Read Face of Betrayal for Free Online Page A

have attracted any attention among hundreds of shoppers intent on finding the perfect Christmas gift?
    Wayne clenched his fists. “It’s like she went out that door and stepped into a black hole.”
    “Has Katie seemed any different since she came home?”
    “She’s seemed lost in thought. I’ll say something to her, and she won’t answer me until I ask it a second time.”
    Valerie nodded. “I think she’s depressed. She’s been sleeping a lot and only picking at her food. I thought maybe she was just missing school and her friends in DC. But when I tried to ask her about it, she said nothing was wrong.”
    “Have you looked to see if anything is missing?” Nic asked. “Her purse? Her keys? Any kind of backpack or bag?”
    Valerie massaged the space between her eyebrows. “Just the things you would think she would take. Her cell phone and her keys.”
    “This might seem insensitive, but we need honest answers to help us find her. Does Katie drink or use drugs that you know of?”
    Valerie stiffened. “That we know of! She’s not some latchkey child. We make it our business to know what Katie is doing and with whom. She doesn’t smoke, she doesn’t drink, and she most certainly does not use drugs. We’ve already discussed these things with the other policemen. Why are you wasting time asking the same questions over and over?”
    The woman was like an injured dog, biting anyone who tried to help.
    “Please, just bear with me. Does Katie have a boyfriend?”
    “No,” Wayne said. “Katie knows we don’t want her to date until she’s out of high school.”
    What the parents wanted and what the kids did could be two very different things.
    Watching Valerie pinch her lips together, Nic asked, “And who would you say her friends are?”
    Valerie said, “Her best friend is a girl named Lily, but I don’t know if they’ve been in touch since Katie came home. They’ve known each other since preschool, but Katie has kind of outgrown Lily, if you know what I mean.”
    “Why don’t you tell me?”
    “Oh, Lily’s turned into one of those Goth girls, all dressed in black. She wasn’t brought up that way, but she’s a bit of a rebel. Not like Katie. Katie has, has— goals .”
    “She’s so focused,” Wayne said, his voice cracking. “So focused and smart and funny. And now some sick creep has taken her.”
    “We don’t know that, Mr. Converse.” Nic had to say it, although her gut told her he was right.
    His eyes were haunted. “You may not know it, but I do.” His hands curled into fists. “If I could only get my hands on the guy who took my little girl!” With a roar, he pivoted and punched the wall. A dimple appeared, and then the paint fell away, revealing plaster held in place by chicken wire. White dust swirled in the air. Wayne shook his hand as both women sprang to their feet.
    “That’s not going to help!” Valerie shouted.
    “Did you hurt yourself?” Nic asked.
    When Wayne mutely shook his head, she took his hand between her own. His skin was cold. She ran her finger across his knuckles, which were red and already starting to swell. Bruised, but not broken, if she was any judge. When something hot plopped onto her arm, she flinched and looked up. Wayne was crying, his mouth so wide that she could see the silver flash of fillings on his back teeth. His face was red and his whole body shook with sobs, but he was eerily silent. She let go of his hand.
    Finally, Valerie reached out for her husband and pulled him to her. As Wayne buried his face in her neck, Valerie stared at Nic over his shoulder. Her eyes were blank, unseeing.

CONVERSE RESIDENCE
    December 16
    F ive minutes later, Nicole followed Katie’s parents up the stairs. While Wayne held a bag of frozen peas across his bruised knuckles, Valerie pushed open the door at the end of the hall. Katie’s bedroom had pink curtains, apple-green walls, and a window seat.
    Nic said, “Sometimes I find it helps me to spend some time