by Laura Scott
“It sounds familiar,” he said. “Do you recognize what it’s from?”
“It’s a cartoon that Mikey’s watched before.” The hint of tears vanished from her eyes. She reached out to grasp his arm. “They wouldn’t put cartoons on the television if Mikey was hurt, would they? He must be okay.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I agree. Having Mikey watch cartoons is a good way for them to keep him quiet and less likely to cause trouble.”
“I’ll call Pete to let him know,” she said, glancing down at her phone.
“Hold off for a moment,” he advised. “If you call Pete, he’s going to think we found Mikey. Let’s not raise his hopes up over nothing.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she nodded. “You’re right. It’s just that even knowing this much helps.”
Was he making a mistake by holding her back from contacting Pete? He wasn’t sure. The cynical cop inside him couldn’t help wondering if Pete had arranged for these guys to kidnap Mikey and to hold him for ransom in order to get the package back. Pete being out of town at a conference provided a rock-solid alibi.
He just kept coming back to the fact that it was difficult to believe that Pete hadn’t known what Malina was doing. That she was using drugs and possibly selling them, too.
The ringing of his phone interrupted his dark thoughts, and he lifted the device to his ear, recognizing the number as coming in from the K-9 headquarters. “Gallagher.”
“We got a tip about the missing kid,” the dispatcher told him.
His pulse spiked and he locked gazes with Eva. “What kind of tip?”
“Some woman saw the Amber Alert. She claims she was driving by Griffin’s when she saw a man dressed in black running from the patio with a child matching Mikey’s description. She saw him run down the block and then jump into a midsize black sedan.”
“Did she get a license plate?” He held his breath, hoping and praying that she had.
“A partial. First three letters are Bravo, Delta, Tango. She wasn’t sure, but she thought the first number was five, but it also could be an eight. We checked Griffin’s video and saw the car but couldn’t get the plate number. We’re running a trace on the partial plate now, looking for matches with a black four-door sedan.”
He remembered how, a few days ago, one of the men had tried to get Eva into a vehicle. That one, too, had been a four-door sedan. Not a coincidence and the first tangible lead they’d got since Mikey’s disappearance.
“That’s great, thanks. Let me know when you get a list of potential matches.”
“Will do.” The dispatcher disconnected from the call.
“We have a license plate number?” Eva’s wide eyes were full of hope. “That’s good news, right? We’ll be able to use that information to find Mikey?”
“It’s good news, but it’s not a complete license plate number. We’ll be able to narrow it down to a manageable list of possibilities.” He glanced up, noticing the sun was beginning to set, dipping low on the horizon. There was less than an hour of daylight left. “Let’s get back to the house. They’ll call when they have some information for us.”
“I don’t like giving up the search,” Eva said in a low tone. “We need to keep looking.”
He understood where she was coming from. Hadn’t he felt the same way? But waiting for the partial plate information was far better than wandering aimlessly around Forest Hills. “I need to check in with the rest of the team anyway. See if anyone came up with something.” When she opened her mouth to argue, he gestured toward Abernathy. “My K-9 partner needs food and water. Resting for a while until we have something more concrete to go on is the best thing for him, and for us.”
Eva bent down to give Abernathy’s golden-yellow fur a rub. “All right. Let’s go.”
The walk back to Pete’s place wasn’t very long because Finn had taken a circular route, with the house remaining in the center.
After providing food and water for Abernathy, he and Eva sat at the kitchen table. He noticed her gaze traveling over the kitchen, and he wondered if she was trying to find something they’d missed during the first two searches.
“Since Pete gave us permission to search, I’ll ask Zach Jameson to bring Eddie, his drug-sniffing beagle, to come out.” Scrolling through his contact list, he found Zach’s number. “That way we’ll know for sure the package isn’t here. Getting our hands on that package can only help get Mikey back.”
“Unless the package is money and not drugs,” Eva pointed out wearily. “You’re assuming they’re drugs.”
