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“Help! Can anybody hear me?”
Try to sit up. Impossible. She couldn’t twist enough and was hooked to something. “The seat belt.” They’d taped her hands to the front seat-belt strap.
Kick.
“Help.” The dry, hoarse whisper was all she had left.
The tears wanted to come. They started. But it was so hot in the car she could barely catch her breath. No tears.
Kick.
Kick again.
A customer will bring their cart to the return. Someone would hear her. She just had to keep kicking. Someone would wonder why her dad’s car was here. Wouldn’t they?
Kick. God, let me kick.
Lauren....
Chapter Three
“No witnesses. No physical evidence. No ransom demand. The Amber Alert is still active. But it’s been thirty-two hours since the kidnapping, and we’ve got nothing, Alicia.”
County Sheriff Coleman had escorted her home from the hospital after recovering from heat stroke. Thank heavens someone had seen her through the window after she’d passed out. The excessive heat inside the car could have killed her. She’d hated to call the county sheriff to bring her home, but the press had made it impossible for her to leave unescorted, and the Aubrey police had refused to help.
Now he stood in her humble living/dining room like he had a dozen times in the past four years. Same humble sheriff, just a different house than when he’d notified her Dwayne had died at the scene of his car accident.
“I don’t understand. We both know the only person who could be behind this is Shauna. She’s publicly threatened to take Lauren from me.” Her husband’s stepmother had put on a good distraught act for the television cameras, but Alicia knew the truth.
Knew the Webers wanted her little girl’s trust fund. Knew in her heart they were involved with the abduction. The gleam of dollar signs in their eyes proved it to her over and over again.
“Why can’t anyone see past the fake tears she has only when the press is around?” There was something else just behind Shauna’s heavy-lidded eyes. Gloating. The same look she’d had when they’d successfully frozen all of Dwayne’s assets.
“Lauren isn’t at the ranch or the Frisco house, where Shauna lives now. We’ve checked. We’ve followed Weber. We’ve searched every property remotely associated with either of them.” The sheriff shook his head as he had each time he’d told her the same results while she’d been in the hospital.
“What about the FBI? Did you contact the Texas Rangers like you said? Or are you telling me to give up?” She wouldn’t.
“I’m telling you I won’t stop looking, but there’s little I can do. The rangers are on watch and are conducting the investigation. They feel like this is a domestic dispute and haven’t called in the FBI yet.”
“Did Shauna stop them? Does everyone believe her and the lies she’s telling the press? I did not kidnap my daughter for her trust fund.” Vultures.
He hung his head, letting her assume it was true.
“It might be time for a private investigator,” he said.
“I checked into them yesterday from the hospital. They all want a lot more money than I have access to. And they want it up front before they’ll even begin.” She went to the window to see if any cameras were still parked out front. None. “Shauna says she’s hiring her own and swears if they find her, she’ll take her away. Isn’t that grounds for a search warrant or something? You’ve searched here based on the accusations of the press.”
“Now, Alicia, that’s not why the task force looked around and you know it. Shauna invited us to search all the property without a warrant.”
“You know that in the media, I’ve already been found guilty of kidnapping my own daughter, but I’m not sure how I did it. I think of all the times I judged those mothers being crucified by the news stations. You never hear about them being found innocent. But I’ll take the blame, Sheriff. I’ll let them call me whatever they want to get Lauren home safely.”
If she wasn’t so tired, she’d pace the carpet. Sitting and waiting was driving her crazy. Too exhausted to stand any longer, she fell into the chair and couldn’t stop the tears.
Lauren was gone and there was no one to find her. The light pat on her back reminded her that the sheriff was politely waiting.
“Alicia, you know that wasn’t me. I don’t think you’re using Lauren for publicity.”
“I don’t know what to do, Ralph.” She needed to pull herself together one more time so he could leave. “Sorry I had to call you again, but I couldn’t get out of the hospital door with those vultures wanting a statement.”
The press had hounded her, comparing her to a desperate, unstable woman. Implying she’d kidnapped her own little girl for the ransom. The local newspaper had made the first insinuations in their weekly editorial. Reporting that she was broke, unable to pay her bills because she was in the process of suing her sweet mother-in-law for Lauren’s trust fund.
“It’s all so stupid crazy, Ralph. If anyone is hungry for cash, it’s Shauna. Everyone knows she married Dwayne’s dad for the money. Goodness, she was the same age as her stepson. She hated me in high school and especially hated me after I married Dwayne. Even more after Roy left everything in a trust to Lauren.”
