He stooped down to Layla’s height. “Emily didn’t come home after school and we’re worried. I wondered if you might know where she is.”
“She said she was going home so she could go shopping with her mom, remember?” Layla’s gaze flitted to Maria’s with a confused look.
She touched her daughter’s shoulders. “I do remember, honey. That’s why it’s important to answer the policeman’s questions.”
“Was she mad at her mom or dad?” Conrad added.
Layla’s brown hair swayed as she shook her head.
“Where would she go if she was mad at them?”
“I don’t know.” Layla shrugged. “Maybe to our apartment, but that would be a long walk.”
“That’s good. Anywhere else she might go?”
“Dina’s.”
He nodded. “We’ll be sure to check that out. Did anybody follow the two of you here as you walked from the bus stop today?”
“No.”
“Any other day?”
“No.”
“Did anything unusual happen at all today?”
“I saw my daddy’s angel. But he wouldn’t hurt Emily. I miss my daddy.”
Officer Conrad Travis looked at Maria.
She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes in warning, silently begging him not to ask Layla anything more about it.
“OK, good job, Jasmine.” He stood up. “I have one more question for your mommy, and then we’ll go find Emily.”
“I like to be called Jazzy.”
He smiled at her. “OK, Jazzy. It was nice to meet you.”
Maria stepped away from Layla.
“What’s that about?” He whispered, as Zink distracted Layla with a question about the flowers.
“I’m not sure. Today’s the first time she’s talked about seeing her Daddy’s angel. I was planning to call someone about it when I got home.”
“You mean like a child psychologist, or something?”
“Something like that. She was very close to her father and misses him.”
“Mmm. How long ago did he die?”
“Less than a year.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” His gaze met hers.
“It’s a loss for Jasmine, not for me. Our marriage was over.” Her face warmed as she wondered why she’d bothered to tell him that.
“Still, it has to be hard,” he murmured. “Thanks for your help. Are you going home?”
“Yes.”
“If Emily happens to be there, please let us know.”
“Of course.”
Officer Zinkleman held up the flowers. “How much for these?”
“That’s not necessary,” Maria said. “Take them as a gift.”
“Can’t do that. It’s not ethical these days.”
“Fill this out and I’ll send you a bill.” Maria pulled a slip out from a drawer. “The register’s closed down for the day.”
Zink began to fill out the form. “You have a beautiful daughter,” Officer Zinkleman said. “She seems very smart and sweet.”
“Thanks. I think she’s wonderful.” Maria smiled.
“Make sure you send me that bill, Veronica.”
Maria and Layla watched the officers leave.
Layla turned to her, worry in her chocolate brown eyes. “Mommy, where’s Emily? Why can’t they find her?”
Dread rose in Maria’s heart.
She had no answer.
4
Emily wasn’t at their apartment. Maria hadn’t expected she would be, but to ease Layla’s mind they’d checked it anyway. Poor Layla, disappointment had shone in her eyes when it was obvious Emily wasn’t waiting for them.
Maria drove to Emily’s house to help with the search.
Cars lined both sides of the normally quiet neighborhood, and small groups crowded the street.
“Mommy, why are there so many people here?”
“Because everyone’s worried about Emily, honey.”
“So am I, Mommy. Where could she be? What do you think happened to her?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll help look for her. Will that make you feel better?” She glanced into the rearview mirror at her daughter.
Layla nodded.
“Good.”
In spite of the approaching darkness, camera crews’ lights brightened the neighborhood as if it was noon. They must have driven in from Columbus.
Maria studied the news crew from her vantage point, making sure no cameras pointed their way. She didn’t need to complicate their lives by appearing on national TV. Hand in hand, she and Layla walked through the Mosts’ backyard.
A man stepped out of the shadows. “Can I help you?”
Maria yelped.
Layla giggled.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you, ma’am. I’m trying to keep the media at bay. They’re trying to sneak in any way they can.”
“We came to help. My daughter is a school friend of Emily’s.” She pointed at Layla. “I own The Bouquet.”
“Oh, the new flower store.”
“That’s the one.”
“Nice place. My wife is always hinting about getting flowers. Guess I should stop in sometime.”
“Women love getting flowers. They didn’t find Emily yet?”
“No, and it’s crazy here. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He shook his head. “I’m standing guard. The TV people are swarming the area. A while ago, one was caught filming through a window. Can you believe that?”
Maria nodded. “I can.” The media frenzy after Raymond’s unmasking on the yacht was life-changing for her and Layla. “I know they have a job to do, but it’s not one I would want.”
“Amen to that.” He scanned the area. “Please wait here.” He disappeared inside the house.
“Why can’t we go in, Mommy?” Layla was impatient.
“Because he has to make sure we’re really their friends.”
The policeman came back and motioned them in.
Layla held her hand and led the way.
Maria’s courage almost failed her. It was important to be a good model for Layla, and it was time to stop being so afraid.
Mrs. Most’s hair was disheveled and her eyes were red, but she smiled when she saw Layla. “Hi, Jazzy.”
