Murray and Natalie walked around the corner.
“Is he okay?” Natalie asked, concern etched around her eyes.
“He’s scared to speak to the forensic sketch artist.”
“I’ll go talk to him.” Natalie walked into the room and sat on the couch beside Gabe, whispering something to him.
“She’s good with kids,” Hannah said.
Murray nodded. “She’s always wanted to be a mother and we had a hard time conceiving, but God finally gave us Noel.”
Would God do that for her? Was there hope?
Hannah brushed aside the trusting thought as the front door opened and Layke walked in with the pretty constable laughing.
Hannah bit her lip in an attempt to stop the green-eyed monster from overtaking her at the realization of how quickly the two constables had bonded.
Layke took off his coat. “Everyone, this is Constable Scarlet Wells. Scarlet, this is border patrol officer Hannah Morgan and my brother, Murray Harrelson.”
Scarlet’s lips tipped into a gorgeous smile.
No wonder Layke seemed smitten.
Hannah cleared her throat and thrust out her hand. “Nice to meet you. Gabe is in the living room, and very nervous about talking to you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll calm him. I’m great with kids.” She took off her boots and picked up her briefcase before heading toward Gabe.
Of course you are.
Layke tilted his head at her, a searching expression on his face. “You okay?”
“Fine. Let’s get this done.” Her curt tone surprised even herself. Hannah had to stop this way of thinking. This jealousy wasn’t an emotion she normally felt. She pivoted and left her words hanging in the air as she headed toward Gabe.
She had to keep her focus on him and the other boys. They needed to find them.
Before something terrible happened.
ELEVEN
Layke followed the crusty border patrol officer into the room. What had he done to cause her sudden shift in mood and why did he care so much? You know why. His feelings for Hannah had grown way too fast for his liking. Especially when he’d sworn himself off falling for any woman. He was resolved to remain single for the rest of his life, so why did he care about Hannah’s coolness toward him?
Hannah sat on the other side of Gabe and rubbed the crying boy’s arm as Scarlet talked to him about the process she would take.
Natalie stood behind them and squeezed Gabe’s shoulders. “Bud, it’s okay. You’re safe here.”
Three mother hens for one boy. He chuckled to himself as an image formed in his mind of birds clucking around a baby chick. This boy didn’t stand a chance.
Scarlet drew out a tissue from her pocket and wiped his tears. “It’s okay, Gabe. I will be quick because I’m good at what I do.” She turned and smiled at Layke.
A pinched expression raced across Hannah’s face, causing him to take a step back. Was she jealous of the pretty forensic artist? Why? Was it because of the attention Scarlet was giving the boy or the fact that Layke had hit it off quickly with the constable? They’d discovered they had mutual friends in their force and shared a couple quick stories with each other that made him laugh.
No, it couldn’t be that. Hannah wasn’t interested in Layke anyway. Was she?
Stop. Concentrate. Remember what Amber did to you. He sat in the rocking chair beside them. “Sport, it’s okay. You can talk to Miss Scarlet. She’s only here to help. You need to tell her what the bad man looks like.”
Hannah cleared her throat and raised her brow at him.
What had he done wrong?
Scarlet pulled out a coiled notebook from her briefcase. “First, I’m going to show you some images of faces to help jog your memory. Okay?”
Gabe frowned.
She held the book in front of him. “Did the man look like any of these?”
He shook his head.
“How about these ones?” She turned the page.
“Nope.”
She flipped to another and held it up.
He shook his head and crossed his arms.
The boy’s body language personified annoyance. Layke had to intervene.
“Sport, I know you’re scared and don’t want to do this, but it will help us catch the bad guys. Can you cooperate?”
Once again, Hannah cleared her throat.
He looked at her. “What?”
She stood. “Can I speak with you in private for a minute?” She marched into the kitchen.
He followed. “What’s wrong with you?”
She spun around, her eyes narrowing. “You have to stop forcing him. He’s young and scared.”
He sighed. “Hannah, we need to find Noel and the other boys, but first we need to identify this man.”
“Stop being so pushy.”
He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “What’s really going on here? Your mood shifted after Scarlet came.”
She looked away but not before he caught her flattened lips. “I’m fine.”
“Why are you annoyed with me? Did I do something wrong?”
“I don’t like you pressuring him. He’s fragile.” She twiddled with her belt.
“Hannah, I know body language. There’s something you’re not saying.” He stepped toward her. “Tell me.”
“You just seem so cozy with Scarlet.” She clamped her hand over her mouth, indicating she hadn’t meant to utter the words.
She was jealous. “Hannah, when we introduced ourselves, we realized we knew some of the same people.”
“But you were laughing a lot with her. You don’t laugh much normally.”
He didn’t? When had he become so rigid? He thought he’d had it under control, but Amber’s recent betrayal had sucked the joy from his life. Would he ever learn to trust again?
Layke took Hannah’s hands in hers. “I’m sorry. She was telling me a funny story about a coworker.” He paused. “That’s all it was.”
I’m not interested in the forensic artist. It’s you who’s capturing my heart.
Their gaze locked as he held her hands.
“Um, excuse me,” Scarlet said.
