To Love Twice

by McCoubrey, Heather

  The ringing of Kate’s phone interrupted the moment. She glanced questioningly at Edward. “Go ahead. Answer it,” he said.

  Kate pulled it out of her purse. “It’s Georgie,” Kate said before flipping it open. “Hello?”

  “Oh my God, Kate!” Georgie dissolved into hysterical sobs.

  “Georgie! What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

  Kate could hear Tim yelling Mary’s name in the background. “Georgina!” Kate exclaimed as she jumped to her feet. Grasping the phone tight to her ear, she yelled into the phone. “What has happened? Where’s Mary?”

  Edward stood up and reached for Kate’s phone.

  “Georgie, it’s Edward. What’s going on?”

  “She’s gone.”

  “What do you mean? Where?”

  “I don’t know,” Georgie sobbed. “She was right here, between Tim and I and now she’s gone.”

  “Where are you?”

  “At the convention center,” she said before dissolving into hysterical sobs again.

  “We’ll be right there,” Edward said. He grabbed Kate’s hand and started toward the door.

  She watched as he made a quick call on his cell and as he took care of the bill with Nan by passing her his credit card as they rushed through the restaurant. “Edward, what’s going on?” She asked as they raced through the door.

  He didn’t answer her until they were out on the sidewalk. He swept his eyes up and down the street and then settled them on her. He took her hands in his and very gently told her what was going on. “Mary is missing.”

  It took a moment for the words to sink in. “What?” Kate asked as tears coursed down her cheeks. “What did you say?” Kate yelled as she pushed out of Edward’s arms.

  “Georgie said Mary was standing between her and Tim and now she’s gone.”

  “My baby,” Kate whispered. She bent over at the waist, gulping in huge amounts of air. “I can’t breathe,” she gasped.

  The limo stopped at the curb and Edward scooped her up and set her down on the seat. He told the driver where to go and then pulled Kate into his arms. “We’ll find her, Kate. I promise.”

  The drive to the convention center was the longest of Kate’s life. She trembled the entire way, her mind racing with hundreds of unpleasant possibilities.

  Kate was out the door before the limo came to a stop. She raced to the doors and was stopped by a security guard. “I’m sorry ma’am. You can’t come through here. No one in or out.”

  “Let me through,” Kate screamed at him. “It’s my baby!” She tried to push past him, but the security guard held her back.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t let you through.”

  Edward caught up to Kate and took her hand. “Look, Georgie is across the way,” Edward pointed.

  “Georgie!” Kate yelled when she saw her sister.

  “Kate!” Georgie and Tim ran toward Kate, with what looked like cops following behind. After a quick exchange of words, Kate and Edward were finally admitted through the doors.

  “What happened?” Kate asked brokenly, as she walked into Georgie’s arms.

  “We aren’t sure,” Tim said. “She was standing between us. We were watching the clowns do a football routine. Georgie reached down to take Mary’s hand and ask her if she could see. She wasn’t there. We’d only been standing there for a minute or two. I don’t know if she wandered off and got lost, or if someone took her.”

  “Security guards were alerted right away?” Edward asked.

  “Yes,” Tim nodded. Georgie was screaming for Mary and a guard came right over as we were looking around for her,” Tim pointed to one of the two people who had followed them over. “He called the police and started the security procedures or whatever. The cops came minutes later.”

  “What do we do now?” Kate asked the group. “How do we find Mary?”

  The other man stepped forward. “I’m Officer Finney,” he said. Then he looked at Kate and Edward. “I need to speak with Ms. Walker.”

  The officer led Kate and Edward a few feet from Georgie and Tim. Edward held Kate’s hand, giving her as much support as he could.

  “I wasn’t here. I don’t know what I can tell you,” Kate said. “I just want my baby girl back.”

  “Ms. Walker, I understand you were at dinner with Mr. Kent?”

  “Yes. What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Is it normal for your sister to care for your child?”

  “Excuse me?” Kate said icily. “Are you suggesting Georgie did something to Mary?”

