by Rita Herron
No clothes inside.
She checked the dresser drawers. Empty.
Richard Blotter was gone.
* * *
“DAMMIT,” RYDER SAID. “It looks like he left quickly.”
“You think he knew we were coming?” Tia asked.
Ryder shrugged. “I don’t know how he could. Not unless the nurse at the hospital gave him a heads-up we were asking about him.” He phoned Gwen. “Get a BOLO out on Richard Blotter. He’s cleaned out his apartment.”
“On it,” Gwen said. “I’m looking at his bank account now, Ryder. He cleaned it out, too.”
“Were there any suspicious transactions before today?”
Tapping on computer keys echoed in the background. “He made a couple of big deposits over the last four years but quickly moved the money into an offshore account.”
Could those have been payoffs for kidnapping babies or convincing single mothers to choose the adoption route?
“What about another house or property that he owns?”
“I don’t see anything.” She hummed beneath her breath. “Wait a minute, he has a sister.”
That could be helpful. “What’s her name?”
“Judy Kinley,” Gwen said.
“Judy?” He glanced at Tia and saw her skin turn ashen.
“Yes, she lives—”
“Across the street from Tia Jeffries.” Ryder’s pulse jumped. “Find out everything you can on her and Blotter. If there’s a second address or other family members, let me know. And examine both their phone records.”
If Blotter and his sister were working with Frost or with another party, they might find a clue in their contacts.
Tia was staring at him with a sick expression when he ended the call.
“Judy is Richard’s sister?”
Ryder nodded.
“She never mentioned that her brother worked at the hospital,” Tia said. “She came into my house and pretended to be my friend. She brought me food and a gift when Jordie was born.” She gasped. “Oh, my gosh, she even brought me a dessert that day. I had some that night. Do you think she put something in it to make me sleep?”
Ryder silently cursed. “It might explain why you didn’t wake up when Blotter came in. And why there were no signs of a break-in on the window,” Ryder said.
Tia dropped her face into her hands. “Because she was in the nursery. She must have unlocked the window that day she visited me and Jordie.” Tia pressed a hand to her chest on a pained sigh. “It’s all my fault. I welcomed her in. I let her hold my baby.”
Ryder rushed to console her. “This was not your fault,” he said firmly. “These people are predators.”
Anger replaced the hurt on her face. “We need to go to Judy’s.”
Ryder’s gaze swept the room. He doubted she was home. If Blotter had skipped, she’d probably left with him.
“Help me look around here before we go. Maybe he left a clue to tell us where he went.”
“I’ll check the kitchen,” she said.
Tia raced to the other room while he dug through the drawers and closet. But Blotter had cleaned them out as well, leaving no sign as to his plan.
* * *
TIA HOPED TO find something in the kitchen, an address or contact they could trace to her son, but the drawers and cabinets were empty.
Pain and hurt cut through her.
They had to find Richard and Judy. They were the key to her son.
Ryder appeared a second later. “Nothing in there. Gwen’s searching their contacts, bank records, history.”
Tia rushed to the door. “Let’s go. Maybe Richard hasn’t gotten to Judy yet.”
They hurried outside, and Ryder raced toward Tia’s neighborhood. She mentally beat herself up all the way.
How could she have been so stupid? She’d trusted Darren, and he’d deceived her. She’d trusted the hospital, the staff and nurses, but one of them had conspired to take her son. Then she’d trusted her neighbor who seemed friendly and helpful.
That was one of the worst deceptions. How could a woman do that to another woman?
Judy had taken betrayal to a new level—she’d consoled Tia the very night Jordie had disappeared.
No wonder Judy had been so quick to rush over. She’d known what was coming. She’d been watching the house, had probably alerted her brother when the house was quiet. When Tia had turned out the light.
Maybe she’d even stalled when she’d come to Tia’s rescue to give her brother more time to make his escape with her son.
Ryder took the turn into the neighborhood on two wheels. He screeched into Judy’s driveway, and they both hit the ground running.
Ryder gestured for her to wait behind him, then he drew his gun and held it at his side as he pounded on the door. “Judy? It’s Agent Banks. We need to talk.”
Tia checked the garage, but Judy’s car was not inside.
Her heart sank. “Her car’s gone, Ryder.”
His jaw tightened. He knocked again then jiggled the door. Just like Blotter’s, the door swung open. Ryder stormed in, Tia behind him, calling Judy’s name.
The empty bookshelves looked stark now, a reminder that Judy hadn’t added any personal touches to the place. No family photos or mementos.
Now Tia understood the reason.
Ryder raced through the house searching while Tia checked the kitchen drawers and desk. She fumbled through a few unpaid bills, then found a small note pad with several pages ripped out.
An envelope caught her eye, and she pulled it out and gasped. Several pictures of her when she was pregnant were tucked inside.
She checked the drawer again, hoping for an address or phone number of someone Judy or Richard might be working with.
