The clerk at the front counter gave her a cheery greeting, but Mara ignored her. She made a beeline for the pharmacy counter with her hat pulled forward and her eyes lowered. There wasn’t a line, so she took three breaths and approached the pharmacy associate at the counter.
“Picking up or dropping off?” the woman asked.
“Picking up for Johnathan Walker,” Mara said, without making eye contact and taking care to avoid looking at the security camera.
The woman walked away to check if the meds were ready. Mara did her best not to fidget or look suspicious.
The woman returned four minutes later and said, “The pharmacist is just finishing your order, but we were out of the Brivaracetam. They have it at the pharmacy on West Broad Street. Do you want me to have them fill it?”
Mara resisted the urge to grab her uniform and shake her. Every minute she spent at the counter increased her odds of getting caught, but she had to get Johnny’s meds. She pasted on a smile, and said, “That would be lovely, sweetheart,” in her best Virginia accent.
“Your other prescriptions will be done in ten minutes. We’ll announce when they’re ready if you’d like to wait.”
“Thank you, I’ll just browse while I wait.”
She strolled to an aisle near the back of the store where she wouldn’t be visible to the cameras. She squatted down and pretended to examine items on the bottom shelf while she reminded herself to breathe. After what seemed like an eternity, Mara heard them announce that the order for Walker was ready. She rushed back to the counter and paid with cash as quickly as she could. She forced herself to walk at a reasonable pace until she was outside, then she ran to the car.
She drove around the block a few times before pulling onto a side street to get her bearings. She looked up the address for the other pharmacy and punched it into the map app on her phone. The pharmacy was only five miles from their hotel. She had no choice but to risk it.
She lucked out to find the drive-through lane open and her order ready at the second pharmacy. She did her best to keep her head lowered and hide her shaking hands as she handed over the cash. She drove straight to the hotel without stopping for dinner. She’d have to hold up for a few hours before daring to venture out of the hotel. Johnny would just have to wait for his treat.
Grace was calmer after her nap but refused to let go of Johnny’s hoodie. She draped the sleeves over her shoulders and tied a knot over her heart. Ryan’s face softened as he watched Grace before following her into the living room.
Mark had been dozing on the sofa but swung his feet to the floor when he heard them. “Hey, Dad. You actually look human.”
“When did you get here? Why aren’t you at the restaurant?” Ryan asked as he gave Mark’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Got here hours ago. Needed a break from the restaurant. I’d rather be here with you.”
“Glad to have you. The nap helped, but I’ve got my days and nights reversed. Maybe I’ll try another one of Adam’s magic pills tonight to get back on track.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Grace said. “One of us needs to get sleep.”
“I’m jumping out of my skin. I need a way to be useful.”
“Know what you mean. Maybe Wes or Agent Shepherd can find something for us to do like he did for Steph,” Mark said.
“What’s Steph doing?” Ryan asked.
“Wes asked her to go look at photos from the raid. She’d shown him her portfolio yesterday and he was impressed. He wants to show her how forensic photography works. He thought she could get some experience observing on Johnny’s case, kind of like an internship.”
Ryan eyed him in confusion. “Who’s Wes?”
“Agent Reid,” Grace said. “I think his interest in Steph has to do with more than forensic photography. At least I hope so. He’s a good man, and she deserves some brightness in her life after Greydon and this nightmare.”
“Wes will have his work cut out for him. Steph declared at Thanksgiving that she’s done with men,” Mark said.
Before Grace could answer, her text alert beeped. She unlocked her phone and found a message saying that Johnny’s prescriptions were ready for pickup at a pharmacy on the opposite side of the city. She opened the pharmacy app and gasped.
“Ryan, get your shoes. We’re going to see Scott.”
Ryan ran to their room without questioning her.
“What’s going on?” Mark asked.
“Mara just made the mistake we’ve been waiting for.”
His eyes widened when she showed him the message. “And they’re still in Richmond.”
Grace dialed Scott’s number. It rang five times and went to voicemail. She tried Wes next and got the same result. While she was leaving a message, an alert from a different pharmacy popped up on her phone. We have you, Mara, she thought and did a fist pump on her way to the car.
Agent Shepherd met Grace and Ryan at the front desk. “The SAC asked me to give you his apologies for being unavailable when you called,” she said as she led them to the elevator. “Even though Johnny’s case is our top priority, Scott was needed on another case. Agent Reid and his team were in a strategy session, but they’re waiting for you in the conference room. May I see your phone?”
Grace handed it to her, wishing she’d walk faster. They’d lost enough time since she got the pharmacy text, but an encouraging sight awaited them in the conference room. Wes was geared up and just waiting for them to arrive to set his team into action. Agent Shepherd immediately handed Wes Grace’s phone. He thanked her and forwarded the pharmacy texts to his cell.
“On my way,” he said into his radio as he rushed out of the conference room.
Scott motioned for Grace and Ryan to sit and invited Agent Shepherd to join them.
“I was going to call you to come in and go over the forensic evidence we’ve gathered. Looks like what you brought is far better.” He flipped through sheets of paper stacked on the table in front of him. He removed one and held it out to Grace just as an agent tapped on the door.
