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to him, a lifelong student of human behavior. Her concern seemed like real concern, her exhaustion like real exhaustion. Wouldn’t a fraud, a user, have headed right for the reporters down at the bottom of the drive? Put her name out there, gotten in front of the cameras, drummed up business? Her profile wasn’t matching up.
    Not unlike the kidnapper.
    The kidnapper. The business suit. 
    Although he knew Ben was heading directly for him, he held up a hand as he stopped next to where Agent Lyang sat in front of the computers, virtually where he’d left her seven hours ago.
    “I want a list from the university of all senior, male, administrators,” he said to her as she looked up. “I want to know if there’s a business school there as well. Or a law school. I want to know of any middle-aged man of average build and dark hair who had reason to be on campus wearing a dark suit yesterday morning.”
    Sharon only nodded.
    “Mac,” Ben said. “Anything new?”
    They’d been in constant contact the entire day. Ben had known, either from him or Sharon, exactly what was going on at all times. Ben knew there was nothing new but he couldn’t help but ask.
    “Not yet,” Mac said, gripping Ben's shoulder. “Not yet.” Even though he slumped, Ben's shoulder felt tight. “Don’t give up. I haven’t.”
    Ben nodded, as though he hadn’t either, but his eyes said something different. Mac read the resignation there as though Esme’s body had already been found.
    Anita came through the swinging doors from the kitchen, followed by Isabelle. They both looked as though they’d been crying. 
    “Ben,” Anita started.
    “ What? ” Ben yelled, whirling on her. “ No , there hasn’t been a phone call. No, there hasn’t been a new clue. No, there hasn’t been a body.”
    Stunned silence fell on the room. Two uniformed police officers and two agents who were probably from CIRG all froze. Sharon, who was on the phone, covered the mouthpiece with her hand.
    “Benicio,” Anita said, her voice calm, even commanding. “You eat something this very instant. Your skin is gray. You come into this kitchen right now and eat,” she said turning away from him. “I’m not asking you again.”
    A collective eyebrow went up around the room and Mac cocked his head at Anita’s retreating back. That’s what he’d thought the first time he’d seen Ben that morning. The gray pallor of his skin was alarming–expected but alarming. As Anita passed Isabelle, the two women exchanged a look. Only when Ben moved did Mac realize he was still gripping the man’s shoulder. Ben shrugged him off.
    “Everyone get out,” he said tiredly. “Just…please, get out.”
    Sharon glanced at Mac and he shook his head a tiny ‘no.’ If a call came in, even though the odds were a million to one against, someone from the Bureau had to be here. 
    “Oh for crying out–” Ben started.
    “You heard the man,” Mac announced. He motioned to the other FBI agents. “Let’s go.” He waved the police officers toward the door. “Let’s give them a little privacy. Everybody’s tired. Including me.”
    Though he needn’t have, he motioned to Isabelle. She was already moving toward the door. 
    “Mac, I’m sorry,” Ben said, turning to him. “It’s just that–”
    “Don’t apologize,” Mac said quickly, stopping him. “And don’t give up. Because I haven’t. Truly. You know me. I’m not going to offer you false hope. I wouldn’t do that.” He slowly shook his head. “But something’s wrong here. I feel it in my gut.”
    “Okay,” Ben said, really sagging now and not really hearing him.
    “Go eat,” Mac said, steering him toward the kitchen. “I don’t want Anita angry at me .”
    As Ben headed that way, Mac gave Sharon a last look and they nodded at each other. He closed the front door softly behind him.
     
    • • • • •
     
    As Mac nudged his rental car past the encampment of cameras and lights that seemed to take