by Joanna Wayne
Her contact phone rang just as they made the exit. She answered and repeated the directions as he gave them so that Adam could ask questions if he didn’t understand exactly where they were to meet. This time he hadn’t bothered to disguise his voice.
It wasn’t familiar.
“Remind him this spot he’s sending us to has to be in the open,” Roger said.
He assured her that it was and then broke the connection.
“That’s only about ten minutes from here,” Adam said.
Hadley’s heart began to pound erratically. Ten more minutes until her world swerved back into its orbit. Ten more minutes until she could hold the girls next to her heart.
Please, God, don’t let anything go wrong.
The minutes dragged by until Adam pulled onto a dirt road that seemed to lead into total darkness. He switched his lights to bright.
Another mile and she spotted the car parked in the middle of the road about fifty yards in front of them. It sat at an intersection with another dirt road.
“He has his getaway planned,” Hadley said.
“It won’t help,” Roger assured her. “If they can spot him from the helicopter, they can keep him in their sight until squad cars can pin him down.”
Adam slowed and then came to a full stop in the middle of the dark, deserted road. He kept his headlights on and pointed at the other vehicle.
Adam lowered his window and picked up the bullhorn Fred had provided.
“I’ll start walking toward you with two duffel bags filled with twenty-dollar bills,” Adam said. “You start walking toward me with the girls. Once I see them and know they’re safe, you get the rest of the money.”
“I changed my mind.”
Hadley’s heart plunged to her stomach.
“I want to make sure that there’s actually money in those bags before I deliver the girls. I pick up the bags and take them to my car and check them out. If the money’s there, I’ll meet you in the middle again for the rest of the money and that time I’ll have the girls with me.”
“Do it, Adam,” she begged. “It’s why we brought the extra bags with us. I don’t care about the rules or even what Fred thinks is right. I just want my girls with me.”
Adam went back to his bullhorn. “We accept that, but you’ll get only two bags of money until we’re assured the girls are safe. And no more changes. I’m bringing out the first two bags of money now.” Adam reached into the backseat for the duffel bags containing R.J.’s fifty thousand dollars.
Roger readied his rifle.
Hadley stared in shock when she realized the man walking toward Adam was Matilda’s son. She’d never suspected him of playing a role in the abduction. This was going to break Matilda’s heart.
Quinton must have found a way to get to him.
Sam met Adam in the middle, picked up the bags and walked them back to the car. He tossed them into the front seat and then waited while the driver apparently checked out the contents of the bag.
“You’ve got the first installment,” Adam called. “Let’s see the girls.”
All of a sudden the driver of the other car hit the gas and swerved into a ninety-degree spin practically running Sam down. And then the car sped away down the intersecting road, the wheels kicking up dust and gravel.
Roger pulled his rifle and pointed it at the fleeing car. He shot twice, aiming at the tires, but the car had disappeared into the darkness. Roger jumped out of the car and ordered Sam to put his hands up and not to take one step from where he was standing.
Adam radioed Fred to go after the fleeing car. Roger went over to Sam, handcuffed him and read him his rights.
It all happened in a blur for Hadley. She struggled to breathe but couldn’t force oxygen into her lungs. She grew dizzy and her heart began to pound erratically.
If she couldn’t get air, she was going to die. She opened the door and jumped from the truck.
Adam caught her in his arms and held her tight while she beat her fists into his chest.
“He got away. All this and he got away.”
“He didn’t. The helicopter will follow him. Stop fighting and hold on to me.”
“But the girls...”
“We’ve got Sam. He’ll lead us to Lacy and Lila. Detective Lane will see to that.”
They were words, only words, but she was no longer fighting for breath. The vertigo lessened. The world stopped bucking.
“I’ll be here for you, Hadley,” Adam whispered. “I promise I’ll be here for you. But I need you to be here for me.”
The pleading in his voice finally got through to her. She wasn’t the only one who was afraid. She wasn’t the only who was hurting.
Adam rocked her in his arms until she could stand by herself. But he couldn’t still the fear that was driving her out of her mind.
The fear that she might never see Lacy and Lila again.
* * *
MARY NELL WOKE TO bright sunlight streaming through the window of her motel room. The room was no bigger than the one she’d shared with the girls in Dallas, but it was clean. And instead of a noisy highway outside her window, there was the Gulf of Mexico.
She stretched and then eased out of bed so as not to wake the girls. They’d slept with her last night instead of on the floor. She’d never expected to grow so fond of them. She hoped she and Sam had lots of kids.
The time for them to turn Lacy and Lila over to Hadley had come and gone. Hopefully, Quinton had given up and gone, as well. Then she and Sam could make this work.
He’d be upset with her for running out on him, but once she explained that she’d done it for them and for the girls, he’d understand.
Unless he’d been arrested. No. She had to stay positive. Sam was at home in his bed, just waking up and wondering where she was and why she hadn’t gotten in touch with him.
There was a phone in the room but she was nervous about making the call in case Sam was with Quinton. But she had no choice. She got an outside line and called his number. There was no answer. She left a brief message asking Sam to come and get them in Galveston. She couldn’t bear going back to that sleazy motel where they’d been staying.
