by Donna Grant
John let out a string of curses. “You need to be careful. These people are dangerous.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“And I thought I was in this too deep. I know you want answers to what happened to your sister. I know you want to help all those who have lost children. And I know you want to return babies to their parents. But you can’t go up against someone like Family First on your own.”
“Why not? Someone has to. I’m tired of going after the crumbs. I’ve got my sights set on the entire cake.”
Chapter 3
It was a good day. Cooper stood against the counter in the kitchen, a bottle of beer clasped in his hand as he watched Brice and Naomi with their new son. After all the heartache they had been through learning that they couldn’t conceive, they had found another way to have a family.
And Cooper couldn’t think of a more deserving couple.
“Ever think you’ll have one of those?” Jace asked, jerking his chin to the infant.
Cooper shrugged, twisting his lips. “Kinda hard to do when I’m single.”
“Pfft. Single people do it all the time.”
Cooper glanced at him with a frown. “I saw firsthand how hard it was for my mom being a single parent. And that’s when I was older. I can’t imagine doing it with a baby.”
“That was stupid. I shouldn’t have said that.” Jace’s gaze dropped to the floor before he took a long swig of beer.
Cooper studied his friend. “I know you didn’t mean anything by it. I just have some pretty harsh views on the subject. What about you? You want kids?”
“I do.”
“You’ve never told me that.”
“It’s not something guys talk about with each other,” Jace said with a shrug.
Cooper took a drink of beer and let what Jace had told him sink in. Then he said, “I can see you with kids. You’d make a good dad. But only because you’re just a big kid yourself.”
Jace laughed and then covered his mouth, nearly spitting out his beer. He swallowed then punched Cooper in the arm. “I can’t even say anything because it’s true.”
“So true,” Cooper replied with a smile.
Caleb walked up then, grinning. “I’m not even going to ask why Jace nearly choked just now.”
“It’s nothing, really,” Cooper said, still grinning as he glanced at Jace. “I just said he’d make a great dad since he’s a big kid himself.”
Caleb licked his lips to try and hold back his grin. “I already feel sorry for the woman. She’ll think she has just one kid to take care of, but she’ll actually have two.”
“Hey, now,” Jace said, acting insulted, but his grin ruined it. “I can’t help who I am.”
The three laughed, then grew silent when the baby began to cry. Brice took the infant from his sister, Abby, and rocked him until the baby went back to sleep.
“He’s a natural,” Caleb said.
Cooper nodded. “When are you and Audrey going to have little ones running around?”
“In a few years. We’re not in any hurry,” Caleb answered.
Jace finished his beer and quietly set the empty bottle on the counter. “I’m glad this turned out well for Brice and Naomi.”
That made Cooper frown. “Why wouldn’t it?”
Jace rolled his eyes. “You really need to read the news.”
“Why? Not only is it damn depressing, but how can you believe any of what’s said? It’s all about who is reporting it. Same with history. It’s written by the conquerors.”
“Save me,” Caleb said with a dramatic sigh. “I can’t hear this argument for the millionth time.”
Jace nodded excitedly. “Exactly. Look, even Caleb agrees with me.”
“Hold up,” Caleb said and held up his hand. “I never said I agreed with either of you. I simply said I didn’t want to hear the argument. But, for clarity’s sake, I don’t listen to the news either.” He then turned to Cooper. “However, I do get breaking news alerts on my phone. You might want to at least do that.”
Cooper scratched behind his ear. “Fine. I’ll bite. Why should I be listening to breaking news?”
“You kill me. You really do,” Jace said as he squeezed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He then sighed dramatically and dropped his hand. “There’s been a rash of murders in several states involving pregnant women. The women are killed. The babies taken.”
Cooper was taken aback. “Who would do such a disgusting thing when there are plenty of women giving up children for adoption?”
Caleb turned and looked at his brother and sister-in-law. “You want to know why people would kill a pregnant woman for her child? All you need to do is look at Brice and Naomi.”
“No,” Cooper said, not buying it. “There has to be something else going on. Like I said, many women give up their children for adoption. That’s how Brice and Naomi got little Nate.”
Jace shot him a perturbed look. “And how many people aren’t accepted by the adoption agencies? How many can’t afford it?”
“So, you think there’re people out there stalking pregnant women, killing them, and hoping nothing is wrong with the infant so they can sell it to someone looking for a baby of their own?” Cooper asked.
Caleb nodded, his brows raised.
Cooper set his beer on the counter and gaped at his friends. “Have both of you lost your minds? No one can just pop up with a kid nowadays. There are social security numbers, fingerprinting, and too many other things that identify someone.”
“You seriously need to watch some crime TV, because you have no idea the lengths that some will go to,” Jace said. “As for everything you mentioned, if someone has the means, anything can be done.”
“Right,” Cooper said. “Money. Something you say these people with money don’t have to do is go through a regular adoption agency.”
Caleb held up a hand, halting them. Then he looked at Cooper. “Do you know what Nate’s adoption cost? It was over sixty thousand dollars.”