Another slow, awkward pat.
Pull it together.
“You should go. I’m fine. Really,” she finally managed.
“Lock the doors, Alicia. I don’t think it’s safe.”
She nodded, but if the kidnappers had wanted to kill her, it would have been much easier when they’d taken her baby. As it was, they were successfully framing her for their actions.
“I mean it, girl. They may be back to finish what they started. You could have died from being locked in that car.”
“I’m fine.” She feared her own neighbors more. That people she’d known all her life might take a mob mentality and throw bricks through her windows. Hadn’t that happened to a mother of another kidnapped little girl?
“As long as you stay inside, you’ll be fine.” He patted her shoulder again, following with a little squeeze before heading to the door. “Lauren will be fine, too. We’ll find her. I promise you that.”
“Without any idea where she’s been taken? Who’s really looking?”
He dipped his head again, raised his hat to his head and stood on the outside of the screen, tapping the doorknob.
Alone. No one to hold on to.
Alicia dropped her face into her hands. “What am I going to do?”
“Find someone without connections to the Webers,” he said through the glass, still waiting and pointing until she locked the door.
The silence was deafening after his car pulled away. How many nights over the past three and a half years had she begged for a moment alone? With no responsibility? Each moment spent away from Lauren, she’d been working doubles at the hospital. And now? Just one sweet giggle asking for another drink of water. That was all she wanted to hear.
She wiped more tears and stood straight. What she needed was money. Shauna had Lauren hidden somewhere. She watched the sheriff drive away and turned the dead bolt. Money would help her find her daughter.
She had to break her promise and sell her dad’s Camaro. There was one person who might want it just as badly as she did.
Johnny.
* * *
“YOU CAN’T AVOID this forever. I’ve already given him his meds. Next round is written on the schedule. He needs his exercises after lunch.” Brian grabbed his gym bag off the back porch and tossed it over his shoulder. “I’ve got to go.”
“Where are you headed?” John asked, letting the screen slam behind him. He wanted Brian to answer the question instead of ignoring him like he had since he’d returned. Other than instructions about their dad, Brian hadn’t said anything except “pass the butter,” at breakfast. John’s brother worked from sunup till past midnight every day, breaking only for meals and to take care of their dad.
And now he was taking off to go to “work” for four days?
“All you need to know is written down. Since Alicia can’t be here, call Mabel if you need something.”
“Shouldn’t we hire another nurse or a proper physical therapist?” His brother’s announcement last night that it was John’s turn to take care of their dad had thrown him for a loop. He had no training for this sort of duty.
Helping his father—other than in and out of the wheelchair—wasn’t like facing down the enemy. But for some reason making a mistake scared him to death.
“I won’t do that to Alicia. And neither will you.” Brian shook his head, adding to the disgust already plain on his face. “Truth is, we can’t afford it. Dad doesn’t have insurance. Alicia’s been coming by without payment until I get some cash. She insisted. I’ll pay her eventually, but I have to sell one of the mares. I’ve been having problems, since she’s in Dad’s name.”
“I can pay. How much do you need?”
“Keep your money.”
“It’s for Dad,” John said, stopping before he spouted what he really thought about his brother’s pride.
Things were a lot worse than John had imagined, but even then, his brother’s loyalty to Alicia wasn’t a battle he was willing to wage. Stick to Brian’s plan and negotiate peace when the time is right.
“Four days. Then we’ll suffer through a discussion,” Brian grudgingly mumbled.
The ranch and his dad were a different story. Brian couldn’t keep him from looking at the financials while he was gone to “work.”
“I’m not sure of what to do with Dad.”
“There’s a list of exercises on the stand next to his bed. It will give you a chance to talk to him without me around. You can complain all you want.” Brian shoved his hair off his face and pulled an old beat-up straw hat onto his head. “Mabel said she’s glad to help with Dad and is five minutes across the road.”
“I remember where Mrs. Standridge lives. Why are you wearing Dad’s hat?” His brother shot him a look and stuffed the hat harder on his head. “You could drive the rental to wherever you’re headed. I don’t have to return it for another couple of days.”
“Now, why would I want to do that?” He tossed his gym bag into the front of the truck and climbed in. “Don’t call her unless you really need to impose.”
“Don’t impose. Right,” John mumbled to a trail of dust mixed with gas fumes. “Four days without a freaking clue. Is that a reason to impose?”