Layla hugged her. “Did you find Emily, yet?”
Tears leaked from her eyes, but Mrs. Most wiped them away. “Not yet, but everybody’s out looking for her. Hopefully, we’ll find her soon.”
“We went to our apartment and looked for her, but she wasn’t there.”
“Thanks for trying, sweetie.”
“I’m so sorry.” Maria said. “We came to help search for her. I’m…Jasmine’s mother, Veronica Minor.”
Mrs. Most nodded. “Thanks for coming. We’re so grateful for…” Her hand motioned towards the others. “For everyone who’s helping. It’s amazing. The local pizza shops are bringing food and drink in for the volunteers. Everyone is so…” She gulped back a sob. “I sure hope we find Emily soon. She doesn’t like the dark.”
“This is so horrible, but I’m sure they’ll find her soon.” She handed Mrs. Most a business card. “Here’s my phone number. You call me if you need anything. Really. I’ll help in any way I can. Do you need someone to babysit your other children?”
“No, they’re older. In fact, they’re out driving around looking for Emily right now. She’s…our baby.” The last words came out in a sob.
Mr. Most’s arm enclosed his wife, and she laid her head on his shoulder.
“I’m going out to the volunteer table and see what I can do.”
“Thanks so much,” Mr. Most said.
Layla had slipped away while Maria talked with the Mosts.
Outside, Layla stood in front of a group of cameras talking with a news reporter about Emily and asking viewers to look for her friend.
Panic hit Maria so hard she stumbled as she ran towards her.
Layla couldn’t be seen on TV.
Maria rushed ov
er and stood between her daughter and the camera.
The news woman glared at her. “Hey, we’re doing a broadcast here.”
She shielded Layla from the cameras. “Not anymore, you aren’t. You can’t film her without my permission and you cannot broadcast the segment, either. Turn the camera off.”
The newscaster made a slashing motion across her neck to the cameraman. “Too late. It was live.” The newscaster shrugged. “She’s the one who came up to me. She’s very worried about her little friend. I assumed she had permission.”
“Sure you did.”
“She’s adorable, by the way. People will stop as they’re walking past their TV, just to see what the cute little girl is doing on the news. When they hear she’s out looking for her missing friend, they’ll want to look for her, too. It could make all the difference.”
Maria wondered if she was sincere. She almost believed the newscaster cared.
But Layla being on TV could be very dangerous.
“Make sure the piece doesn’t run again or I’ll sue.” She stared at the woman with an unflinching gaze.
The news reporter blinked, her face red. “Sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“Come on, honey. Let’s go look for Emily.”
5
Conrad Travis stood in the shadow of the tree watching the ever-growing media circus. There were too many people and too little organization to be effective.
This was not the way to find Emily Most.
He’d been impressed when Veronica Minor and her daughter showed up a while ago. Remembering the haunted look in her eyes that morning as he bought flowers, his gut said there was a story behind the woman’s gaze.
He’d enjoyed the time they’d shared over coffee a week earlier. He hadn’t dated since the death of his wife two years ago, but Veronica’s smile made him think it might be time to get back in the swing of life.
Zink walked up and handed him a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza on a napkin. “I thought you might be hungry.”
“I’m not.” He took the pizza from her. “But I’ll eat it, and then I’m leaving. Nothing’s getting accomplished here.”
“Sure it is. Every politician within a fifty mile radius is getting their picture on the news.”
“And how exactly is that helping Emily?” He bit off a piece of pizza and chewed.
“Didn’t say it was. What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to the station to get a list of every sexual predator in this county and all the surrounding counties. Then, I’m going to go visit every one of them.”
“That could take all night.”
“Yep. It could.”
“Then, let’s get started.”
6
Guilt stabbed Maria.
Emily might not be missing right now if she’d walked her to the corner. It had been a mistake to dismiss her own feelings as paranoia.
The stranger across the street.
Layla seeing her dead father.
Emily missing.
Maria had decided the lurking man was her imagination. Layla seeing her father had been Layla’s imagination, but Emily going missing was nobody’s imagination. It was reality.
Could they somehow be connected? It didn’t seem plausible, but Raymond being a terrorist hadn’t been plausible, either. So she wasn’t exactly the best judge of character.
She and Layla had searched the section assigned to them. In each alley, they would get out of the car, looking behind dumpsters and trash cans, calling for Emily. Within hours, Layla was drooping and Maria had to reluctantly give up. She’d gone back to the volunteers’ table to let them know, and then left for home.
Now Layla was safely sleeping in her bed.
Maria’s mind raced, a jumble of questions that had no answers. Her heart broke for Emily’s parents. The terror, panic, and helplessness of having a child missing was not lost on her. Nothing could compare to the agony—except, of course, not finding them alive.
God had blessed her. Layla was still alive.
Repeatedly Maria mentally ran through the day, always ended up at the same moment. The moment when she and Layla were walking back into the flower shop. She’d caught a flash of movement in her peripheral vision, but when she’d turned the street was empty.
