“Do you remember the fire?”
He burrowed deeper into his mother’s shoulder. “Uh huh.”
“What can you remember?”
“I didn’t touch it. I put more wood near it and then I put my coloring book near and the fire jumped.” Tommy’s chin wobbled and he began to cry. “I hid under the bed. My other mommy told me to hide there if I was scared.” Hedley saw his parents exchange worried glances.
“Who got you out of the house?” Hedley pressed.
“Don’t know.”
“Do we have to do this?” Amy said. “I want him to forget everything, not remember it.”
“I know but I need him to tell me as much as he can.”
“If you’re talking about her, I don’t want to listen.”
Marshall took Sammy from her arms. “Go for a walk, Amy.” Hedley spent a few minutes asking Sammy more about Kate and Jack before his mistake registered. He muttered an apology to Marshall and dashed from the room. He hoped he was wrong. Hedley had the advantage of knowing the exact location of Kate’s room. Amy didn’t. But in a hospital this size, it wouldn’t be hard to find her.
He heard the commotion as he turned into the final corridor. Hedley reached the door to see Amy with her fists raised, lashing out and screaming. A policewoman had her arms around her, but Amy was a furious mother, not easily restrained. Kate crouched on the floor, pressed against the wall, IV ripped out and blood trickling down her cheek from a scratch below her eye
“You bitch!” Amy struggled in the grasp of the female officer. “I hope you die!”
“Come on, Amy, this isn’t helping,” Hedley said and grabbed her.
“You’re not his mother. I’m his mother. I hate you. I hope you rot in hell for what you did.” She carried on screaming as Hedley pulled her into the corridor. “I hope someone takes your child so you know what it feels like. Sammy’s not yours, he’s mine. My baby.”
She suddenly collapsed and the help that Hedley could have done with before, took over. It crossed his mind that hospital staff, maybe local police had allowed her this moment. When he walked back into the room Kate lay curled up in the bed, lips pressed together, breathing ragged.
“Sorry, Kate. That shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
“Was he adopted?” she whispered.
Her first words and the breath caught in Hedley’s throat.
“No. He wasn’t adopted.”
Kate shrank before his eyes.
Chapter Thirty-One
Hedley sat eating prime rib at a local diner when his cell phone vibrated. He checked the caller before answering.
“Yes, Marshall?”
“We’ve decided not to let Sammy be interviewed again. We want the charges dropped.”
Hedley pushed the plate away.
“We just want to go home and get on with our lives.” Hedley squeezed the phone so tight, he thought he heard it crack. “Not so long ago, you wanted whoever was responsible for abducting your son to be pulled apart by wild horses.”
“We have Sammy back. He’s fine and that’s all that matters. The man took him because he believed he was their child. His wife’s ill. She doesn’t need a trial and neither do we. We’d rather put the whole thing behind us. We have to do what’s best for Sammy and that isn’t going over and over what happened. The business about the knife and the fire, we…we don’t want him to keep reliving it.” Hedley had to unclench his jaw before he could speak. “What if they take another child? How would you feel if we released them and the next one died?” There was a pause but when Marshall spoke Hedley heard the resolution in his tone. “We appreciate everything you did to find Sammy, but in the end it was her husband who told you where to look. The moment he regained consciousness, he gave the police the guy’s license plate. We might never have had Sammy back if he hadn’t spoken out. And his wife needs help, not jail. We don’t want go to court.”
Hedley guessed money was involved. It wasn’t up to them whether the charges were withdrawn. The Howes could be subpoenaed to appear in court.
“Why don’t you take a little time to think? Let a specially trained agent speak to Sammy. She’ll be careful not to push him. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“No. If you take this to court, we’ll be hostile witnesses, I swear it. We’re flying home tomorrow. We want to forget the whole thing ever happened.” Hedley listened to a dial tone. Hostile witnesses? Someone was feeding this guy lines.
He went straight from the diner to the police station. McAllister was on the phone and he gestured for Hedley to pick up the extension.
