While Ben gave her a halting explanation, Robin fretted, the minutes ticking by. They had no time for a battle of the exes. She hoped Vanessa would restrain herself. To her relief, Vanessa appeared subdued as she listened to Ben’s revelation. She might be too worried about Amber to process what he’d told her. Maybe she was shellshocked, and her explosion would come later.
She’s entitled to have one, Robin reflected. Leaping into the awkward silence, Robin said, “I think we should go after them.”
“What?” Ben gaped.
“We know where she’s taking them. We should go there—now. Maybe we can get through to her.”
Ben shook his head. “She may be going there, but we don’t know for sure. Besides, even if she is, she has at least an hour’s head start.”
Before Robin could respond, Ben’s phone rang. “It’s the police.”
“Put it on speaker.” Vanessa came to stand by Robin.
Holding their collective breath, they listened to the dispatcher. A man had reported an incident at the Walt Whitman Service Plaza on the turnpike and given descriptions matching Gloria and Amber. A boy was with them too. The man had used his phone to take a picture of their license plate.
Vanessa clutched Robin’s arm.
At that moment, Sean and Jaden came back in with Nina in tow. Jaden unfastened her leash.
“What’s happening?” Sean asked the three adults huddled around Ben’s phone.
Robin beckoned him over.
“Jaden, why don’t you take Nina to the kitchen and give her some fresh water?” Vanessa said.
“Can I get a soda?” he asked.
“Just one.” Vanessa waved him off.
“Officer,” Ben said. “Can’t you stop them? Can a state trooper pull them over or something?”
“It’s too risky, Mr. Martin. We want to avoid a possible high-speed pursuit on the turnpike. That could prove dangerous for everybody on the road.”
“But you have to do something,” Ben insisted.
“We are. We’ll use helicopter surveillance to follow her. She won’t leave our sight.”
“Can we come too?” Robin asked. “In the helicopter?”
Ben’s eyebrows rose.
“I’m afraid not, ma’am,” the dispatcher said. “That’s against regulations. Besides, our bird is already airborne. Sit tight, folks. We’ll stay in touch.”
Ben sighed. “I guess that counts as good news.”
Robin shook her head. “I still think we should get to Baltimore. Even if the police intercept them, think about the children. They’ll need you there, Ben.” She pondered. “And I might be able to help.”
He bit his lip, considering.
“If only we had a helicopter,” Robin said.
Sean held out his cell phone. “You do, complete with a pilot.”
“May I?” Ben reached for the phone.
Sean handed it over, and Ben called the charter helicopter service Sean had located.
Sean’s face set in determination. “I’m coming too.”
Robin hugged him in a sudden, fierce burst of love. “No, you’re going to get on a train and go back to school to ace your exams. That’s what I need from you.”
“But—”
“Jaden and I can drive him to the station,” Vanessa offered.
Robin gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
Finishing the arrangements, Ben handed back Sean’s phone. “Bird, are you coming?”
Robin nodded, already making a call of her own. “Will? I’m coming down a bit sooner than I expected. Can I meet you at The John in, say, an hour and a half?” She grinned. “Good. Because I’ll need your help.”
FIFTY-NINE
AMBER
GLORIA’S DRIVING TOO FAST. She won’t stop talking. I think she’s cracking up. “You’re old enough to face the facts,” she tells me. “You have two brothers, Amber, not one. Alex is your father’s other son, and he’s been horribly neglected. I’ve had to make up for it and take extra good care of him. I’ve been both a mother and a father to him. Do you understand?”
She keeps looking at me while she says weird stuff, and it scares me that she’s not watching the road. I keep my eyes on the traffic, as if I’m driving. I push my foot against the floor, trying to make us slow down. I can’t help it.
“Amber, I asked you a question. Do you understand?” She turns to me again, and the car swerves.
I feel like I’m going to be sick. In the back seat, Alex moans. I don’t know what to say.
