As she raised her gaze to meet Mitch’s she felt a stray tear slip out the corner of her eye and trickle down her cheek. “What’re we going to do?”
“Wait for the sheriff. Meanwhile, we’ll start another search. Harlan can take over when he gets here.”
“Ha! Don’t hold your breath. The dispatcher didn’t take me seriously when I called 911. Who knows how long it’ll be before anybody shows up?”
“I’ll take care of that.” Mitch gave her shoulders a parting squeeze, then took out his own cell phone and hit speed dial. “This is Andrews,” he said with authority as soon as his call was answered. “I’m at the scene of a crime and we need law enforcement out here ASAP. Got that?”
Astonished, Jill waited until he was through briefly explaining the situation and telling the other party where he was before she asked, “What did you just do?”
“Used my influence,” he said. “Fire and police share the same dispatch center. The sheriff is on his way.”
Her eyes misted. “Oh, thank you.”
Once again his arm slipped around her shoulder and he drew her close, including the obviously confused five-year-old in their shared embrace. “It’ll be okay. Tim is just out doing his own thing the way he always does. I’m sure he’s fine.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, soaking up the solace. Mitch was probably right. Tim was most likely nearby and simply acting the part of the protective big brother. But what about little Megan? Where was she?
Jill felt Mitch’s gentle grasp of her shoulder and thanked God that she wasn’t facing this current ordeal alone. She couldn’t think of anyone whose company she’d have appreciated more than that of this stalwart man. And there was no one whose judgment she trusted more than his. If he said Tim was okay, then he was.
Taking a shuddery breath, Jill looked at her comforter. “I’m really afraid for the baby,” she said softly, hoping Paul wouldn’t realize she was referring to his sister.
When she saw the muscles in Mitch’s jaw clench and felt his arm tighten around her shoulders she realized that she wasn’t the only one who was desperately concerned. Her best friend was worried sick, too.
And since she couldn’t turn back the clock and do anything differently, it was only a matter of time before everyone started to agree that this was all her fault. She certainly wouldn’t blame them. She thought so, too.
SEVEN
Not only did the sheriff and two deputies show up in response to Mitch’s call, Thad Pearson and Natalie Stevens had apparently gotten wind that there was a problem at Jill’s farm and had also arrived, although in separate vehicles.
Mitch quickly pointed them out to Harlan. “Uh-oh. Here comes trouble.”
“Just what we need,” the sheriff grumbled. “You stay out of this. I’ll handle it.”
“Only as long as they lay off Jill,” Mitch replied. “I’m not going to let either one of them berate her. She’s suffering enough already.”
“None of this is her fault any more than it’s yours,” Harlan insisted. He cursed under his breath. “Might as well blame myself at that rate.”
“None of us dreamed they’d come back and take the baby,” Mitch said soberly. “I was more worried about somebody sneaking around and setting off another bomb.”
The portly, older man rolled his eyes. “Don’t even suggest it. I’m still taking plenty of flack from Little Rock over the way we managed that crime scene at the airport. How were we supposed to know the whole thing wasn’t an accident? By the time we’d figured it all out, there was so much evidence trampled and lost that the lab didn’t have a lot left to work with.”
“It’s our job to put out fires and save lives,” Mitch said. “The fire department can’t worry about preserving clues, either.”
“Yeah. I know. Chief Longstreet isn’t any happier about the way things turned out than I am, but it’s too late to do anything about it.” He grimaced. “I sure hope we can lift fingerprints from that bedroom window or some place in the house.”
“I’m not holding my breath,” Mitch said dryly.
Nodding agreement, Harlan stepped forward to intercept the newest arrivals. Mitch decided to stay close enough to lend a hand, just in case.
Listening to the shouted conversation up ahead, he shook his head in disgust. The way Natalie and Thad were carrying on, Harlan’s biggest problem was probably going to be keeping them from killing each other on the spot.
