by Rita Herron
“Then she’ll definitely be better off if you step in.” Ruby leaned forward. “I’m not being judgmental, Cora. You’re in a very difficult situation, and if I were you, I’d want to know what happened to my child. You’ve been robbed of precious moments, of five years of her life. I’m simply trying to prepare you for whatever happens, so you can cope.”
“I’m tired of coping,” Cora admitted. “I’ve been coping for years. I need to know where she is. And I...need to hold her. To hug her. To let her know that I love her.”
“But you’re feeling desperate because Kurt was going to give up, aren’t you?” Ruby asked.
“That’s just it,” Cora said. “Kurt wouldn’t give up. He told me once that he never dropped a case without answers.”
“But you said he left you a message.”
“He did, but Kurt was murdered shortly after he sent the text. The sheriff suggested someone could have forced him to send me that message before they killed him.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes. “Does the sheriff have any proof or any idea who killed Kurt?”
Cora’s lungs strained for air. “Actually we talked about the day Alice was taken, and I remembered something.”
Ruby shifted in her chair, interest flaring across her face. “Go on.”
Cora bit her bottom lip. She felt like she was betraying Drew by reiterating her conversation with Jacob. Yet, she wanted answers and that meant probing every detail of that horrible day.
“Cora?”
“Drew received a phone call after Alice was born, and he left the room. Just as I was drifting to sleep, I heard him talking to a woman outside the door.” She stood and began to pace. “I assumed it was a nurse, but the sheriff’s questions started me thinking that perhaps it wasn’t a nurse.”
“I don’t understand,” Ruby said.
“I told you before Drew wasn’t thrilled when he first learned about the pregnancy, that he was worried about money and his job.” Was it possible that Drew hadn’t wanted Alice?
“What are you saying, Cora?”
She halted, her body tight with agitation. “During the pregnancy, he was inattentive and distracted. He constantly worked late and took late-night calls.”
“You think Drew was having an affair?” Ruby asked softly.
Did she? Cora shrugged. “I don’t want to believe that he’d betray me. But...if he was seeing someone else, he might have viewed the baby as an obstacle to leaving me. As long as we had her, he would be tied to me.”
Having Alice kidnapped would have solved that problem.
* * *
AFTER LEAVING LIAM at the FBI’s local field office, Jacob drove to Drew Westbrook’s house.
Judging from the ritzy neighborhood and half-million-dollar homes set on estate lots, Cora’s ex had done very well financially. The house was a two-story brick Georgian home with massive columns and an impressive view of the sprawling lake.
Jacob would never be able to afford a place like this on his salary. Not that he wanted to. He liked his cozy cabin, the mountains, the river, and the peace and quiet nature afforded.
He parked in front of the house in the circular drive, then strode to the front door and rang the bell. While he waited, he scanned the property. Professionally maintained lawn with topiary shrubs, a rose garden to the side and bench seating by the lake.
Voices from inside echoed through the doorway, then the door opened and Drew Westbrook stood on the other side. He was dressed in gray slacks and a button-collared shirt as if he might be on his way to the office.
Surprise flared in his eyes when he spotted Jacob. “Sheriff Maverick?”
“Hello, Mr. Westbrook.”
“Who is it, honey?” Drew’s wife Hilary appeared as she came down the winding staircase.
“It’s the sheriff of Whistler,” Drew said.
Hilary’s heels clicked on the marble floor as she sauntered toward them. Her emerald green pantsuit looked as if it was made of silk, and diamonds glittered on her fingers and around her neck.
“May I come in?” Jacob asked.
A sliver of hope sparked in Drew’s eyes. “Do you have news about Alice?”
Hmm. Maybe he was wrong about Drew and he really had cared about his daughter. “Not exactly.”
Drew’s jaw tightened with worry. “Then it’s about Cora?”
“What has she done now?” Hilary asked.
Jacob swung his gaze toward Drew’s wife, surprised by her tone.
