He ate his last bite of spaghetti and took his late to the sink. Somehow, he knew his relationship with Macy had just taken a positive step toward being restored. He was thankful for that. He didn’t dare hope it could ever be repaired to where it had been. There was too much water under the bridge. But maybe they could at least heal from the wounds they’d each caused.
Macy emerged from the bedroom with a happy and alert Addie. His heart warmed at the sight. Macy was such a natural—so patient and unwavering in her affections.
“Look who’s awake,” she murmured, holding Addie’s hand on one of her fingers. Her voice took on a soft, husky tone of affection.
She’d already bonded with the baby. It was both comforting and disturbing. It was good that she cared so much about the child, but it could devastate her when Addie was taken away.
Tanner wasn’t sure what the outcome of all of this would be—only that he’d keep Addie alive throughout. But it could end with Addie back with her mom. With Addie in the charge of another relative or in foster care. He knew how sensitive Macy was, how tender her heart could be in situations like these—especially when it came to kids.
“You’re a natural,” he murmured.
As soon as he said the words, he knew they were a mistake. Macy instantly tightened and jerked her shoulder up, creating a barrier between them.
“I don’t know about that,” she muttered.
“I’ve always known you’d be a great mom, Macy.” He wasn’t sure why he said it. It was risky and most likely to backfire. But he wanted to explain himself. There were so many unspoken conversations between them.
“Don’t feel obligated to say stuff like that, Tanner.” She turned away from him and began to warm up a bottle and prepare some rice cereal.
“I’m not obligated to say anything. I said it because I meant it.”
Tanner couldn’t see her reaction. Her back was toward him.
Addie stared at him over Macy’s shoulder, her little eyes so wide and full of innocence.
The child really was precious. It was such a shame that she was in the middle of all this.
“Do you want me to hold her for you?” he asked.
“Sure, that would be great.”
He took the infant from Macy’s arms. At once, visions of the life he and Macy should have had together filled his thoughts. He hadn’t let his mind go there in a long time.
Regret panged inside him. With grief over what should have been. With bitterness at the way Macy had ended things.
Addie cooed in his arms.
“You’re getting hungry, aren’t you?” he murmured.
She grabbed Tanner’s cheek in response and stared up at him with those big eyes that melted his resolve.
“I take that as a yes,” he murmured, rocking his upper body back and forth to keep her calm.
“You seem like a natural yourself,” Macy said. Her voice sounded hoarse with emotion.
“Believe me, I’m not. But I’ll enjoy this moment while it lasts.”
That got a small smile out of Macy. She turned around with the bottle in hand and reached for Addie. “I’ll take her now.”
“I’ll clean up from dinner then.”
It seemed so natural, the two of them falling into this routine. But Tanner couldn’t think like that. It was unhealthy.
Before he could start the first dish, his phone rang. It was Saul. Whenever his boss called, there was sure to be an update.
“We have a couple who came forward. They could be legit. They’re coming in tomorrow morning. I’d like for you and Macy to be here.”
“But sir, I don’t know that it’s safe—”
“We’re going to send another agent to help with Addie. She’ll stay at the safe house. We’ll take precautions. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Great. I’ll see you then.”
* * *
Macy’s nerves were shot the next morning as she walked with Tanner into the FBI’s Houston field office. She was nervous about leaving Addie, even though Cara Meekins, the agent they’d sent to stay there, seemed perfectly respectable. Macy had bonded with the child and felt protective of her.
Then there was Tanner.
Macy couldn’t deny that they’d shared a moment yesterday. Finding out he’d become a believer also changed a lot of things. She was reminded of God’s command to forgive.
All the hurts she’d stored away for so long had continued to build resentment in her. She knew she had to let go. But it was so scary. It meant stepping into the unknown. It meant opening oneself up to hurt again.
Then there was this whole meeting. Who were these people who claimed they knew Addie? Macy’s gut told her that things could turn ugly. She would be slow to trust anyone in this circumstance.
She glanced around quickly. They were in Tanner’s office. She noted the well-used Bible on his desk. The mountain picture with a Scripture verse at the bottom.
He wasn’t lying when he said he’d become a Christian, and he wasn’t afraid to let anyone know it. There was a lot to be said for that.
There were also awards hanging up, and a picture of Tanner with his granddad. Everything was neat and orderly, just as Macy would expect it to be.
“You ready for this?” Tanner placed his hand on her back.
She nearly jumped out of her skin. She must have flinched so harshly that he misread her and quickly pulled his hand away. “Yeah, yeah. I’m ready. I think.”
“You’ve got good observation skills. I want to hear your thoughts.”
She nodded, feeling like she’d been caught up in a whirlwind. “Of course.”
“I’m going to get you situated outside in the observation area. It’s better if they don’t see your face, just in case.”
“I understand.” And she was partly relieved that she didn’t have to participate in the conflict that could take place. She preferred having time just to observe and form opinions.