Mitch hadn’t heard questionable language like that since his teenage years when his stepfather had still been alive—and most of it was coming from Natalie! Thank heavens the kids hadn’t been given to her to raise.
“I want those boys brought to me this instant,” she demanded, whirling to confront Harlan while pointing over his shoulder at Jill, who stood in the distance, still holding Paul. “If that woman isn’t capable of watching even one child, how can anyone expect her to take good care of three?”
Thad spoke up. “No way. Anybody but Natalie. I wouldn’t trust her to look after a psychotic pit bull with a chip on its shoulder. She’s the last person who should get custody of impressionable kids.”
Mitch didn’t like the single-minded look in Thad’s eyes or the unyielding persona he presented. If he’d had to choose which of the two to confront, Mitch would have picked Natalie in a heartbeat. Thad was clearly a far more formidable opponent in more ways than one.
Harlan held up his hands and shushed them. “Simmer down, folks. I have everything under control here. You can both go home.”
“In a pig’s eye,” Natalie screeched, lunging to try to bypass him.
Before Mitch could act, Thad had physically restrained her. His actions were so swift, so practiced, it gave Mitch a start. He’d heard about Thad Pearson being involved in several fistfights since his return from combat duty but seeing him in action was a real awakening. No wonder his local opponents hadn’t stood a chance. There wasn’t a good old boy in Fulton County who could match those moves.
Rather than object to the interference, the sheriff simply nodded at the ex-Marine. “Think you can convince the lady to leave quietly, son?”
“She’ll go.” Thad turned and frog-marched Natalie back to where they had both parked while she loudly berated him and everyone else within earshot. All he had to do was point to her car, however, and she got in.
Mitch breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at the sheriff. “If that guy wasn’t so rough around the edges he might make a fair deputy.”
“I know. I already talked to him about it. He turned me down flat. Said he intends to pick up where his brother left off and run Pearson Products.”
“Does he have legal rights to it?”
“Nope. That’s part of the problem between him and Natalie, I reckon. They aren’t willing to share. They both want full ownership.”
“What about the kids? Won’t they inherit?”
“If it was up to me, those kids would get it all. Trouble is, they’d still need somebody to manage the business for them. That means they might be stuck with their aunt and uncle for years, no matter what happens.”
Mitch shook his head and set his jaw. “The judge already appointed a special advocate to speak for them in court. Jill says the program is called CASA.”
“Right. And the sooner the estate is settled, the better, if you ask me.”
He paused to watch Natalie’s car drive away. Instead of following her, however, Thad returned. His gaze was narrowed beneath dark, furrowed brows.
Mitch saw Harlan casually shift to rest his palm on the butt of his revolver before he said, “I meant you, too, Thad.”
“I know. I’ll go in a minute. I just want to ask about Megan. Is she really missing like we’d heard?”
“For the moment. But we’ll find her. I’ve already put out an Amber Alert. Her picture’ll be all over the news tonight. And I’m fixin’ to call in extra men and maybe search and rescue dogs to help us if she doesn’t turn up soon.”
Mitch could te
ll that the other man was conflicted. Finally, Thad said, “Okay. We’ll do this your way for now, Sheriff. If you decide to use civilians, keep me in mind. I’m a pretty fair tracker. I’ll do anything I can to help find her.”
“Where can I reach you?”
“At the airport, 24/7. I’m trying to set up a temporary shipping system in one end of the factory. Most of the records were lost in the fire but I want to be back in business when new orders start to come in.”
The two men shook hands formally before Thad headed for his old pickup truck. Mitch waited until he’d driven off before commenting, “I know that guy’s reputation isn’t very good but he does seem to really care about his brother’s kids.”
“Yeah, he does.” Harlan blew a noisy sigh. “I sure hope that little girl turns up pretty soon. Tim, too. The longer they’re gone, the more chance we’ll never find ’em.”
To Mitch’s chagrin he heard a quick intake of breath coming from behind him. Jill had apparently approached unnoticed while he and the sheriff had been talking and had overheard plenty.
