The Girl and the Unlucky 13 (Emma Griffin™ FBI Mystery) A.J. Rivers (historical books to read TXT) 📖

If you haven’t noticed yet, she isn’t missing anymore. She’s right there. Right there in that hospital room. And instead of being in there with her, enjoying spending time with her and being happy that she’s back and she’s safe, we’re out here with you, dealing with this bullshit about some baby in a field.”

“You know what? You’re right. Ashley is there in that hospital room. She came back and is alive, which is a miracle. But nobody knows what happened to her, or how she ended up being missing for five years. Those years matter. What she went through during those years matters. And whoever did it is going to get away with it, if we don’t do everything we can to track down where she was and what happened the last night anyone saw her. You’re talking about distraction? Refusing to have your DNA tested is a distraction. You’re taking time away from the investigation by forcing these leads to stay open. If you continue to refuse, we can get a court order to compel you to comply,” I say.

“When you do, let us know,” Vivian snaps.

She takes Allison’s hand and guides her back to Ashley’s room.

“Hey, Vivian,” I say as she walks away, making her turn back around.

“What?” she asks.

“I never told you what was buried behind the school.”

Her jaw sets and a bright red flush streaks across her cheeks and down the sides of her neck. All the color seems to have drained out of Allison, who goes pale as her mouth falls open. Neither says anything, but they quickly disappear into the room. The door’s closing firmly behind them is a message: I’m on the outside. I’m not a part of this welcome-home reunion anymore.

“Hey,” Dean calls over, jogging down the hallway toward me. “There you are. Do you know how hard it was to get them to let me come up here?”

“I would think so, considering they’re taking care of a kidnap victim,” I reply.

My eyes move over to the door and my lips twist as thoughts turn and spin around in my head.

“What is it?” he asks. “What’s going on?”

“The police kept the detail about the fetal remains out of the media, right?” I ask.

He nods. “Yes. Ashley’s parents are the only ones who know that’s what was found behind the school. Other than the investigators.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Why?”

I look back at him and realize he’s alone. “Where’s Xavier?”

“Security wouldn’t let him through. So, he’s downstairs with them. I got him going on root beer again, so he should be good for a while,” Dean says.

“The drink?”

“The song.”

I nod. “Well, he’ll either be fine staying down there or they’ll crack and let him come up.”

“Why did you ask about the fetal remains?” Dean asks.

“Oh. Because Vivian just mentioned them,” I explain. “She and Allison still haven’t given their DNA, and the detective asked me to try to convince them to do it. They still refuse, and she was getting angry. She said that we were wasting time testing a baby found in a field.”

“Maybe Ashley’s mother mentioned it to them,” he suggests. “They’ve stayed in touch. And she’s seen both of them since the remains were found.”

“That’s possible. We told Misty not to discuss the details with anyone, but that doesn’t actually mean she went along with that. But it’s the way that Vivian reacted when I pointed it out to her. I said I never mentioned to her what was behind the school and she just glared at me. She didn’t defend herself or try to say that Misty told her.”

“Have they run a DNA test on her?” Ava’s voice coming at me from behind Dean makes my jaw clench. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude on your conversation. I just got here, so I’m catching up. What have you found out?”

“Who told you to come here?” I ask.

She gives me a quizzical look. “Creagan. He told me he already spoke with you.”

“He did. And I would have gotten in touch with you if I needed you,” I reply.

“He told me I’m investigating this case,” she says.

Tension builds through my spine and I fight to keep down my reaction to her.

“I am investigating this case,” I say carefully. “You are part of it to help. I will let you know when there is something I need done. For right now, this is a very delicate situation. Everything needs to be done in a specific way to make sure other elements aren’t compromised.”

She nods. “I understand.”

“As for the DNA, testing takes time. It’s not like on TV when someone can start flashing around results in a matter of minutes. They have to do mitochondrial testing because her biological father is not part of the equation. Just as when they tested the remains, it will take a little bit of time. Likely longer, because this isn’t considered as pressing an issue. Results will come in a couple of days. But for now, everyone is satisfied this is Ashley. It’s only been five years and her appearance hasn’t changed much.”

“What do you think?” Dean asks.

I pause from where I’d started toward the steps and look at him.

“I think she looks like an older version of the picture I saw of Ashley Stevenson,” I admit.

“Her growth patterns would likely be stunted by the conditions she was kept in, but the shape of her ears and the symmetry of her facial features suggests this is the same girl,” Xavier says.

“Xavier?”

“Xavier, where in the hell did you come from?” Dean asks, whipping around to face him.

Glancing around as if he’s not sure why everyone is so surprised to see him, Xavier points behind him.

“The stairs,” he shrugs. “All the root beer had been taken down and passed around.”

“What about the security guard?” I ask.

“He stopped checking on me around fifty bottles,” he says.

“But how did you get up here? Guards are supposed to be positioned at every entrance,” I say.

“Not at that one,” he says. “I