After that, she stood at the window and admired the view. There were sailboats in the distance and a sandy playground just across the street from the motel and right on the beach.
Too bad she didn’t dare take the girls there. She was afraid to even take them to the breakfast room for the free food. She should go now while they were still asleep and bring something back for them to eat.
And then they’d wait on Sam to come for them. He loved her. He wouldn’t let her down.
She slipped into a pair of white shorts and a tank top and ran her fingers through her hair. Then she stepped into her flip-flops, locked the girls in the room and went to find food.
She returned with a tray loaded with yogurt, cereal, fruit and juice for the girls and with a bagel, cream cheese and coffee for herself. The girls were still sound asleep.
She turned the TV on low to see if there was any more talk of an arrest being made.
She didn’t have to wait long before her fears turned to shock. She blinked, unable to believe that was Sam’s image on the screen. He was in handcuffs and walking next to Detective Lane. She grabbed the remote to turn up the volume.
Sam had been arrested in an attempt to collect a ransom. Quinton had gotten away with fifty thousand dollars. There was no mention of her but Sam had given them Quinton’s name as an accomplice.
Quinton who was walking around a free man. Hopefully, he’d left the country with the fifty thousand, but what if he hadn’t? He knew she had the girls. He’d track her down. He’d take them from her and then demand the rest of the five million from Hadley.
But he wouldn’t let it go at that. He’d find a way to get even with her.
She had to do something and do it quick.
Before Quinton came banging on the door.
* * *
SAM’S
CELL PHONE VIBRATED. Quinton picked it up and saw that there was a missed call and a waiting message. The phone must have rung while he was in the bathroom. He called voice mail and listened to the message.
“We’re at the SunFun Motel in Galveston. Come for us.”
I’m on my way, Mary Nell. I’m on my way.
Chapter Fifteen
Hadley sat in the porch swing, a cup of coffee that had grown cold clutched in her hand. She stared straight in front of her but didn’t really see anything.
Her brain was numb, the rest of her body an aching mass of muscles that seemed disconnected and unresponsive.
The detective, Adam, Fred, and even R.J. had tried to convince her that progress had been made. Either they thought she was a fool or they were fooling themselves.
Even though the helicopter was in the air in minutes after the getaway car had speeded from sight, the car had never been spotted again. Hundreds of police and private citizens were combing that area now looking for the car and the girls. R.J. and all three of the Lambert brothers were among that group.
Detective Lane had insisted that she, Adam and Fred stay at the ranch in case Quinton tried to get in touch with them. She had little hope that would happen. Quinton was most likely across the border by now with R.J.’s fifty thousand dollars.
No one had an explanation for why he hadn’t gone through with the planned ransom exchange except that he must have suspected a trap.
If Sam knew where Lacy and Lila were, he wasn’t admitting it. According to Lane, even under intense interrogation, Sam had stuck to his original story. He’d said that Quinton had come to him yesterday and threatened Alana if he didn’t cooperate with him.
Lacy and Lila could be locked in a dark closet somewhere, starving and crying for their mother to come and save them. They might be outside, wandering in a patch of woods along any highway, lost and afraid. They could be...
No. She couldn’t bring herself to even think the dreaded word.
Nausea hit again and she grew so dizzy the cup slipped from her fingers and broke into dozens of pieces. The coffee sloshed on her legs and feet. She didn’t bother to wipe it off.
Her phone jingled announcing a new text. She checked the caller ID. The sender information had been blocked.
In spite of her crippling depression, she felt a twinge of hope as she opened the message.
If you want to get your daughters back, meet me ASAP in Galveston. I’m not the kidnapper, but I know where they are. More info to follow.
Hadley knew the odds were that this was a hoax. She warned herself not to get her hopes up again. And yet traitorous anticipation laced her heart.
She jumped from the swing and ran to find Adam. This time she didn’t want police involvement or a negotiator. This time she only wanted Adam with her. She’d take no chance in scaring off anyone who might know the whereabouts of her Lacy and Lila.
* * *
ADAM CALLED AND MADE the arrangements with Durk Lambert. They would have to drive into Dallas to board the plane, but the flight to Galveston on the company jet would get them there about two hours faster than driving.
Adam strongly suspected the call was a ruse and that the trip was a wild-goose chase, but he agreed readily to make the trip with her. Any chance was better than none.
They touched down at a small private airport in Galveston at 11:06. The rental car Adam had ordered ahead of time was waiting. There had been no more texts.
The pilot stood at the door as they started to descend the narrow steps to the tarmac. “Do you have any idea what time you’ll want to fly back to Dallas?”
“I’m hoping we won’t need more than an hour at the most,” Adam said, “but I can’t guarantee this won’t take longer.”
“Take all the time you need.” He took a card from his pocket and handed it to Adam. “Give me about a thirty-minute heads-up if you can. I’ll be in the area.”
“Thanks, “Adam said.
They hadn’t told the pilot the nature of their business. Nor had Durk, but Hadley was certain he could tell from their demeanor that this was not your normal business trip.