“One problem at a time,” he said. Zach picked up on the other end of the line. “Hey, do you have time to bring Eddie out here to Forest Hills to sweep the Stallings’ house for drugs? We have reason to believe that Mikey has been kidnapped in an effort to get a package of drugs back.”
“Not a problem, we can be there in thirty,” Zach agreed.
“Thanks.” Finn gave Zach the address, then set his phone down. “Zach and Eddie are on their way.”
Eva nodded, her expression troubled. Whether the package contained drugs or money didn’t matter much. The money could have easily been related to buying or selling drugs. In fact, considering the money troubles he’d found in Pete Stalling’s bank account, he was leaning toward a stash of cash. It made the most sense. Especially since he didn’t believe Malina would have risked her son finding drugs.
Zach and Eddie made good time, arriving twenty minutes later. The K-9 partners started in the kitchen and searched the entire house, room by room. Finn followed from a distance, watching the team work. Eddie, the beagle, alerted in the master bathroom.
“We’ve looked here, but let’s do it again,” Finn said.
There were no packages but, upon further inspection, Zach found a tiny bit of white powder in the corner of the cabinet beneath the sink. “I think this must be what Eddie picked up.” Zack glanced up at Finn. “We can take a sample and have it tested, but I believe it’s cocaine.”
“I agree.” Finn watched as Zack managed to get a tiny bit of the white powder into an evidence bag, and Finn hoped it was enough to run a decent test. That Eddie had picked up on the scent was impressive. “Let’s finish the upper level.”
Zach nodded and instructed Eddie to find. The dog went back to work gamely, but the rest of the house was clean.
No package of drugs—or anything else.
“Thanks,” Finn said. “Sorry to drag you out here for this.”
“Hey, we likely found evidence of cocaine, so it was worth it.” Zach’s expression turned grim. “I thought we’d done a good job busting up the drug ring at the airport last month, but it’s clear we only made a slight dent in the problem. I wonder if the guy who escaped is involved in this, too. We haven’t found the ringleader yet, either. He’s likely involved.”
“We’ll get him.” Finn led the way down to the first floor. Eva was still in the kitchen, lightly petting Abernathy as he lay on the floor near her feet.
“Find anything?” Eva asked.
“Just a trace of white powder that needs to be tested.” Finn glanced at Zach, who remained silent. “Nothing else. I think if the package is drugs, we can safely say it’s not here at the house.”
Eva grimaced. “I should have asked him what was in the package,” she berated herself. “Next time, I’ll push for an answer.”
Though Finn wasn’t sure there would be a next time, he nodded in agreement. “Couldn’t hurt.”
“I’ll let you know what we find,” Zach said. He and Eddie moved toward the door. “If you need anything else, holler.”
“Will do.” Finn walked them to the door, watching as they climbed into the K-9 SUV. It occurred to him that they should search the training center and The Fitness Club gym. He doubted either would be fruitful, but at this point he needed to cover every possibility.
No matter how remote.
Upon returning to the kitchen, his phone rang. His heart thumped wildly as he recognized the number. “Tell me you have a plate number and address.”
“We have a plate number and that led to an address—an apartment located in Forest Hills. It’s registered to an R. Talmadge. Got a pen?”
Finn glanced around the kitchen, found a pen and pad of paper and began scribbling as the dispatcher gave him the address. The apartment wasn’t far from Pete’s house, and it galled him to know that if he’d widened his search by another block, he might have found it. “Thanks, I’m heading over there now with Abernathy. We’re the closest. Send backup.”
“Will do.”
“I’m coming with you,” Eva said as he buckled Abernathy’s vest in place and clipped on the leash. The yellow Lab stretched and then sat at his side, waiting for his command.
“Not happening. It’s too dangerous.” He was bound and determined not to drag Eva along. Especially since darkness had fallen and he knew her vision was compromised.
“Mikey needs me. He doesn’t have a mother or a father here. He needs me.”