“Okay.” Cooper nodded, his mind working. “I was thinking around that amount.”
Jace gave him a pointed look. “How many people do you think have that kind of cash lying around? Some save their entire lives for retirement and never even get close to that amount. And, usually, it’s young couples who want kids.”
Cooper held up his hands. “Okay. Okay. I get the point.” He bit his lip, still thinking about the murders. “If someone is taking those infants from their mothers’ wombs, wouldn’t they charge more than an adoption agency? Not less? After all, they’re expending a lot more effort.”
“Audrey and I talked about that last night after watching the news,” Caleb said. He looked at his wife and shook his head. “I tend to agree with Cooper. These people have to be charging more. It means they have a certain clientele.”
Jace squeezed his eyes closed. “Fuck me. You’re talking outside the US.”
“Yep,” Caleb said as he looked at his friends. “How many infants outside of America have been adopted by residents here? It’s a lot. Because those adoptions are typically a little cheaper.”
Cooper felt sick to his stomach. “And if you find someone who doesn’t do things by the book, then it could be even cheaper. Damn. I didn’t even think about that.”
Caleb shrugged. “But there’s an argument that these killers are taking the babies and selling them cheaper right here in the States. Either way, it’s making headlines.”
“I don’t need to ask if the adoption agency Brice and Naomi used was reputable,” Cooper said.
Jace snorted and nodded his head toward Clayton and Abby, who were gazing adoringly at the baby while their three children seemed more interested in eating cake than seeing their new cousin. “I’ve no doubt that Clayton had the company investigated. We all know how protective he is of the family.”
Caleb smiled before he lifted the beer bottle to his lips and drank. He lowered it and said, “Actually, he didn’t. At least, not t
hat I know of. I’m pretty sure Abby told him that Brice and Naomi could do it on their own.”
“Good for them,” Jace said.
Caleb elbowed Cooper and shot a covert look toward Jace when he turned his head. Cooper shrugged, letting Caleb know that Jace had said nothing about his date the previous night.
“So,” Caleb said, getting Jace’s attention, “how was the date? I hear you took her to the steakhouse.”
Jace blew out a breath and looked at the ceiling. “I knew I shouldn’t have told y’all I was going on a date.”
“Actually, you told us you signed up for online dating,” Cooper said with a wide grin.
Jace pointed at first one then the other. “Y’all are assholes. You know that?”
“Come on, Jace,” Caleb called with a laugh as Jace turned to walk away. “We’re just joking.”
Jace halted and pivoted to return to them. He looked at Caleb but shifted his attention to Cooper. “I can’t say anything to Caleb ’cause he’s already got Audrey, but I can, and will, with you.”
“Say what?” Cooper asked with a shrug. “I can take whatever you want to throw at me.”
“Is that right?” Jace asked, a sly smile pulling at his lips.
Caleb groaned with a roll of his eyes. “Aw, shit. Why’d you have to go and say that, Coop?”
Cooper was asking himself that same question. And by the look on Jace’s face, he was in for it.
“This is going to be great.” Jace rubbed his hands together. “Tell me, Coop, when’s the last time you were on a date?”
“I don’t know,” he replied hesitantly.
Jace’s face lit up. “I do. It’s been over six months. You know, Danny and Skylar’s wedding is coming up. You said you’d have a date for that.”
“I will,” Cooper stated. If nothing else, he’d bring his mom.
Caleb dashed that when he said, “Betty doesn’t count. It has to actually be a date. And Jace is right. I remember this bet. Both of you agreed to have a date.”
“Hey, I’m trying,” Jace said and threw up his hands.
Cooper winced as he remembered that night while playing cards. He’d won a lot and had entirely too much bourbon. He wasn’t sure, however, about everything that’d happened after they stopped playing poker. “Dammit.”
“Ryan recorded it just in case,” Caleb announced.
Cooper was really stuck if the police chief, Ryan Wells, had recorded the vow. He looked between his two friends and shrugged. “Looks like I’ve got to start searching for a date.”
“Did someone say date?” Audrey said as she walked up and put her arm around Caleb. “Because I hear there’s a new woman in town. From what everyone is saying, she’s a looker. You can’t miss her. She’s got curly, auburn hair.”
Jace cut his eyes to Cooper. “I caught a glimpse of her the other day at the gas station. She’s a looker for sure.”
Cooper tried not to appear interested but damned if he wasn’t. Because he definitely had a thing for redheads.
Chapter 4
Marlee straightened from leaning over the sink in her motel room and looked at herself in the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes spoke of yet another night with only a few hours of sleep. She braced her hands on either side of the sink and let out a long breath.
She craved to be able to shut her eyes and not see her dead sister. It got worse when she finally did go to sleep and had the same nightmare—looking for her niece, only to hear a baby crying. Each time, she followed the sound, but never got close. It was the same dream, night after night, and only stopped if she drank enough or took a sleeping pill.
Even though Marlee knew her niece would be ten now, she still heard a baby in her dreams. It was unsettling, but more than that, it was a reminder that no matter how hard she looked, no matter what she did or the contacts she made, she had yet to find her sister’s baby.
