The Bodyguard’s Baby

by Debra Webb

  “Him?” Nick echoed.

  James Ed nodded. “A little boy just over a year old.”

  “Where is he?” Laura pressed.

  “At the orphanage in Louisiana.” James Ed looked thoughtful for a moment. “Sandra was there for a while when she was a child, and someone rescued her. She thought it only fitting…” His voice trailed off.

  Laura tugged at Nick’s sleeve. “Let’s go!”

  Nick pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “We have to get the police out here first.” He glanced at James Ed who had wandered to a nearby chair and dropped into it. “We can’t leave him like this.”

  “I’m not waiting,” she argued.

  Nick grasped her arm when she would have rushed away. “You will wait.”

  “I have to find my son,” she cried, desperation in her voice.

  Nick saw the pain and worry in her eyes, he hardened his heart to what he wanted to feel. “He’s my son, too.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Laura awoke with a start. Shops, sidewalks and pedestrians lined the street. It was daylight now. Eight o’clock, according to the digital clock on the dash. Traffic moved at a snail’s pace, morning rush hour apparently. Laura rubbed the back of her hand over her jaw, then massaged her stiff neck as she sat up straighter in the car seat. She wondered if this place was Careytown. She glanced at the driver’s grim profile. Nick’s beard-shadowed face was chiseled in stone, the white bandage stark against his dark skin and hair. He hadn’t spoken a word to her since they left her brother’s house. It had been almost four o’clock in the morning before the police had allowed them to leave.

  A banner announcing Careytown’s fifth annual Thanksgiving Festival draped from crossing light to crossing light over the busy street. Laura’s heart skittered into overdrive. She was almost there. Very soon, possibly in just a few short minutes, she would be able to hold her son in her arms once more.

  Laura closed her eyes briefly and summoned the memory of Robby’s sweet baby scent. Her arms ached to hold him. But what kind of court battle lay before her? Laura blinked. Her gaze darted back to Nick’s granite-like features. He was never going to forgive her for keeping Robby a secret. In his opinion, she should have turned to him for help in the first place. But she just couldn’t take the chance that he wouldn’t turn her over to James Ed.

  James Ed.

  Regret trickled through Laura. She had blamed James Ed for everything all this time, when it had been Sandra all along. Laura still couldn’t believe that Sandra had harbored such ill will toward her all those years. Had wanted her dead. Had wanted to steal her son.

  Laura shook off the disturbing thoughts. Sandra was dead. She would never be able to harm Robby or Laura again. Canton was still at large, but hopefully the police would find him soon. She and James Ed would work things out eventually, she supposed. After all, he was her brother. The only thing that mattered now, Laura resolved, was getting her son back. She glanced at Nick again. She would just have to deal with his demands when the time came. No judge in his right mind would take her son away from her. But Nick was a good man….

  Joint custody.

  The phrase tore at Laura’s heart. How would she be able to survive days or weeks without her son? Even if she knew he was safe in Nick’s care. And what if Nick married someone else? Fear and hurt gripped Laura with such intensity that she thought she might be sick at her stomach. There could even be someone in his life right now. Nick was a very good-looking man.

  But he had made love to her just last night. Laura swallowed tightly. It wasn’t uncommon for people to cling to each other during or after near-death encounters. It had happened two years ago. Last night was probably no different. The time she had spent in Nick’s arms obviously hadn’t affected him as it had her. She loved him with all her heart. She would give most anything if they could be a family. Laura closed her eyes and fought the tears brimming. She would not cry. She was about to be reunited with her child. If any tears were shed today, they would be tears of joy.

  “This is it,” Nick said quietly.

  Laura jerked to attention. He guided the car into the parking lot of an old, but well-maintained two-story building. The parking lot wasn’t large, but Laura could see a huge fenced-in play yard behind the building. Multi-colored playground equipment and numerous trees, bare for the winter, claimed the play yard landscape. The exterior of the building wasn’t particularly bright, but it was clean and neat. If the staff took such good care of the property, surely they cared equally well for the children.

