As soon as the doctor left the room, the boy slid off Bruce’s lap and grabbed the green marker. But he kept one hand on Bruce’s knee at all times.
Home base.
Dean scrubbed a hand down his face. “Liam has experienced a great trauma. Normally, children of this age will lean heavily on parents to help them deal with the emotional aftereffects of trauma, but this boy is surrounded by strangers. The fact that he seems to trust Bruce is a positive sign.”
“Is there anything we can do to help him?” Carly asked.
Dean nodded. “Reassure him that he’s safe. Let him know that when he’s ready to talk, you’re ready to listen. But don’t pressure him. If he does begin to ask questions, don’t offer more information that he needs to hear. Does he know the two people in the house were murdered?”
“I don’t know,” Carly said. “He must have heard the shots, but he was in the basement. He didn’t see it.”
“He knows something bad happened.” Dean rubbed his chin.
“And how do we tell him we know his name?” Carly asked.
Dean gestured to the room. “I think that would be received best from someone he knows, not me. You could do it here.”
Carly nodded. She felt more comfortable telling Liam under Dean’s supervision. She briefly considered having Bruce tell Liam but decided it would be best if Bruce remained Liam’s comfort zone. She would deliver the potentially disconcerting news.
She went into the room and eased onto a stool next to Bruce. She gave her brother a warning look.
The boy continued to draw.
“That’s a nice picture.” Carly turned her head to view the drawing right-side up. “What is it?”
The boy ignored her.
“I need you to listen to me for a minute, okay?” She caught the boy’s gaze.
Alarm tightened his face, and he automatically reached for Bruce’s knee. Bruce put a supporting hand on his shoulder.
Carly took a deep breath. “Is your name Liam?”
Liam’s eyes widened. He scrambled onto Bruce’s lap.
Bruce murmured to the boy. “You hear that? My sister knows who you are. That’s awesome.”
“Everything is going to be all right, Liam.” Carly reached over to stroke the back of his head. “You can talk to us. We’ll keep you safe.”
But Liam looped his arms around Bruce’s neck and held on as if his life depended on it.
Carly left the playroom and returned to the observation room. “I’m not sure what to think of his response.”
“Give him some time,” Dean said. “He experienced things far more frightening than most people encounter in their nightmares. Children are remarkably resilient, but deep trauma can have long-lasting effects. He’s going to need help going forward.”
“The FBI is bringing his uncle to get him, so he should have someone he knows and trusts soon,” Carly said. “Is there anything we can do for him until they get here?”
“I’m sure you know all of this, but drawing is great therapy. Or music. Anything that lets him express himself in a way that feels safe. I would expect him to continue to cling to Bruce. Liam might have difficulty sleeping or have nightmares. His appetite might be affected. Be aware that he might seem emotionally numb. That’s a sign that he might be feeling overwhelmed. Shutting down is a natural defense mechanism.”
His advice held nothing new to Carly. Music and drawing were her favorite outlets for traumatized children.
Patsy crossed her arms, her brow furrowing as she watched the boy on the monitor. “We’ll certainly do everything we can to help him.”
“I’m sure you will.” Dean dug two business cards from his pocket. “Here’s my card. That’s my cell phone number. Please feel free to call me anytime.”
He offered Carly and Patsy each a card. He held Carly’s gaze for a second, his concern palpable. He wasn’t going to let her panic attack go. “For any reason.”
“Thank you.” Carly tucked hers in her purse. If her anxiety didn’t improve when this was all over, she’d call Dean.
Her mother went to the lobby to gather their coats. The waiting room was empty, even the receptionist had left. Outside, rain beat on the black windows. Darkness had fallen.
“He’s frightened that we know his name,” Patsy said.
“Liam is somehow involved in three murders,” Carly pointed out. “I’d say he has good reason to be afraid.”
CHAPTER NINE
The CEO of Knight Products had some explaining to do.
