by Joanna Wayne
“Fair enough.”
“What are you planning to do now that you’re out of the service and back in the States, Adam?”
“I’m not sure.”
“If you’re looking for a job, drop by the office one day. I’ll hook you up with personnel and we can see what they can come up with that fits your interests and expertise. No pressure, of course.”
“I guess giving out jobs is more of the cowboy way.”
“No, I’d only hire you if you were a fit for the position and for the company. But we hire a lot of veterans. They have good work ethics and a strong sense of loyalty. And we all owe you a debt of thanks.”
“In that case, I appreciate the offer, but the only thing I can concentrate on now is rescuing Lacy and Lila.”
“I understand completely.” Durk turned his attention to Fred and described the aircraft. “If you can use any of that, just let me know.”
“I’m thinking that the helicopter or perhaps the small jet might be useful.”
Durk pulled two business cards from his pocket. “This is my brother Tague’s number. He’s at the ranch all day today. He can fix you up with the helicopter. And this is my card. Call me if you need either of the corporate jets. I’ve already checked. They’re both available and reserved for your use.”
“How much notice will you need?”
“I’ll give Tague a call now and tell him to get a pilot on standby for the helicopter. Or for that matter, Tague can fly it for you. So I’d say the helicopter could be ready by the time you drive to the ranch to board it. I’ll need an hour’s notice on the jet.”
“Sounds good,” Fred said.
They said their goodbyes and R.J. and Adam stood on the porch as Durk and Meghan drove away.
“Thanks for asking them to stop by,” Adam said. “If you’d asked first, I would have probably said no. But I’d have never expected them to be so willing to do whatever it takes to find two kidnapped girls they don’t even know.”
“And the rest of the Lamberts are just as friendly and accommodating. Considering the life I’ve lived, it’s amazing they have anything to do with me.”
“Were you that bad?”
“I did a lot more hell-raising than I did volunteering my help. And as you know, I wasn’t much of a father. That’s why it’s asking a lot to expect you or any of your half siblings to give me the time of day, much less move onto the ranch.”
“You sweetened the pot with the money and the ranch.”
“Money doesn’t make up for letting people down. I can’t undo any of what I’ve done, but I’d do a better job of being a dad if I had to do it over again. That’s all I’m saying.”
“That’s saying a lot.”
“Well, I lied. It’s not all I’m saying. I’ve made lots of mistakes in my day, son. I’ve learned things the hard way, so trust my advice. Don’t you let Hadley get away from you, boy. If you do, you’ll be a bigger fool than I ever was.”
Advice Adam would give the world if he could heed.
But he couldn’t. Still, R.J.’s advice lingered in his mind as he walked outside and made a call to his mother. He wouldn’t talk to her about R.J., but he did need to fill her in on what was going on.
He wondered if she suspected that he was still in love with Hadley when she’d called and insisted he offer his assistance. She’d always had a sixth sense about knowing what what was on his mind and in his heart.
R.J. might be new at being a Dad, but Jerri had been his mother all his life.
* * *
SMOKE FROM FRYING tortillas filled the Mexican restaurant. Quinton waved it away with his napkin and took a bite of the spicy egg, cheese and bean taco. This was his favorite breakfast dive, but today he was too agitated to even flirt with the owner’s pretty young daughter who was back to refill his coffee cup.
Matilda had the means, motive and opportunity to kidnap those girls. She also had the motive to try and pin it on him—if she was guilty. But as hard as he’d tried to believe that she was the abductor, the edges of the puzzle always came out lopsided.
Matilda was loyal to the core. That’s why she’d put up with so much from him over the years. She was also loyal to Janice O’Sullivan. It had almost killed her to con Janice out of five thousand dollars to bail him out of trouble.
The only reason Matilda had gone through with the scheme was to protect Alana from him. She would have never done it for herself.
So if she was willing and even eager to pin this on him, she must be protecting someone. But who?
“Hadley O’Sullivan?” He had no use for that bitch, but it was hard to imagine she’d gotten rid of her own kids. She’d definitely never called him and asked him to do it for her.
But the detective’s eyes had lit up at that accusation. It was obvious he already suspected she had something to do with the kidnapping. It wouldn’t take much to nudge him into arresting Hadley. But Matilda wouldn’t pin the murder on him to protect Hadley.
So who took the girls? Adam Dalton?
Maybe. Tough former marine chasing hot mother of twins under the age of three. He might prefer to have Hadley all to himself. But the man had to know that if Hadley found out he’d gotten rid of her kids she’d never have anything to do with him.
So...
The owner’s daughter came around again, this time with extra salsa. The girl was working her tip. Her mother probably didn’t pay her near enough.
And all of a sudden the truth hit Quinton. He knew exactly who’d kidnapped those girls. All he had to do was find the hideaway and he was in the game with four aces and a wild card up his sleeve.
Chapter Eleven
“I don’t understand why you insist on staying on some hot, isolated ranch in the middle of nowhere that smells of manure. With Adam Dalton and his father no less.”
“I’ve explained that, Mother.”
