by Connie Queen
“We’re going to get the kids back.” Luke hoped his voice was more confident than he felt. He was anxious to get on the road to find Zoe and Braden, but since they didn’t have any leads, except for the green van, and didn’t know what direction the kidnappers were headed, they were better off trying to learn who might’ve abducted them.
“I agree. The more time that goes by, well, you know.”
Luke understood. The first twenty-four hours were the most critical. He attached a note to Dean Ferguson explaining the need to check the serial numbers. He’d no more hit Send than Jax plowed through the door.
“We got a lead. The green van belongs to an Abraham Fisher. A thirty-two-year-old male with a rap sheet a mile long for petty crimes, which includes domestic violence and theft dating back the last twelve years.”
“Good. At least that vehicle wasn’t stolen like the guy’s from the zoo.”
“Yeah. And on one of Fisher’s theft charges, he partnered with a buddy named Michael Malone, alias Barry Goodlow.”
“Barry.” Kylie snapped her fingers. “That’s it.”
Both he and Jax looked at Kylie. Luke asked, “You know him?”
She nodded. “Wait.” She hurried to Megan’s old room and retrieved her iPad. She returned to the kitchen with her tablet open and hit buttons faster than Luke could type. “Barry. That’s why I couldn’t find him. When he was arrested yesterday after chasing us from Tommy’s, I kept thinking his name was Jerry and that threw me off. I have his file. Okay.” She continued to scroll. “Here.”
Luke stared at the man on Kylie’s screen. His stomach clenched. “I remember him now. That’s a friend of Tommy’s. Big guy. They used to play golf together and occasionally poker. Not certain Megan knew about the poker.”
“According to his bank documents, Barry Goodlow’s gone through a lot of money in the last twelve months, much more than his thirty-thousand-a-year job.” Kylie asked, “What’s his address?”
Jax glanced at the notepad in his hand. “Opossum Road. That’s on the northeast side of Rocky Creek. According to the map, looks like there’s not many houses. Might be a great place to hide with a couple of kids. And the other guy...” He scanned the paper. “Abraham Fisher’s last address is on Lover’s Leap Lane in Meadow Brook.”
“Hold on.” Luke opened the map app on his phone. “That’s clear on the other side of the county, close to the river. Either address would make a good holding place for the twins.”
“I agree,” Jax said, his gaze going between the two of them. “What am I missing? Why does your nanny have his file on her iPad?” He pointed at Kylie. “I know you.”
Luke glanced at her and a sort of understanding passed between them before he said, “Jax, meet Melody Garner, ex-US Marshal.”
The Ranger stared. “The marshal who protected the witnesses in Alcott’s trail.”
“I wouldn’t call allowing the family to be blown up protecting them,” Kylie added with a little snark. “But yes, I was in charge of their safety.”
Keeping her identity secret paled in comparison to getting the twins back. Luke trusted Jax to be professional, so she’d have to trust him, too.
Jax sent him that look. The one that said he believed Luke was getting in over his head. “I’ll check out Goodlow’s place if you and Kylie want to go to Fisher’s.”
“Every suspect needs to checked at this point.” Luke returned his cell phone to his belt clip.
“I’ll call Lieutenant Adcock to let him know our plans.” Jax headed for the front door. “If you find the kids, call for backup before you make a move.”
“You, too.” Luke nodded his head after Jax. “Let’s go see if Fisher’s van is at his house.”
“Do I have time to put on dry clothes first?” She held out her grungy shirt.
“Hurry.”
Luke went into his room and threw on a pair of clean jeans and a shirt. He didn’t have another pair of boots, but he did put on a dry pair of socks.
As he walked into the kitchen, he retrieved the money from the table and saw Kylie come out barefoot, carrying a pair of shoes, socks and hairbrush in one hand, and her iPad in the other. “You ready?”
She looked up and laughed. “How did you change so fast? You look like a Texas Ranger again.”