Seth stood on the porch of Terry’s cabin. Terry held the door open, but did not invite Seth inside. The outside temperature had dropped when darkness had fallen. Heat spilled from the interior. But the CEO wasn’t acting as warm as he had earlier.
“Where’s Shawn?” Seth asked, peering over Terry’s shoulder.
“He wanted more fried chicken.” Instead of moving to invite Seth in, Terry shifted his body to block more of the entrance. “It was excellent.”
“Nell’s is the best,” Seth agreed. “What can you tell me about Wade Pierce?”
The flinch in Terry’s gaze was almost imperceptible, but Seth was watching for it.
“I haven’t seen Wade in three months,” Terry said. “But what does this have to do with the activities of the other resort guests?”
Seth ignored the question. He wasn’t going to reveal Liam’s presence to anyone other than the FBI.
“When was the last time you saw Liam?” Seth asked.
“Four, maybe five months ago.” Terry crossed his arms. “When Wade’s wife kicked him out of the house, she got a court order to keep him away from her and Liam. Wade had a terrible temper. He was supposed to go in for a psychological assessment and counseling. He never went. Instead, he broke into the house, fought with his wife, lost control, and killed her. Then he took Liam and ran.”
“He also took a hefty sum of money from your company,” Seth said.
In Seth’s mind, stealing the money proved premeditation. Wade Pierce hadn’t lost his temper and killed his wife in a fit of rage. He’d planned to kill her. He’d planned his escape. “I’ll bet you’d like to locate your money. That’s not pocket change. I’m sure it’s been a drain on your cash flow.”
Seth wondered if Liam had been taken to force Wade to give up the money. Maybe Terry had the boy kidnapped. Could Terry have hired Peter and Kandi? Or was Terry on the other side? Maybe he’d hired the Dodge brothers to get the boy back.
“I’ll have the money back soon. I know where it is,” Terry said. “Wade transferred the funds to an offshore account. He washed it through several banks, but money is easier to track than a man. We found it. Now it’s just a matter of cracking his account login and passcode. I have someone working on it.” But his eyes weren’t as confident as his words.
“Is Wade a smart man?”
“Yes.” Terry frowned.
“If you know where the money is, why don’t you hire some lawyers to get it back?” Seth asked.
Terry shook his head. “Even if the foreign bank would cooperate, and there’s no guarantee of that, it would take years to recover the money through international legal channels.”
“And you don’t have years to wait.”
Terry exhaled through his nose, like an irritated bull. “Is there anything else that I can do for you?”
Seth debated. Asking more pointed questions would demand that Seth reveal that Liam had been found, something Seth wasn’t ready to do at this time. The fewer people who knew the child’s whereabouts, the better. For all Seth knew, Terry and Wade had been working together and a third party had interfered. Maybe the company was in trouble and the $10 million was their joint escape plan. Seth needed financial records and full background checks before he could assess the motives of the corporation’s key players.
“I’ll be in touch.” Seth left the cabin. He stood on the porch for a few seconds, watching the rain fall. He had physical evidence to hold the Dodge brothers for questioning
but no motive. He had nothing on Terry but a possible motive.
Ten million dollars was a lot of motive.
Seth ran to his car and slid behind the wheel. He’d see if he could catch up with Terry’s right-hand man. He wanted to see if Shawn’s answers matched Terry’s. Seth texted his wife and let her know he was stopping at Nell’s and picking up dinner. She answered with a happy-face emoji.
The message—verification that she was all right—eased his worry for about two seconds.
The parking spaces in front of Nell’s small grocery were empty. No white Yukon. Seth parked and went inside. His stomach rumbled at the smell of fried chicken. He spotted Nell counting the money in her vintage cash register.
“Hey, Nell.” Seth inhaled fried chicken goodness. “No one in the world makes chicken like you do, Nell.”
“I know,” she said without missing a beat.
“Can I get two family-size orders to go?” Seth asked. Then he thought about Terry and Shawn. “Did you sell chicken to a tall stranger driving a white Yukon?”
