“I think their food was poisoned. Petunia not being there means she’s still alive, Max. I can get her back.”
A muscle popped in his jaw. “How are you going to do that, Gwen? You couldn’t even keep her safe.” He hung up the phone and started punching at numbers. “I’m doing what I should have done from the beginning. I’m calling in the FBI. No more amateur hour.”
He had every right to be mad. If it were me, I’d be fuming. “Get in the car, Max. I’ll take you to Carter’s.”
He climbed into the car and talked on the phone while I sent Ms. Delany a text with an update of what was going on. My phone rang.
“I’ll meet you at Carter’s house, and I’m sending a team to the playground and to the hospital.”
“Thank you.” My words came out a whisper.
“Gwen, this wasn’t your fault,” she said, but no matter how much Ms. D. believed it, that didn’t make it true.
“I have to find Petunia. The last one seen with her was Robin, and I didn’t see her as one of the unconscious victims. Can you call it into the police and have this treated as a possible child endangerment abduction?” I swallowed hard.
“I’ll fill them in on what’s going on, en route to Carter’s house.”
“Thanks, Ms. Delany,” I said, opening my door and climbing into the car. I shoved the key into the ignition and drove while Max talked on the phone.
My mind raced in a million different directions in the twenty minutes it took to get to Carter’s house. Security was no longer in the gatehouse. They were standing guard at each entry point into the home. Rose was outside the house door, holding her weapon. Carter had Amelia in a hug. Her body kept going limp as she sobbed. I no longer wondered if word of the incident had made it back to the house. I was seeing the effects first-hand.
Max got out of the car and didn’t bother to wait to see if I’d follow. The guards let him and me both pass. Rose jogged down the steps toward me as Max stormed into the house.
“Is it true? Was Petunia taken?”
I swallowed and nodded. “I think everyone at the park was poisoned.”
Rose grabbed my arm and squeezed. “Cassandra?”
“She only ate one cookie. She was conscious when I got there.”
Rose leaned over and rested her hands on her knees. “Thank God for that stupid diet.”
“Ms. Delany is on the way, but right now, I need to see Robin’s room to look for clues.”
“She was living in the guest house,” Rose said, leading the way back into the house.
We’d just stepped foot in the foyer when Amelia charged at me with her fists clenched, yelling. “You promised to protect her. You promised to keep her safe.”
Max grabbed her around the waist. “This wasn’t her fault.”
“Amelia, I’m going to find Petunia. I promise.”
Amelia’s tears returned, covering her already stained face as she collapsed in Max’s arms.
“Carter, I need to get into Robin’s guest house.”
He gestured with his hand. “Amelia is devastated. I’m sorry she attacked you.”
“It’s understood. I’d be the same way,” I answered honestly.
“Maybe if I’d listened to Max and we’d called the FBI, none of us would be here right now and Petunia would be safe and home.”
“This isn’t Gwen’s fault or Cassandra’s. There was no way to know that your chef was a psycho. Hell, how long has she lived with you and you didn’t notice?” Rose growled, coming to my defense.
“You guys can point fingers at me later. Right now I need access.”
I stormed through the kitchen and out the back door to the guest house. Carter appeared by my side and used a master key; unlocking the door, he pushed it open.
