Katie looked stricken. Wade was immediately worried for his wife. “Please get to the point, Mr. Johnson.”
“Of course. They lost their daughter during the birth of a grandchild, but the child survived, a little boy.”
For a moment, silence overwhelmed the room. Everyone appeared to be holding their breath. The tension in the room bore down on Wade as he stared at the lawyer. He felt it would crush him.
Was this man about to say what they all were thinking?
The lawyer finally continued. “My clients are looking for a home for the child.”
Suddenly, everyone was talking at once, Wade to Katie, Shirley to Katie, Katie to Wade, and Wade to Shirley. Only the lawyer was silent.
Finally, just as quickly as they had started, they stopped. Everyone was again looking at the lawyer. He waited a moment, then continued as if the outburst had never happened.
“My clients are older, their daughter was twenty-nine when she died, and they feel unable to care for the child. They have given me the task of finding a suitable home.”
Several minutes of silence followed as each appeared lost in their thoughts. Wade spoke first. “What about the father?”
“Their daughter never revealed the father’s name, and all efforts to identify him have failed.”
Several more minutes passed before anyone spoke. Again, it was Wade. “I assume, since you are here, that you are considering us for the new home.”
The lawyer nodded.
Wade looked at Katie for affirmation and saw it in her eyes. “Obviously, we would be interested. What is involved?”
“Well, there are a series of forms that must be filled out and submitted, both to my clients, and to the state. Each will examine the documents and then inform me of their decision,” he hesitated. “There is one issue that will need to be resolved, however.”
“What's that?” Shirley and Katie said, in perfect unison again.
Zeb smiled at the two ladies, and Wade shrugged. “They do it all the time.”
The lawyer continued. “The death of their daughter, and medical care for the child, has left them nearly fifty thousand dollars in debt. Their finances have been devastated. They are asking the adoptive parents to accept responsibility for those debts, and pay them off at the time of the adoption.”
The room was quiet as the lawyer allowed the stipulation to sink in.
Wade’s face immediately reflected the lump forming in his stomach. They didn't have near that much. He looked at Katie, who was staring back at him, hope filling her eyes.
Wade turned back to the lawyer. “That's a lot of money, Mr. Johnson. Even if we could come up with it, what assurances do we have this is legitimate?”
“Mr. Duncan, I would not be here, especially with the turmoil you two have endured in the last few months, unless this was a sincere offer. All the paperwork would have to be in order and legally filed before you would be asked to relinquish any funds, or the child given to you.”
“Well, I’m afraid all we have is our savings for a home, which is about half of what you say your clients need.”
Wade was looking at Katie's pleading face, not the lawyer, while he was speaking. “This home is rented, so we have no equity to call upon.”
“I'll pay the other half.”
Both Katie and Wade spun around to look at Shirley. She’d stood up and was leaning on the kitchen door. Katie started to object, but she knew the look on her mother’s face. Shirley had made up her mind and wasn't going to change it.
A big grin crossed Shirley’s face. “After all, he would be my grandson!”
*******
Sensing the critical moment, Zeb broke into his own wide smile and produced a large sheath of documents printed off the Internet.
It was surprising how much you could find on government Web pages, and this was the fourth time he had used the same forms.
“I will need you both to go over these documents and fill them out completely. In addition, there is the petition to adopt, and a request for the birth certificate, that need to be filled out, as well. I will leave these with you, and you can call me when you’re done.”
Wade took the documents. “What happens then?”
“Well, I'll go over them with my clients, who will make the final decision. If they agree, I'll call you and file the papers with the state.”
“How long will it all take?”
Zeb rose to leave, “After I have the forms, a week, maybe ten days. That would be my best guess.”
Practice had made the timing of his moves perfect, and this was clearly the time to make his exit. Wade got up to shake the lawyer’s hand and see him to the door.
Katie hurried over and hugged her mother.
*******
When Stan had driven away from the Duncan home, he placed a call to Benny.
“Hello?”
“Zeb here, Benny. Do you have any targets chosen?”
“Hello to you too,” Benny chuckled. “Yeah, I've got two possibilities, a boy and a girl.”
“It has to be the boy. Do your recon and prepare to move. We should be ready to go in a week or less.”
“Fine, I'll be ready. You just have my money.”
“You'll get it on delivery, just like we agreed. I'll call you when I have a definite go.”
He hung up. Benny had started to get on his nerves.
*******
The phone jumped to life. Every time it rang, Katie's heart beat faster. They had turned the papers in to the lawyer almost a week ago and she was waiting for the call that would let them know if they were going to get the baby. She took a deep breath and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Duncan?”
“Yes.”
“This is Zebulin Johnson. Is your husband with you?”
“No, but my mother is here.”
“Well, be sure and call your husband to tell him you’re going to be parents!”
For a long moment, Katie didn't say anything. She just stood there with tears running down her face. She nodded at her mother, who started crying, too.
“Thank you,” Katie managed into the phone.