  Nick was out of the car and opening her door before Laura realized they had parked. She shook off the distraction and emerged into the cool November morning.

  Just a few more moments, she told herself. The first genuine smile in too many days to recall lifted her lips. Thank you, God, she prayed. Laura folded her arms over her chest and ignored the biting wind. Her son was in there somewhere and she was about to find him.

  “Are you all right?” Nick’s voice was gentle, laced with concern.

  Laura looked up at him and mentally acknowledged the mistake she had made. She should have told Nick. She should have gone to him for help long ago. He was the father of her child. He was a good man. She should have trusted him. But she hadn’t. And now she would pay dearly for that mistake.

  The cost would be Nick’s trust. If he had ever even considered trusting her, he wouldn’t now. And there was no way he would ever love her the way she loved him.

  “I’m fine,” she managed past the lump in her throat. It was a lie, she wanted to scream. She would never be fine again.

  “Then let’s go get our son.”

  Our son. The words echoed through her soul.

  Nick’s long fingers curled around Laura’s elbow as he guided her up the long walk and through the double doors leading into the Careytown Home for Children. A wide, tiled corridor rolled out before them. Doors lined both walls. A sign proclaimed one as the main office.

  A few moments later they entered the cheery office. A sunny yellow, the walls displayed hundreds of framed photographs. On closer inspection, Laura realized the pictures were of children of all ages. An older lady wearing a cartoon character T-shirt greeted them.

  “May I help you?” She smiled kindly.

  “I’m Nick Foster and this is Laura Proctor. I believe someone called to let you know we were coming.”

  The woman’s smile immediately crumpled. “Yes. Our director received a call at home a couple of hours ago.” She attempted another smile, which proved decidedly less enthusiastic than her previous one. She stood. “Follow me, please.”

  Uneasiness slid over Laura. Something was wrong. Her heart bumped into an erratic rhythm as a dozen possibilities flashed through her mind. They were too close now. Things just couldn’t go wrong. Laura followed Nick and the receptionist into an inner office. Laura moistened her lips and squared her shoulders. Robby was safe. He was here and when Laura left, she would have her baby in her arms.

  A woman of about forty waited for them inside the small office. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, revealing her attractive features. At present, those features were cluttered with what could only be labeled worry.

  “Ms. Proctor. Mr. Foster.” She shook first Laura’s hand, then Nick’s. “I’m Mary Flannigan, the director. Please have a seat,” she offered nervously.

  “I’m sure you can understand that we’re in somewhat of a hurry,” Nick told her candidly.

  With obvious effort, she produced a smile. “Of course.” Mrs. Flannigan retrieved a file from her desk. “Before we go any further, I’ll need you to identify the child.”

  Laura moved closer to the woman’s desk. “Identify?”

  Mrs. Flannigan opened the file. “We photograph all our children for our records.”

  The woman opened the folder and Laura’s gaze latched onto the pictures of Robby. He smiled at the camera, those mischievous green eyes bright with happiness. “It’s him,” Laura breathed
the words. Her fingers went instinctively to the photographs to caress her son’s image. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “That’s my baby,” she murmured, awe in her voice.

  Nick touched one of the pictures, his fingers tracing the image of his son. Laura watched the myriad emotions move across his handsome face.

  “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” Laura said softly.

  Nick nodded. Laura knew that he couldn’t possibly speak right now. He had just gotten the first glimpse of his son. A son he couldn’t have denied even if he had been so inclined. Robby looked so very much like him.

  Laura released the breath she had been holding and shifted her attention to Mrs. Flannigan. Maybe the lady was simply nervous over the mistake. She had placed a stolen child into adoption proceedings, unknowingly, of course.

  “I’d like you to bring my son to me now,” Laura said as calmly as she could.

  Mrs. Flannigan looked first at Laura, then at Nick. As if somehow sensing that Nick would take the news better than Laura, she directed her words to him. “I am so sorry that this has happened.” She shook her head. “I’ve been the director at this home for ten years and nothing like this has ever happened. Our staff is thoroughly screened.”

