The Last McCullen

by Rita Herron

  Ryder motioned for the woman to come with him. She stood slowly, hugging the baby to her as she followed Ryder.

  “This should just take a moment,” he said to the woman and the bus driver.

  Tia shaded her eyes from the sun as she exited the bus into the parking lot. Ryder guided the woman to the sidewalk.

  The woman pivoted, covering the baby with her hand to hide its face.

  “Miss,” Ryder said, “what is your name?”

  She cast a terrified look at Tia then patted the bundle in her arms. “Vicki Smith.”

  “And your baby’s name?”

  “Mark,” the woman said. “Why? What do you want with us?”

  Tia cleared her throat. “Do you know who I am?”

  Vicki adjusted her scarf, drawing it tighter. “No. Should I?”

  Tia barely restrained herself from yanking the child from the woman’s arms. “I was on the news last night. My baby was kidnapped I’ve been looking for him ever since.”

  The woman backed away. “I don’t have your baby. This is my child. I’m going to visit my mother in Cheyenne.”

  Ryder gently touched the baby’s cap. “Then we can clear this up really quickly. Just let us see the baby.”

  She shook her head vigorously, clutching the child as if to protect it from them. “You can’t take my baby. I won’t let you.”

  Tia inhaled sharply. The fear in the woman’s voice was real. Whether it was because she was a kidnapper or for another reason, she couldn’t tell.

  Ryder gently touched the baby again. “I’m not going to take the child. But I need to verify that this is not Miss Jeffries’s son.”

  “It’s not,” the woman cried. “Now let me go. If I miss that bus, I can’t get to my mother’s.”

  “Just show me that it’s not my son,” Tia said, softening her tone. “Then we’ll let you be on your way.”

  The woman trembled, her eyes wary as she studied them. But she slowly tilted the infant back into her arms and eased the blanket from its face.

  Ryder gently pushed the cap back to reveal a thick head of wavy black hair.

  It wasn’t Jordie.

  * * *

  TIA’S LEGS BUCKLED. Ryder steadied her, sensing her disappointment.

  “I’m sorry, you’re right,” Tia said. “I just thought...”

  “Someone phoned the tip line and said you were acting suspiciously,” Ryder said, still unwilling to release her before he heard the real story.

  She was acting suspiciously and hiding something.

  Alarm speared the woman’s eyes. “I...don’t know what you mean.” She hurriedly rewrapped the infant and started back toward the bus.

  Ryder caught her arm. “Wait, I need to ask you some questions.”

  Vicki’s eyes darted around the parking lot. “Please, you can see I don’t have that woman’s child. Now let me and my baby go.”

  “Something’s wrong,” Ryder said. “Is that child really yours?”

  “Of course it is,” she gasped.

  “Then why the fake ID? Because I know Vicki Smith is a fake name.”

  “No, I’m Vicki. I’m from Pistol Whip—”

  “There is a Vicki Smith from Pistol Whip, but she gave birth to a baby girl a month ago.”

  The woman sagged against his hold. “Please don’t do this. If he finds us, he’ll kill me and take Mark. He’s already hurt him once. I won’t let him do it again.”

  Tia had eased up beside him. “I’m sorry for scaring you, Vicki.”

  “Are you talking about your husband or boyfriend?” Ryder asked.

  Embarrassment heated the woman’s cheeks. “Yes.”

  “He’s Mark’s father?”

  “Yes—”

  “How did he hurt him?” Ryder asked.

  The woman rocked the baby. “He can’t stand it when he cries. He shakes him so bad. And the other night he threw him against the wall.”

  Pure rage shot through Ryder. If she was telling the truth, the bastard should be locked away.

  “The real Vicki and I are friends,” she continued. “She loaned me her discount card so I could use it as an ID to get on that bus.”

  “Is your mother really waiting?” Tia asked.

  The woman shifted, then shook her head, fear and defeat streaking her face. “No... I have no place to go, but I had to get away from him.” She dropped a kiss on the baby’s head. “I put up with him hurting me, but I refuse to let him beat up our son.”