“Sorry to interrupt, sir, but we have a lead on the Walker case,” she said.
“Come in,” Scott said. “Let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Walker. This is Special Agent Cameron. She’s the tech advisor on Reid’s team. What do you have?”
Agent Cameron glanced at Grace. “I’m truly sorry about your son, ma’am. If anyone can find him, it’s Agent Reid.” She handed Scott a paper. “This is from the canvas. A resident in the area saw a blue sedan speed off at the time we estimate our suspect would have vacated the house. We have a plate and description. The techs are checking security camera footage from the area to see if we can spot which direction our suspect fled the scene.”
Grace jumped up and faced Agent Cameron. “Mara was driving a blue sedan the day I saw her.”
“Excellent,” Scott said. “If we can place the car at the pharmacy, Mara’s done,” Scott said. “Keep me posted, Cameron.”
“Yes, sir,” she said and left.
Grace smiled at Ryan and squeezed his hand.
“Wes was hoping for a lucky break. The car is a solid lead, but I need to warn you not to get too excited yet. This could be unrelated to Mara,” Scott said.
“It had to be her.” Grace stood and tugged on Ryan’s hand to get him out of his chair. “We’ll let you get back to work. Please call the minute there’s news.”
Scott stood and shook their hands. “You have my word. Agent Shepherd will escort you out.”
The elevator stopped on the second floor on their way to the lobby. Steph was there waiting to get in when the doors slid open. Grace and Ryan updated her on what had happened.
“This is fantastic and explains why Wes stranded me in the lab without a word. I was glad one of the photographers was in the lab to show me how to get to the elevator,” Steph said.
Agent Shepherd stayed in the elevator when they reached the lobby. “I promise to keep you in the loop.”
“Thank you,�
� Grace said as the doors closed. “Do you need a ride?” she asked Steph as they walked to the parking lot.
“No, my car’s here. I’ll meet you at the house. I want to tell you what I learned today. It’s fascinating.”
Ryan kissed her cheek. “I’m anxious to hear, and we need a good distraction.” As Steph walked away, Ryan said, “If Wes continues to give her access, she can be our fly on the wall, and we won’t have to wait for the agents to call us.”
Grace climbed into the car, and said, “Scott perked up when Agent Cameron told him about the car. I don’t think they had much else to go on before we got here. The dominoes might be starting to fall for Mara.”
Ryan exited the parking lot and eased into evening traffic. “At least Mara refilled Johnny’s meds. That means she’s taking care of him.”
“But for how long? Caring for Johnny is a challenge in the best circumstances. How long before she gets tired of this game and abandons him like she did when he was a baby?”
“Johnny’s not an infant, and he’s a smart kid. He’ll find his way home. They’ll get Mara before it comes to that.”
“Maybe she’ll be in custody by the time we get home.”
Wes split his team between the two pharmacies and went to the one that sent the first text. His team searched the parking lot and drive-through for the blue, four-door sedan with the plate matching the description of the car fleeing Mara’s neighborhood. When he was sure the car wasn’t there, he left two agents outside and took the rest to search inside the pharmacy. Mara was gone, but Wes hoped they’d get vital information from the pharmacy staff.
He went to the counter and flashed his credentials to the tech. “We have information that prescriptions were filled and sold from this pharmacy for a patient named Johnathan Walker today. Is this correct?”
The tech stared at him for several seconds before saying, “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to share that information.”
Wes handed her a form. “Grace Walker, Johnathan’s mother, has given authorization for you to share the information.”
“Excuse me,” she said and walked to the pharmacist. She showed him the form. They whispered to each other before the tech returned with the pharmacist.
Wes again showed his credential. “We’re investigating a child abduction. We believe the kidnapper purchased refills for the victim at this pharmacy within the last two hours. We’d like to verify that information.”
The pharmacist went to the computer. “What’s the child’s date of birth?” Wes told him, and the tech stared at him wide-eyed while the pharmacist searched the records. “We filled those prescriptions thirty-five minutes ago. I’ll print a copy of the receipt, but the customer paid with cash.”
“Thank you, and we’ll need the security footage, too.”
“I’ll contact out security company. Do you have a card so they can contact you?”
Wes nodded and passed his card to the pharmacist. He turned to the tech and said, “Did you process the transaction?”
She glanced at the pharmacist, and he gave a slight nod. “What were the medications?” The pharmacist read them off to her. “Oh, yes. I remember that lady. She was kind of weird. She pretended she wasn’t mad that we didn’t have one of the medications, but I could tell she was. Another pharmacy filled that one. I can tell you where.”
Wes smiled to put her at ease. “We already know, but you’ve given very helpful information. Can you describe the woman to me?”
“She was wearing a crazy, pink neon hat. I could see her short blond hair sticking out beneath the rim. She had a lip ring, and a dolphin tattoo on the back of her hand.”
“Was she tall, short, heavy or thin?”
“Short to average, I’d say. Kind of thin. I’m sorry, I mostly remember the hat.”
