Still, it was fun to dream sometimes.
She pictured holding a baby on her hip, her husband’s arm around her shoulders as they took a selfie.
Kellan’s face flashed through her mind and she quickly cut the thought off. Like he would ever be her husband. He didn’t even want to talk to her right now.
She sighed and turned back to her desk, nearly jumping out of her skin when someone knocked on her office door.
She somehow managed to not scream and instead pasted on a smile as Jarrett breezed in.
“Hey, sis.” He beamed, then jerked his head back. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She brushed her hand through the air. “You just scared me is all. My mind was someplace else.”
Jarrett’s eyes narrowed as he watched her walk around to her desk chair. “It didn’t happen to be on a police chief, did it?”
“No,” she snapped, then rolled her eyes.
Her brother chuckled. “I’ve seen the way you act around him, Lina.”
“Shut up.” It was a lame retort, but all she had.
It only made him laugh harder. “Can’t believe my kid sister is into an older guy.”
“He’s not that old. He’s like forty.”
“Eleven years your senior.”
“Oh, get over it.” She plunked into her seat, her forearms smacking down on the desk with a sad thump. “It’s not like he’s into me anyway.”
Like hell she was telling him about the sleepover and sensational kiss-fest. That was her own precious memory to cherish and mourn over, knowing it would never happen again.
She swallowed, willing the tingling sensation to leave her body immediately.
“Any guy would be crazy not to be into you.” Jarrett’s sweet words made her smile, but then she made a face to hide her blush.
With another eye roll, she shook her head and changed the subject. “So, what are you doing here? Is Mom okay?”
“Yeah, she’s doing good today. The new meds are definitely making a difference.”
Melina breathed a sigh of relief. “She was looking good this weekend. I took her a cake.”
“Yeah, she mentioned that.” Jarrett scratched the scruff on his chin. “That was nice of you.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t have much else to do, and I wanted to check on her.”
“Between the two of us, I think she’s feeling thoroughly looked after.”
“Or smothered.” Melina smirked.
Jarrett laughed. “That’s exactly what Jess said, but I figured it’s the price she has to pay for scaring the crap out of us.”
“I’m just glad you figured out what the hell was causing her sickness. You two saved her life.”
Brushing the compliment away with a grin, he shuffled in his seat. “Jess and I make a good team. That’s actually why I’m here.”
“Oh yeah?” She leaned her elbows on the desk, instantly intrigued.
“I was just at the police station, sharing what we found out in the Twin Cities this weekend. You know, with the campground robberies and the pawn shops.” His eyes widened and he clicked his fingers and pointed at her. “Hey, did you hear Mick woke up this morning?”
“He did?” Melina’s lips parted with surprise and then pulled into a smile. “Is he okay?”
“Yeah, Kellan wouldn’t say much, but according to Nate, the guy’s going to pull through just fine. Can’t remember a damn thing, though.”
Melina gasped. “Amnesia?”
Jarrett’s shoulder hitched. “Not full-blown. Just about the day. Apparently when Kellan asked him about the girl and the jailbreak, Mick had no idea what he was talking about.”
“Yikes.” Melina winced, not only worried for Mick’s health, but also for Kellan’s mental well-being. He would have been hoping for a decent description of the officer who attacked Mick.
She’d heard that the sketch Higgs had helped put together of the Native American kid was circulating, but to no avail. Kellan and Nate just couldn’t catch a break on this case and it was no doubt eating Kellan alive.
“So, tell me about your trip. Did you find anything helpful?”
Jarrett’s lips twitched at the corners but didn’t rise to a full smile. “We spent some time chatting with that reporter in person. He got a little pissy that we were wanting to take over his story, so in the end I told him if I found anything decent, I’d share the information with him. He can publish it in his paper and we’ll publish it in ours.”
“That was nice of you.”
Jarrett shrugged. “I’m a nice guy.”
She snickered and twirled her hand for him to keep going.
“We visited the campgrounds and got descriptions of the kids. They’re not great, but it was enough for us to figure out that the youth pastor with his city kids and the large foster family from the second campground were one and the same. We then headed into the cities and visited enough pawn shops to do my head in.”
“Get anything?”
“None of them wanted to breach client confidentiality, but all of them admitted that they only bought pieces from adults. One guy mentioned a man in his fifties who was closing up his mother’s estate. He’d brought in some high-end pieces of jewelry, but his description doesn’t match the guy at the police station. I know we don’t have much to ID the fake cop on, but he wasn’t a towering guy in his fifties. From the description Nate gave me, they’re looking for a guy who’s about five-ten, maybe a hundred and fifty pounds.”
Melina rubbed the frown between her eyebrows. “Whoever’s leading these kids, he has to move the jewelry somehow. He must have connections that buy the stuff regularly…or maybe he’s just going to pawn shops out of state to move it.” A spark of anger made Melina’s tone terse. She couldn’t help it. What kind of asshole used kids that way? They deserved a normal life, a chance to become a well-rounded adult, and he was robbing them of that opportunity.
