The Last McCullen

by Rita Herron

  Suddenly he stiffened, and she jerked her gaze to the door. Her heart stalled in her chest.

  Amy, the young labor nurse who’d befriended her, appeared, holding an infant.

  “My God, not Amy,” Tia whispered.

  Amy scanned the seating area, shifting back and forth, her movements jittery. A second later, she looked at Ryder and must have recognized him.

  Panic streaked her expression, then she turned and ran.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Amy?” Tia rose to go after the young woman, but Amy had disappeared.

  Ryder shot up. “I’m going after her!”

  He jumped the gate to the patio and Tia jogged to the gate entrance, pushed it open and followed. Amy was running across the street toward a white SUV, clutching the baby to her.

  Ryder caught up to her and cornered her by the vehicle. Tia’s breath rasped out as she wove between cars.

  Shock mingled with hurt and disbelief. Tia removed her wig and Amy gasped.

  “You took my son?” Tia cried.

  Amy shook her head in denial. The baby started to cry and she jiggled the infant in her arms, trying to shush it. “No, I didn’t do it, Tia. I swear.”

  Ryder folded his arms, his big body blocking her from escaping and pressing her against the side of the SUV.

  “Who does this child belong to?” Ryder asked, his tone hard.

  Tears blurred Amy’s eyes. “A teenager. She gave her up for adoption.”

  “Just like I supposedly did,” Tia snapped.

  Amy’s face contorted in pain.

  “Where’s my son?” Tia shouted.

  “You have to believe me, Tia,” Amy said. “I...didn’t take Jordie. I swear.”

  “Then what’s going on?” Ryder demanded.

  Amy trembled, the baby crying louder. She patted its back, but Tia reached out and took the infant. Her arms had felt empty for so long. This little girl wasn’t Jordie, but she could comfort her until they brought her home to her mother.

  “Explain,” Ryder said sharply.

  Amy wiped at her eyes. “I...I swear I didn’t know about Jordie or anything about babies being kidnapped.”

  “Yet here you are,” Ryder said with no sympathy.

  “I got a call, was told to drop this baby off with its adopted parents.”

  “Who called you?” Ryder asked.

  “Richard Blotter,” Amy said. “He...threatened me, threatened my little girl.” More tears trickled down her cheeks. “You know my daughter is handicapped. She needs surgery. I didn’t have the money...”

  “He paid you to steal babies from the nursery,” Ryder cut in.

  “No.” She sucked in a sharp breath. “A while back, I caught Richard Blotter hacking into patient files. He said he worked with a lawyer who handled adoptions. I threatened to tell the hospital that he was violating patient confidentiality, but he assured me he was only helping mothers and families by connecting them with the lawyer. I thought it was legitimate.”

  Amy looked miserable. “I had to do something to help Linnie. She needs braces to straighten her legs so one day she can walk. I...just wanted to give her a normal life, as normal as she could have.”

  The baby had quieted in Tia’s arms as she swayed back and forth.

  “But you eventually figured out what was happening?” Ryder asked.

  Amy gulped. “I heard Richard on the phone a couple of days ago. He sounded upset, nervous. He said they had to lie low, that the police were asking questions.” She twisted her purse strap between her fingers. “That’s when I realized what had happened.”

  “Then why didn’t you come forward and tell me?” Tia cried.

  “I confronted Richard, but he said if I told I’d be arrested for my part, that I’d go to jail for aiding in a kidnapping.” She gave Tia an imploring look. “I couldn’t go to jail, not when my little girl needs me.”

  Compassion for the woman’s situation filled Tia, but hurt over Amy’s betrayal overpowered it. “So you just kept quiet and let them take my baby. Where is he, Amy? Where is Jordie?”

  Amy’s face wilted again and she shook her head. “I don’t know, Tia. I...honestly don’t know.”

  * * *

  “I’M SORRY, MISS YOST,” Ryder said. “But you’re going to have to come with me until we sort this out.”

  Amy shot Tia a panicked look. “But I’m supposed to go home to Linnie.”

  “Who’s with her now?” Tia asked.

  “My mother.” Amy’s voice cracked. “She’ll be devastated if I go to jail. And if I lose my job, I can’t support us.”

  “Let’s take it one step at a time.” Ryder guided Amy to the rental van. Tia carried the baby, soothing the infant with her soft voice.

  She strapped the baby into the car seat in the back beside Amy, who was staring into space, ashen-faced and terrified.

  Ryder needed a safe place to leave her, but he didn’t want to take her to Sheriff Gaines. He considered the McCullens, but this wasn’t the way he wanted to meet his brothers. He still had to bring Frost in for questioning and find Blotter and Judy.

  He drove to the FBI office instead then escorted Amy to an interrogation room. “Do you have information on the mother of that baby?” Ryder asked.

  She shook her head no. “I was just told that she’d signed away her rights and that another couple wanted her.”

  He pushed her again for more on Frost, but she didn’t seem to know anything else helpful.

  A kind woman named Constance from the Department of Family Services arrived to take the baby until they sorted out the custody issue.

  “I’m sorry, Tia, really,” Amy said for the dozenth time.