By design, Wes thought, but he said, “Are you willing to give a description to our sketch artist?”
“Of course. My shift ends in twenty minutes.”
Wes gave her a card with the address to the field office. “Do you recall if she used one of your pens or touched the counter for a fingerprint?”
She shook her head. “If only I’d known who she was. She was right here, and I let her go.”
“Don’t blame yourself. We appreciate your willingness to help. Citizens like you are vital to our work.”
“I hope you catch her and rescue that boy,” she said as he and his team were leaving.
Wes radioed the other team. They’d missed Mara by ten minutes.
“She used the drive-through, so all we have is the security feed. The cashier couldn’t see Mara’s face clearly. She was wearing a wide-brimmed pink hat.”
“Same here. Get what you can and head back to the office,” Wes said.
He was quiet on the drive back. They’d missed Mara again, but this time they had witnesses and security video. Once they found that car, they’d be only one step away from capturing Mara.
12
Grace hung up her phone and went to find Ryan an hour after they got home. He was at his workbench in the garage fixing a broken drill.
Grace leaned against his car and crossed her arms. “That was Scott. Mara wasn’t at either pharmacy when Wes’ team got there, but they collected some good evidence. He wants me to scour through security footage in the morning. I told him I’d come in tonight, but he wants his techs to go through it first. Wes is following up on the car lead.”
Ryan put down his tools and looked at her. “How did Scott sound? Did he say anything else?”
“Not much, but he’s hopeful.”
“Good to know if that’s true. My gut says he’s not as hopeful as he lets on.” Ryan picked up a cloth and wiped the grease off his hands. “Have you eaten? I was just about to go get a plate.”
“Can’t remember the last time I ate. I’ll join you.”
Mark was eating at the table, and Steph and Alec were dishing their plates when Ryan and Grace walked into the kitchen. Grace’s stomach grumbled at the warm, delicious smells. She took it as a good sign that her appetite was returning. She dished a double portion of chicken casserole a neighbor had brought. The doorbell rang as she lifted her fork to take her first bite.
Steph started to get up, but Grace said, “It’s probably Brad or Paul. They both said they might stop by tonight.”
She hadn’t seen Paul for months, and as she walked to the door, memories of their first meeting flooded over her. He was a lawyer friend of Adam’s from their undergrad days. He had a law practice in the city and had come to her rescue more than once during the earlier ordeal with Johnny. She smiled as she remembered how he’d gotten Johnny to take a bottle for the first time after he came out of his coma when she and Alec couldn’t. He’d become far more than their lawyer and had remained a dear family friend. She was looking forward to his visit but wished it came under better circumstances.
She opened the door without looking through the peephole and found Craig Stuart on her doorstep. She started to slam the door, but he put out his hand in the way to stop her.
“Move your hand or you’ll be sorry,” Grace said and pushed harder on the door.
Craig gave a shove, and the door slipped from Grace’s hands. Craig pushed it open and held it in place with his foot.
“Please, let me in, Grace. I’m here to apologize and offer my help. I want to do what I can to find Johnny, and I want to up the reward.”
Grace eyed him while deciding whether to believe him. He looked sincere, but she’d fallen for his sincerity before only to have him turn on her. She deserved his apology, and the extra reward money might lead to tips about Johnny. She took the risk and stepped aside to let him pass.
She studied him as she followed him into the living room. His light brown hair was still thick and without a touch of gray. He looked slightly more fit and healthy than he had twelve years earlier, and Grace wondered if his third wife had anything to do with that. Grace thought how it wasn’t fair that men got better looking with age. He wa
s wearing a polo shirt, khaki pants, and loafers that probably cost more than she spent on clothes in a year. She pointed Stuart to the loveseat, but he remained standing.
“I’m deeply sorry for the things I said on the phone. You aren’t to blame for Johnny’s kidnapping any more than I was to blame when Mara and Rick took him when he was born. You’re a phenomenal mother. Insulting you the way I did in the middle of this terrible crisis was beyond cruel. I am sorry, and I hope you’ll forgive me and let me help.”
Grace relaxed her fists and blew out the air she was holding. “Sit down, Craig.” She worked to regain her composure while she watched him lower himself onto the loveseat. “You could have warned me you were coming.”
“True. I flew here on an impulse. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Johnny since I found out he was missing.”
“That I understand, and I owe you an apology for what I said on the phone too. I’ve never believed for one moment that Johnny’s kidnapping was your fault. It was a cruel and insensitive accusation.”
“That wasn’t necessary, but I appreciate it.” Before he could say more, Alec burst into the room. Craig sprang up and gave her a sarcastic smile. “Hello, Alec. Great to see you. It’s been a long time.”
Alec moved two inches from his face and stabbed a finger into his sternum. “How dare you show your face in this house after what you said to Grace? She doesn't need you meddling in this crisis. Please leave, now.”
Grace gripped Alec’s shoulder and inched her away from Craig. “Down, Alec. He already apologized. We’re good. He’s here to help.”
Without taking her eyes off Craig, she said, “Help? He can help by crawling back to Albuquerque.”
The Complete Arms of Grace Series Page 44