What was it about her that he couldn’t deny her anything? Finn swallowed an exasperated sigh. “Fine, but you better do exactly as I say. No argument. I can’t allow you to be anywhere close to danger, understand?” They hurried outside to get into his SUV. “If a civilian gets hurt on my watch, my career is over.”
“I won’t get hurt,” Eva insisted. She slid into the passenger seat as he put Abernathy in the back and then climbed behind the wheel.
He didn’t want to acknowledge that keeping her safe was more important than his career, but it was. And he couldn’t stand the thought of Mikey suffering at the hands of his captors. If having Eva along helped the boy adjust, then fine. He’d break the rules for a three-year-old any day of the week.
Navigating the streets to the address he’d programmed into his cell phone, Finn prayed silently that they’d find Mikey safe and unharmed.
* * *
Eva barely glanced at the apartment building Finn had double-parked in front of, intent on unbuckling her seat belt to follow him inside.
“You need to stay here,” he said, releasing Abernathy from the back of the SUV. “My backup will be here any minute, but I’m going in.”
“I might be able to recognize the sound of the cartoon through the door.” She’d come this far and didn’t see what the problem was in going the rest of the way. She’d prayed that God would show them the way to find Mikey and knew they were close. “Do you even have a clue as to what apartment number they’re in?”
He scanned the mailboxes. “I don’t see the name Talmadge listed anywhere, and wasn’t given one, but that’s where Abernathy will help.” He took out Mikey’s raincoat for his K-9 partner. “Find Mikey.”
Abernathy put his nose to the ground and alerted on Mikey’s scent near the front doorway. Eva’s heart was beating so fast she thought it might burst from her chest. The security lock was intact, so Finn pressed the buzzer for the building’s superintendent, informing him he was with the police and asking him to open the door.
Abernathy seemed eager to work, sniffing along the hallways as they made their way around the ground floor. When the K-9 didn’t alert on that level, they went to the second floor.
“How many floors does this place have?” she asked in a whisper.
“Ten.”
Eva’s hope began to wane as Abernathy didn’t alert on the third floor, either. Ten floors could take forever to search.
On the fourth floor, Abernathy alerted at an apartment door halfway down the hall. Eva sucked in a quick breath as they cautiously approached. Sounds were coming through the thin doorway, and as she came closer, she heard the television.
Straining to listen, she slowly nodded at Finn when she realized the same cartoon show was still on. Maybe the men had recorded it to play over and over again to keep Mikey occupied.
“Go back outside,” Finn whispered. Gently he tried the door handle, but of course it was locked. He pulled his weapon and then hammered on the door with his fist. “Police! Open up!”
Eva had begun to retreat down the hallway when she heard a series of loud thumps from inside the apartment.
No! They were going to get away!
Finn lifted his foot and kicked at the door near the handle. Once, twice. The wood frame splintered and gave way, the door swinging open beneath the pressure. Finn entered the apartment, weapon held ready with Abernathy at his side.
“Stop! Police!”
The thumping grew louder, drowning out the sound of the television. When Mikey started crying, Eva decided she wasn’t leaving. Not now. Not when they were so close to finding Mikey. Ignoring Finn’s directive, she followed him inside the apartment. Where was his backup? Shouldn’t they be here by now?
Creeping farther into the room, the shouting from the man and Mikey’s shrill screams grew louder. As she rounded the corner, she saw a man dressed in black holding Mikey in his arms as he tried to throw one leg over the windowsill.
“Get him, Abernathy!” Finn commanded.
The yellow Lab ran across the room and latched onto the guy’s ankle. Labs weren’t trained as attack dogs, but she believed Abernathy sensed Mikey was in danger. The man howled in pain, which only made Mikey scream louder.
“I want my mommy!”
“Stop! Get him,” Finn repeated.
Abernathy continued to tug on the man’s leg, growling low in his throat. Eva kept her gaze trained on Mikey, trying to send reassuring vibes. The man wasn’t very far away, half in and half out of the window. His gaze was locked on Abernathy, and he was so busy trying to shake the dog off that the gun in his right hand was pointed away from her and Finn.
