"Forget it. If nothing else works, I'll go check at the hospital first. Keep an eye on this case for me."
Nick rose from his chair. Despite what he said, he actually intended to see Monroe again and find out whether he could coax him into coming along to search the woods behind the Labe estate.
With a wolf's keen sense of smell, Monroe might pick up something. Even if they couldn't find a living person, finding a body would still count as a breakthrough.
But just as he entered the police station's parking lot, Wu hurried after him with his phone in hand, looking tense. "Nick! Nick! We've got a problem."
Nick stopped and turned to him. "What happened?"
"Rocky's dad just called me. He said Gilda got out on bail, rushed over to his house, barged into Rocky's room, and dug out a handgun. She also said something about killing that family if she couldn't get Rocky back."
For all Wu's earlier just-get-through-the-day attitude, he was all bark and no bite-sharp words, soft heart. When something really happened, he cared as much as anyone, as the earlier case of the missing little girl had shown.
"How long ago?" Nick asked at once.
"Uh..." Wu raised his hand to check the time. "About an hour ago."
Now they were really in trouble. Even if they raced over with their sirens blaring, they would probably be too late.
"Take some officers to the estate. I'll notify the Labes." Nick pulled out his phone and hurried toward his Ford Explorer as he dialed.
"What is it now, Detective Burkhart? This is my private number. I could file a complaint about this harassment." The call connected quickly, and Frank Rabe's somewhat impatient voice came through.
"Are you home right now?" Nick asked