“Let me get this straight,” McAllister said and Hedley knew the repetition was for his benefit, “if Beranson signs a statement saying he’ll keep away from your client’s wife, your client is prepared to drop the allegation of attempted murder.” Hedley’s teeth ached.
“Yes. Jack is desperate to be reunited with his wife. His father wants them admitted to Ashlands, a private clinic in San Antonio specializing in mental problems. They need professional help. Any further association with Mr.
Beranson would be detrimental to Kate’s health. He’s feeding her fantasies for his own ends.”
Hedley scribbled a question for McAllister.
“Why would you think we’d dismiss a kidnapping charge? It was your client who snatched the boy,” McAllister said.
“In the mistaken belief that he was his child, illegally retained by foster parents who’d been ordered to give him up to social services. But I understand the boy’s parents no longer wish to pursue the issue.” McAllister’s gaze shot to Hedley who pressed his lips together and nodded.
“It appears there may no longer be a case to answer,” said the lawyer.
“It isn’t up to Mr. Thompson or you whether we charge someone with an offense,” Hedley snapped.
“With whom am I now speaking?”
Hedley bristled at the superior east coast tone. “Special Agent Hedley Moss.”
“Good evening, Agent Moss. Of course you’re absolutely right. All I am attempting to do is set out the facts as I see them. Tell me, do you wish to press charges against either Mr. or Mrs. Thompson?”
“Not tonight,” Hedley said. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t tomorrow.”
“Would it be acceptable for my clients to be moved to Ashlands medical facility in San Antonio, once they are able to travel?” Hedley closed his eyes and then opened them again. This guy was going to manipulate the pair out of trouble. It might be easier to extradite from Texas rather than Colorado. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
***
Nathan watched the level in his IV bag, willing it to fall faster. He felt better.
The headache had gone. No double vision, no slurred speech. He ached but nothing like as much as he had. They’d taken X-rays and put in stitches. Followed by a tetanus shot and antibiotics. No driving for twenty-four hours. Yeah, right.
He was supposed to stay overnight but he wanted to be as far away from Jack Thompson as he could get.
His car was outside in the parking lot and the keys were in the drawer with his clothes. Thank Christ he’d insisted they brought it here. The moment that IV was finished, he was leaving. Nathan knew he hadn’t heard the end of this but there was no reason he couldn’t go home. The one thing he wished was that he could speak to Kate. He knew it wouldn’t be allowed but it was that damn note. She’d asked him to help and he hadn’t—yet. He felt like he was having the longest and worst nightmare of his life and had woken without getting to the end of it. He guessed Kate felt the same.
***
Kate didn’t react when Jack took hold of her hand. She had her eyes closed and could pretend he wasn’t there. But he drew his nails along her finger, twisting the ring and pushing it down hard and Kate whimpered.
“How are you feeling, darlin’?” He leaned over her, breathing on her mouth.
“Ah, she’s sleeping. Do you think I could sit with her for a few minutes?”
“You were only supposed to be popping in to say hello.”
“I’ve been so worried about her.”
If Kate had the energy, she’d have laughed.
“You buzz when you need me.”
“You’re an angel, Marie.”
As she heard the swish of the door Kate realized she should have spoken out.
Now she was alone with him. Her heart juddered.
“What happened to your face?” Jack asked. “Did someone hit you other than me?” His fingers dug into her wrist. “Talk to me, Kate. Look at me.” She yelped and opened her eyes. His face was inches from hers, almost too close for her to focus.
“Aren’t you going to ask how I am?” He held up his bandaged arm.
She began to gasp.
“Hey, calm down.” He stroked her cheek, slid his hand to her neck and squeezed. His grip tightened and stopped her flow of air. She grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off.
His eyes darkened. “Remember what happened? Remember leaving me to die, bitch? Remember that?”
The pressure on her neck eased and Kate gulped air into her lungs.