  “Good for you,” Tia said with a mountain of compassion in her voice.

  “I’m sorry about your situation,” Ryder said injecting sympathy into his voice. “But if what you’re saying is true, you should go through the proper channels.”

  “I filed a police report once, and they came and talked to him.” Her voice grew hot with anger. “Then do you know what he did?”

  “He was enraged and took it out on you,” Tia said.

  “Yes,” the woman whispered brokenly. “He beat me so bad I couldn’t walk for days. Where were the police then?”

  Ryder silently cursed. He’d heard this story before, too.

  “I can help you,” Tia said. “I run a program called Crossroads. It’s for families in crisis. There are other women like you, women who will help you.”

  “But he’ll find me,” Vicki cried. “He always finds me.”

  “No,” Tia said emphatically. “I promise you he won’t.”

  “She’s right,” Ryder said. “If everything you’re telling me is true, I’ll make certain you and your child have protection.”

  The woman began to sob, and Tia drew her and Mark into a hug, comforting them while Ryder motioned to the driver that he could leave.

  * * *

  TIA’S HEART ACHED for the woman. Unfortunately her story was a common one. The cycle of abuse would repeat itself if she didn’t break it. That took strength and courage and help from strangers.

  She could offer that. And if Ryder was willing to help...

  The woman’s body trembled next to Tia as she helped her into the SUV. She wished they had a car seat for the infant. They would take care of that ASAP.

  Ryder phoned a friend with a private security company, and he agreed to guard the center for the evening. She phoned Elle to give her a heads-up about the situation. Vicki admitted her real name was Kelly Ripples.

  Tia hugged Kelly again as they arrived at the center. “Everything will be okay now, I promise.”

  Elle and Ina met them at the door. “We fixed a room for you and the baby,” Ina said. “I hope you don’t mind sharing a room. Susan and her little girl are really nice. They just got here a couple of days ago. I think you’ll like them. The little girl loves babies.”

  Kelly looked skeptical, but thanked Ina and followed her to one of the bedrooms, where a portable crib was set up in the corner. “I need to feed him,” Kelly said.

  “Of course,” Tia said. “We’ll let you have some privacy.”

  Ina gestured toward the rocking chair. “When he’s settled, please join us in the dining room. I cooked a pot of homemade vegetable soup and some corn bread.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Kelly said in a low voice.

  Tia joined Ryder in the hallway. “Thank you for arranging for the security guard.”

  He nodded. “I called Gwen. She’s checking Kelly’s story.”

  “I believe her,” Tia said.

  Ryder crossed his arms. “Time will tell. Until then, she’ll be safe here. And if her story is confirmed, I’ll see that her husband never gets hold of that child again.”

  Tia had never trusted a man the way she did Ryder. His fierce protectiveness and drive for justice was admirable.

  She wanted to tel
l him that, but her growing feelings for him terrified her.

  * * *

  THE COMPASSION TIA showed for the woman astounded Ryder. She had gone from suspecting Kelly of kidnapping to an offer to help her in minutes.

  Ryder’s cell phone buzzed. He motioned to Tia that he needed to take it, so he stepped into the other room. “Gwen, that was fast.”

  “It’s not about Kelly,” she said quickly. “We have a hit on the woman in the security footage at the hospital nursery, and I cross-checked it with the hospital records. Her name is Bonnie Cone. She lives outside Sagebrush. She lost a baby recently and suffered serious depression. Her husband claimed she was obsessed with having another baby right away, but the doctor advised against it. The husband said they separated last month. He hasn’t been able to reach her for a couple of weeks and he’s worried.”

  A desperate, grieving woman. “Where is she?”

  “I’m texting you her address now.”

  Ryder considered pursuing the lead on his own, but if they found Bonnie Cone, Tia could tell them really quickly if she had Jordie.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Tia assured Kelly that she and Mark would be safe at Crossroads. The private security agent seemed to take his job seriously.

  His eyes also lit up with a spark when he met Elle.

