Page 142 of Veil of Silence

“I wanted to update all of you at once.” She closed the door behind her. “Zander Dalton—the man you knew as Deputy Cross—is in federal custody and receiving medical treatment under guard. State investigators are also reviewing every case Cross touched and every document used to hire and certify him. Luke has turned over the department’s personnel records.”

“Good to know,” Nora murmured.

“The vehicle that left the service road hasn’t been located yet, but state and federal officers are continuing the search,” Prine continued. “We’re also processing the farmhouse and both vehicles for evidence. The farmhouse appears to have been a temporary holding site rather than the location where the boys were originally kept.”

“That fits with what we saw there,” Austin added.

Meaning they still had no idea where Christian was being held.

Marlowe glanced toward the hall. “Is the boy under arrest?”

“No. We’re treating him as a potential abduction victim while we determine his identity and his level of involvement in what happened.”

“How do you find out who he is if he doesn’t remember?” Dad asked.

“We’ll compare his fingerprints and DNA with missing person records and family reference samples. We’re also reviewing missing child reports from the years surrounding his approximate disappearance and consulting specialists who may be able to help him recover identifying memories.”

“Could his family still be looking for him?” Mom asked.

“They may be,” Prine said. “But I don’t want to give you the impression that we’ll have an answer today. If he was taken as young as he believes, identifying him could take time.”

Mom looked toward the closed door. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel about him.”

Nora sat beside her. “He hurt us, and he also appears to be a victim. Both things are true.”

Mom wiped her cheeks. “You’re right. But I still don’t know what to do with it.”

The truth was—neither did Nora.

Chapter

Fifty-Eight

Two hours passed before the doctors cleared the boy to speak with anyone.

Nora’s family remained in a consultation room down the hall. They wanted answers, but Dr. Rutherford had recommended limiting the number of people around the boy. Nora, Austin, and Prine were already more than enough.

Nora fought a tremble of nerves as she stepped into his room.

Daylight filled the space, exposing every bruise on the boy’s face. He sat propped against the pillows with his injured wrist secured in a brace and an untouched breakfast tray beside him.

Austin took the chair near the window. Nora sat closer to the bed while Prine and Dr. Rutherford positioned themselves where he could see them without feeling surrounded.

The agent outside the door and the recorder on the table made it clear this wasn’t an ordinary conversation.

Dr. Rutherford explained why the interview was being recorded and reminded the boy that he could request a break at any time. After he agreed, Prine turned on the recorder.

“I understand you don’t remember your real name,” she started. “Is that correct?”

He nodded. “That’s right. I can’t remember.”

“What would you like us to call you?” she asked.

He stared at his hands. “I don’t know.”

“Josiah?”

“No.” His jaw tightened. “Definitely not Josiah.”