“I can’t stand wet jeans.”
“Me, neither.” They hurried out to his truck and climbed in. He set the case in the back seat.
She put on her shoes and socks while he pulled out of the drive. “I pray Zoe and Braden are there. I can’t imagine how scared they must be. You think the twins are still in the area?”
“We’ll know in the next hour.”
At the intersection, he went straight on the highway that skirted the town of Rocky Creek.
Kylie’s fingers flew across the iPad’s keyboard. “Hmm.” She continued typing for the next couple of minutes. “I can’t find anything in my files on Fisher. Do you know him?”
“No. I can’t remember his name being on our suspect list, either. But I assure you, if there’s anything to find, Ferguson will find it.” Luke turned into a convenience store.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting you a phone.” He pulled into a parking space. “I don’t like not being able to get ahold of you if we get separated.”
“I almost forgot about my cell being ruined.” Kylie followed him into the store and helped pick out a cheap phone. When they returned to the truck, Kylie said, “I’m sorry about not confiding my true identity to you. I would never compromise the twins’ safety.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He’d tried to shove her betrayal to the back of his mind as soon as he realized Zoe and Braden had been abducted. But her deception kept returning to his thoughts. How could she have lied to him? What was wrong with people? Could no one in the world be trusted anymore? It shouldn’t have made him so angry, but it did. He tried to tamp down the anger, but it wasn’t working. He had mistakenly thought she was different. Sweet.
He was wrong.
Given that he was a Texas Ranger, Kylie should’ve trusted him with the truth, just like his parents should’ve believed he would think no less of Sam if they’d been honest. Would Kylie have opened up to him if he hadn’t come right out and asked if she was in law enforcement? Would his parents have told him Sam wasn’t his biological dad if he hadn’t found the old birth certificate?
But even as he wanted to punch the wall, Kylie had been a lifesaver with the twins. He hated to admit he enjoyed her company, too. Easy to talk to. Smart. Beyond cute. And with the skills she’d shown at the quarry, she made a good law officer.
Without trust, though, you had nothing.
“You okay?”
The soft sound of Kylie’s voice broke through his thoughts like a freight train on a silent night. “Yep. Just worried about the kids.”
“Me, too.”
His cell phone dinged. He retrieved it from his phone clip, hoping to hear the police had found the minivan. His chest tightened when he read the message.
Want the kids alive? Bring money by 5:30. 564 Paradise Lane. Nanny comes alone. No police.
Luke slammed on the brakes and pulled onto the shoulder of the road.
* * *
“What does it say?” Kylie grabbed the phone from Luke before he had time to respond and read the message herself. Her heart raced uncontrollably at the possibility they might get the kids back. A ransom note was better than a cold trail. “We don’t have much time. I’m ready. I want Zoe and Braden safe back home now.”
The phone dinged again, and she glanced down. A picture of Zoe and Braden sitting on a dirty green couch appeared. Both kids were crying. Kylie was going to be sick. She had to get the twins back. She couldn’t lose these kids to a killer. Not again.
“It’s four-thirty. Paradise Lane is fifty mi
nutes from here. That doesn’t give us much time.” Luke’s fist tightened into a ball. “You’re not going in alone. That’s a secluded area. Going alone is not an option.”
She turned on him. “You know I’m capable.”
“We don’t know how many men are protecting them. This isn’t a simple ransom and you know it, Kylie.”
She glanced at the time on his phone. “I need to go.”
“I already told you, I’m not letting you go by yourself. When we get close, I’ll get out and let you drive in, but I will be right behind you.” He grabbed the case from the back seat and put it in the floorboard.
Kylie stared at the money, her thoughts running through possible scenarios of what they’d find. As a Deputy US Marshal for six years, her duties had been with the WITSEC program. She’d never been involved in a kidnapping case, since the FBI handled most of those investigations.