“You’re mad at my dad, aren’t you?” It’s the best I can come up with.
“And you should be too,” she says. “He tried to deprive you of your brother. Is that the way a good father treats his daughter?”
I can’t listen. I won’t.
“While you were napping in the bathtub, back at my house, he was there. Did you know that?”
So, I didn’t imagine his voice.
“And what did he do? He left without you.”
“No!” I put my hands over my ears.
“Amber, pay attention. I’m talking to you.”
I can still hear her, and Alex yells, “Mom, leave her alone!”
I sing as loud as I can, not any real song, just “La, la, la!” trying to drown her out.
She pulls my hand away from my ear. The car starts to cross into the next lane, and a driver honks his horn.
“Are you trying to get us killed?” Gloria yells.
You are, I think. Maybe she really is.
“All right,” she says. “You need your medicine.”
She gets into the right lane then pulls onto the shoulder so suddenly I scream. I start to unfasten my seat belt, but Gloria grabs my arm.
“Don’t even think about getting out of this car. If you try to run, you’ll upset your brother, and I’ll need to give him more medicine.”
“Please no,” I beg her. “You’ll kill him.”
“Kill him?” She tightens her grip on my arm and gives me her wicked witch face. “I’m the one who’s kept him alive, in spite of everyone else letting him down.” The way she stares into my eyes scares me. “But you won’t let your brother down, will you, Amber?”
I shake my head. A tear runs down my face.
“Good.” Gloria takes out the bottle of pills and opens it. She holds one out to me. “Take it, or I’ll have to give it to Alex.”
The thought of swallowing it is enough to make me gag, but Alex has already had too many. I can’t let her give him any more.
I take the tablet from Gloria’s hand and slip it into my mouth, under my tongue. I hope I can hold it there until she’s driving then spit it out, but she takes hold of my chin.
“Chew it.”
I make a mewling noise and try to spit, but she’s got her hand clamped on my jaw.
“Chew it up and swallow, Amber, or I’ll sedate your brother.”
I have no choice. I nod, and she lets go of my chin. I bite down, and the pill breaks into bitter pieces. My teeth grind them into a nasty paste, and I force it down my throat. It tastes awful.
“Water,” I croak.
“I have none left. Now go to sleep.” Gloria starts driving along the shoulder, waiting for a chance to get onto the highway.
“Sorry, Amber,” Alex says softly from the back seat.
A noise like a plane about to land zooms overhead. I lean forward and look up through the window, trying to see.
“It’s a helicopter,” Alex says.
“Must be checking for speeders.” Gloria sounds grumpy. “Guess we’ll have to take it slower.” She pulls onto the turnpike.
I still can’t see a helicopter, but the droning sound goes on above us, making me drowsy. At least someone’s watching over us, keeping Gloria from going too fast. I hold the bird figurine tight and listen until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.
SIXTY
ROBIN
ROBIN GULPED, HER STOMACH lurching as the helicopter took off.
Their pilot’s voice sounded through her headphones. “You folks okay? Like I said, takeoff and landing can be a bit bumpy. It’ll smooth out now.”
“All good,” Ben said.
“I’m fine,” Robin said into her microphone. In truth, she felt consumed by fire ants. Aside from a bad case of jitters over taking her first helicopter ride, her brain shifted into warp speed—planning and second-guessing.
She’d convinced Ben they should make this expedition. The pilot had radioed ahead to arrange their clearance to land at the helipad. Meanwhile, the police would continue their surveillance of Gloria and update them when they landed. If she was indeed heading in their direction, local police would intercept her.
Everything had happened so quickly. Now, watching the setting sun as cars and buildings receded, Robin prayed she hadn’t led them on a wild-goose chase.
We have to take the chance, she told herself for at least the fiftieth time. It would have been pointless to sit by, waiting and worrying. If she’d figured out Gloria’s destination, Robin dared to imagine an intervention, one she hoped would minimize the danger to the children.