Layke dropped Hannah’s hands as disappointment crossed her face. “What is it?”
“Gabe is chatting nonstop now. We’re close to a sketch.” The irritation in her blunt tone filled the room as she spun on her heels and walked back into the living room.
What was going on here?
Hannah smirked at him.
“What?”
“Seems like you’ve annoyed the pretty constable.”
Was that satisfaction on her face?
He couldn’t win.
He shook his head and moved back into the living room. The roaring fire filled the rustic room, creating a cozy mood. He only hoped it helped calm the tension. He sat beside Gabe. “Hey, sport, what else do you remember?”
“The bad man had spiky hair.”
“You told us that earlier. What else?”
Gabe pointed at the page. “His eyes look like that.”
The sketch of a man with narrow eyes far apart appeared on the page.
Scarlet switched to one with various nose types. “What about his nose?”
Gabe pointed to a wide, flat one.
“That’s so good, Gabe. What about his chin?”
Scarlet flipped to show him examples.
“He has ears like you, Mr. Layke.”
Layke fingered his ears. What was wrong with them?
Scarlet giggled and picked up her pencil. “That’s excellent, Gabe. I will start drawing and you can tell me if it’s right, okay?”
The boy nodded.
“Gabe, do you remember hearing the name ‘Cash’ either at the cave or the ranch?” Layke asked.
<
br /> “No.” The boy slouched back in the chair.
Hannah stood beside the couch. “Can he take a break?”
Scarlet eyed the border patrol officer, her steady gaze clearly sizing her up. “Fine. I won’t be long though. I’ll go to the dining room to sketch. I need quietness to compose.” She left the room.
Hannah held out her hand to Gabe. “Bud, let’s go find something to eat. It’s past lunchtime. You must be hungry. That okay, Natalie?”
The woman hopped up. “Of course. I’ll show you what we have.”
Hannah and Gabe followed her into the kitchen.
Murray sat in the corner, his hands holding his head.
Layke clenched his jaw. They needed to find Noel before it was too late. He walked over to his half brother and placed his hand on his burly shoulder. “You okay?”
Murray looked up at him. “I was praying for God to find Noel.”
Layke fidgeted with the button on his plaid shirt and studied the hardwood floor.
“You don’t believe?”
He sighed and glanced back at Murray’s face. “I’m sorry. I don’t.” Even though he’d felt His presence earlier, he still wasn’t ready to surrender.
“You don’t have to apologize. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” Layke sat in the matching plaid wing chair beside Murray.
“Dad told me you came to see him this past summer, but he wouldn’t talk to you. Do you know why?”
“No idea. Are you in contact with him?”
“He writes me letters. He told me he was scared to let you come to the prison.”
“Why?”
“Remorse. That’s why he refused your visit.”
What? Not the words he expected to hear. “What do you mean?”
“Even though our father did what he did, he still loves his family. He couldn’t face you, knowing you were a cop.”
Layke fingered the button on his plaid shirt. This was a side of his father he had never expected to hear about. A side that shocked him to the bone. “Tell me more. What was it like growing up with him?”
“Interesting. Never a dull moment.”
“What do you mean?” Layke asked.
“He was away a lot with his job, but it increased after I turned ten. Then we would find him in the basement studying anatomy textbooks.”
“Why?”
“He became fascinated with the human body.”
“Is that when our father began murdering?”
A crash sounded behind him.
Hannah stood with a sandwich plate broken at her feet.
Great. Now he’d have to explain his past.
After he swore to himself he’d never let anyone know his family’s dark secret.
* * *
Hannah squatted and began cleaning up the mess she’d made. Had she heard Layke correctly? His father was a murderer? It couldn’t be. Was that why he got into policing? A million questions raced through her mind as she picked up the broken plate and tuna sandwiches. What if—
Layke knelt beside her and placed his hand over top of her shaky one. “I’m not like him, Hannah.”
She couldn’t explain the sudden anxiousness stirring inside her. Flashes of angry men living on the streets with her and Kaylin after she’d ran away from an abusive foster home popped into her head.
“I’ll get a broom,” Murray said.
She continued to wipe off the sandwiches, trying to hide her frayed nerves. Get a grip on yourself.
“Stop.” Layke squeezed her hand and pulled her to her feet, holding her at the waist. “I’m sorry you heard that. I wasn’t quite ready to share it with anyone yet.”
She stared into his eyes and tried to read them for any sign of deceit. Only kindness shone on his face, and she chastised herself for even thinking he could be violent. “I’m sorry for making a mess on the floor.” Her voice sounded weak.
“I’m sure they have other plates.” He brushed a curl from her face. “Hannah, I’ll tell you about Henry Harrelson another time. I don’t want to talk about him yet.”
“It’s okay. I understand. You don’t need to give me an explanation.” After all, once this case was over, he’d be out of her life anyway. The thought of his absence brought an inexplicable ache in her heart. How was that even possible? She couldn’t fall for anyone with the burden she carried. She’d barely had time to process the fact that she couldn’t have children. Plus, they’d just met. Could intense attraction explode that quickly?
Murray walked into the room with the broom and garbage can. “Coming through.”