Adam took care of the paperwork on the rental. There was still no follow-up to the earlier text. He opened the car door for her. “No use to just hang around the airport. We may as well find a coffee shop on the beach.”
They had just taken their first sip of coffee when the text came through. Hadley picked up the phone but said a silent prayer before she checked the message. She read it silently to herself and then read it out loud.
“The SunFun Motel. Room 217. I’m sorry.”
Frustration took hold again. “I’m sorry. That can mean anything. Sorry the texter had changed his or her mind about talking to me? Sorry he got our hopes up for nothing. Sorry that...”
“Find the hotel on your phone’s GPS,” Adam said, calm in the face of immense frustration—as usual. Calm but not immune. His fingers had tightened on the wheel and his muscles bunched and flexed beneath his light blue sport shirt.
“It’s 6.2 miles away,” Hadley said. She gave him directions and cursed every red light.
“I can’t stand this. I’m calling the motel,” she said. “I’ll ask for Room 217 and see if someone answers.”
She made the call. “Room 217, please.”
“I’m sorry. The guest in that room checked out just a few minutes ago.”
Hadley mouthed the words checked out for Adam. He grimaced.
“Please ring the room anyway,” Hadley said.
“I’m pretty sure I saw her drive away, but I’ll ring the room.”
“Thanks.”
Hadley checked the GPS while the phone rang. “Turn right in six hundred feet.”
She was about to hang up when the phone clicked and she heard a noise as if it had been dropped. “Hello, she called into the phone. Hello. Is anyone there?”
“It’s Mommy.”
The familiar voice wrapped tight around her heart. Her throat closed. Tears burned at the corners of her eyelids.
“Lacy, is that you?”
“Come get me, Mommy.”
“I’m coming, sweetheart. I’m coming. Is Lila with you?”
“Yes. She being bad. She took my cookie.”
“We’ll buy more cookies. We’ll buy all the cookies you want.”
Adam took her hand and squeezed it as he jerked to a stop in front of Room 217 at the SunFun Motel. “Ask her who’s with her.”
Dread choked Hadley’s joy. She’d been so excited at the sound of her daughter’s voice that she’d never considered that this might be a trap. If Quinton was in that room with them, if this was another of his schemes.
He’d never let them just walk in and walk away with the girls.
“Who’s in the room with you, sweetheart?”
“Lila?”
“Who else?”
“Amanda. Mary Nell leaved us.”
Adam was already out of his truck when the door to Room 217 opened and Lila stepped onto the outdoor walkway. Adam flew up the steps and grabbed her. She started to scream and he quickly set her back down.
Lacy ran out of the room and started kicking him.
With tears streaming down her face, Hadley raced to his rescue. She fell to her knees and both girls tumbled into her arms.
“Don’t cry, Mommy.”
But she couldn’t stop crying and laughing and kissing.
“This is Adam,” she said when the girls had endured all the slobbering attention they could stand. “He’s my friend.”
She’d tell them he was their father later when they’d had time to get to know him. They’d soon love him the way she did. The way she’d always loved him. The way she always would, even though they still had a few serious barriers to hurdle.
Adam picked up both girls and started toward the steps. Hadley took one quick look inside the motel room. She didn’t see another soul, but there was food scattered about the room. At least her babies had not starved.
“Wanna go home, Mommy,” Lila said when she caught up with them.
“Me, too, sweetheart. Me, too.”
Oddly, when she’s said home, she was actually thinking of the Dry Gulch Ranch.
* * *
QUINTON SWERVED INTO the left lane and passed an 18-wheeler that was going five miles over the speed limit. He cursed the traffic the way he had ever since leaving Dallas.
By now, the stupid broad would have surely heard that Sam had been arrested. There was no telling what she was planning.
Most likely she’d try to get the ransom for herself and end up in jail with Sam. He had to get to her before she screwed up everything.
He needed the girls and then he’d collect the rest of his five million. But one stupid move by Hadley and the next time she saw her daughters, they’d be dead.
* * *
UNABLE TO BE MORE than a few inches away from the girls, Hadley had sandwiched herself between them in the backseat of the car. The girls were giggly and full of chatter as they drove to the airport.
They were not only unhurt, there were no apparent signs that they’d been frightened during the kidnapping ordeal. That did not sound as if they’d been left at the mercy of Quinton.
Lacy had mentioned the name Mary Nell. Perhaps she’d been the one who’d cared for them and kept them safe.
Hadley leaned forward and touched Adam on the shoulder. “I should have gone inside the hotel room and looked around. There might have been a note from whoever texted me.”
“If there is, the cops will find it. I think we should call the detective now and let him take care of the case from here on out.”
“And I have to call Mother and R.J. I should do that now.” She took out her phone and made the calls. Her mother was so ecstatic she didn’t even complain about Adam. She’d talked to both of the girls, though. And then she’d started singing “Amazing Grace” right over the phone.
R.J. was silent for at least a minute. When he finally said something, it was a mumbled old Texas saying that had little relevance to the situation. But she’d swear he was crying.
“I don’t think your father is used to showing emotion,” she said when she and Adam had both finished their calls.