It was now or never. Ignoring Finn’s harsh cry to stay back, she rushed forward, grabbed Mikey and yanked him from the man’s arms. The hand holding the gun came over to hit her on the shoulder at the same moment the sound of gunfire echoed through the room. It was so loud it caused a ringing in her ears.
She dropped to the floor, instinctively curling her body over Mikey’s in an attempt to protect him.
“I’m here. You’re safe, Mikey. It’s okay, you’re safe.” She repeated the words over and over even as the room suddenly filled with cops. Finn came over to take her arm, helping her stand.
“I told you to stay outside!” His voice was hoarse with fear and anger. “You almost got yourself killed!”
Mikey’s crying increased in volume and she raked him with her gaze. “Not now. Yell at me later. Mikey is frightened enough. Did you get him?” She looked around the room, relieved to note that the guy was sitting in a chair, his hands cuffed behind his back. The odd dusty smell that clung to his clothing helped her identify him as the thug who’d grabbed her arm and tried to get her into the waiting car not far from Finn’s headquarters.
Was he here alone? Or was the stinky guy here, too? If so, where was the puppy?
Cops swarmed the apartment quickly, searching for anyone else who might be inside. She heard one of them shout, “Clear!” and knew that meant no one else was there.
Eva sat down on the edge of the sofa, cradling Mikey close, stroking his back and whispering to him, “It’s all over, sweetie. You were so brave. Abernathy was smart enough to help us find you.”
Mikey’s arms were wrapped so tightly around her neck it was difficult to breathe. Her shoulder from where the man had punched her, but she ignored it, refusing to release her hold on the little boy.
Too close. The gunshot had whizzed past her and Mikey before wedging into the wall. The replay of the night’s events would haunt her for a long time. So many things could have gone wrong but hadn’t. They’d caught one of the bad guys and rescued the little boy from harm.
As she held the precious child in her arms, Eva knew she had God to thank for keeping M
ikey safe.
TEN
Upset at how Eva had rushed in to grab Mikey, Finn was also angry at himself for losing his cool. He shouldn’t have yelled at her. Thankfully, everything had turned out okay. They’d found Mikey and had the perp handcuffed. He wished Eva hadn’t put herself in danger but knew that, given the same set of circumstances, she’d likely do the same thing again.
Watching Eva holding Mikey on the edge of the sofa, rocking back and forth as she attempted to calm him down, he let the last vestiges of his anger go. The way Mikey was clinging to Eva only proved her point. The boy didn’t have his mother or his father here, and he deserved to be comforted by Eva, the closest thing to a mother figure he had.
“We got nothing,” Zach Jameson announced. “No sign of Cocoa or anyone else staying here.”
Finn blew out a frustrated breath. Clearly the two men were smart enough to remain separated. As much as he wanted to find Cocoa, he couldn’t help being glad they’d found Mikey so quickly. The Amber Alert had worked in their favor. Too bad there wasn’t a dog version of an Amber Alert. They could put one out for Snapper and for Cocoa.
He approached the handcuffed perp on the floor. Just because the apartment was registered to Talmadge, didn’t mean this was the same man. “What’s your name?”
The guy stared straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact with any of the cops swarming the apartment.
“You’re facing serious charges here,” Finn pointed out. “Felony kidnapping, not to mention the attempted kidnapping of Eva that I witnessed a few days ago. I’m sure once we run your fingerprints through the system, we’ll find other outstanding warrants. Enough to put you away for a very long time.”
He noticed the perp flinch, but he still didn’t look at him. Finn waited for a long moment, hoping the impact of what the man was facing would sink into his tiny brain.
“I want a lawyer.” Although the perp still hadn’t met his gaze, Finn had to admit his voice was indeed raspy, the way Eva had described. “Not talking till I get my lawyer.”