She took her place behind the tinted glass. She could see in, but those in the room couldn’t see out.
Another agent brought her a cup of coffee, and Macy attempted to drink it. But her hands were shaking too badly. Even the normally comforting smell of coffee only served to turn her stomach right now.
What would today’s outcome be?
Macy stared at the meeting room. A dark mahogany table with six leather chairs surrounding it sat in the middle. Dark burgundy walls made the room feel cozier than it actually was. A watercooler was in one corner, and there were no windows. She was sure each aspect of the room had been carefully chosen.
Tanner and Saul stood against one wall, chatting with each other. Saul looked as uptight as ever—as he should be in this situation, Macy supposed. The man reminded her of one of her psychology professors with his salt-and-pepper beard and bald head.
A moment later, a man and woman entered the room. Tanner and Saul shook their hands and directed them to seats across from them.
Macy observed the couple. They were probably in their early thirties and well dressed. The woman had red hair that was smoothed back in neat curls, wore a fitted suit with pearls and heels, and gave off a professional vibe. The man wore khakis with a shirt and tie. He had dark hair and the shadow of a beard.
Both appeared apprehensive, which would be normal under these circumstances—if they were telling the truth or not. However, if they were lying, they’d probably try to conceal their deceit by subduing their nerves more.
Macy put a mental check in the “honest” category. She had to be objective here and not let her emotions lead her. It never ended well when she let that happen.
“Thanks for coming,” Saul started.
They were all seated around the table. Both Saul and Tanner rested their hands. Body language 101 on how to look non-intimidating? Maybe. She knew the F
BI did quite a bit of training on these things.
Macy looked down at the dossier she’d been given. Their names were Deborah Graham and Mike Devry. They were from Dallas. He worked in finance, and she was an interior designer. Though they weren’t married, they’d been in a relationship for seven years and lived together.
“What makes you think this baby might be related to you?” Saul continued.
The two exchanged a glance with each other.
“We believe she’s my niece.” Deborah hooked a stray hair behind her ear.
“And why is that?” Tanner asked.
“Her mom, Michelle Nixon, had a baby six months ago,” Mike said. “She was unstable and didn’t let us see her very often. We haven’t heard from Michelle in a week. We’ve gone by her place, and it’s locked up. Frankly, we’re very worried. When I saw the news story, it was my first ray of hope.”
“How is Michelle related to you?” Saul shifted in his chair.
“She’s my sister,” Deborah said.
Why wasn’t Deborah more concerned about her sister? The question bugged Macy. All the woman’s concern seemed to be focused on the child.
“What can you tell us about this baby?” Saul said.
“Her name is Bella, but Michelle liked to call her Addie,” Deborah said. “Michelle’s ex insisted on the name Bella, but my sister never really liked that name. Anyway, Addie is six months old, and she’s got the most adorable dark curls. Last time we saw her she had two teeth. I suppose she could have more by now, though.”
That was all good, but they could have gathered some of that information from the picture the FBI had released to the media. The number of teeth could be guessed based on basic knowledge about infants.
“Where was she born?” Tanner asked.
“Outside of Houston,” Deborah said. “We can give you the name of the hospital, if you’d like, as well as the date of her birth.”
“That would be great,” Saul said. “You have no idea where your sister is?”
“No, we have no idea,” Deborah said with a frown. “Like we said, she’s a bit unstable, and we haven’t heard from her in a week. It’s not unusual for her to take off without telling anyone. But she’s not even answering her cell phone, nor has she paid her bills this month.”
A wrinkle formed between Tanner’s eyes. “How do you know that?”
“Well, Michelle’s mailbox was full,” Deborah said. “Overflowing. I know we shouldn’t have looked, but we were worried. I looked through her mail to see if it offered any clues. I saw a lot of bills.”
“You never thought of calling the police?” Tanner asked.
“Like we said, this is typical,” Mike chimed in. “But when we saw that picture we got worried. We began to wonder if something had happened. Michelle would never leave her baby unless she was desperate. We’re anxious to have Addie back in the family.”
“We’ll have to verify your story first, of course,” Saul said.
“Of course.” Mike nodded. He paused. “Is she...okay?”
“We assure you that she’s safe, and she’s being taken care of until all of this is resolved. Her safety is of utmost importance to us.”
Tanner stood. “Saul is going to get your information. Thank you both for coming in.”
“Thank you.” Deborah ran a tissue under her eyes, as if the emotional stress of the moment was more than she could take.
Tanner stepped into the room where Macy waited and took her arm, leading her down the hallway at a quick pace.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“We’re going to follow them when they leave the field office. We need to get out to our car and be ready.”
* * *
Tanner replayed the conversation with Deborah and Mike as they climbed into the car. He was interested to hear Macy’s take on all of it. But right now, he needed to be in place to tail them. He had to see if the couple was telling the truth, and this was one part of doing so.