“Kellan’s going to follow up with a few of the bigger pawn shops. The ones that deal in high-end purchases and sales. He’ll get local police in the cities involved, I’m sure.” Jarrett tapped his finger on the wooden arm of the chair, his lips dipping into a frown. “I got the distinct impression that you’ve been sidelined on this thing, which is why I stopped by to let you know what Jess and I dug up.”
Melina couldn’t voice how touched she was by her brother’s thoughtfulness. He’d really stepped up since their father had died, and she’d never find the words to tell him just how grateful she was.
Instead, she gave him a glassy smile and swallowed down the swell of emotion. “How’d he take your report back?”
“He’s quiet. Obviously steamed.”
Melina sighed. “He’s stewing.”
Jarrett shuffled in his seat again, leaning forward to study her. She hated when he did that. It felt like he was peeling her skin off, trying to breach her soul with his penetrating gaze.
“You can’t save him, Melina.”
She clenched her teeth, annoyed by how well her brother could read her. She didn’t want to hear what she knew was probably true, but Jarrett kept talking anyway.
“He’s always going to be the kind of guy that pushes you away. Are you sure you want to pursue something like that?”
She slumped back in her seat, then gave a hopeless shrug. “Sometimes the heart has a mind of its own.”
Jarrett gave her a pained, understanding smile, then graciously dropped the subject and invited her out to lunch.
She declined the offer, wanting to make sure her paperwork was in order for Sebastian’s pickup.
She appreciated her brother keeping her in the loop and gave him a hug before he left.
As he walked out her door, she leaned her hip against her desk and thought back over what he’d told her. It wasn’t anything they didn’t already know, and Kellan would feel the frustration of that.
She wished she could call him to see how he was doing.
But she knew it wouldn’t help.
Kellan had a journey to walk and she couldn’t do it for him.
As much as it pained her, she had to let him jump off the ledge on his own. All she could hope was that Kellan would be forced to face something that would make him take that leap.
35
Wednesday, October 3rd
11:30pm
It’d been a week since Leah’s incident in Aspen Falls and she still couldn’t sleep. Her nights had been restless as she lay awake trying to figure it all out.
The nightlight cast a soft glow against the ceiling and she followed the curve of dim light with her eyes, wishing the simple act would somehow give her answers to all the burning questions.
Did she used to have a father who loved her enough to tell her to be careful?
Had she really been left behind, or had she been taken?
The questions gnawed at her, eating away until she felt like a hollowed out husk.
No matter how she felt, the truth still remained.
Even if she was taken…even if Bobby was taken…. What could she honestly do about it?
Try and get to that cop. The nice one with the pizza.
“Kellan Marks,” she whispered under her breath, refusing to forget his name.
She had to keep it close. For some reason it felt like a marker. Something her hope could cling to.
But how would she get to him?
She could only guess what Robin would do if he caught her sneaking a phone call or trying to leave the farm. A shudder ran down her spine as she remembered the darkness of solitary.
Could she handle it again?
Would it be worth the risk?
What if she didn’t get caught?
Shit. Even if she did make it out, what could she possibly tell this Marks guy? She didn’t even know where she was!
Closing her eyes with a huff, she willed sleep to take her. Robin had been working them hard. Between training, homeschooling, and chores around the farm, she was achy and beat. She was sure she’d lost weight. With her churning stomach, eating was nearly impossible, and then there was the bone tiredness she just couldn’t shake.
“Sleep, dammit,” she practically whimpered to herself.
Her mind just laughed, a mocking sound that sparked her anger.
Rolling over with a soft growl, she curled onto her side and squeezed her eyes shut.
But then she heard it.
That whining whimper that always came before the tears.
Bolting upright, she scrambled to the ladder and quickly jumped down, hoping to rouse Bobby before the nightmare took him. Dee always got so pissed off when Bobby woke her.
Perching on the side of his bed, Leah lightly squeezed his shoulder then shook him. “It’s okay. It’s just a dream.”
Bobby opened his eyes with a gasp. His body was trembling, and sweat beaded along his hairline. Jerking up from the pillow, he wrapped his little arms around Leah’s neck and clung tight.
“I want my mommy,” he whimpered.
Leah rubbed his back, knowing what she was supposed to say. What she’d said a hundred times before—“Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe. We’re your family now.”
But that night, she couldn’t do it.
Because it wasn’t the truth.
He didn’t need another family. He already had one.
Leaning away from him, she brushed her hand over his short black hair and whispered, “Do you remember your mom?”
He glanced to the door, his little nostrils flaring as he sniffed in a scared breath.
“It’s okay. Robin’s asleep. Everyone’s asleep. You can tell me. It’ll be our secret.”
His dimples appeared and he pulled in a shaky breath before nodding. “I miss her.”
Leah chewed the edge of her lip. “Do you really think she would have left you?”
