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Hopefully, this new clue will take the investigation toward whoever is responsible for Liliana's disappearance. That isn't me."
    "Good to know." She paused, looking back toward the police. "They're getting ready to search the park. I offered to help, but the detective suggested I stay out of it. I don't know why. It's as if he suddenly doesn't trust me."
    "Don't take it personally."
    "It felt personal." She looked back at him. "I can't forget what I saw last night. That woman needed help, and I was the only one around, but I didn't get to her in time."
    He wished Alicia had gotten to Liliana, too, but they couldn't change what had happened. "Well, you found her tag. That's something. You got the police out here. They'll search every inch of this park."
    "I still wish I could do more."
    He thought about her words for a moment. Like Alicia, he'd been sidelined, and he was feeling just as frustrated as she was. "Maybe you can help me. I'd like to see the pictures you took yesterday."
    "There's nothing on them. I already told you that."
    "Could I see them anyway? Just in case you missed something."
    "I didn't."
    "Then what's the harm in showing me the photos?"
    She hesitated, her gaze moving once again toward the police and then back to him. "I'm not sure I should. You're a suspect."
    "But I'm not guilty. If you researched the case last night, I'm sure you learned some things about me. What did you find out?"
    She gave him a long assessing look, and then said, "You left Miami when you were a teenager, went to prep school and have a master's degree from NYU. Since college, you've been working in real-estate development with your grandfather William Jansen, who is a very rich and successful man."
    It was odd to hear his life encapsulated in such a succinct way, but she'd at least saved him the trouble of a lengthy explanation. "Do I sound like a guy who would kidnap a girl I used to share peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with?"
    "Appearances can be deceiving."
    "I just want to look at your photographs, Alicia. It will take a few minutes of your time. You said you wanted to help."
    It had been awhile since a woman had been reluctant to spend five minutes with him. In fact, he couldn't remember when it had ever happened. But Alicia was obviously still uncertain about him, and he couldn't blame her. He'd had two months to try to wrap his head around this horrible situation, and he hadn't been successful. Alicia had had less than twenty-four hours.
    "All right." She glanced down at her watch. "It's almost eight. Why don't I meet you at Il Piccolo Café on Bryant Street around ten? I need to go home and take a shower and pull myself together."
    "I'll be there."
    "So will I."
    After Alicia left, Michael turned his attention back to the police officers. There were almost two dozen men and women gathered by the carousel now; some from the police department, others from the park service. They were about to start another search of the park, this time using dogs to try to pick up Liliana's scent.
    He turned his head as a man called out his name. The voice belonged to Juan Valdez, Liliana's older brother and someone he had once called a friend.
    Juan was a tall, skinny man with long, dark hair pulled back in a short ponytail. He had on black sweatpants and a long-sleeve T-shirt. With his bloodshot eyes and unshaven beard, he appeared to have rolled out of bed a few minutes earlier. He looked exhausted and stressed, which was how everyone in the Valdez family had looked the past two months.
    Next to Juan was Rico, Liliana's younger brother. Rico was as different from Juan as night was from day. While Juan was a hardworking chef who was creative and kind, Rico was a short-statured bulldog who was perpetually in between jobs and whose numerous scars represented his willingness to fight about anything.
    He'd never been a fan of Rico's, even though Liliana had tried to tell him that Rico's cocky attitude just covered up a lot of insecurity. That