  “Get to the point, Mrs. Flannigan. Where is Robby?” Nick insisted.

  “I don’t know.”

  Laura’s heart dropped to her feet. Her muscles went limp and passing out seemed a distinct possibility. “What?”

  “When I arrived this morning, the night nurse was in a panic. Your child—” she moistened her lips “—was missing. When the midnight rounds were made he was there, but at seven this morning he was gone.”

  “Gone?” Nick leaned forward slightly, his intimidating frame looming over the woman’s desk. “Don’t you have security here?”

  Mrs. Flannigan nodded. “Excellent security. No one gets in or out without a key after hours. We believe that one of our staff members took your son.”

  “No.” Laura shook her head in denial. This couldn’t be. She had only just found this place. He couldn’t be gone.

  “I thought you said you screen your staff,” Nick countered hotly.

  “We do, Mr. Foster. Elsa Benning is an excellent employee. I can’t imagine why she has done this. She has worked here for more than twenty years. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “How do you know it was her?” Nick demanded.

  Mrs. Flannigan smoothed a hand over her hair. “She hasn’t reported for duty this morning. In twenty years she hasn’t missed a day.” The director blinked beneath Nick’s ruthless gaze. “She is the only employee who holds a key and who is unaccounted for this morning.”

  “No.” Laura backed away from the reality. “No, this can’t be.”

  “I am so terribly sorry. The Louisiana State Police have issued an APB.”

  “Laura.” Nick moved toward her.

  “No.” Laura shook her head adamantly. “He has to be here.”

  “Ms. Proctor.” The director stepped to Nick’s side. “If it’s any consolation to you at all, Elsa is a good woman. I don’t believe she would hurt your baby.”

  NICK SETTLED an almost catatonic Laura into the passenger seat. He reached across her and buckled her seat belt. He had put a call into Ian to bring him up to speed. Nick closed the door and braced his hands on the top of the rented car. He squeezed his eyes shut and called the image of his son to mind. Dark hair, green eyes, chubby cheeks. Nick clenched his teeth to hold back the rage that wanted to burst from him.

  Okay, he told himself. Pull it together, man. You can’t lose it now. Not here. Not in front of Laura. His whole body ached at the look of pain and defeat sucking the life out of her. Nick straightened. By God he was going to find his son. One way or another. As much as Nick wanted his son, he wanted even more to reunite him with his mother. He couldn’t bear to watch Laura suffer a minute longer. He skirted the hood and jerked his own door open. Nick dropped behind the wheel and snapped his seat belt into place. Laura had been through enough. Robby had been through enough.

  And someone was going to pay.

  Nick slammed his fist against the steering wheel again and again until the pain finally penetrated the layers of anger and frustration consuming him. Laura only looked at him, too grief stricken to react.

  The cell phone in his jacket pocket rang insistently. Nick blew out a heavy breath. He reached inside his jacket and retrieved the damned thing. He couldn’t ignore it, it might be Ian.

  “Foster,” he said tautly. He had to get back in control.

  “Nick, it’s Ray.”

  Nick frowned. Why would Ray be calling him? The murder investigation. Damn. Nick massaged his forehead. He didn’t want to do this right now. “Yeah, Ray, what’s up?”

  “I called James Ed’s house and a policeman told me to call this number.”

  Nick impatiently plowed his fingers through his hair. “What can I do for you?”

  “I’m not sure. But you mentioned that Laura’s baby was missing.” Ray exhaled mightily. “Maybe it’s nothing, but a woman showed up here first thing this morning with a baby that looks the right age and the hair color’s right. I remember all that black hair. She says she thinks the kid was stolen or something. We’re running a check on her now.”

  Adrenaline pumped through Nick’s veins. “What’s her name?”

  “One Elsa Benning.”

  “We’re on our way.” Nick started the car, then frowned. “Ray,” he said before disconnecting, “do me one favor.”

  “Sure, buddy, anything.”

  “Don’t let that woman and child out of your sight.”