He started the car and moved toward the gate. Another agent had already informed him which vehicle belonged to the couple. As soon as the two ventured out of the parking lot, Tanner would ease behind them and see where they were going.
“Cara—Agent Meekins—texted me, by the way,” Tanner told Macy. “Addie is doing fine.”
“That’s good to know. I’ve been worried about her. Which is ridiculous.” She rubbed her hands together nervously in her lap.
“No, it’s not. You two have bonded.”
“Yes, we have. In one way, I feel responsible for her, like she’s my own flesh and blood.”
He glanced at Macy. She’d transformed today from the youthful, laidback Macy at the safe house to the professional Dr. Mills. She’d worn some neat jeans with a button-up shirt. Her hair was pulled back into a knot and she wore her glasses. That familiar scent of fresh cotton filled the car. Honestly, both sides of her were very attractive.
“Well, what did you think of Deborah and Mike?” Tanner asked, trying to keep his thoughts focused.
Macy pressed her lips together, her gaze narrowing with focus and reflection. “I thought their answers were vague. Some things they said could have simply been good guesses.”
“I agree. Nothing they said offered definitive proof that this baby is their niece.”
“No, there wasn’t. I guess the proof will be finding out if their story checks out.”
“We have agents looking into that.” He sat up straight and pointed to a red car in the distance. “There they are now.”
Macy gripped the armrest, as if bracing herself for whatever was about to come. “You really think following them will offer answers?”
“It’s better to find out now than later. Later, we may not be able to track them down at all.”
“Let’s do this, then.”
Tanner eased out behind the car, keeping a safe distance between his vehicle and the red sedan. The windows in the FBI vehicle were tinted and the vehicle itself unassuming. If he played this right, Deborah and Mike should never know they were being followed.
They traveled toward the downtown area. This could make things more complicated, Tanner mused. Traffic could be a friend or an enemy.
The number of cars on the road thickened the closer they got to the city. Tanner remained at least three cars behind the couple so he wouldn’t tip them off.
“Do you think they know they’re being followed?” Macy asked, still looking slightly uncomfortable. None of this was exactly in her wheelhouse.
“They shouldn’t. Although, if they’re guilty of lying to us, they’ll likely be more suspicious and watch their backs.” He followed the sedan and turned onto a side street. His muscles tensed. Between the heavy traffic and the red lights, this was going to be a challenge.
Macy craned her neck to see over the cars in front of them. “I can’t see them anymore.”
Tanner scanned the road. “There they are!”
He made a quick turn into a side street as he caught a glimpse of the red sedan. He could barely see them ahead, but if he lost them now, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to find them again.
Traffic was bumper to bumper. He wove in and out of cars. But just as he reached an intersection, the light turned red. The car in front of him braked.
Tanner stopped only inches from the other car’s bumper. His gaze darted from left to right. There was no way he could pull out without endangering other people.
He bit back his frustration.
He’d lost Deborah and Mike.
Or had Deborah and Mike lost them?
Eleven
“They’re gone,” Tanner muttered.
“It could be a coincidence,” Macy offered. “Traffic was heavy.”
“Could be,” Tanner said, his jaw tightening. This wasn’t the ending he’d envisioned. Yet h
e couldn’t justify a high-speed chase in order to keep up with Mike and Deborah. There wasn’t enough proof they were being deceitful, and too many innocent people would have been at risk. “We should head back.”
“I’m ready to see Addie again,” Macy said.
“I don’t need to warn you about the dangers of getting too close, do I?” Tanner asked as he headed back to the safe house.
Her cheeks flushed. “No, of course not.”
“I didn’t think so. But I wanted to check, just in case.”
Thirty minutes later, he pulled up to the gate and threw his sedan into Park. He punched in the security code, but nothing happened.
He clenched his jaw as tension gripped him.
The only reason for this gate not to open was if the code had been changed or if the power had been cut. He didn’t like either of those options.
“It’s not working?” Macy asked through the open door.
“No, it’s not.” He pulled out his phone and tried to call Cara. She didn’t answer. Neither did Manning or Armstrong.
Tanner’s muscles went from tense to downright knotted. Something was wrong. Majorly wrong.
He pulled out an extra gun from his ankle holster and slapped it into Macy’s hand. “Use this if you have to. Keep the doors locked. Understand?”
Macy’s eyes widened, but she nodded. “Got it.”
“You remember how to shoot?”
Her cheeks warmed. Was she remembering the lessons he’d given her in college? Anytime he mentioned their past, she got that deer-in-the-headlights expression.
“Yeah, I remember.”
He patted the top of the car. “Stay safe.”
Alarm pulsed through his blood as he approached the fence. Despite the measures they’d taken to ensure the security of the house on the other side, every instinct inside him screamed that Addie was in danger.
The Baby Assignment Page 9