  “I’m just asking questions, ma’am.”

  “Yes, it is normal. Georgie usually takes Mary for an overnight or a whole weekend, once a month. I’m a single mother and they can’t have children. It’s a win-win situation, sort of. I get a break and they get to spend some quality time with their niece.”

  “Have they taken Mary to the circus before?”

  “Yes, they go every year. It’s their special thing.”

  “Does anyone else know about this annual event?”

  “Of course. I know, my parents know, some of our friends know. Edward knows.”

  “Would any of the people who know have a reason to take Mary?”

  “What?” Kate exclaimed. “No! Why are you asking?”

  “Ma’am, this was found on your sister’s chair. Do you recognize the handwriting?”

  Kate looked at the note and gasped. There was a blurred photo of Mary and Kate at the airport in London. Beside the photo, a note was written in neat, small block letters. “Five million dollars will ensure her safe return. Details to follow.”

  Kate handed the note back to Officer Finney and shook her head. “I don’t recognize the handwriting.”

  Memories from the past months flooded Kate’s mind. Flashes of light while she and Edward dined. People just on the edge of her vision, quickly disappearing when she would try to focus on them. The grainy picture of them kissing in the magazine Edward had shown her. The journalist camped in her lobby the past two weeks.

  Slowly she turned to Edward. “It’s because of you,” she whispered, trembling. Red-hot rage was quickly replacing her fear and she welcomed it.

  “Kate?” Edward asked in confusion.

  She was no longer able to hold back her emotions. She raised her fists and beat them on his chest. “It’s because of you that Mary is gone!” She screamed in his face. “This note proves it!” She flipped her hand toward the note that Officer Finney held. “That’s us in London, Edward, when Mary and I were on our way back to the States.” Kate continued her assault on Edward’s chest. “No one would care about us if you weren’t THE Edward Kent.”

  Edward grabbed a hold of her wrists. “Kate, please!” he implored.

  “Don’t touch me!” Kate screamed at him as she wrenched her wrists from his grasp. “It’s your fault she’s gone!” Kate turned on her heel and walked away from Edward. When she got to her sister’s side, her knees buckled and she collapsed in a heap on the floor. Giant sobs wracked her body.

  Edward followed her and dropped to his knees beside her. He wrapped her in his arms and placed a soft kiss on her temple. “We’ll find her, Kate. I promise.”

  “What’s going on, Edward?” Georgie demanded.

  “A note was left on your chair. It was a picture of them at the London airport and demanding five million dollars for the safe return of Mary,” Edward explained.

  Georgie’s face paled. “Five million dollars? Where will we get the money?”

  Edward sighed. “From me, Georgie.”

  “You?” Georgie asked in confusion.

  “Didn’t Kate tell you? I’m Edward Kent, The Edward Kent. Europe’s famous a-list actor and most eligible bachelor,” Edward explained bitterly.

  Georgie’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously?”

  Kate raised her head and glared at Edward. “Yes, seriously.”

  “Kate, you’re blaming Mary’s abduction on Edward’s fame?” Georgie
asked incredulously.

  Kate moved out of Edward’s grasp and stood on her feet. “Yes. We were nobody’s. We’d still be nobody’s.” Kate glanced off into the distance. “I wish I’d never gone in that restaurant.”

  Georgie gasped. “Kate! You don’t mean that!”

  Kate’s gaze snapped to Edward’s. “Oh, but I do,” Kate said as she removed the ring Edward had given her less than an hour before. Holding it up, she placed it in Edward’s shirt pocket. “Get my baby back and then get out of my life,” Kate said.

  And for the second time in less than ten minutes, Kate turned and walked away from Edward.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Edward stood rooted to the spot watching the love of his life walk away. She was right and he didn’t blame her for her reactions. It was his fault Mary had been kidnapped and he’d do everything in his power to find Mary and bring her home to Kate.

  But Kate was wrong if she thought he was going to let them walk out of his life. He loved them both to distraction and this situation only cemented his feelings. They were his life and he understood that to keep them safe and with him, he was going to have to make big changes in his life.

