Key West Gone into the Night Elizabeth Hilleren (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

“Nope, none. I hope to have more luck tonight when the night shift starts.”

“You really think this is going to work? It’s a small town but it has a lot of bars,” Stephanie said.

“Yeah, and I’m told a lot of tourists, especially on the weekends. It seems they are so busy running food and beer that they don’t notice the people unless there is something special about them. Javier is good-looking but watch the people trooping by here for a while and special is not the word that comes immediately to mind in this river of humanity. Even if it’s hopeless I have to do something.”

“I suppose so. Nothing from your friends the police?”

“No, nothing. I’ve even read on the internet about the authorities finding kids who were sold on the black market.”

“You think they’re for sale?”

Carl shook his head.  “No. I think that Javier has them. All we have to do is find him and we find the kids. With the police looking for them, I bet he’s just laying low somewhere until the case cools down.  So not likely he’s wandering through the streets.  Unless he is so sure of himself that he thinks no one can find him in this flow of people.  He’ll take them out of here, if he hasn’t already.”

*    *    *

Harris returned home to find Amy fixing food for him.

“Looks good but I don’t know how much I can eat,” Harris said. He sat down and took a few bites.

“Amy, I need some time. I’m not shutting you out, I would never do that. I just need time to think…alone. I’m a detective and I need to wrap my head around this case and try to get the facts straight. More than that, I need to know a little more about my daughter. I’m thinking of going to her house and see what I can find.”

Amy looked concerned. “Burt, don’t do anything that might get you in trouble with your boss. Let Alex do it.”

“Alex won’t know how to put things together.  Personal things. My ex-wife hates me, she’s of no help. I need to know what Susan valued, what she really thought, and why she came to Key West with those two kids and then left them alone to be taken.”

“I doubt that she knew that someone would steal them.  I’m sure she thought they would be safe there for the short time she would be gone. She never intended on leaving them alone for a long time.  Not a three-month-old baby. That’s speaking from a woman’s and a nurse’s point of view.”

“And it makes sense,” Harris said.

“Look, Burt,” she said holding his hand, “if you need to go, I’ll cover for you if anyone should ask where you are. Just be very careful.”

“I’ll do that. I just need to know her a little better and I don’t know how else to do it.”

“I’ll pack you a lunch and snacks and coffee. When will you leave?”

“Tonight.  It’s an easy drive at night. I’ll be fine.”

“All right. I’ll get things ready.”

At five o’clock Harris headed for the door.

“Thanks, Love,” Harris said, holding her tight.  She kissed him goodbye and watched as he drove off.

*    *    *

Amy closed the door and headed for the kitchen with a prayer for Burt’s safety on her lips. She washed up the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.

She had just settled down in the living room when the doorbell rang. Glancing at her watch she saw that it was not yet six-thirty.  She opened the door and found a woman standing there.

“May I help you?”

“Where’s Burt?” she demanded. “I need to talk to him.”

“He’s not home.” The woman tried to look past Amy, obviously not believing her.

“Where the hell is he?”

“Who are you?” Amy asked.

“I’m Stephanie, his used-to-be wife. Who the hell are you?”

“Amy. His fiancée.  Would you like to come inside and have some coffee? I just made a pot.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes. “Why not. I’m not leaving till I talk to him.”

“Come in,” Amy said.  “Have a seat.  I’ll get us some coffee.”

Stephanie looked around the room. It was a comfortable living room with a fireplace and overstuffed chairs and a couch that matched. The end tables and lamps gave the room a look of warmth without being heavy. The pictures were colorful and whimsical, reflecting a Key West tropical flavor.

Amy brought out a tray with coffee and a variety of cookies. “Here you are. Would you like cream or sugar?”

“Yes. I can fix it.” She poured cream into the cup and two teaspoons of sugar. Before settling back in her chair, she took a plate and put three cookies on it.

“I’m so sorry about your daughter and grandchildren. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.” Amy said.

Stephanie eyed Amy from the corner of her eye.

“You knew about Susan and the kids before this all happened?”

“Burt told me about his daughter and mentioned that he had a grandson that he had never seen.”

“Susan hated him…just like I do, to this day.”

Amy thought her over-made-up face showed her age.

“I know that this is a terribly difficult time for you. I also know that Detective Sharkey and the police are working day and night to find Susan’s killer and the children.”

Stephanie took a long drink of her coffee, popped a cookie in her mouth, then took another sip of coffee. “Good coffee and cookies.” She studied Amy for a moment. “You’re such a little thing. I always thought Burt’s type was more like me. We had a really good time together for the first six months of our marriage. Then the baby came, and he went to work for the police department. That’s when it all went to hell. He’s