When she said, “I know,” with such heartrending emotion, Mitch stifled the urge to reach out and enfold her in a comforting embrace. It had been bad enough that he’d put his arm around her shoulders twice in the past hour. Giving her another hug would really confuse their relationship and maybe ruin their otherwise stable, long-standing friendship.
“We’ll find Megan,” he vowed, purposely stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets to squelch the temptation to reach for her anyway. “Tim will wander back on his own before long. He’s probably out looking for her just like we are. I know if my little brother Luke was missing that’s what I’d be doing.”
“I thought he was all grown up.”
“He is. I was just trying to make you feel better.”
“Well, it didn’t work. I don’t care what you say, this is all my fault,” Jill lamented. “That window was always such a bear to open that I didn’t bother locking it. To tell you the truth, I can’t remember the last time I tried. For all I know, it may have so many layers of old paint on it the latch mechanism doesn’t even line up. I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Then whoever did get it open has to be pretty strong, right?” Mitch asked, staring blankly into the distance.
“I suppose so.” She frowned. “You look like you’re a million miles away. What are you thinking?”
“I’m not sure. There’s something nagging in the back of my mind, something that flashed there for a second, then disappeared. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
“Was it something you and Harlan were talking about just now? Or your family? Did it have something to do with your brother?”
“Beats me.” Thoughtful, Mitch continued to scan the yard. Everything looked fairly normal except for the extra police cars. One of the deputies was poking through the bushes while another had apparently circled the house, probably to dust the window for prints. Good thing Mugsy wasn’t underfoot or he’d be driving them all crazy.
Mitch’s heart leapt. That was it! The little dog was probably still in the house but Salt and Pepper always made pests of themselves, especially when Jill was outside. So where had they disappeared to and when had they left? He couldn’t be positive but he didn’t recall their barking when the sheriff had arrived this last time. And they certainly hadn’t sounded off at Natalie or Thad.
“Dogs!” Mitch shouted. “That’s what I was trying to think of. The dogs. They’re not here.”
Wide-eyed, Jill pivoted. “You’re right. Maybe they’re following the deputies around.”
“And maybe they went with Timmy or they’re on the trail of whoever took the baby,” Mitch added excitedly.
Jill cupped a hand around the side of her mouth and took a deep breath, preparing to shout.
“Wait! Don’t call them back. Not yet. I want to be able to look in all directions before you do that. We need to see which way they’re coming from in case they are with the kids.”
“How?”
“Well, I could request the ladder truck from the fire station but it’ll be much faster if I just climb up on your roof.” He looked to the sheriff. “You coming?”
“Not unless Miz Jill wants a big hole punched in her attic. I’ll send Boyd with you. He’s plenty skinny.”
“Okay.” Mitch was already jogging toward the house. “Let’s go.”
Jill held her breath as she watched the hurried preparations. Getting onto the roof was a genius move even though it was a chancy one. The pitch was steep enough to shed snow and ice, meaning it wasn’t easy to navigate.
She saw Mitch step off the top of the ladder and begin to walk. His boots slipped repeatedly on the asphalt shingles. Jill had to bite her lower lip to keep from making frightened noises every time he faltered.
With the worst part of the climb still ahead, he dropped onto his hands and knees. By the time he reached the highest point and cautiously positioned himself at the peak, Jill was a nervous wreck. Nevertheless, she returned his wave when he finally gained the ridge.
Sitting astride it like a rider on a horse, Mitch faced east while Boyd mirrored him and looked west. They were both wearing baseball caps but Boyd still had to squint and shade his eyes because of the sinking sun.
Harlan had loaned Mitch a two-way radio. The minute he announced, “Ready,” the sheriff signaled to Jill. “Okay. Let ’er rip.”
She lifted the sheriff’s battery-powered megaphone and began to yell into it. “Salt! Pepper! C’mon, boys. Supper’s ready.”