“You’re welcome. I will let you know when the child will arrive, and you'll need to have a cashier’s check ready, made out in my name. ”
“In your name?” Katie asked, confused.
“Yes. My clients don't want to reveal their name.”
“Oh yes, of course. I'll tell Wade. Thank you again. I need to go and call him.”
“Of course. Goodbye and I will be in touch soon.”
When Katie got hold of Wade and delivered the news, it started a fresh round of tears for all of them. They couldn't believe it. After the tragedy of their third child dying, they never would have dreamed they would be happy again so soon. They still mourned the loss of their own baby, but the arrival of the little boy was the best medicine they could ever have hoped for.
Chapter 3
Tammy Barton sat in the shade with their baby. Her husband, Michael, stood in the hot afternoon sun with the camera. He was trying to get the perfect picture, and after several attempts, he announced he was satisfied. “Got it!”
“Finally!” Tammy groaned. “I'm going back in the house.”
She kissed Michael, and he kissed his son, before he headed off to work. She retreated into the cool house for her afternoon nap, which she tried to get every day, while the baby slept.
Sitting on the couch and feeding their son, Kristian, it only took a few minutes before he was full and nodding off.
She gently carried him to the first room down the hall. The nursery, all blue and yellow, was decorated with clowns, a circus throw rug, and a balloon mobile that hung over the crib.
She changed her son and laid him down. Leaving the door cracked open, she stretched out on the couch for her nap.
*******
Watching the whole scene from just down the road was Benny. He knew the mother’s routine as well. He was counting on her takin
g her regular nap. He had been watching for several days, and so far, she hadn’t missed one. He’d hoped today was no different.
Benny was in his mother’s 1968 Pontiac Bonneville. She’d left it to him when she died, and he hated it. One of the first things he planned to do with the money was get a new car. In the backseat, a baby carrier and blanket laid ready to be used.
It was hot, and even though he'd parked in the shade, sweat poured off him. He didn't know how much perspiration was nerves and how much was due to the heat, but he was miserable.
It was forty-five minutes before Benny got out of the car and casually walked up the street. He went around the corner and down the alley leading behind the Barton home. He had dressed in beige clothes, a tan hat, and brown shoes to blend in with the dry west Texas summer.
When he reached the back gate, he flipped the latch and walked up to the sliding glass door. Lying on the couch with her back to him was the mother, her chest rising and falling in the rhythmic pattern of sleep. He tested the door. It slid open easily.
Amazing how careless people are!
He walked carefully past the living room and into the hall, stopping at the first door. It sat cracked slightly, and when he gently pushed it open, he found the crib.
Benny had brought the blanket with him, and he quickly wrapped the sleeping baby in it. Retracing his steps back to the sliding glass door, he was in and out in less than three minutes.
He tucked the baby against his chest and tried to keep an easy pace, but his heart pounded, urging him to run. If he were confronted now, he’d be put away for a very long time.
He kept his focus, and a steady pace, until he reached his car. Laying the sleeping baby into the carrier, he’d jumped in the front, started the car, and was gone. He hadn't seen anyone or heard anything unusual. As far as he could tell, he had completed his task undetected.
“You just be nice and quiet,” he whispered, more to himself than to the baby. “We’ll have you in a new home soon.”
Benny turned the car onto Highway 1601 East and then caught 281 North. The route chosen by Zeb would take Benny into Oklahoma, where he would meet his connection. A small town off the interstate called Paul’s Valley. A payday was waiting for him there.
He focused on his driving; now was not a good time to do something stupid.
*******
Michael Barton got home three hours later. Coming through the door, he was surprised to find his wife still asleep on the couch.
“Honey?” He touched her shoulder and she sat up with a start.
“Oh, it's you.” She rubbed her eyes. “You get off early?”
“No, it's five-fifteen. Is the baby still asleep?”
“I guess so. He must have needed the nap as much as I did.”
Michael went over to the open door and peeked in. He didn’t see his son, so he stepped over by the crib.
“Tammy!”
She rushed to the room. “What?”
“Where's Kristian?”
“He was nap...” She couldn’t finish the sentence as the empty crib came into view.
“My baby! Where's my baby?” She ran from room to room. Michael dialed the police.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“My son, he's missing! Please send help.”
“Okay, sir, stay calm. How old is your son?”
“Three months, he's just a newborn.”
“Is your wife there?”
“Yes, and she's looking everywhere. He was taking a nap and now he's gone.”
“Alright sir, the police are on their way.”
She confirmed the address in west San Antonio and let him off the line to go to his wife.
Tammy stood in the front yard, looking down the road, as if someone might show up with her baby at any moment. Tears ran down her cheeks and her body shook. Michael put his arm around her and watched as the first police car arrived. A black and white, closely followed by an unmarked car.
*******
Detective Jason Strong stepped into the sunlight, tall and thin with dark sunglasses. The uniformed officer immediately went to him, and after a brief discussion, the patrolman had his orders. The detective headed toward the Bartons.