“I hear you’ve kept quiet, Kate.”
She fumbled for the call button. Jack caught her fingers.
“I think you’re playing a game,” he whispered. “Be careful. I’m better than you and my game is nowhere near over.”
She chewed her lip.
“Hey, I heard the good news.” He traced the outline of her face with his finger.
“That’s how I managed to persuade the nurse and the cop to let me see you.
Appears we’re going to have a baby of our own.” He smiled. “Saves me from having to snatch one from Burger King.”
Kate gave a little moan.
“Hey, that was a joke. You’re supposed to laugh.” He squeezed her fingers. “I explained to the Fed about our deviant ways, and about Tommy cutting your back.” Jack’s face came closer. “They think we like pain. They’re right. I like hurting you and you like hurting me.” He muffled her mouth with his hand and bit her neck. “If you won’t love me, I’ll take my pleasure any way I can.” He slid his hand under the sheet onto her stomach. Kate tensed.
“You make one sound and I’ll find Nathan and kill him. I heard a nurse say he was being X-rayed. I can find him. He should be dead anyway, butting in where he’s not fucking wanted.”
She sucked in a shaky breath through her nose.
Jack grinned. “Remember when I gave you those flowers and said this was going to be the biggest adventure of your life? Was I right?” He took his hand from her mouth.
The flowers he’d slammed in her face. She brought the words out of her head, rolled them around her mouth before releasing them. Repeated the question she’d asked before. “Why did you choose me?”
“The truth is—I didn’t.” He kissed her neck, sucked her skin hard until she felt it burn. Kate tried again to get the call button but he caught her wrist.
“Naughty. Maybe I didn’t choose you, but you’re mine now, for as long as this takes.”
“I don’t belong to you.”
“Yeah, you do.” Jack hitched up his gown and pulled back the cover to climb on her. “Reminds me of the times I fucked your mother in Ashlands. We had to manage in a single bed. Kind of cozy.”
“Jack don’t, please.”
“Shut up.”
He pressed his bandaged arm across her throat and pushed his fingers inside her. Kate tried to squirm free but he was too strong. She struggled to pull air into her lungs and grabbed at his injured arm. He flinched and lifted the pressure from her neck, but she knew she couldn’t stop this.
Jack yanked up her gown and forced himself into her. Kate didn’t struggle. She went limp and made herself a promise. This was the last time he’d touch her.
He’d never do this again. She’d rather be dead. There was nothing in his face, no pleasure, no hatred, nothing. No one would ever love him. One day, she might find someone who’d love her, but Jack would never have that. Never. He was the loser, not her.
A moment later he tensed and groaned. When Kate felt a spurt of warmth, she gagged. His arm lifted from her throat and she closed her eyes. She wouldn’t stay in the hospital. Once he’d gone, she’d leave. She dragged deep gulps of air into her lungs.
“Sleep now, sweetheart. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day for you. You’re going to meet my Dad and give him the biggest surprise of his life. I can’t fucking wait.” The moment the door closed Kate opened her eyes. She sat up in the bed and reached for the back of the IV stand. She had no idea if switching it off would bring nurses running but she clicked the switch, peeled back the tape on her arm and pulled out the line. With her hand clasped over the puncture wound she staggered to the bathroom. As she washed Jack’s semen from her legs, she retched.
Her fingers trembled as she put on her dirty clothes. She moved a pillow under the covers and tucked the IV line beneath it. It would only fool an idiot. Kate sighed. When she opened the door and looked down the corridor, a police officer sat reading a book. Kate watched the man who was supposed to be watching her, and waited.
The opportunity came sooner than she’d thought. A group of nurses walked past, blocking the line of sight to her room. Kate slipped out and went the other way, her heart pounding. She wanted to run, but made herself walk slowly. She took the first set of stairs she came to but every outside door had a sign saying it was alarmed. There were very few people around. She might be challenged at any moment.