  “Just cooperate and tell the police whatever you know,” Tia said. “I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else.”

  Ryder’s chest clenched. Even though Tia was suffering, she still had compassion for Amy. She was an unusual woman.

  “My little girl needs me,” Amy said in a pained whisper.

  “Tia’s baby needs her, too,” Ryder said. “Cooperate and we’ll see what we can work out.”

  They left Amy in federal custody and the baby with Constance then drove back toward Frost’s office.

  “I’m sorry your friend was involved,” Ryder said.

  Tia muttered a sarcastic sound. “It seems like everyone I meet lies to me.” She touched Ryder’s arm. “Promise me you won’t do that. If you find out something about Jordie, promise you’ll tell me no matter what.”

  Ryder didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news. He wasn’t giving up now, either. “I promise.”

  She relaxed slightly, and he sped into the lawyer’s office parking lot. Although he was gone earlier, Frost’s Mercedes was in the parking lot now.

  Ryder led the way, anxious to get this bastard and make him talk. Early evening shadows played across the parking lot, accentuating the fact that most everyone had gone home for the day.

  He snatched the warrants he got at the FBI office from his pocket as he reached the office door, then gave a quick rap on the door and pushed it open. He paused in the entryway to listen for sounds that Frost was inside or had a client but heard no voices. Only the faint sound of a familiar machine.

  A paper shredder.

  Adrenaline pumping, he rushed through the reception area, following the noise. Frost was in the file room behind the shredder, feeding files into it.

  “Stop, Mr. Frost. I’m Special Agent Ryder Banks.” Ryder waved the envelope. “I have warrants for your files.”

  Frost shifted, then reached down. Ryder thought he was going for the files, but Frost lifted a pistol and fired at them.

  Tia screamed and ducked behind the door. Ryder pulled his weapon and fir
ed back, hitting Frost in the chest. Frost grunted in shock, dropped his gun and collapsed to the floor.

  Ryder kept his gun aimed on the man as he rushed toward him. Frost was reaching for his pistol again when Ryder made it to him, but Ryder kicked it out of the way.

  “It’s over, Frost,” Ryder barked.

  Tia ran up behind him. “Where’s my son, you bastard?”

  Frost coughed, his eyes closing then opening again.

  Ryder stooped down and grabbed the man around the neck. “Where’s the baby?”

  Frost gasped and tried to speak, choking for a breath. Blood gushed from his chest wound, soaking his white designer shirt. Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he faded into unconsciousness.

  Ryder released the man abruptly. “Don’t you dare die, you bastard.”

  Tia dropped to her knees and shook the man. “Wake up and tell me where my baby is!”

  But Frost’s only response was to gurgle up blood.

  Ryder cursed, afraid it was too late, and called for an ambulance.

  * * *

  TIA FOUGHT DESPAIR as the paramedics loaded the lawyer’s unconscious body onto the stretcher and into the ambulance. Ryder instantly went to work searching the files while the crime unit began processing the office space and sorting through the shredded documents.

  Tia looked over Ryder’s shoulder into the file cabinet. “Anything on Jordie?”

  “Not yet.” He offered her a smile of encouragement. “But don’t give up. We still have mountains of papers to sort through, plus we need to search his computer.”

  Tia tried to hang on to hope. They couldn’t have come this far and not find her baby.

  Although if Frost had destroyed the documents pertaining to Jordie and he died, and they didn’t find Richard Blotter, her son might be lost to her forever.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Ryder hoped the search of Frost’s files would turn up an address for the person who had Tia’s son, but no such luck. There was a list of other adoptions, which appeared to be legitimate, but he turned them over to the Bureau’s unit that worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children—NCMEC—to verify the adoptions and their legitimacy.

  He and Tia sat in silence in the waiting room of the hospital, their nerves raw. A few minutes later, a doctor appeared with a grave expression on his face. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Frost didn’t make it.”

  Tia sagged against him, devastated. Their only lead was gone.

  “We’re still looking at his computer, and if we find Blotter, he may have the information we need.”

  She nodded against him, although her despair bled into his own. He didn’t want this case to end without answers.

  He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m driving you home to get some rest.”

  “I want to do another press conference,” Tia said. “Tonight.”

  Ryder debated on the wisdom of the idea, but what did they have to lose?

  He phoned the station and spoke with Jesse, the anchorwoman who’d interviewed Tia before. She was anxious for more of the story and agreed to the late-night segment.

  If Ryder had exposed a major baby-selling ring, the public had a right to know. They also needed eyes searching for Blotter and his sister, Judy.

  They stopped for Tia to change out of her disguise. She looked exhausted and sad, but she held her head up and faced the camera with a brave face.

  Ryder spoke first. “Tonight we have information regarding the missing Jeffries baby, although we do not have the baby back in custody.” He explained about the lawyer’s alleged adoption setup and his theory about Blotter and his sister serving as accomplices.

  “If anyone has seen or had contact with Mr. Blotter or Ms. Kinley, please phone our tip line.” The station displayed pictures of the man and his sister. “Or if you have information regarding Mr. Frost and his adoption practices, please come forward.”