He hesitated, his little fingers gripping Leah’s shirt. “No. She told me that I was hers, and she was mine. She told me to stop growing so fast so we could be together longer. She used to say that and then laugh.”
Leah’s gut pinched, and a determination stronger than anything she’d felt before seared through her.
She had to get him home.
Fear gripped her as she tried to think it through, to quickly play out scenarios. Glancing over her shoulder, she looked at the doorway and made a snap decision. It was brash, it was impulsive. It would get her the beating of her life, but it would be worth the risk.
“Get up,” she whispered.
“What?” Bobby rubbed his eyes like maybe he was still dreaming.
She lightly slapped his shoulder. “Quickly. Get up. Put your shoes on. But be very, very quiet.” She snatched a sweater off the end of his bed and helped him put it on, before pushing his covers aside.
Grabbing her shoes from under the bed, she winced as she put them on, hoping not to wake the others.
“But we’ll get in trouble.” Bobby’s voice shook as he struggled to get his shoes on.
She stopped to help him, then eased him off the bed. Wrapping her arm around him, she kissed his round cheek and whispered, “It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay. You just have to trust me.”
Finishing her shoelaces, she quickly threw a sweater on, then took Bobby’s hand.
Her plan had to work, although a part of her doubted it would.
It wasn’t like she’d put much thought into it.
Creeping out the door, she led Bobby down the stairs and out of the barn. They paused in the shadows to scan the open yard between the house and the barn. That was the most dangerous patch.
It was a clear night, making the air cold but creating a spotlight out of the moon. She was grateful for it, in spite of the fact that it could illuminate their movements.
“Where are we going?” Bobby whispered.
She glanced down at him. I have no idea probably wouldn’t cut it, so Leah forced a smile and said, “We’re going for a run. I need you to be brave, Bobby. Okay? Can you do that for me?”
Understanding seemed to settle on his intelligent face and he bobbed his head.
Leah squeezed his hand, then studied the house for a few more minutes. It felt like an eternity, but she wanted to make sure the darkened windows weren’t going to suddenly light up.
Robin wasn’t a night owl. That was why he always sent them to bed so early. He was probably sound asleep.
Holding her breath, Leah tugged Bobby’s hand and began to sprint along the edge of the yard, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the chicken coop.
Her heart raced and she was soon panting with exertion, but she kept pushing until they reached the cornfield. The high stalks hid their escape and she slowed so Bobby could catch his breath. He panted and puffed as they quickly walked down the long rows that they were supposed to harvest soon.
She needed to get to that white fence. The one she wasn’t supposed to climb over.
Last time John had caught her.
But this time she was going to make it.
She had to.
Fear urged her to move faster and she was soon jogging.
“Leah,” Bobby cried out, tripping over behind her.
He started to cry, soft whimpers, as he rolled onto his butt to inspect his wounded knee. There was a little blood, but not too bad. Brushing the stones from the wound, Leah kissed his forehead. “It’s okay, buddy. Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry.”
“I’m trying not to,” he sniffled.
Leah’s heart expanded with affection. He was the cutest kid on the planet.
She had to get him home.
Whatever it took.
Spinning around, she patted her shoulder. “Here, bud. Jump on my back.”
Hefting him up, she ran through the fields with Bobby crying against her shoulder. It wasn’t loud howls, just the soft whimpers that broke her heart and forced her legs to move that much faster.
When they reached the edge of the cornfields, Leah jerked to a stop, leaning against the white fence and surveying the shadowed wo
ods that lay past the stream at the bottom of the hill.
That was where John had caught her last time. Fear gripped her again, trying to immobilize her.
“I’m scared.” Bobby’s voice was so soft she almost couldn’t hear it.
Gently squeezing his legs, she hoisted him higher onto her back. “I know. I am too. But you want your mom back, right?”
He stilled. “You’re taking me to Mama?”
“I’m gonna try to.”
His little arms nearly choked her as he squeezed her tight and kissed her ear. “Let’s go.”
Leah snickered at his sudden change of attitude. If only he knew how petrifying this next part was.
Sliding him off her back, she crouched down and asked, “Do you think you can walk for a bit?”
He bobbed his head, taking her hand when she stood tall and looked down into the black gulley. A stream lay at the bottom, shrouded in darkness. The trees blocked the moonlight, and Leah’s body protested the idea of going down there.
“What are we waiting for?” Bobby let go of her hand and started climbing the fence.
When his feet hit the ground on the other side, she wanted to cry out for him to stop, but she pressed her lips together.
With her heart hammering and her breath on hold, she inched down the hill after him. The darkness swamped them the closer they got to the stream, and Leah’s head grew light with fear. She was fighting the urge to pass out when she heard the stream bubbling in front of them.
She gasped and moved toward the sound, noting the glinting of water as the moonlight breached the heavy branches and managed to make the water sparkle just a little.
“This is it,” she told Bobby, rushing at the stream and not giving a damn about wet shoes.
John wasn’t going to catch her this time. He was still locked up in solitary and no threat to her.
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