“Let me come in and I’ll explain.” He stepped into the foyer, which was decorated with expensive paintings and vases.
Drew scraped a hand through his hair, upending the neat strands, then led Jacob to a family room with leather furniture and wood accents. A small corner filled with a kid’s table and books was the only indication that a child lived here. He’d forgotten Drew Westbrook had a son a year younger than his daughter would have been.
Jacob seated himself on the leather sofa, then Drew claimed a recliner facing him while Hilary sank into a plush club chair beside him. Both looked anxious as if expecting bad news.
“What’s this about?” Drew asked.
Jacob folded his hands together. “Mr. Westbrook, do you know a man named Kurt Philips?”
Drew went still, and Hilary lifted a small pillow and hugged it to her.
“We’ve met,” Drew said stiffly. “He was working for Cora.”
“Was?” Jacob asked.
Drew’s brows rose. “Yeah. He stopped by and questioned me a few times.”
“He was not a pleasant man,” Hilary interjected.
Jacob tilted his head toward the woman. He supposed some men found her attractive, but her perfect makeup, designer clothes and smile seemed fake. “You didn’t like him, Mrs. Westbrook?”
She stiffened as if she realized she might have said the wrong thing. “I didn’t like the way he came here asking questions about Drew, treating him like he was a suspect in his daughter’s disappearance. He practically accused Drew of hiring someone to have his baby kidnapped.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Everyone who knows Drew will testify that he’s a caring and loving man and a great father.”
Drew raised a hand to silence his wife. “I understand Philips was doing his job,” he said. “Cora seemed to trust him and to rely on him, but I didn’t appreciate his insinuations. I had enough of that with you.”
Jacob supposed Drew’s direct approach came with being a defense attorney. It also meant he had a great poker face and could lie without batting an eye.
“Now, why are you asking about Kurt Philips?” Drew asked bluntly.
Jacob cleared his throat. “First, tell me where you were last night, Mr. Westbrook?”
Drew’s chin went up defensively. His wife folded her arms. “Drew and I were together last night, weren’t we, darling?” Hilary said.
A slight twitch of Drew’s mouth was his only reaction. It also hinted of a lie.
“Is that true?” Jacob asked.
Drew gave a slight nod. “Either tell me what’s going on or leave.”
Rattling the polished lawyer who’d deserted Cora and broken her heart gave Jacob pleasure. “I’m asking about Kurt Philips because he’s dead.”
Shock—real or feigned?—darkened the man’s face, while Hilary flattened her palm against her cheek in a stunned reaction.
“Dead? How?” Drew asked.
“He was murdered,” Jacob said. “Shot to death actually.”
“Oh my God,” Hilary murmured.
“Mr. Westbrook, the bullet the medical examiner extracted from him came from a handgun. Do you own a .38?”
* * *
RUBY’S QUESTION TAUNTED Cora as she left her therapist’s office and drove home. Asking her to keep quiet about being Alice’s mother wasn’t fair. Her heart had been ripped from he
r chest the day her baby had been kidnapped.
For five long years, she’d missed precious moments of her little girl’s life. The only thing that had kept her going was the thought of seeing her again.
Dark clouds rolled across the sky, threatening a summer storm as she turned onto the street leading to her house.
An image of Alice crying and frightened flashed behind her eyes. What if Alice was unhappy? What if whoever had her didn’t love her?
Yet on the heels of that image, she saw her daughter laughing as another mother pushed her in a swing. Alice’s hair was flying in the wind, her laugh musical and angelic. The other woman was singing a children’s song about five little speckled frogs and Alice was singing along.
Tears blurred Cora’s eyes. She hoped her daughter was happy. Laughing. Loved. Taken care of.
Could she destroy that happiness if she found her?
Faye and Nina Fuller’s house slipped into view, and she clenched her jaw. She’d find Alice first, then decide what to do.