Assuming I understand Gloria well enough to get inside her head.
She’d had only a few minutes to outline her plan on the phone with Will. That he’d agreed to go along with it still amazed her—even though he’d given her several pleasant surprises of late. Apparently, he was more adventurous than she’d realized. If they managed to come through the crisis, Robin anticipated discovering further intriguing qualities about Will.
With her headphones muffling the roar of the rotors into a droning background hum, Robin concentrated, mentally rehearsing. Then she gave up, realizing it wouldn’t work if she sounded too scripted. Gloria would sense it and feel mistrustful. She needed to think on her feet. Connect with the woman. Meld with her.
“In about twenty minutes, we’ll land at the Sheikh Zayed Tower, Johns Hopkins Hospital.”
The pilot’s announcement yanked Robin out of her ruminations. Out the window, the lights of Baltimore shone bright against the nearly dark sky.
Twenty minutes. Robin steeled herself.
THEIR LANDING ON THE roof of the new medical facility proved as bumpy as the takeoff, and Robin breathed a sigh of relief when she set her feet on solid ground. She and Ben hurried inside from the helipad, and he phoned their police contact for an update.
The police helicopter had tracked Gloria across the Delaware Memorial Bridge, taking I-95 to the parkway leading into Maryland—with two children in the car. After she exited the highway, unmarked cars followed her. She appeared to be heading for the hospital. Local police had dispatched to await her there.
Robin blew out a breath. We got it right. Gloria was on the way. She phoned Will.
“We’re here. We just landed on the roof. The police said she’s coming. Where do we go?” She listened, nodding. “Let’s take the elevator down to the lobby,” she told Ben. “Will and a detective will meet us there.”
Ben punched the elevator button, his expression grim.
THEY STEPPED OUT OF the elevator. Despite the grim circumstances, Robin’s first glimpse of the lobby took her breath away. The soaring architecture boasted lofty ceilings and vast windows that needed daylight to do them justice. The décor set a whimsical counterpoint, with modernist sculptures and bursts of primary colors.
It would be wonderful to work there. If we can get through this.
“Robin.” Will joined them, wearing a white lab coat, as Robin had suggested. With him came a stocky, middle-aged man in a suit. “This is Detective Brice.”
They completed the introductions. Robin gestured at their surroundings. “Will, this is beautiful and soothing.”
Ben gave a cursory glance around. He seemed more interested in sizing up Will.
Will shrugged. “It’s designed to put our patients and visitors at ease.”
“It would. That may help us. Gloria will feel like she’s reached a medical mecca.” She looked around. “Is this where she’ll come in?”
Will pointed to the doors. “This is the main entrance. You come through here to get to both the adult and pediatric emergency rooms.”
“Convenient,” Ben commented. “But where is everybody? The place is nearly empty.”
“I have two uniformed officers outside and four plainclothesmen here in the lobby,” Detective Brice said. “We’ve cleared the place as much as we could without turning away emergencies. We’ll be ready for her.”
“Did Dr. Kenton explain my idea?” Robin asked the detective.
“He did, ma’am.” Brice frowned. “Are you a trained hostage negotiator?”
Robin flushed. “Of course not. But I have a history with Gloria Reyes. I understand why she’s coming here. I know what she wants.” She swallowed. “And she heard I’d be here.”
Will raised his eyebrows and darted a glance at Ben, who grimaced.
“Detective, I think I can get through to her.” Robin sounded more confident than she felt.
Brice shook his head. “Ms. Perry, we don’t know what we’re dealing with here. She may have a weapon.”
“Robin...” Ben became alarmed. “Maybe—”
“But that’s the point.” Robin made eye contact with each of the three men. “Please, let me try to disarm her with words. I’m sure you’d rather not use force, Detective. That would risk harming the children.” Her gaze traveled around the nearly empty lobby. “And any others who might come in here.”
“Let her try, Detective,” Will urged. “Your officers can always move in if necessary. It can’t hurt to give Robin a chance.”