At first, nothing happened. She could tell by the way Mitch was swiveling his head that he hadn’t yet seen any sign of the missing children or of her animals so she kept calling.
Suddenly, he waved, pointed and raised the radio to announce, “Over that way. One of the dogs is at the edge of the woods.”
“Just one?” Harlan replied.
“So far. No. Wait. There’s the other one.”
“How about the boy? Do you see him, too?”
“Negative. Just the dogs.”
“Okay. Get on down here while Boyd keeps watch. You and Jill can take her Jeep and cut across the fields. The dogs are used to that vehicle so they’re less likely to run off again when they see it.”
“Copy,” Mitch said. “On my way.”
Jill met him at the bottom of the ladder. She was empty-handed.
“What did you do with Paul?”
“I left him with Harlan’s other deputy, Adelaide, when I went inside and grabbed my jacket. She’s the one who pulled Natalie off you at the fire. Remember?”
“I thought you couldn’t leave him with anybody.”
“It’s legal when it’s a member of law enforcement and Paul seemed to take to her. I thought he’d get bounced around too much in the Jeep.” She started to run toward the old, red, four-wheel-drive vehicle. “Get in. I’m driving.”
When Mitch didn’t argue she was surprised and relieved. She knew every inch of her farm and was by far the wisest choice of driver; she just hadn’t expected him to relinquish control of the situation. Not now. Not that easily. And not when they were embarking on what she dearly hoped was a rescue mission.
The engine roared to life. Jill shifted into low gear and headed cross-country through the long, brittle, winter grasses and struggling saplings.
Her pastures were surrounded by a dense, hardwood forest with cedars encroaching at the edges where the sunlight was strongest. Once you got beneath the limb canopy, even in early spring before the trees had fully leafed out, the woods seemed much gloomier and more forbidding. If Tim had wandered in that direction he was probably frightened, especially now that the ranch dogs had deserted him and it would soon be dark.
“You never saw Timmy at all?” Jill asked, having to shout to be heard over the roar of the engine and the growl of the geared-down transmission.
“No.” Mitch raised the radio and triggered it. “Boyd. Can you still see the dogs?”
The crackl
y response was negative.
“How about the boy?”
“Nope.” There was a pause. “But you’re pointed at the right spot. Just keep going straight ’til you get to the stand of cedars.”
“Then what?” Jill yelled, darting a glance at Mitch to assess his mood and try to tell whether or not he was optimistic.
“Then we go on foot,” he replied. “I hope you’ve been praying, lady. We’re going to need all the help we can get, earthly and otherwise.”
Thinking back over the past few hours Jill could not remember one moment when she had not been praying, at least in her mind. The farm harbored many places where a boy—or a kidnapper—might hide, and there was undeveloped hunting land abutting three sides of her property, as well.
Mitch pointed through the flat, narrow windshield. “There! See? Isn’t that one of the dogs?”
“Yes!” The Jeep shot ahead, bumping wildly over the rutted ground.
A sagging barbed wire fence across their path finally stopped them. Mitch was out of the Jeep and running before Jill had time to shut off the engine and set the brake.
“This way. Looks like the whiter dog is trying to lead us in,” he called over his shoulder. “Come on. Move it!”
Jill followed, paying no heed when her clothing caught and tore on the prickly, rusted metal fencing. “Please, please, Lord, help us find the children.”
She knew her prayer wasn’t polished and religious-sounding the way the ones in church were but she also knew that God didn’t care how flowery a plea was as long as it came from the heart.
Hers certainly qualified. All she could hope was that it would be answered before something terrible happened to those innocent children.
Mitch plunged ahead, beating his way through the tangled undergrowth while Jill struggled to simply keep him in sight. She could have called for him to slow his pace but instead she ordered, “Go ahead. I know my way,” when he paused and glanced back at her.
“You sure?” Mitch shouted.
“Yes. Go.” She gestured with her whole arm for emphasis. “Go! Find those kids. I’ll be fine. I’m right behind you.”
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