Her fingers brushed something wedged inside the top desk drawer, the end caught. She stooped down and gently pulled at it until it came loose.
Rage shot through her. It was a photo of Jordie the day she’d brought him home from the hospital.
Ryder’s boots pounded on the staircase as he rushed down. “Nothing upstairs.”
Tia’s hand trembled as she tossed the picture on top of the desk. “I was so stupid. She was watching me all along.”
Ryder cursed and reached for the photo, but suddenly the sound of something crashing through the window jarred them both. A popping sound followed.
Then smoke began to fill the room.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ryder dragged Tia outside into the fresh air as smoke billowed into the room. He pulled her beneath a cottonwood, and they leaned against it, panting for breath.
Tires screeched. Instantly alert, he scanned the yard and street and spotted a dark car racing down the road.
Did it belong to the person who’d thrown that smoke bomb in the house?
“What was that?” Tia said on a cough.
“Someone who doesn’t want us finding the truth,” Ryder said, jaw clenched.
Tia pushed her hair from her face. “Judy Kinley and Richard Blotter are definitely involved.”
“I agree.”
Ryder removed his phone to call 911, but a siren wailed and a fire truck careened around the corner. Someone on the street must have seen the explosion and called.
The fire engine wheeled into the driveway and firefighters jumped into action. “Are you okay?” Ryder asked Tia.
“Yes, go talk to them.”
One of the firemen met him on the lawn. “What happened?”
Ryder explained.
“Anyone hurt or inside?”
“No. I’m going to call a crime unit to process the inside of the house, though. I believe the woman who was living here was involved in a baby kidnapping.”
The fireman lifted his helmet slightly, expression dark, then gave a nod and went to join the others. Ryder phoned for the crime unit, then made his way back to Tia as they waited.
She paced the yard, looking shell-shocked. “I can’t believe Judy would do this to me. Why?”
Ryder shrugged. “Maybe she was protecting her brother or needed money.”
“But who did they give my baby to?”
He wished to hell he knew. “We’ll find him, Tia. We’re getting closer.”
“If Richard was involved, do you think someone else at the hospital knew?”
Good question. “Let’s go back to the hospital and see.” Maybe by then Gwen would have something on Richard and his sister, like an address where they might be hiding out. She was supposed to be checking their prints against the matchbook he’d found outside the baby’s nursery.
The crime team arrived ten minutes later, and Ryder explained the situation to the chief investigator while Tia walked across the street to her house to change from her disguise.
“I want the place fingerprinted,” he said. “Then let’s compare the prints to the matchbook we found outside the nursery.” He had a feeling Blotter and Judy were accomplices.
Frost still ranked high on his list as the leader.
One of them might be able to point them to the person who actually had Jordie.
* * *
TIA BATTLED NERVES as she and Ryder entered the hospital. Each time she walked through the door, the memory of giving birth to her son returned. She had been so proud when she’d carried him home that day, so elated and full of plans for the future.
That future looked dismal without Jordie in it.
Ryder went straight to the nurses’ station. Hilda, the charge nurse, waved to her. “Tia, I saw the news story,” Hilda said. “Is there any word?”
“Not yet.” Tia motioned for Hilda to step aside and they slipped into the break room while Ryder canvassed the other staff for information on Richard.
“Hilda, I have reason to think that Richard Blotter might have been involved. Did you ever see or hear him do anything suspicious?”
Hilda’s eyes widened. “No, he was always so helpful, especially with the single mothers.” Alarm flashed across her face as if she realized the implications. “Are you suggesting he was friendly because he was up to something?”
Tia nodded. “I don’t think he was working alone, though. His sister lived across from me. I think she was watching me and unlocked the window in the nursery so he could come in and take Jordie.”
“But why would they do such a thing?” Hilda asked.
That was the big question. “I don’t know yet,” Tia said. “But some people are willing to pay a lot to adopt a baby.”
Hilda gasped.
Tia’s stomach knotted. “Was Richard close to anyone here at the hospital? Did he have a girlfriend?”
Hilda scowled and peered down the hall. “Not that I know of.”
Tia bit her tongue in frustration. “Is Amy here today?”
“She just left, sweetie.” Hilda’s phone buzzed, and she checked the number. “I have to get this. I’m praying for you, Tia.”
Tia thanked her and followed her back to the nurses’ station. She punched Amy’s number then left a message asking Amy to call her.
Amy had worked more closely with Richard than Hilda. Maybe she knew something about him that could help.
* * *
RYDER’S NEWLY ISSUED phone vibrated as he ended his conversation with an orderly who stated that he’d always thought Blotter showed a peculiar interest in the single mothers. He’d thought Blotter was interested in striking up a romance, but it was an odd place to look for female companionship.
Ryder agreed with that.
The phone vibrated again. Frost’s number showed up on the screen. Surprised to hear something so quickly, he hesitated. Frost might be on to them.
“Jared Manning speaking.”
“Yes, Mr. Manning, I reviewed your information and everything seems to be in order.”
