16 month old. Standing here gym shorts, sweatshirt and her hair grown out… Telling me she likes this…this isn't Max. "Get talking."
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"Damn it," Kenny said, as he and Skeeter stood over the body of the girl. I know her, he thought, looking at the blond girl. She's been at my house, she and Em go to school together. "This is Isabella Davidson."
Skeeter looked at him. "You sure?"
"Yeah. I even drove her home from gymnastics one time…she's in Emily's class. Here," he said, pulling out his phone and scrolling through the pictures that Max sent him all of the time. "I remember this one because of how much Em looks like Max."
"They are doppelgangers," Skeeter commented, looking from the photo to the body. "What is going on here? Where are their parents? Linda confirmed seeing her in the park with Natalie and Max that day. While her kids….Same ligature marks on her neck. We need a team out here."
"I'll make the call."
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"Hey," Max said tiredly, opening the front door later that night. Exhausted, she thought, how come I don't get vacation days anymore? And Kenny is late again…I can't be mad. I know, I get it…I'm not going to be that wife. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Deputies came to my house," Natalie said, as Max opened the door wide. "Oh, my God. Did you know?"
"Know what?" Max asked, as Kelly and Jackie followed her inside. Lie, keep my mouth shut, they're my friends, I can't just…No, it's…What is wrong with me? "I had one too."
"You're married to one," Kelly stated.
"Kenny doesn't talk to me about work anymore. It's part of his shelter me from the world and protect his family movement," Max replied. "Trust me, it's one of the sticking points in our relationship."
"I've seen how that man looks at you," Jackie stated. "All you have to is bat your eyes at him and he'll trip all over his feet trying to make you happy."
"You think so?" she asked dryly. "We used to talk about everything."
"We saw Ann two days ago…it can't be Nigel. She was…they she did it, that's what this is about?" Natalie said. "What do you know? You know these people. You're her friend, you have to help us find her."
Damn it, Max thought, her mind spinning. I'm so tired. All I want is to crawl into bed… "Yeah, I know them. I'm not one of them anymore, I haven't been in over a year. More if you count the time I was on leave before I made it official. Kenny doesn't talk to me about this stuff, my old co-workers don't, and Jimmy Brock thinks I completely threw my life away. All I know, if it is Nigel, and they seem certain it is…You know have no idea how much it hurts to know…that someone could do that to your child."
"Oh," Natalie said, looking at her for a long moment. "I forgot about…I'm sorry."
I'll never forget, she thought, thinking of what she saw in that box. I'll never be the same, Kenny hasn't been. "It's been more then two years for us. It's okay."
"Do they think she and Paul did it?" Kelly pressed.
My head hurts, Max thought, I look like crap…Bed. I need to sleep. I can't do this right now. "I don't know."
"We need to find her," Jackie said. "You have to find out what the cops know."
"Jimmy Brock won't stop until he finds out the truth."
"He didn't save your son," Kelly stated.
I hate you, she thought, feeling her heart practically stop, I hate you. Out of all of them…god, she looks down her nose at me. I'm not like them. "He tried, I know how hard he tried to. Josh, he…no one can ever hurt him again. Listen, guys, I'm exhausted, can we do this tomorrow?"
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"Ligature marks on her neck match the one on Nigel Davidson's neck," Carter confirmed. "I'll know more after the autopsy."
Kenny's gaze fell to the body on the table. How…both of them? She's Emily's friend, God, she's been to our house. Where are the parents? Two days ago, Ann Davidson was planning a spa and shopping trip with my wife, while both her kids laid in shallow graves less then 500 yards apart. "Skin under the nails?"
"We'll see if it matches what is under her brother's."