  TIRES SQUEALING, Nick turned the wheel sharply, guiding the car into the precinct parking lot. Laura jerked forward when he braked to an abrupt halt. They had made the trip to Natchez in record time. She was out of the car right behind Nick. Her son was in that police station.

  Laura rushed up the walk and into the building, Nick right on her heels.

  “Detective Ingle,” Nick said to the first officer they met in the corridor.

  “Down the hall, fifth door on the left.”

  Laura was on her way before Nick could thank the man. Her heart pounding, her skin stinging with adrenaline, she burst through the door the officer had indicated. A half dozen desks filled the large room. Laura scanned each one. Her gaze locked on the back of a gray-haired lady. She sat in a chair, facing a desk. A tall man stood behind it shuffling through files. Ignoring all else, Laura rushed to the woman. Her heart pounding so hard in her chest that she felt certain it would burst from her rib cage, Laura stepped around the woman’s chair.

  Robby sat in her lap, pulling at the large ornate buttons on her jacket. Relief so profound swamped her, that Laura thought she might die of it. She dropped to her knees at the stranger’s side. Laura held out her arms. “How’s mommy’s baby?” she murmured softly.

  Robby reacted instantly. He flung his chubby little arms and bounced in the woman’s lap. The woman, Elsa, smiled down at Laura and shifted Robby into Laura’s arms.

  Laura held Robby close. She inhaled deeply of his sweet baby scent. “Oh, my baby,” she whispered into his soft hair. Emotions flooded her being so quickly and with such force that Laura could not think clearly.

  The old woman nodded knowingly, capturing Laura’s overwhelmed attention. “I knew this was no abandoned baby. Today they were going to give him to the adoptive couple.” She shook her head. “I knew it wasn’t right. So I brought him back to the police station in the city where they said he had been found.”

  “Thank you,” Laura choked out. Robby tugged at her hair and made baby sounds as if nothing had ever been amiss. “I know you took good care of him.”

  “I did at that,” Elsa agreed. “That’s my job.”

  Laura smiled at the woman, then struggled to her feet. She turned to Ray Ingle, Nick’s detective friend. “Thank you, Detective Ingle.”

  His lopsided smile warmed her. “Just doing my job, ma’am.”

&
nbsp; Taking a deep breath for courage, Laura turned to Nick. She manufactured a watery smile. “This is your son, Robby.”

  Total and complete awe claimed Nick’s features. He touched Robby’s hand. Instinctively Robby curled chubby little fingers around Nick’s finger. The smile on Nick’s face made Laura weak in the knees. She wanted so to offer Nick the opportunity to hold his son, but she couldn’t bring herself to let go of him just yet.

  “Hey, man,” Ray exclaimed. “You’ve been holding out on me.”

  Nick just grinned at Ray, his eyes barely leaving Robby for a second.

  “Canton is still at large,” Ray mentioned quietly.

  Laura turned to him, then looked at Nick.

  “That’s not good. Laura and Robby aren’t safe as long as he’s on the street,” Nick returned, his gaze still riveted on his son.

  Laura’s arms tightened around her baby. “What will we do?”

  “Do you have some place you can lay low until he’s caught?” Ray asked Laura.

  She glanced at Nick, then back to Ray and shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly go to my brother’s house, or the house in Bay Break.” Laura had no money she could access without lengthy legalities. For one fleeting second fear slipped back into her heart. She snuggled her baby’s head. None of that mattered.

  She had Robby now.

  “Laura, you can stay—” Nick began.

  She shook her head, cutting him off. “That’s not a good idea right now.”

  “Ma’am,” Ray interrupted. “You and your little boy are welcome to stay with me and my wife until you figure this thing out.”

  Laura kissed Robby’s satiny forehead. “Oh, I couldn’t impose like that. I’m sure we can find some place.”

  “Why you’d be doing us a favor.” Ray smiled widely. “You see, we’re about to have our first child. My wife was an only child and has never had to care for a little one. She could use the practice.” Ray blushed to the roots of his hair. “That is if you wouldn’t mind.”