  Tia would love to see her friend with a nice man. She’d had her own troubles before joining Crossroads and deserved happiness. But she definitely had built walls to protect herself.

  Just as Tia had done.

  Maybe that was the reason they were such good friends.

  Ryder explained the phone call, and they rushed toward Sagebrush. She fidgeted, determined not to get her hopes up.

  “The woman we’re going to see was the one on the security camera at the hospital. Her name is Bonnie Cone. She lost a baby over a month ago. According to Bonnie’s husband, she was despondent and obsessed with having another child.”

  Tia’s heart went out to her.

  But...her sympathy would only stretch so far.

  The afternoon sunlight beamed in the car and slanted off farmland as they passed. Beautiful green grass, cows grazing, horses galloping on a hill in the horizon—a reminder of Wyoming’s natural beauty. Normally those things soothed her, but today nothing could erase the grave feeling in her chest.

  Bonnie’s house was an older ranch, set off the road in a neighborhood about five miles from town. Although the house had probably been built fifty years ago, it looked reasonably well kept, except for the yard.

  A gray minivan was parked in the drive. As they passed it, she peeked in and spotted a car seat.

  They walked to the front door in silence. A welcome home wreath on the door and a wooden bench on the front stoop indicated that Bonnie had tried to make the house more homey and inviting.

  Ryder punched the doorbell, his gaze scanning the property. He was always on alert. A product of his job, she supposed.

  How did he live this kind of life, facing danger and criminals every day, and not become jaded? Did he ever relax?

  He punched the bell a second time and Tia peeked through the front window. Living room with a brown sectional sofa, magazines dotting the coffee table, along with a baby bottle and an assortment of infant toys. A colorful blanket was spread on the floor, a toy rabbit and squeaky toy on top.

  Seconds later, footsteps sounded and she quickly moved away from the window. If the woman saw her, she might bolt.

  * * *

  RYDER FLASHED HIS ID as Bonnie opened the door. “Miss Cone, my name is Special Agent Ryder Banks, and this is Tia Jeffries.”

  Bonnie’s gaze darted to Tia, her eyes widening in recognition. “You’re the woman on TV last night.”

  “Yes, that was me,” Tia said softly. “Can we come in?”

  Bonnie glanced back and forth between Tia and Ryder. “I don’t understand.”

  Bonnie looked pale and thin, her eyes were dark with circles, her medium brown hair curly and tousled as if she hadn’t slept in days. She was also still wearing a bathrobe.

  Ryder shouldered his way through the door. “We need to talk. It’ll just take a moment.”

  Bonnie tugged the belt of her robe tighter around her waist and gestured toward the sofa. Baby clothes and crib sheets overflowed a laundry basket, spilling onto the sofa.

  Tia exhaled and slid the basket to the floor so she could seat herself beside Bonnie. Ryder claimed the club chair opposite her.

  Bonnie plucked a receiving blanket from the basket and wadded it in her hands. “What is this about?”

  “We’re investigating the disappearance of Miss Jeffries’s baby,” Ryder said.

  “I’m sorry about your son.” The woman gave Tia a sympathetic smile. “But what does that have to do with me?”

  “You delivered your baby at the same hospital where I gave birth,” Tia said.

  Pain darkened Bonnie’s eyes. “Yes.”

  “I know you lost a child,” Tia said gently. “That must have been awful.”

  Bonnie’s lower lip quivered. “It was.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Tia said. “I understand the heartache.”

  “No one understands,” Bonnie said with a trace of bitterness. “I carried him for nine long months inside me. I had dreams for him.”

  Tia placed her hand over Bonnie’s. “I do know. I carried my baby just like you did, I dreamed about holding him and watching him grow up. I started a college fund for him before he was even born.”

  Ryder swallowed hard at the emotions her words stirred.

  “We were watching the video feed from the hospital,” Ryder cut in. “You were on it.”

  Bonnie narrowed her eyes. “What?”

  “After your baby was gone, you came back to the hospital and you were looking at the newborns.”