Maybe Jacob would locate her. Liam had those sketches now...
Her pulse jumped when she spotted Nina chasing a kitten across her front yard. She couldn’t help but remember Nina lining her carrot sticks up at lunch the way Cora did as a child. There were other small details that had caught her attention and seemed...familiar. Nina also tore the top off her muffin and ate it first, just as Cora always did.
You lost your job because you frightened her and her mother.
She had to make it right.
She veered into the Fullers’ driveway and parked, then inhaled a deep breath as she climbed out. Nina’s mother was sitting on the front porch, watching Nina play. She stood when she saw Cora.
Cora braced herself. The woman might call the cops and request a restraining order against her. Still, she had to apologize.
Nina dropped to the grassy lawn, playing with the kitty. Cora forced herself to focus on the mother.
“I told you to stay away from my child,” Faye said.
Cora nodded. “I’m actually here to see you. Please, Faye, can we talk for a minute?”
Faye crossed her arms, a wariness emanating from her.
“I promise I’m not here to hurt either of you. I want to apologize.”
Faye’s gaze locked with hers for a moment, tension stretching between them. Finally she gave a small nod. Cora crossed the distance and climbed the steps to the porch. Faye gestured toward the chair and Cora seated herself while Faye settled back on the glider.
“I realize I frightened you,” Cora said. “I never meant to do that.”
Faye studied her, her silence indicating it was okay for Cora to continue.
“I’m sure you’ve heard that my baby was kidnapped the night I gave birth to her.”
Faye’s expression softened. “I heard, and I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I...can’t imagine how awful it’s been for you.”
Cora breathed out. Faye had just tossed her an olive branch.
“It has been. Sometimes I forget about other people’s problems.”
Faye twisted her hands together.
“I’m truly sorry, Faye. I would never intentionally hurt you or Nina. When I heard she was adopted, I couldn’t help myself from asking her about it. But that was wrong.” She paused and swallowed hard. “I’ve just been to see my therapist. She’s helping me become more aware of others’ feelings.”
Faye glanced at Nina, then at Cora. “I suppose I can’t blame you. If I lost Nina, I’d move heaven and earth to find her.”
Tears pricked at Cora’s eyes. “You’re doing a wonderful job with her,” she said sincerely.
Faye pinched the bridge of her nose. “Thank you. Nina is my life.”
“I can understand that,” Cora said gently.
“It hasn’t always been easy. I had three miscarriages before we adopted Nina. That was so painful. Every time I got pregnant I got my hopes up, but within a few weeks, I lost the baby.”
Compassion filled Cora. “I’m so sorry, Faye. That must have been devastating.”
Faye nodded and wiped at her eyes. “It took a toll on my marriage, too. My husband and I stuck together for a while, but then he started drinking.”
A chill swept through Cora.
“He lost his temper when he drank,” she admitted. “I tried to convince him to see a counselor or join AA, but he refused. When we got Nina, I hoped things would get better, but instead, he escalated. He drank all day, stopped going to work, and then he...”
“He what?” Cora said gently.
“He hit me,” Faye said in a voice so low that it was barely discernible. “Once was all, though. I left him the day after that. There was no way I’d raise a child in an abusive home.”
Cora reached out and squeezed Faye’s hand. “I admire you for having the courage to walk away,” she said honestly. “You’ve been through so much, Faye. I truly am sorry for putting you through any more pain.”
Faye fluttered a hand to her cheek. “I suppose I overreacted,” Faye said. “My ex threatened me before I left. He swore I’d be sorry, that he’d never let me go. Since then, I’ve been moving around constantly so he can’t find us.”
Cora sucked in a breath. “Do you have a protective order against him?”
Faye nodded. “But twice he sent people looking for me. That’s the reason I freaked out when you asked Nina about the adoption. I...”
“You thought I was asking for him?”
“Yes,” Faye said. “No, I don’t know what I thought. I just panicked. I couldn’t take the chance on him finding me or taking Nina to get back at me.”