Brice eyed Robin, as if taking her measure. His cell rang, and the call lasted only moments. “All right, Ms. Perry. Take your shot. The suspect is pulling up outside.” He held up his hands. “Ten minutes. If she hasn’t handed over the kids by then, my men will move in.”
Will gripped Robin’s shoulder. “You can do this,” he murmured.
She took a deep breath.
SIXTY-ONE
AMBER
WHEN I OPEN MY EYES again, it’s dark outside. I don’t know where we are, but I can tell we’re not on the turnpike. I think we’re in a city because of the lights and buildings.
My head aches, and my throat feels like sandpaper. I don’t remember falling asleep. I see Robin’s bird figurine still in my hand. Then it comes back to me. Alex said there was a helicopter. I had a dream someone came to save us, but I don’t hear the helicopter anymore. I guess it was like Gloria said. The highway police were checking for speeders.
I turn to her. “Where are we?”
“Amber dear, did you have a pleasant nap?”
I shake my head, which makes me dizzy. “What is this place?”
Alex says, “Baltimore.”
I sit up straighter to get a better look and feel sick to my stomach. I remember how Gloria made me chew up that pill. “Why are we here?”
“She’s taking me to Johns Hopkins,” Alex says.
That must be the doctor she wants him to see. “He works here?” I ask. Then I see a big building and a sign, the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He must be a really important doctor to have his own hospital.
“It’s the name of the hospital, dear,” Gloria says. She pulls up where it says Main Entrance. “Now we’ll finally see about some proper medical care.” She gets out of the car and comes around to the passenger side. “Come, children.”
I unfasten my seat belt as a man comes up to Gloria. “Are you dropping off a patient, ma’am?”
Alex gets out of the car, and Gloria takes his arm. “I need to take the children inside.”
I open my door and turn to get out. My legs are wobbly, and my ankle hurts. I must have twisted it, but I can’t remember. I feel dizzy.
“Sorry, ma’am,” the man tells Gloria. “You can’t leave your car here. The garage is right over there.” He points to a parking deck connected by a bridge to the hospital. “Or you can use valet parking.”
<
br /> Gloria frowns.
I look at the parking attendant. “Mister, help us.”
Gloria puts her hand on my neck. “You see?” she says to him. “Now, let me get these sick children inside.”
He shrugs. “Valet parking, then?”
Alex tries to get free of Gloria’s other hand, but she yanks him closer. “Fine. The key’s in the ignition.”
The attendant holds out a ticket.
For a moment, I think she’ll let go of one of us so she can take it, but instead she says, “Amber, take the ticket from the man.”
He hands it to me.
“We’re being kidnapped,” I tell him.
He laughs. “Don’t worry. Plenty of kids are afraid of hospitals, but the folks in there will take good care of you.”
If only they will, I pray.
“Children, let’s go.” Gloria leads us to the entrance.
The doors open automatically, and we’re inside. It’s more like a museum than a hospital. I check out the place while Gloria asks a security guard for directions to the children’s emergency room.
“Over there to the left,” he tells her.
I stare straight ahead at the person walking over to us. I must still be asleep and dreaming because it’s Robin.
SIXTY-TWO
ROBIN
ROBIN SPOTTED GLORIA ENTERING the lobby with the children.
“The clock starts now,” Detective Brice said.
“Let’s go,” she told Will.
Ben stepped forward. “Let me come. They’re my kids.”
Brice took his arm. “You stay here. We don’t want her to think it’s an ambush.”
Scowling, Ben backed off.
Robin approached, Will a few paces behind her, his white lab coat marking him as a physician—someone whose presence Gloria might welcome.
When Robin came within about ten feet of them, Amber caught sight of her. “Robin!” She lunged toward Robin, limping.
Gloria yanked her back then saw Robin and froze.
Amber reached toward Robin with her free hand. “Help us.” She seemed dazed.
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