  Bonnie made a strangled sound in her throat and placed her hand over her stomach. “Yes, I wanted a baby so badly. I missed my son.”

  “That’s understandable,” Ryder said. “You missed him so much that you were out of your mind with grief.”

  Bonnie nodded, tears welling in her eyes. She swiped at them, unknotted the blanket and began to fold it methodically, as if the task was calming.

  Tia picked up a burp cloth from the basket and ran her fingers over it. “We know you were grief stricken and in a bad place, Bonnie. I understand that, I do.”

  “Maybe you were so distraught you did something you never would have done otherwise,” Ryder said. “You wanted to replace your baby, so you found another one.”

  Bonnie’s startled gaze shot to Ryder’s. “Yes, I did. My husband didn’t understand, but I had to have a baby.” Her voice was raw, agonized. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing,” Tia said. “Not unless you took my son to replace yours.”

  Bonnie stood abruptly, knocking the basket of laundry over. Clothes spilled out, but she didn’t seem to notice. “My God, that’s the reason you’re here. You think I kidnapped your baby?”

  Ryder stood, sensing the woman might turn volatile. “We have to ask.”

  Bonnie fisted her hand by her side. “That’s completely insane,” Bonnie stuttered. “I would never do such a thing.”

  A mixture of emotions welled in Tia’s eyes. Ryder wanted to comfort her, but she needed answers instead.

  “But you got another baby,” Ryder asked.

  Fear deepened the panic in Bonnie’s expression. “Yes, but that baby is mine now.” She whirled toward Tia. “He’s not yours, do you hear me? He’s mine and you can’t take him away.”

  Tia pressed a hand to her mouth.

  “Then where did the baby come from?” Ryder asked.

  “I didn’t steal anyone’s baby,” Bonnie shouted. “I adopted a litt
le boy.”

  Tia’s sharp breath rent the air. “Then you won’t mind showing him to me.”

  Anger slashed Bonnie’s expression. “If it’ll get you to go away and leave me alone, then yes. I’ll get him.”

  She stalked toward the bedroom, and Tia and Ryder followed. For all he knew, she was going to grab the baby, go out a back door and run.

  * * *

  TIA RUSHED TO stay close to Bonnie in case she snatched the baby and tried to get away.

  Bonnie stumbled, then grabbed the bedpost to steady herself as she crossed to the bassinet.

  “He’s sleeping,” she said in a voice both tender and filled with fear. “I hate to disturb him.”

  Tia and Ryder remained in place, though, so she gently lifted the infant, swaddled in a blue blanket with turtles on it, his tiny fingers poking out.

  Tia’s pulse pounded as Bonnie gently pulled the blanket back to reveal the baby’s face.

  He had a fuzzy blanket of brown hair, his chin was slightly pointed, his face square. He was beautiful.

  But he wasn’t Jordie.

  Disappointment nearly brought her to her knees.

  Tia grabbed the bedpost this time, choking back a cry.

  “Tia?” Ryder’s low, gruff voice echoed behind her.

  She shook her head, then turned to face him, her heart in her eyes.

  Ryder crossed the room and took her arm, then glanced at the baby.

  “How old is he?” Ryder asked.

  “Four weeks today.” Bonnie dropped a kiss on the baby’s head, making Tia’s heart yearn for Jordie even more. “Isn’t he beautiful?” Bonnie said in a voice reserved for doting mothers.

  “Yes,” Ryder said. “You said you adopted him?”

  “I did. After I lost...my child, I was devastated. Then my doctor advised against another pregnancy and I thought I couldn’t go on.” She paused and swiped at tears. “One of the counselors suggested adoption. I thought it would take a while, but someone else in the hospital gave me the name of a lawyer who handled private adoptions, and I contacted him.” She rocked the infant back and forth in her arms. “It was a miracle. He said he knew of a teenager who had decided to go the adoption route. I couldn’t believe it.” She hugged the infant tighter. “As soon as she gave birth, he called me. I rushed to the hospital and there he was in the nursery, all wrapped up, just needing some love.”