  Officer Finney walked up to him, interrupting his musings. “Uh, sir. I need to ask you some questions.”

  “Fire away,” Edward said.

  “How long have you known the Walkers?”

  “About nine months.”

  “How did you meet?”

  “We met at a restaurant in London.”

  “You’re from London?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re an actor?”

  “Yes.” Edward ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Look, I know you have to ask these questions, but this isn’t getting us any closer to finding Mary.” Edward paced in a tight circle. “I need to call my bank and get started on the money transfer.”

  “Sir, there are procedures we must follow.”

  “Bloody Hell!” Edward growled, thrusting his hands through his hair. “Screw the procedures! I’m going to get Mary back.”

  “My captain will be here in a few minutes, sir. You can talk to him…”

  A high-pitched scream interrupted Officer Finney. “Mary!” Kate screamed.

  Edward ran over to Kate. “Kate, what’s happened?”

  “The kidnapper sent her a picture of Mary.” Georgie said.

  Edward grabbed Kate’s phone.

  “Is it another media picture?” Officer Finney asked.

  “No,” Edward said. His hand trembled as he showed Officer Finney the picture. “It’s a current picture.”

  “Isn’t that what she was wearing today?” Officer Finney asked as he flipped through his notes.

  “Yes,” Edward said. “This picture is from today.” He scrolled down on the image. “And here are the instructions, Officer.”

  Officer Finney read the words aloud on the image. “Five million, corner of Isaac Street and Monroe Street. 6am tomorrow. No police, just Mr. Kent and Ms. Walker.”

  “Six am, tomorrow?” Kate said. “No! We need to find her NOW. I’m not going to stand around and let some monsters scare her. No!” Kate ran her hands through her hair. She stopped pacing in front of Edward and gazed up at him with pleading eyes. “Please Edward, I’m begging you. Find my baby. Please, bring her back to me!”

  Edward reached out, wanting to feel their connection. But fearing another rejection, he dropped his hand at the last second. “I will, Kate.”

  “Officer Finney!” A large man strolled over to their group. He looked to be in his mid-fifties and had to be over six feet tall. He had a clean-shaven head, broad shoulders and dark chocolate eyes. He fixed his stare on Edward, even as he spoke to Officer Finney.

  Officer Finney snapped to attention. “Sir!”

  “Brief me,” the man snapped.

  “Sir. A six year old child was taken from the center stage. The victim and her guardians were taking in the pre-show festivities. The victim was standing between her aunt and uncle. When the aunt reached down to take the victim’s hand, she realized the victim was missing. This note was left on their chairs, and a few minutes ago an image and instructions were sent to the victim’s mother’s phone.”

  The man inspected the note and the phone image. Handing both back to Officer Finney, he once again focused on Edward.

  “You’d be Edward Kent?”

  Edward nodded. “I am.”

  The man stuck out his hand. Edward took it, not surprised at the firm shake. “Captain Tom Driscoll.” Dropping his hand, the Captain continued to eye Edward as he issued orders to Officer Finney.

  “Officer Finney, we need to set up a command post. It can’t be here, let’s set up at the victim’s home.”

  “Yes sir.” Officer Finney ran off.

  “Mr. Kent, I understand you’ll be putting up the cash for the ransom drop?”

  “Yes,” Edward said.

  “Well, let’s get this started. I’ll send a plainclothes officer with you,” the captain said.

  “Sir, with all due respect, that’s unnecessary. I have my own security team and I’d prefer they accompany me to the bank.”

  The captain shook his head. “Everything I’ve heard and read about you made me think you were a logical and reasonable man,” the captain said.

  “Excuse me?” Edward sneered.

  “Oh, you think I don’t know who you are?” The captain grinned. “My wife is your number one fan, Mr. Kent. I’ve seen every movie and heard every piece of gossip concerning you. If it’s to be found in the magazines, papers or on the Internet, my wife has heard about it and therefore so have I.”

  Edward grimaced. “I’m sorry to hear that, sir.”