Luke whipped out and headed down the paved road. “I know you were in law enforcement, but I want you to do as I say.”
“Seriously? You don’t trust me?”
“It’s not that, Kylie. You’re no longer under your supervisor. I have a boss to answer to. I want Megan’s kids back safely just as much as you. You don’t have to prove yourself.”
She started to mouth off but stopped herself. He read her well. “I would never do anything to put these kids in jeopardy to prove my value as an officer.”
He glanced her way as he came to an intersection. He pulled onto the highway. “You don’t have to redeem yourself to me. You’re good. Someone in the US Marshals must have leaked your location.”
As much as she hated to admit it, the Ranger’s compliment meant more to her than it should’ve. Losing her witness had done colossal damage to her confidence. The truth was she didn’t know how she’d survive if she lost these kids. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Can I trust you?”
She turned at his abrupt words. Luke pierced her with dark eyes, searching for some answer from her. Her mouth went dry, and she licked her lips. “You can trust me.”
He blinked, still staring at her. After what seemed liked forever, he turned his attention back to the road.
No comment. She guessed that meant he still didn’t believe her.
Luke’s cell phone rang, and he answered on speaker. “Yeah.”
“I gave our supervisor an update.” Jax’s voice played in the cab. “You’re not going to like this, but Goodlow made bail late yesterday. Lieutenant Adcock is sending Randolph over from Paris to assist.”
“Great. We don’t have time to wait for Randolph’s arrival. The plans have changed.” Luke gripped the steering wheel tighter as he explained about the text demanding she bring the money to the kidnappers by 5:30.
“That doesn’t give us much time, and I’m on the other side of the county. I’ll be there as soon as possible. Lieutenant Adcock will understand. I’ll inform him of the changes, and he’ll want plenty of backup.” Jax paused. “If possible, you may need to stall.”
Did Jax tell his lieutenant her true identity? Kylie glanced at Luke and he seemed to understand.
“Did you tell him about Kylie?”
“No. We didn’t have much time, but I told him about the money you found at the quarry. The lieutenant agrees since Megan was killed at that location the money must be connected. Dean Ferguson is checking on leads on Tommy. Something isn’t adding up. I suppose you didn’t find traces of your brother-in-law at the quarry.”
“If you mean like finding his body, no, we didn’t,” Luke answered.
Kylie leaned forward. “Thanks for not telling him about me,” she said to Jax.
“It will have to come out, Kylie. If Alcott truly is behind all these attacks, we need to dig deeper and will make Lieutenant Adcock abreast of everything. We don’t keep secrets.”
Like an arrow to the heart, Jax made his point clear. No secrets.
Luke must’ve noticed the tension and squeezed her hand. The temporary touch did its job of letting her know he had her back.
Lightning flashed in the distance as huge thunderheads rolled up above.
Kylie shook the chill from her body. For the next few minutes, she listened to the two Rangers iron out plans of exchanging the money for the twins with the limited information available. They had no idea what danger they would face, or how many thugs would be present. They also hadn’t received any updates on the twins’ condition.
A vision of the Coffey family lying in the debris of the safe house impaled itself in Kylie’s mind.
One thing she knew—Zoe and Braden would be going home tonight. Even if it killed her.
ELEVEN
Streaks of lightning lit up the sky and dark clouds drowned out the sun as Luke turned off the highway onto a gravel road. A low rumble of thunder vibrated the truck. He checked the time on his radio. Twelve minutes after five. They had eighteen minutes to spare.
“I hate storms.” Kylie glanced out her window.
Luke raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t look at me like that. I grew up near Wichita Falls. Tornadoes weren’t uncommon, and my dad always made sure we went to the storm cellar. Did your family take storms seriously?”
“When I was little, around four or five, they had a cellar. But after my parents moved to the farm, they never put in a storm shelter. Our family plan consisted of hiding in my parents’ Jacuzzi tub and putting a mattress over us in case of a tornado. Luckily, we never had to test that theory.”