Was that the moment someone grabbed Emily?
Her heart told her it was.
She hadn’t mentioned the lurking man to the officers, since he wasn’t there when Layla and Emily came home from school. Maybe she—
The phone rang. Maybe, they’d found Emily. But phone calls this late always meant bad news.
She bit her lip, not wanting to answer it. She picked up the phone and looked at the screen.
The call was forwarded from the flower shop and not her personal number.
Her muscles relaxed. Probably a customer. A husband panicked because he’d forgotten his wife’s birthday or their anniversary. Or someone eloping and wanting a bouquet.
She always did what she could to help them out. Her success came from one satisfied customer at a time.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Maria.” The deep accented voice reached out from the grave.
The room spun as she fought to breathe. She wasn’t hallucinating. This was real.
“You must have the wrong number.” Her voice sounded steady, despite the chaos in her heart.
The caller laughed. “I don’t think so, Maria, but I’ll give you an A for effort.”
It was futile, but she continued the game. “Like I said, wrong number.” She hit the disconnect button and was already moving towards Layla’s room when the phone rang again. Her hand gripped the phone. This was crazy—impossible—and yet it was ringing.
She let it ring.
Her feet moved on their own accord to the kitchen. She pulled up a chair to the refrigerator and climbed atop it. Her hands fumbled until she found what she wanted. The gun safe.
The phone continued to ring.
Her hands shook as she hit the buttons on the electronic gun safe. Layla’s birthdate—her real birthdate. The light flashed green. Maria lifted the lid and stared.
The phone stopped. The house returned to a deadly silence.
Her ragged breathing was the only sound.
Maria closed her eyes for a moment, but then opened them. One thing she’d learn through dealing with Raymond—stay in the real world. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe. Her heart trembled more than her hands as she lifted the gun out of the box.
For Layla, Maria would and could do what she had to.
The phone rang once again. This time she answered.
“Hello.” She had to know if she and Layla needed to run again.
“Don’t hang up again, Maria. Or you will regret it. Understand?” Anger tinged his words.
She nodded as she walked back into the living room.
“I said, do you understand?”
“I understand.” Her voice was a whisper.
“Good. Don’t make me angry. You remember how I get when I’m angry, don’t you?”
“I remember.” Her eyes filled with tears. Only too well.
“Good. Let’s act like civilized people and talk this through.”
Except he wasn’t civilized.
“You know what I want, right?”
She didn’t think she could breathe, let alone answer. Her voice was a whisper. “No.”
A cruel chuckle. “Of course, you know. Don’t play games with me. Say her name, Maria. I want to hear you say it.”
Closing her eyes, she hoped she wouldn’t pass out. In spite of the dryness of her mouth, she managed to mutter her daughter’s name. “Layla.”
“See how easy that was. Now, you give me what I want and I’ll release Emily”
Her legs wouldn’t hold her up any longer. She stumbled back to the sofa. “Emily?” She’d known he was evil, but this was craziness. Why would he take Emily?
“That’s right. Layla’s little friend who’
s missing. You do know about that, don’t you? She’ll be released unharmed as long as you bring me what I want. My daughter. And then you can get on with your own little life.”
Trade Emily for Layla?
“I won’t have a life without Layla.”
“Not my problem.” He laughed.
She heard the familiar cruelty in it. This couldn’t be happening.
“And don’t even think about calling the authorities. As long as you do what I tell you, everybody gets to live. Layla, Emily, and you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Oh, I thought about killing you, believe me. But then your suffering would be over. I want you to live a long, long life…without Layla. That will be punishment enough for what you did to me, don’t you think?”
“I won’t do it.”
“Why not? It’s a win-win situation. Layla will have a wonderful life. A righteous life. A life of privilege. You will be doing her a favor to let her live the life she was born to live.” A pause. “And Emily will get to go home to her own family.”
“I won’t do it.”
“Of course, you will. You don’t want Emily to die, do you? Can you live with that? Charge up your phone. I’d hate for it to go dead, just when you need it the most. I’ll be in touch.” Another pause. “If you don’t answer I will kill the little girl. Make no mistake about that. I want Layla and I get what I want. You wouldn’t want me to hurt Emily, would you?”
The phone went quiet.
She stood there holding the phone in one hand and her gun in the other.
Raymond. It wasn’t possible. He was dead.
But her ex-husband was alive and ready for revenge.
She wouldn’t let him have Layla. But how could she save Emily?
If she thought going to him would keep Emily safe, she would consider it—to keep Emily alive. But she knew he would kill her and Emily, and then disappear forever with Layla. The man was a monster, a liar, and a terrorist. And according to the FBI−dead.
They’d lied, too.
No one could help her.
7
On shaky legs, Maria rushed to the window and peered into the darkness.
The monster was out there, watching and waiting, ready to steal Layla.
Maria’d been naïve before, but no longer. How could she take Layla away without Raymond catching them?
Her mind froze.
Panic bubbled. Her breathing turned ragged, and she was on the verge of a panic attack.
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