In plain clothes, he showed his badge to Michael as he walked up. Michael noticed a small gold cross on the detective’s lapel.
We can use any help we can get.
“Mr. and Mrs. Barton?”
“Yes. I'm Michael, and this is my wife, Tammy.”
“Okay, will you take me inside and tell me what happened?”
“Sure, follow me.”
Michael led the detective through the entryway and into the living room. He and Tammy sat on the couch while Detective Strong walked to the back door and tried it.
“Was this unlocked?”
“Yes. I never lock it during the day unless we leave.” Tammy didn't look up when she answered. She sat staring at a pacifier, turning it over and over in her hands.
“And what’s on the other side of the fence?”
“Just an alley.”
“Where was the child when you last saw him?”
“I laid him down in his room for a nap. That was about two. I fell asleep on the couch and didn't hear anything until Michael came home.”
Her eyes red, she still hadn't stopped shaking.
Michael watched the detective walk to the nursery. He heard him try the window. Michael had already checked it while Tammy was running around the house. It was locked.
The detective left the nursery and came over to sit opposite Tammy and Michael. He took out his notepad and stared at them intently.
“Okay, I want you to tell me everything you can think of from the moment you woke up this morning. Everything, no matter how small you think it is.”
For nearly an hour, they recalled every detail they could for the detective. At the same time, crime scene techs and police photographers had invaded their house.
An officer had strung yellow crime scene tape around the front yard and stood guard, keeping the neighbors at bay.
*******
Detective Jason Strong obtained a picture of the baby from Tammy Barton and issued an Amber Alert. The kidnapper had at least a three-hour head start. He was leaning toward kidnapping, because his gut told him the parents were not involved. He hadn't ruled them out, but he was going with what the spirit in him was saying.
The Amber Alert would have every law officer in the state and surrounding states looking for a newborn child. The problem was they don’t know whether the child was taken on foot or by vehicle, nor if he was being kept locally or moved out of state. They needed luck, or for the kidnapper to make a mistake, if they were going to be able to narrow the search.
A stranger abduction was rare, and the parents were not wealthy enough to warrant a ransom. He ordered a trace put on their phone anyway.
Nothing he’d learned from the Bartons had given him a lead, and their story hadn’t varied, despite him making them repeat it numerous times, both together and separately. Officers were canvassing the neighborhood, but so far, they had not come up with any leads. It seemed most people were at work.
He didn't like his chances of finding the child, but nothing would stop him from doing everything he could.
*******
It had taken nearly six hours instead of the four Zeb had promised, but Benny finally crossed into Oklahoma. He hadn't run into any trouble, but he needed gas, and stopping made him nervous. Someone might hear the kid, and with Texas plates, he’d stand out even more in Oklahoma.
He tried to concentrate on driving. The baby would cry every half hour or so until it fell back asleep, only to reawaken and start bawling again. He couldn't wait to get this over with.
He saw a truck stop ahead and decided it was time to use a bathroom and fill up the tank. Pulling in next to the pumps, he filled up and went inside. He grabbed a couple of snacks, and settled up with the clerk.
“Where's the bathroom?”
>
“Just around to the left.”
“Thanks.”
As he’d rounded the corner, he saw two Oklahoma State troopers sitting in a booth, finishing their coffee. Benny nearly passed out. He nodded at them and continued toward the bathroom. If the kid cried, he was done.
When he came out of the bathroom, the troopers were gone. He could see his car, and they weren't there, but they hadn't left, either. The two stood chatting by their patrol car. Benny wasn't sure what to do.
“Stay and take a chance the kid cries, or go and possibly have them notice your plate.”
“Pardon?”
Benny realized the clerk was looking at him.
“Oh nothing, just thinking out loud.”
He decided to chance it and leave. Pretending to be on his phone, he kept his head down as he walked to his car. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the troopers getting into their car.
When he reached the old Bonneville, the baby was still asleep. He got in, fired it up, and drove off. The troopers pulled out behind him, flipping on their flashing lights. Benny's heart skipped a beat. He was about to flee, when the troopers raced around and passed him into the night.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He mopped at his forehead as the baby started crying again.
“Shut up, kid. Just shut up!”
*******
Benny had gone east and caught I-35 north to Paul’s Valley. He was to meet his contact, Zeb's sister, in the parking lot of the Days Inn, and she would approach him. He just needed to park in back and wait.
He found it easily enough, and slowly cruised through the lot, parking in one of the last spots. No one appeared to be watching him, so he was startled by a knock on his back window immediately after he’d parked.
He got out, finding a middle-aged lady with red hair standing next to a van.
The hair must run in the family.
What really surprised him was her height. Benny guessed she was no more than four-foot eight or ten, but certainly not five feet. She sported a tattoo of a tiger on her left forearm. “Where's the baby?”
WHERE'S MY SON? (Det. Jason Strong (CLEAN SUSPENSE Book 1) Page 3