  “Don’t be. My wife needs something to occupy her time. Our kids are grown and I’m always at work.” The captain crossed his arms and focused his intense stare on Edward’s face. “Now, we need to get moving on this situation. I’ll be taking Ms. Walker and her family back to her apartment. You go to the bank and get started on the money. Once you’ve finished at the bank, please join us at the apartment. We’ll work on a plan for the drop.”

  Edward struggled with his emotions. There was no way he was letting the cops anywhere near this situation. The instructions had been clear and Edward wasn’t going to allow them to mess up the drop. He and Kate would deliver the money, and if he could manage it, it would be his security people that would keep them safe.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Edward agreed.

  The captain motioned to one of his officers. “Good luck, Mr. Kent.”

  Edward watched the captain walk over to Kate and Georgie.

  “Sir, ready to go?” The officer asked.

  “Yes,” Edward nodded. He followed the officer into the lobby. “I need to use the restroom before we go,” Edward said.

  “We’ll pass one on our way out. It’s just down here a bit,” the officer pointed further down the lobby.

  Once they reached the restroom, Edward excused himself and went inside. He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed his bodyguard, Jason. He never traveled without him, but Edward rarely had to use Jason when he was visiting Kate.

  “Mr. Kent?”

  “Mary’s been taken. I’m on my way to Bank of America. Meet me there.”

  “On my way.”

  Edward hung up and walked back out to the waiting officer. “Let’s go,” Edward said.

  Ten minutes later they pulled up in front of Bank of America. They both exited the car and walked into the bank.

  “Hello sir, how may we help you today?” The lobby attendant asked.

  “Hello. I need to speak with your bank manager.”

  “I’m sorry sir, he’s gone home for the evening. We’ll be closing in fifteen minutes.”

  “Get him on the phone, please. I need to speak with him.”

  “Sir, is this something that can wait until tomorrow morning?”

  Edward pierced her with his cold stare. “If it could, I wo
uldn’t be standing in front of you asking you to call him, would I?”

  “Uh, no sir. I guess you wouldn’t,” she stammered. She snatched up the phone and dialed. “Sir, this is Amanda Anderson. I have a gentleman here that would like to speak with you.” She paused as the man on the other line replied. “Yes, I know sir, but he’s very adamant.”

  Tired of waiting, Edward grabbed the phone from her. “This is Edward Kent, to whom am I speaking?”

  “Richard Lenovo. I am the bank manager. What is the meaning of this?” The man asked indignantly.

  “I suggest you get down here now as I am in need of a large amount of cash. My daughter has been kidnapped and I need to withdraw funds for the ransom.”

  “How much are we talking?”

  “Five million. I need it by six tomorrow morning.”

  “Five million? There’s no way we can accommodate you for that large a sum.”

  Edward held the phone to his chest and glared at Amanda. “Who’s in charge of this bank?”

  “Mr. Robbins. He’s the bank president.”

  Edward hung up the phone. “Call him, now, please.”

  Edward watched as she dialed the phone again. “Hello, Mr. Robbins? This is Amanda Anderson at the bank. I have someone who needs to speak with you.” She handed the phone to Edward.

  “This is Edward Kent. I’m here at your bank and I’m in need of a large sum of money. My daughter was kidnapped and I need the money by six tomorrow morning.”

  “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  Edward passed the phone to Amanda. “He’ll be here in twenty minutes,” Edward said as he walked over and sat down in one of the lobby chairs.

  The phone rang and Edward watched the color drain from Amanda’s face when she answered. He could hear the bank manager’s voice through the phone and it sounded as if Amanda was getting an earful. “Just hang up on him,” Edward said loudly.

  Amanda’s eyes widened at his suggestion, but she continued to take the abuse. “Sir, there’s no need. Mr. Robbins is on his way down here.” Amanda winced as the bank manager piled more abuse on the defenseless lobby attendant. “Yes, sir.” Amanda gently replaced the receiver and glanced at Edward. “He’s on his way, too,” she explained.