Hannah stepped back to allow Murray between them. It was for the best. She needed to stay away from Layke’s touch. It kept doing strange things to her feelings, and she knew she had to curb them—fast.
Scarlet returned, waving her sketch with Gabe at her side. “We got it. Gabe agreed this is the man at the ranch.”
Hannah and Layke peered at her composite. A man with spiked hair snarled back at them.
Hannah froze.
Layke grabbed her arm. “What is it?”
“That’s the man from the border crossing. The one who saw my face.”
And was probably after her because she could recognize him. If she didn’t say it out loud maybe it wouldn’t be true. Hardly. Reality sank in. Her life was also in jeopardy.
Layke stood in front of her. “We will catch him. I won’t let him hurt you.” His voice held a gentleness to it.
Her heart danced a beat.
“I’ll send it in so we can put it through facial recognition.” Scarlet grabbed her equipment and went back to the dining room.
“Hopefully, we’ll get a match.” Layke walked back over to Murray and lifted the garbage can so his brother could dump the ruined porcelain-laced sandwiches into it.
Layke’s cell phone buzzed and he pulled it from his jean’s pocket. “Just got a text from Elias saying they got a hit on the license plate from the truck. With the partial number, make and model of the truck, they were able to determine it belongs to a Tupper Cash.”
“Cash! The name Rob gave us. Broderick’s right-hand man.”
They were getting closer.
“We got an address.” Layke angled his phone at Murray. “You know this place?”
Murray’s eyes widened. “It’s a few kilometers into Alaska.”
“How long will it take us to get there?”
Murray looked outside. “About seventy-five minutes in good weather. The freezing rain is starting again, so you should wait until it lets up.”
“We can’t. We need to catch this guy. He could be the key to finding Noel.”
Murray placed his hand on Layke’s shoulder. “Brother, we just found each other. I don’t want to lose you, too.”
Layke’s face softened. “I know, but I want to find Noel.” They embraced.
Hannah’s eyes moistened at their exchange. The emerging bond between the brothers was evident.
Murray pulled back. “Okay, if you’re going then you will need an emergency winter travel kit.” He left the room.
Hannah pulled the keys from her pocket. “You’re driving this time.”
Scarlet rushed back into the room. “That’s the fastest result I’ve ever had. We’ve identified the man.”
Layke glanced at Hannah. “Let me guess. Tupper Cash?”
Scarlet frowned. “How did you know?”
“Just got a hit on his truck. We’re headed now to his address in Alaska.”
“You and her? Is she trained?” Scarlet pointed to Hannah, the disdain heavy in her tone.
Hannah stiffened. When would people realize CBSA officers were trained on more than interview and communication skills? She excelled in her defensive and firearms classes.
“Hannah knows what she’s do
ing. I’ve seen evidence of it.” Layke grabbed his jacket from the chair he’d thrown it on earlier. “We gotta roll.”
“Should I stay with Gabe?” Scarlet fingered the weapon at her side. “We can’t leave him alone with civilians without protection.”
“No one but us knows he’s here, Scarlet.” Hannah bit her lip, silencing what she really wanted to say to the pushy officer.
Scarlet grabbed at Layke’s arm, ignoring Hannah’s comment. “Layke, I think I should stay. I brought an overnight bag with me and the roads are iffy. There must be an extra room in this enormous house.”
Really? This woman had an obvious crush on the handsome constable.
“I’ll check with Murray on the way out, but I’m sure it would be fine.” He turned to Hannah. “We should probably have someone else here protecting Gabe. This case is too unpredictable to take any further chances.”
She sighed, knowing he was right. Gabe needed protection.
Even if it meant the irritating woman had to stay.
* * *
Eighty minutes later, Layke pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building in Alaska housing the parolee Tupper Cash. Now that they had a composite sketch, Layke had Corporal Bakker put a BOLO out on Cash in Canada and with the US authorities in Alaska. He’d also requested a state trooper meet them at Tupper’s apartment. Hannah had used Layke’s laptop to find out more about Cash and read the information to him on the drive into the States. Forty-two years old, born in Anchorage, Alaska, served time in a US prison for armed robbery, assault and human trafficking. What drove a person to commit these crimes? A question he’d struggled with ever since he became a cop and even more so when he found out about his father.
Hannah updated her boss on the situation, and they were now waiting for a possible lead on a scheduled smuggling drop happening soon. Superintendent Walsh was in contact with an informant and would let them know more once he heard back.
Layke was hopeful Cash could lead them to the ring. They only had to catch him and convince him to talk. That would be the challenge. Layke was hopeful a US district attorney would give Cash a plea in exchange for securing the children. Maybe.
Thankfully, the freezing rain had subsided and their uneventful drive over to Alaska was a welcome change, for which Hannah had given praise to God out loud. Could he put his trust in a God who had abandoned him? Even after this morning? He wasn’t sure, but the witness of Hannah, Murray and Natalie impressed him. They’d shown intense faith in difficult circumstances. Deep down, he wanted that same faith. If only he wasn’t so skeptical. Why couldn’t he take that leap and step into the unknown and unseen? He pushed the poignant question aside. He’d give it more thought later.
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