“Sure did.” Nell filled a large paper bag with chicken pieces. “How many biscuits?”
“A dozen,” Seth said. His stomach rumbled. “Better make that two dozen. Did he come back for a second bag a little while ago?”
Nell shook her head. “No. He was only in the one time.”
Shit.
Terry had lied. So where was Shawn Collins?
Seth picked up the two large bags of chicken and biscuits and headed for the door. He shielded the bag from the rain with his body. In the car, he set the bag on his passenger seat.
His radio was squawking with calls for backup from the Solitude PD. His phone went off simultaneously. Seth reached for it.
Zane.
Seth’s gut clenched as he answered.
“Seth, I hate to tell you this,” Zane said. “But the drain backed up in the holding cell. Kenny had to take the Dodge brothers out. They got away from him.”
“Shit.” Seth needed to get to his family. Now.
“I’m sorry,” Zane said. “Look, I’d love to say we’re out in full force looking for them, but the fact is, there aren’t any bodies to spare looking for two guys who haven’t even been officially charged with a crime.”
The Solitude PD was limited to a chief and a handful of officers.
“I called the sheriff,” Zane continued. “He can’t spare anyone either. There are accidents all over the place. Two bridges are under water. Three cars were swept off Briggs Road into the river. Rescue crews are fishing the occupants out now. And we have a small herd of horses trapped in a flooded pasture. I put out a BOLO alert for the Dodge brothers, but frankly, we’ll have to find them when the disaster is over.”
“I understand,” Seth said in a calm voice, but inside he was freaking out.
“How dangerous are these guys?”
“I don’t know. Thanks for the heads-up.” Seth ended the call.
He pressed the gas pedal and called Gabe. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” Gabe said. “We’re on the way back to the farm.”
He told Gabe what had happened at the Solitude PD.
“I don’t see any sign of them,” Gabe said. “But I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Thanks.” Seth disconnected.
He didn’t want to distract Carly by calling while she was driving.
Seth’s car fishtailed as he took a turn too quickly. His fingers clenched the steering wheel until the knuckles went white. He barely slowed for a stop sign.
The Dodge brothers had no transportation. They couldn’t possibly get to the farm before he did.
Unless they stole a vehicle.
How would they even know where Liam was? Finding him at the hospital could have been an educated guess. Where else would the authorities take a child who’d been held captive?
Seth slowed for an elbow in the road. His tires hydroplaned, and the car slid. He eased off the accelerator. He wouldn’t be able to protect his family if he crashed his car.
Even if Ethan and Lyle Dodge did find the farm, Bruce and Gabe were there. Gabe was an experienced deputy. And Seth didn’t discount his wife either. She could handle herself.
But Seth’s gut rolled into a tight ball for the rest of the drive. Between the darkness and the rain, visibility was limited to twenty feet. He rounded a bend in the road, his headlights shining on the water that filled the ditches on either side of the road.
What if they were watching his wife? They’d had all day to find her and the boy. It wouldn’t be that hard. Solitude was a small town. He wouldn’t feel relieved until he saw Carly and Liam with his own eyes.
He turned into the long driveway. In front of the house, the taillights of Gabe’s cruiser and Carly’s Jeep glowed. They must have just arrived.
Relief flooded Seth. He parked next to his wife’s Jeep and stepped out into the rain, leaving the fried chicken in the car.
Carly opened her car door.
Seth bent to see inside the vehicle. “Let me check the house before you all go inside.”
Her eyes questioned, but she just nodded.
“Just as a precaution,” he said.
The house shone in the darkness. Patsy always left several lights on inside and out when she expected to come home after dark. Leaving Gabe and Bruce outside, Seth unlocked the front door. He went through the house, gun in hand, quickly sweeping each room. When he’d ensured the house was secure, he grabbed a powerful flashlight from the hall closet and went back outside. He swept the light around the yard, but saw nothing out of place. The wind pushed the rain sideways.
Carly lowered her window as he walked to her side of the Jeep.