“And it made sense when you were all alone, but I’m getting out of the hospital today. We can lean on each other as we’ve always done. We can see this through together.”
“I’m not just here with Adam and his father. I told you that Adam has hired a professional negotiator to help us deal with the kidnapper.”
“If Adam can afford this negotiator, then I’m sure I can.”
“But you don’t have access to a helicopter or corporate jets that might help in Lacy and Lila’s rescue.”
“And Adam and his father do?”
“The Lamberts of Lambert Oil are friends and neighbors of Adam’s father. They’ve offered whatever we need.”
“You’ve told Adam the truth, haven’t you? After the way he treated you, you’ve come crawling back to him. That’s why he and his father are taking over.”
“I’m not crawling, Mother, but I would if it could get Lacy and Lila home safely. And, yes, Adam knows he’s their father. I couldn’t very well keep it from him when the girls are in danger. We haven’t told his father as yet, but I’m considering it.”
Janice started to cry. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. So sorry you had to make that choice. And I don’t mean to fuss. It’s just that I’m so upset. I just want them home again.”
“I know, Mother. I know. It’s going to happen. We’re going to make it happen.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me to come out to the ranch?”
“I’m positive. You go home with your friend Karen and take care of yourself. I promise I’ll keep you posted. When we get the girls back, you’ll be the first person I’ll call.”
Janice sobbed into the phone. Hadley fought not to dissolve into tears with her and make this even harder on both of them.
“I know I shouldn’t hate Adam, but he broke your heart and he never gave it a second thought. Now he’ll never be out of your life.”
And in spite of all he’d put her through, having Adam in her life would be perfectly fine with Hadley.
But before she could let herself dream of that, they had to find Lacy and Lila and save them from a madman.
Without warning, the terror took over. Hadley began to shake as terrifying images of her daughters locked in a room with Quinton infected her mind.
* * *
ADAM WALKED INTO the kitchen and found Hadley leaning against the counter, her body racked with sobs. His heart plunged to the depths of his soul as the worst possible scenario stormed his mind.
He tugged her around to face him and then took her in his arms. “Did you hear from Detective Lane?”
“No, just Mother. She cried and then I started thinking about Quinton and crying and now I can’t stop.” Her words were broken by the sobs, but relief washed over Adam. There was no news which meant as far as they knew the girls were still alive.
“I’m going crazy,” Hadley said when she could finally talk without breaking down. “Whoever the kidnapper is, why won’t he call? Why is he tormenting us like this?”
Adam picked up a napkin and began wiping her tears away. He hurt for her as well as for himself, but he knew meaningless platitudes wouldn’t help. He stuck to the facts.
“We’ve heard from him every day the girls have been missing. Surely we’ll hear from him soon.”
“In the meantime, all I can do is wait and go out of my mind.”
“You need to get out of this house. I was thinking about taking a quick horseback ride. How about joining me? R.J. has plenty of mounts to choose from.”
“Thanks for the offer, but no. I don’t want to leave the house in case the kidnapper does call. Besides, if I tagged along, I’d be such a downer it would defeat your purpose in going.”
“Knowing you were here crying would ruin my ride far more. We don’t have to talk at all if you don’t want to, and we won’t go far. You’ll have your phone with you and we can get back to the house in minutes if there’s a need.”
“I haven’t ridden in years,” she said.
“But you have ridden before?”
“I rode a lot during my early teen years. The family of my best friend owned a ranch in the Hill Country. They frequently took me with them for long weekends and summer vacations. I always hoped that one day I’d live on a ranch.”
R.J. would probably love to give her Adam’s share of the ranch. He just might when he found out that Lacy and Lila were his granddaughters.
“You could use some fresh air,” Adam urged. He was going stir-crazy. She had to be feeling the same way. Doing nothing in the face of a tragedy was the hardest task of all.
He’d grab some food from the kitchen to take with them. At the very least he should be able to get her to eat enough to keep her from collapsing. He wasn’t doing much else to help.
Being useless was killing him.
* * *
R.J. SADDLED A couple of horses that needed exercising while Adam made fried-ham-and-egg-on-toast sandwiches and Hadley changed into more comfortable riding clothes.
In minutes they were on the worn horse trail to the swimming hole. It was only mid-morning but the temperature and humidity were steadily climbing.
Adam led the way, taking his horse to a canter and then a full gallop when he realized Hadley had no trouble keeping up. They didn’t slow until the old swimming hole came into view. Oddly the only part of it that looked familiar to Adam was the rope hanging from the branch of an oak tree that extended over the spring-fed pool.
They dismounted and Adam looped and secured their reins to the branch of sycamore tree.
“Your gnarly rope is still there,” she said.
“Most likely it’s not the same one. That was a lifetime ago.” Last week was a lifetime ago.
Hadley walked toward the pool. Adam took the sandwiches and two bottles of water from his saddlebag before following her across the carpet of grass and weeds.
Hadley stopped to watch a butterfly flutter past. “The girls would go wild with this much room to run and play and a pool of cool water to wade in.”