Chapter Eight
Goose bumps skated up Cora’s arms. “Don’t worry, Faye. You’re not alone now. If you need anything, you can call me. And you should let Sheriff Maverick know what’s going on. Whistler is a small town. He can keep an eye out in case a stranger comes around asking questions.”
Faye wiped at her eyes again. “Thank you, Cora. I’m sorry I was so hard on you. I was just scared. I’d do anything to protect Nina.”
“I understand,” Cora said softly. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“I appreciate that,” Faye said. “Nina doesn’t even remember him, and I don’t want her upset.”
“Of course.” Nina looked up at them, noticed Cora and gave a small wave. “She’s a good student, Faye. You should be proud of her.”
Faye angled her head toward Cora. “I didn’t mean to get you fired, Cora. I’ll call the principal and talk to him.”
Cora considered her offer. “Thanks. But I’m not sure it would help. He was pretty adamant that I need a break.” She hesitated. “Maybe he’s right. Maybe I should take a year off and clear my head, get a job doing something besides teaching.” Where she wasn’t tortured every day by taking care of other people’s children.
Although she had no idea what she would do. She enjoyed working with kids. Their optimism and exuberance for life had brightened her darkest days.
“Well, let me know if you change your mind,” Faye offered.
“What about you?” Cora asked. “Are you working this summer?”
Faye fidgeted. “I sell real estate at Whistler Mountain Realty, so I’ll work some. But Nina can go with me.”
Nina ran up, hugging the kitty to her. “Look, Ms. Reeves, Mama said we can keep her.”
“That’s wonderful. Kittens are so much fun.” Cora smiled at the sight of the little girl hugging the fluffy yellow butterball in her arms.
“I wants a dog, too,” Nina said, “but Mama says we move too much to keep a dog.” She stroked the kitten’s head. “I like it here. I hope we don’t move anymore.”
Faye hugged Nina. “We’ll see, sweetheart. For now, we’re staying put.”
“Goody!” Nina bounced up and down. “’Cause I wanna wad
e in the creek out back and swim in the pond, and maybe we could go camping and sleep in a tent!”
Faye laughed. “I don’t know about the tent, but we’ll definitely go wading and swimming now it’s getting warmer.”
“Can Ms. Reeves go with us?” Nina asked.
Faye’s mouth tightened slightly, and Cora stood. She’d pushed it enough for the day.
“Thank you for asking,” she told Nina. “Maybe one day we can all do something together. But I have to go now.”
“Okay. See you later.” Nina dropped to the ground again with the kitten, sprawled on her back and set the kitten on her belly. Her laughter echoed in Cora’s ears and sent a fresh pang of longing through Cora as she said goodbye to Faye and returned to her car.
* * *
JACOB STUDIED DREW and Hilary Westbrook, searching for underlying meanings to the looks they exchanged. He’d never liked Drew, and he didn’t care for his wife, either.
“No, Sheriff Maverick, I do not own a gun,” Drew said. “And as I stated before, I had nothing to do with my daughter’s kidnapping. I’d give anything to find her. And if Kurt Philips had a lead, I certainly wouldn’t have hurt him.” Emotions strained his face. “I love my wife and son,” he said. “But Cora is still suffering and can’t move on. I want us to find Alice, so she can finally be happy again.”
Jacob raised a brow. That statement was the most sincere thing he’d ever heard Drew Westbrook say. Not that he hadn’t been upset after the kidnapping. He had.
His emotional pleas on TV and in the newspapers had garnered sympathy from everyone who’d seen his tears.
“When was the last time you spoke to Philips or saw him?” he asked.
“It’s been months,” Drew said. “He stopped by my office one day and accused me of using my daughter’s kidnapping to further my career.” He squared his shoulders. “I can assure you I didn’t need to do that. I’m good at my job. That’s the reason I earned my promotion.”