“Great. When do you think you’ll have a baby for us?”
“Actually, that’s the reason I’m calling. Typically it takes months to find an infant, but it just so happens that we were placing a baby today, but the couple we were working with backed out. So, it may seem sudden, but if you and your wife are interested, we could arrange for you to take this child.”
Sweat beaded on Ryder’s neck. He wasn’t buying the man’s story. Maybe Frost had checked out the phony bank account and decided the Mannings had more money than the other couple so his profit would be larger.
Whatever, he couldn’t turn down this opportunity. “Of course we’re interested. Is it a boy or a girl?”
A pregnant pause. “I believe it’s a little girl. I didn’t think you were particular about the sex.”
“We’re not,” Ryder said, careful to keep his tone neutral. “I just wanted to tell my wife. She’s going to be so excited. I’m sure she’ll want to pick up some clothes and girly things.”
“Good. I’m glad. Now we have some details to work out.”
“Just tell me what you need,” Ryder said.
“My secretary will send you an account number for a wire transfer and the amount. Once that’s taken care of, we’ll schedule a time and place for you to pick up the baby.”
“How soon will this happen?”
“Since we already had this adoption arranged, the placement can happen tonight. That is, unless that’s too soon.”
“No, tonight is great. I can’t wait to tell my wife.”
“Good. You’ll receive the details shortly. I hope you and your wife and the little girl will be very happy.”
Ryder assured him they would be, then stared at the phone in silence when the man hung up.
He hurried toward Tia. “Frost just called. He has a baby for us.”
Hope lit Tia’s eyes. “A little boy?”
He shook his head. He’d probably already placed Jordie. “A baby girl. But if we catch him in the act, we can force him to talk.”
Renewed determination mingled with disgust on Tia’s face. “When do we get her?”
Ryder’s phone dinged with a text. He quickly skimmed for details.
“Tonight. Eight o’clock. I’ll have Gwen wire money into his account now.”
His mind churned. If they were about to crack a baby stealing/selling ring, he wanted to take Frost and whoever else was involved down. His first thought was to call Maddox, the sheriff of Pistol Whip.
But he’d never even met the man.
This was not how he wanted to meet, either.
So he phoned his boss. Statham would send backup with no questions asked.
* * *
AN HOUR LATER, Tia dressed again in her disguise. Tonight she was no longer Tia Jeffries—she was Emma Manning.
Looking to adopt a child.
Granted, she’d hoped the baby that the lawyer would bring was her own son, but at least they were one step closer to finding him.
If Frost was selling babies to the highest bidder, they would catch him and put him away.
She certainly didn’t want any other mother to suffer the pain she’d felt the past few days.
Ryder donned his disguise as well. They didn’t want anyone to immediately recognize him and run. Anxiety filled Tia as they drove to Frost’s office to finalize the paperwork.
He wasn’t in the office, but his receptionist handed him the documents and they signed them, anxious to complete the exchange.
When the lawyer’s personal assistant left the room, Ryder photographed the documents and sent a copy to the lab for analysis.
Then they went to the outdoor café next door to pick up the baby. She and Ryder h
ad both agreed that was an odd place for an adoption exchange, that it indicated something fishy, but they had to follow through, pretend to be the desperate couple who asked no questions but paid to get what they wanted.
Ryder visually scanned the parking lot as he parked. “Are you ready?”
Tia nodded. He’d insisted they bring a rental van in case they were being watched. Richard and Judy might recognize Tia’s. She had insisted Ryder install the car seat. Whoever this baby belonged to, she intended to protect the child at all costs.
Ryder squeezed her hand. “Remember, play it cool. We’ll wait until the child is handed over and then move in to ask questions or make an arrest.”
“Do you think Frost or Richard Blotter will show?”
“I have no idea what to expect, but we have to be prepared for anything.”
Tia braced herself and adjusted her wig. She’d never felt so alone.
Except for Ryder. He was here.
She’d hang on to him as long as possible. And when she got Jordie back, she’d once again learn to manage on her own.
“How are we supposed to know who we’re meeting?” she asked.
Ryder gestured toward the entrance and then asked for a table. “Frost’s assistant sent our photograph to whoever is bringing the baby.”
Tia fidgeted with her purse, trying to act normal, but her pulse was racing. Ryder threw his arm around her, nuzzling her neck, perpetuating the image of a young couple in love as they made their way to the hostess’s station.
Ryder pointed out a corner table toward the back of the outdoor seating area. “We want that table.”
Tia realized he’d chosen it to give them a good view of the entrance so he could look for the person they were supposed to meet.
She draped herself around him as they walked to the table, half faking the kisses yet needing his strength to help her through the nerve-racking ordeal. When they sat, the waitress immediately deposited water on the table and took coffee orders.
Ryder positioned his chair to watch the entrance and pulled her close to him again, twining his fingers with hers. She stared at their laced fingers—her hand so small in his, his so large and callused yet so tender, and a wealth of emotions swelled in her throat.