“The girls will love it here,” he corrected. “R.J. is smitten with you. I’m sure he’d love for you and the girls to come out as often as you like.”
“He’s already said as much,” Hadley said. “I feel guilty not telling him that the girls are his granddaughters. But if Lane finds out that you’re Lacy and Lila’s father, he’ll find a way to twist that into suspicion and motive. Based on the fact that I lied about it earlier, if nothing else.”
Adam had no doubt that Lane would find out soon. The longer this went on, the less likely he was to keep any of his secrets. He’d only glanced at the morning paper, but it was full of speculation about what had happened to the girls. He figured the TV and radio news was, as well.
Dallas citizens who believed that Hadley was innocent were worried about their own children and demanding the police move faster in solving the case and finding the girls.
The number who believed Hadley had gotten rid of her own daughters was growing and they were demanding an arrest.
And all Adam and Hadley could do was wait. He hated that the kidnapper held the reins. All Adam’s military training, all his combat experience was worthless in this situation. He couldn’t sneak up on the enemy or go rushing in with guns blaring. Even if they knew the identity of the kidnapper, a wrong move could get the girls killed.
So the best he could do was try to keep Hadley from falling apart. He unwrapped the top of a sandwich and tried to hand it to her.
She shook her head. “I can’t eat.”
“Try a few bites. You have to stay strong for the girls. You don’t want to be fainting from hunger and exhaustion when the kidnapper calls.”
She relented and reached for the sandwich. “I’ll take a bite, but I can’t guarantee that it will stay down. Even the sight of food makes me nauseous.”
She took a bite, chewing as she walked to the water’s edge. “Did I tell you that both Lacy and Lila can swim?”
“You never mentioned it.”
“They can. I took them to toddler lessons at the YWCA last March. Lacy pretended she was a fish from one of her favorite movies. She wasn’t the least bit afraid. In fact, she came up giggling when her head went under for the first time.”
“Yep, she’s my daughter. What about Lila?”
“She was a bit more cautious. She cried the first few times she got water in her eyes. But after the second lesson she was over her fears and reluctance. After that, she loved her lessons. And the hideous neon yellow swimsuit that she picked out herself.”
For once talking about them wasn’t making Hadley cry. In fact, it seemed to help. “What else should I know about my daughters?”
“Lacy loves to play outside. We walk to the park almost every evening in the summer. And she loves animals. She’s been begging for a puppy but we’ll have to move before she gets one. Condo restrictions forbid it where we’re renting now.”
“Every little girl should have a puppy,” Adam said.
“The condo is all I can afford. I do the best I can by them on just my salary.”
“That didn’t come out the way I meant it,” Adam said. “I’m sure that you’re a wonderful mother.” He’d never had any doubts that she would be.
“What does Lila like?”
“Her dolls and playing house and dress-up. She has this stringy-haired doll that she named Amanda. She never goes anywhere without it.”
“The doll she was holding in the video?”
“That’s the one. I’m so glad she has Amanda with her now. She would have cried herself to sleep every night without her. She might be crying now. She and Lacy could be locked up and alone with no one to hear or care if they’re hungry, or hurt, or afraid.”
Hadley’s voice grew unsteady. Her body swayed. Her face grew ashen.
Adam caught her just before she sank to the grass. He lifted her and held her in his arms. She felt fragile, as if she might break if he held her too tightly.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered. “I won’t let you fall.”
But that was the best he could promise. All they could do was take th
is one day, one hour, one second at a time.
“I think I should sit a minute before we ride back,” she said.
“I agree.” He led her to the base of a towering pine. Still holding his hand, she eased down to the carpet of pine straw. She straightened her back and held her head high as the color slowly returned to her face.
“I can handle this,” she said. “I will not let the kidnapper win.”
“That’s my girl.”
The girl who got away.
His phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket and checked the caller ID. Matilda Bastion. He retreated back to where the horses were waiting and took the call, keeping his voice low. If this was news about Quinton, he might need to break it to Hadley gently.
“Adam, it’s Matilda.” Her voice was strained. “I hope you don’t mind me calling you, but I didn’t know who else to call.”
“I don’t mind. I told you when I gave you my phone number to call anytime you feel the need. What’s wrong?”
“Detective Lane was here again.”
“To talk about Quinton?”
“No. He came to question Alana and Sam. He insisted on talking to each of them alone. I shouldn’t have let him.”
“Why is that?”
“He bullied them, treated them like common criminals. They were both nervous wrecks when he left. Alana was crying. Sam was so upset he put a fist through a wall. He just left for his summer school class. I’m afraid he might do something foolish like not come home tonight—or try to find Quinton.”
“Did he mention Quinton?”
“He said he understood why Quinton hates cops. I was hoping you could talk to him and try to calm him down before he does something that makes him look guilty.”
“I’d be glad to. Where’s his school and how will I recognize him?”
She gave him the information and the time Sam’s class would finish for the day.
“Alana’s freaking out, too, but I can handle her,” Matilda said. “She said the detective was trying to trick her into saying things she didn’t mean to say.”
“He’s likely just doing his job.”