They eased down the small path surrounded by woods. The trees provided a canopy that blocked out the remaining light. Luke kept a close eye on their surroundings to make sure no one was staked out on watch. He didn’t know how many people, if any, were watching.
A rooftop came into view and Luke pulled as much to the side as possible. “Okay. Remember, go in slowly to give me time to get in position. I’ll have you covered at all times.”
Kylie gave him a look. “I’m a US Marshal.”
“Ex-US Marshal.” The sky lit up again.
Boom!
She jumped, and her hand went to her chest. “That one was close. And yes, I’m an ex-US Marshal.” She removed her Glock from her ankle holster and checked the clip. Returning the weapon to its holder, she patted her back pocket. “The text referred to me as the nanny, so there’s still a chance they don’t know who I am.”
“Let’s pray you’re right.” Luke climbed out of the truck and waited for her to run around and slide in. “Be careful, Kylie.”
“Would you be questioning my ability if I was a Texas Ranger? Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m a woman.”
“That’s not it. I can tell you react fast and use your head. You’re a good law officer, doesn’t matter the agency or your gender.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
He had an intense desire to protect her, that’s what. Not only because he had the heart of a protector, but Kylie was also growing on him. No way would he admit that aloud. He took too much time to come up with an answer.
She leaned forward and stared above the trees. “Never mind. I’m used to the doubt. Is that an RV?” She pointed at the structure hidden in the trees.
Luke shook his head. “It’s an old trailer house. I remember this place. We had a family get-together here several years ago, but the trailer was in better condition then. Remember,” he said to Kylie, “stay outside until I tell you it’s safe.”
“Okay.” She looked up at the sky. “I wonder if it would be safer to wait until the storm is over.”
Dark heavy clouds swirled above them. A streak of light flashed and splintered into several directions, followed by a loud crack. “Negative. The storm may distract the kidnappers from our approach.”
“The kids are bound to be scared.”
Especially Zoe. Even Braden would be petrified with strangers.
His heart ached at the thought. Luke handed Kylie the case with the money. She wrapped her arms protectively around it and then fidgeted with her Bluetooth.
“Is it working?” Luke asked.
She nodded. “I can hear you clearly.”
The sky opened up and rain splattered the ground and the truck.
Luke laid his hand on her shoulder and talked in her ear over the sound of the pounding rain. “If at any time you think something’s not right, retreat to the truck. It’s possible the twins aren’t even here.”
“I know.” Water ran down her face.
Luke gave her shoulder one more squeeze, fighting the temptation to tell her to stay in the truck. But he couldn’t take the chance of the twins being hurt. “Give me a few seconds head start. And then go.”
He took a step to leave, then turned back around. Against his better judgment, he cupped his hands under her chin and lifted gently, his gaze colliding with hers. Confusion swirled in her eyes before he planted a kiss on her forehead. “My problem is I care, Kylie.”
Darting toward the trees, he didn’t give her time to respond to his gesture. He kept a visual on the drive and the house. Rain pinged him as he dashed along the row of pecan trees. The smell of wet grass and dirt assaulted him. After thirty yards, he neared the house completely soaked. A green minivan sat in front.
Luke stopped and took in his surroundings to make sure no one was hiding in the nearby trees. The rain came down in sheets, making it difficult to see. Piles of junk and an old car were to the side of the trailer. If it wasn’t for the van outside, the house would appear abandoned. “No suspect in view.”
“Ten-four.”
He skirted the front yard to the side of the van. No noise. No dog. Nothing. The ground became saturated, making tiny rivers flow down the drive.
Except for a small glow in one of the windows, no other lights were on. A wheelbarrow piled with beer cans and a rusty fifty-five-gallon barrel used to burn trash were the only things between him and the dilapidated back porch. Not exactly much protection should someone open fire. Gun ready, he sprinted across the open yard just as loud pings hit the ground.