“It’s all clear,” he said, then retrieved the chicken from the passenger seat of his car.
The family climbed out of the Jeep. Hoods and umbrellas up, they trudged toward the front door. Patsy led the group. Bruce draped Liam over his shoulder. The boy was limp, as if asleep. Flashlight in hand, Gabe brought up the rear.
“I brought chicken from Nell’s.” Seth herded his family toward the front door.
Carly hunched her shoulders against a gust. “Oh good. I’m starving.”
“Daddy!” Brianna skipped to Seth’s other side.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Seth kissed his daughter.
“Is that Nell’s chicken?” she asked.
“You know it,” Seth said.
“Yay!” She took the bag from his hand and raced for the front door.
Seth wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“What’s going on?” she asked quietly.
Seth leaned closer to whisper in her ear, but the crack of a gunshot resounded through the night.
CHAPTER TEN
Carly jumped at the crack.
Thunder?
When the second crack split the wet air, she knew exactly what it was.
Gunfire.
“Get down.” She pushed Brianna to the ground.
Seth leaped forward, firearm in hand, to cover Brianna with his body. He stretched his arm out to shield Carly with his thick shoulder. Bruce dropped to the ground, putting Liam underneath him.
A third shot rang out.
Someone cursed. Carly looked over her shoulder. Gabe belly-crawled toward her, dragging one leg. He was hit!
Where was her mother?
Carly scanned the front yard and spotted her mother crouching on the stoop. Patsy pushed open the front door and dove inside. A minute later, holding the door open, she peered around the door frame.
Halfway between the vehicles and the house, they were open targets. There was no cover.
Carly slapped Seth on the leg. “We have to get inside.”
He nodded. “Take Brianna and run. I’ll cover you.”
She slid up to take his position over their daughter.
Seth rolled to his back. “Gabe, did you see where the shots were coming from?”
“No,” Gabe called. “But the only avai
lable cover is that stand of trees by the—”
Another shot cut off his sentence.
A flare of orange light in the small group of trees near the road proved Gabe right. The shooter must have climbed the tree and waited to ambush them. They’d driven right past him on their way to the house. The pouring rain and the foliage concealed him.
“Gabe?” Seth called.
“I’m hit, but I’ll live.” Gabe’s voice was weak.
Seth fired three shots at the trees. But the distance was too great for a handgun to have much effect. What they needed was a—
Rifle fire burst from the doorway of the house. Carly looked up in time to see her mother aiming a rifle from just inside the front door. Patsy fired again.
Carly wasted no time. She jumped to her feet, grabbed Brianna by the hand, and dragged her to her feet. Keeping her body between her daughter and the shooter, Carly ran in a crouch toward the house. Bruce leaped to his feet, scooped Liam up into his arms, and sprinted alongside her. Carly shoved Brianna through the doorway and stumbled into the foyer. Seth and Bruce were right on her heels.
Bruce handed Liam to Carly, who pushed Brianna down the hallway and into the kitchen. Bullets could penetrate exterior walls. The children needed extra barriers between them and the shooter. Additional walls would help. Metal appliances were even better. Carly herded them into the kitchen.
She positioned them in the space between the refrigerator and the oven and pushed them to the floor. “Brianna, you and Liam stay right here.”
She didn’t know Liam well enough to know if he’d run or obey, but Brianna would do as she was told.
Both children’s eyes were wide with fear, but Brianna nodded and wrapped an arm around Liam. “It’ll be okay.”
Carly returned to the front hall as Seth and Bruce hovered beside the door.
“We have to get Gabe inside,” Seth said. “Can you cover us?”
Nodding, Patsy reloaded the old hunting rifle with a deftness that seemed at odds with her petite frame and grandmotherly appearance. She raised the gun to her shoulder. “Go.”
Patsy fired at the trees. Bruce and Seth raced out the door, grabbed Gabe under the arms, and dragged him inside the house while Patsy covered them with steady, well-aimed shots at the trees. Once everyone was inside the house, Patsy closed the door.
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