Talking to his brother was more difficult than facing a terrorist. Brian was right about one thing—speaking to his dad had always been easy. But that was a long time ago, before two-minute conversations or voice-mail tag had become their routine. Long before his dad had such a hard, frustrating time just communicating that he wanted a sip of water. Maybe he could talk about some of his war stories? His dad might enjoy those.
But storytelling would have to wait until he’d checked forty sets of hooves. Made certain the rest of the herd was moved to the front pasture—what was left of it—and had plenty of water. Checked the fence line, which meant saddling an unfamiliar horse and riding for the first time in twelve years. In between the three-page to-do list, he was supposed to check on his father every half hour.
How had Brian kept up with the work four hired men had accomplished while they’d been growing up? And why had he left with only a small bag for four days?
Well, if Brian could do it, he could do it. He wanted to do it. If he could handle hotheaded naval aviators, he could handle some chores he’d done most of his childhood.
Piece of cake.
Chapter Four
He couldn’t do it.
Saddle sore, John wanted to drop in a chair, turn on a mind-numbing rerun of an old television show and drink a beer. If he’d been in San Diego, that was exactly what he would be doing. Or hitting the beach.
Of course, if he’d been at home in front of his TV, he wouldn’t be frustrated at not completing any task on Brian’s list. He’d consistently been aware of each minute slithering by. The stops and starts of checking on his dad had disrupted each job he’d begun. As a result, he hadn’t finished anything.
After a couple of hours he’d admitted he was out of his element. He’d run and trained almost every day since leaving home, but every part of him was sore in a different way. By lunch he’d called Mrs. Standridge. He wasn’t ashamed to ask for help. He was used to teamwork, admitting his shortcomings and working to improve.
As soon as she’d arrived, he’d seen the look in his dad’s eyes change. Brian could have been a little more specific that their father was embarrassed for anyone to see him. Mable had let him know a couple of hours ago she’d fed his dad breakfast for a late lunch, something J.W. could eat almost on his own. J.W. clearly didn’t want her in the house, but there wasn’t a choice. They needed help.
The excruciating one-hundred-plus temperature had climbed along with the sun. By the heat of the afternoon, it had hit 109. Might just make it down to ninety-eight later that night. Finally some relief. Ha! He hadn’t experienced a Texas summer since his teens. He’d like to see Brian survive after being dropped in the middle of a desert, dressed in full gear. He missed the ocean breeze and his run along the beach in California.
Different life. Time to concentrate on this one and see if Brian would allow him to return home more often. Yeah, he was seeking permission from his brother.
Which meant getting inside and tackling more things on the list. But first, he needed to get some of the sweat off him. One bathroom meant no shower until Mabel left. He crossed to the watering trough he’d just filled, pulled his shirt off and stuck his head under. The water cooled him like the shock of jumping in the Pacific.
He shook his head and swiped his hand over his face to sluice the water off before he headed to the house. The distinct hum of his favorite Camaro pulled behind him and stopped.
The last person he’d expected to see was Alicia. When he turned, there she was, one hand gripping the steering wheel, one hand gripping her cell. She didn’t make a move to get out of the car. According to the news he’d just heard, her kid was still missing. Why was she here?
Lost. He’d seen that look before.
The petrified stare of someone who had no options.
“Alicia?” He opened the car door, reached across and turned the engine off then leaned on the roof. “Hey, you okay?”
“No.”
A whisper of desperation. Tears trickling from swollen eyes. She barely resembled the confident woman who’d met him in the driveway.
“They can’t find her and...”
“I want to help, but I’m not certain what I can do.”
He could see her trying to keep control by blowing air through her puffed cheeks. It wasn’t working. Again, out of his element. Should he get her out of the car and take her inside or bring Mabel out here?
“They— I thought— I have to sell the car, but he just called....” She shook her head. Tears streamed from her red-rimmed eyes. “They’ve arrested him.”
“Who? Did they find your daughter?”
“No. It was— Brian just called.”
“Is Brian buying the car? He’s not here.” He should get Mabel. Maybe she could understand and tell him what this was all about.
Alicia turned to him, took a deep breath before she made eye contact. “They arrested Brian for Lauren’s kidnapping.”
* * *
ALICIA LOOKED AROUND the faded yellow kitchen in the Sloane house. She’d spent lots of summer days with the twins’ mother here. Waiting on fresh lemonade or homemade peanut-butter cookies. More recently, she’d spent time cooking simple meals for J.W. and Lauren while Brian handled ranch stuff.
Or at least she’d thought he’d been handling ranch stuff.