  Tia clenched the microphone with a white-knuckled grip. “I’m Tia Jeffries and I’m pleading with you again. I believe these people abducted my son. It’s possible that whoever adopted my baby isn’t aware that he was stolen from his own bed, from his mother. If that is the case, there will be no repercussions. I just want my son back safely.”

  She wiped at a tear but managed to maintain control as the anchorwoman summarized the story and repeated the number for the tip line.

  “Good luck, Miss Jeffries.” Jesse gave her a hug.

  Tia thanked her and Ryder drove her home. When they reached her house, Tia rushed inside.

  She darted into the bathroom and shut the door, then he heard the shower water kick on and her sobs followed.

  * * *

  TIA FELT LIMP when she climbed from the shower. She dried off and combed through her wet hair on autopilot, numb from the day’s events. She yanked on a tank top and pajama pants and left the bathroom in a daze.

  Ryder was standing in the living room, a bottle of whiskey in front of him along with two glasses. He raised a brow and she nodded. Why not?

  Maybe it would dull the pain for a while. Maybe when she woke up tomorrow, Jordie would be home in his crib and her life would be normal again.

  Then Ryder would be gone.

  She wanted her son back. But she realized she didn’t necessarily want Ryder to leave.

  Not a good sign.

  He handed her the whiskey, and she swirled it around in the glass, lost in the deep amber color and the intoxicating smell.

  Ryder tossed his drink down, then pressed his lips into a thin line. “We’re not giving up, Tia. Don’t think that.”

  His words soothed her battered soul. But she wanted more. His touch. His kiss. His mouth on hers, his lips driving away the pain with pleasure.

  She sipped her drink. “I trust you, Ryder. I know you’ll find him.”

  He slowly walked toward her. “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever known.”

  “I’m not strong,” Tia said in a hoarse whisper.

  “You are.” He reached out and tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear. His movement was so gentle and tender that her throat closed.

  Yet her heart opened to him, and her body screamed with need. Unable to resist, she placed her hand against his cheek. His skin was tanned, rough with dark beard stubble, his eyes liquid pools of male hunger, desire and strength.

  She needed that strength tonight.

  She finished her drink, then pushed the glass into his hand.

  “Another?”

  She shook her head no. “I don’t want a drink.”

  He swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as she traced a thumb over his lips.

  “Tia?”

  “Shh, don’t talk.” Her body hummed to life with the desire to be closer to him.

  She gave in to it, stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. The first touch was raw, his breath filled with hunger. Her skin tingled as he deepened the kiss.

  She whispered his name on a breath as he plunged his tongue into her mouth, and she tilted her head back, offering him free rein on her neck and throat as passion drove her to pull him closer.

  She fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, and he brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, then lower to trace over her shoulder and down to her hip.

  He pressed her into the vee of his thighs, his thick sex building against her belly, a sign that he wanted her just as she wanted him.

  That was all she needed.

  She was tired of hurting all the time.

  For this one minute in time, she wanted to feel pleasure. Pushing the guilt aside, she clutched his arms and pressed her breasts against his chest.

  Her nipples throbbed, stiffening to peaks, the warm tingle of electricity in her womb a reminder that she hadn’t felt
this way about a man in a long time.

  She didn’t bother to question what was happening. Life made no sense. All she’d known was pain for days.

  Tomorrow the pain would be back.

  But tonight, Ryder could alleviate it.

  * * *

  EVERY OUNCE OF Ryder’s ethical training ordered him to stop. To walk away.

  But his body didn’t seem to be listening to his brain.

  Instead, the hunger inside him surged raw and primal, driving him to hold Tia closer, to stroke her back and shoulders, to brush her breast with one hand until he felt her chest rise and fall with her sharp intake of breath.

  He deepened the kiss, savoring the heat between them as she met his tongue thrust for thrust. Her hands raked over his shoulders and back, her touch stirring his body’s need.

  He shifted, his erection throbbing against her belly and aching to be inside her warm heat.

  She coaxed him to the bedroom until they stood by her bed. Soft moonlight spilled through the room, painting her in an ethereal glow. Yet that glow accentuated the paleness of her skin and the sadness in her eyes.

  He took a deep breath and forced his hands to be still, to look into her face. “I won’t take advantage of you,” he said gruffly.

  Her gaze met his, turmoil and pain and some other emotion he couldn’t define flaring strong. “Then I’ll take advantage of you.”

  With one quick shove she pushed him onto the bed.

  His chest clenched. “Tia?”

  “Shh.” She pushed him to his back then crawled on top of him, straddling him and moving against him in a sensual move that sent white-hot heat through him.

  He cupped her face with his hands and drew her to him for another kiss. Lips met and melded. Tongues mated and danced. His hands raced over her body as she tore at the buttons on his shirt.

  She shoved the garment aside and the two of them frantically removed it, then she tossed it to the floor. Her hands made a quick foray over his chest, making his lungs explode with the need for air.

  “You’re beautiful, Tia,” he murmured. God, she deserved better than this.

  She kissed him again, then lowered her head and trailed kisses and tongue lashes along his neck. She teased and bit at his nipples, stroking his sex with one hand while she worked his belt and zipper with the other.