Kate followed the signs for the ER. If people came in for treatment, there had to be a way out. She prepared herself for the hand on the shoulder, the shout for her to stop but they didn’t come. She simply walked out the door. But Kate hadn’t thought what to do then. The first breath of cold air struck a triple blow. No coat, nowhere to go, and no money—her chances of survival were nil.
***
When Nathan saw the shape by his car, it was a moment before he worked out it was a person. Another moment to register who. “Jesus Christ, Kate. What are you doing out here?” He crouched at her side. “How did you get out of the hospital?”
Her teeth chattered. She looked half-frozen.
“Let me take you back inside.”
She reared up. “No…Jack’s in there. Please, take me away from here. Help me.”
“Weren’t the police watching you?”
“Jack came to my room. He….” Her shoulders slumped. “It’s okay. Sorry.
Sorry.” She pushed herself to her feet and started to walk away. Nathan went after her.
“Kate, stop. You’ll die out here.”
“I’ll hitch a lift.”
“For f—get in the car.” He stared straight at her. “I won’t let him touch you ever again. I promise. Do you trust me?”
She nodded. It was the no hesitation that hooked him.
“Get in the car.”
Nathan covered her with his coat as she lay across the back seat. Within moments, she was sound asleep. Now he was going to do something stupid.
Seems he was making a habit of it.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Hedley switched on the bedside light in his hotel room and looked at the time.
Three a.m. Oh Christ.
“This better be important, Daniel,” he growled into his cell phone.
“It is. You remember I was checking the guests staying in the Home Sweet Home motel at the same time as the Thompsons?” Hedley sat up and swung his feet out of bed. “Yeah?”
“The couple in the next room were a Bert and Martha Audubon from Kansas.
Just so happened they called in response to the Amber Alert on Sammy to say they’d seen a guy in their motel parking lot taking the plates off his Suburban.
He’d told them he was buying personalized ones for his wife but he never put on new ones.”
Hedley ran his fingers through his thinning hair. It was a wonder he had any left. “And we didn’t follow up on this?”
�
��The person who took the call logged the motel in Kansas City. I saw the name Audubon in the room next to the Thompsons, did a search for it and realized someone had messed up. I just spoke to the couple.” Hedley winced. “At this hour?”
“Hey, I apologized.” Dan sounded too excited.
“Spit it out,” Hedley said.
“They told me the day before the kidnapping, as Thompson pulled his vehicle into the parking spot, his wife tumbled out of the door of the room and fell at the Audubon’s feet. She wore handcuffs and her head was bleeding.” Hedley closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “They didn’t report that? Didn’t think it was a touch strange?”
“Thompson convinced them there was nothing wrong. He said his wife was epileptic and needed to be restrained in case she hurt herself. But Martha Audubon told me she thought the woman whispered the word “police”. Her husband persuaded her the word was ‘please’.”
Shit. “What were they thinking? How could they be so stupid?”
“They’re kind of old.”
“Then they should have known better,” Hedley snapped, then regretted it.
“Sorry. Not your fault. Good work, Dan.”
“There’s more. I wasn’t sure if we’d checked to see if a Kate Evans had been reported abducted. Guess what? She was reported missing by her neighbor in San Antonio. I spoke to the detectives in charge—Foster and Santiago.”
“And?”
“Foster said it wasn’t clear cut she’d been kidnapped. Her place of work received a resignation letter, and she’d taken some of her clothes, but there was a smashed up bouquet of flowers in her apartment which they think was how the guy got in. The clincher for Foster was she’d left a message scrawled on a toilet lid. It said ‘Help’.”
Oh Christ. “Those inept bastards couldn’t find her? What else?”
“How did you know there was more?”
“Twenty-five years experience and the tone of your voice.”
“I’ll watch that. Well, they have a sighting of her at an ATM the night she disappeared. The guy with her threatened a man. The cops also happen to be looking for Nathan Beranson. He went into the florists that supplied the flowers to ask about the guy who’d bought the bouquet.”
book Page 27