And she likely never would.
That had been the hardest thing to accept. Though, in all honesty, she hadn’t truly accepted it because she still looked for her niece. No doubt she would continue to do so until the day Marlee breathed her last.
Her phone buzzed, drawing her attention. Marlee looked over her shoulder to see the reminder to call her parents. She ignored it and turned on the faucet to toss more cold water on her face in an effort to get rid of the dark circles and bags beneath her eyes. When she couldn’t stand the cold anymore, she stripped out of her tank top and panties and jumped into the shower.
She took her time lathering her hair and body. Her shower was really the only time in her day that she took for herself. She stood beneath the spray much longer than necessary, but the hot water did wonders to ease the tension in her shoulders. It reminded her that she needed to get a massage before the knots got any worse.
With her shower finished, she turned off the water and toweled off. She wrapped her hair in the terrycloth and walked naked out of the room to her suitcase, where she found clean clothes and got dressed. Only then did she let her hair down and face the mirror.
“Ugh,” she said to herself as the dark circles appeared even more prominent.
In the past, she would’ve pulled out a huge cosmetic bag and quickly gotten to work disguising them. But she hadn’t worn makeup in over four years. She still had it, but she only used it on rare occasions. And bringing it on her work trips? Yeah, that took up room in her luggage that was better used for equipment.
She did, however, still have enough vanity to use some products in her hair. Otherwise, the curls got out of control. She opted to let it dry naturally and used that time to check her emails. Really what she was doing was putting off calling her parents. But, eventually, that task could no longer be ignored. She didn’t hesitate because they were horrible people. Quite the opposite, actually. They supported her fully in whatever she did. The fact that she wasn’t home more often left her feeling guilty.
Marlee steeled herself and picked up the phone. As usual, her mother picked up on the second ring. “Hey, M—” Marlee started, only to realize it wasn’t her mother’s voice. It was Pam, the nurse she’d hired to live with her parents.
“Marlee?”
Fear zinged through her, causing her heart to pound. “Yes?”
“I called you several times yesterday, but I couldn’t leave a voicemail because it’s full again.”
Marlee squeezed her eyes closed. Shit. She really needed to go through and delete those. She’d been so intent on her quarry she hadn’t even noticed the calls. That wasn’t fair to her parents or to Pam. “I’ll get that taken care of today. And I’m really sorry for not realizing you called. What happened?”
“When I listened to your mom’s lungs yesterday, I heard some crackling. It was enough to cause concern. It took a little doing, but I convinced her to go to the doctor and get checked out.”
Getting Marlee’s mother away from her father literally took an act of God. She was impressed that Pam had managed it. Marlee opened her eyes. “That’s good. Did the doctor find anything?”
“She has pneumonia. You know Diane. She’s not happy to be in the hospital, but she’s getting excellent care. In fact, she should be home in a few days.”
“Again? She just had pneumonia a month ago.”
“It happens,” Pam said in a gentle voice. “Especially in the elderly. It’s why I make sure and check every day.”
“Do I need to come home?”
“We’re fine. Your dad is watching one of his old westerns. He understands that your mom isn’t well, and that’s why she’s not here at the moment. I’ve got it under control.”
She’d never forget the night she’d told her parents about Macey’s death. Her father had suffered a stroke just moments later, and he hadn’t been the same since. He couldn’t talk, and he was paralyzed in his left arm. Since her parents were getting on in age, and her work took her all over the country, Marlee had hired a nurse to be with them. Pam was the best thing that had ever happened to the Frampton
s. They both adored her and did everything she asked of them—the exact opposite of what they did for Marlee.
“How do you do it?” Marlee asked. It wasn’t the first time she’d posed the question, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last. “These aren’t your parents. I just—”
“We’ve had this discussion before,” Pam said, a smile in her voice. “This was my calling. I love it, as odd as that sounds to some. You have your purpose, and it’s one that does a lot of good. If I can help make your life, as well as your parents’ lives, easier, then I’m happy.”
“I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You just take care of you. If I’ve learned anything about you over the last five years, it’s that you don’t take care of yourself enough.”
Marlee chuckled. “Point taken.”
“I get updates on your mom every couple of hours. I’ll make sure I pass those on to you.”
“You’re amazing, Pam. Thank you.”
She made a sound. “Just eat. You’ve lost too much weight. And please tell me you’re getting a massage. You know what happened last time.”
Marlee winced, remembering the pain she had suffered from the knots in her neck. “I’m getting one today. Promise.”
“Good. Talk later.”
After she hung up the phone, Marlee immediately went to make an appointment with a masseuse. She was lucky enough to get one a couple of hours after lunch. It gave her time to sort through some emails and do more research. In an effort to take better care of her body, she even put in an order for a salad to be delivered to the room for lunch.
She drank the motel’s horrible coffee made from the beat-up pot in her room and downed a bottle of water as she looked through the various photos she’d taken of anyone around Naomi and Brice. Marlee hung them on the wall, looking at each one in detail. She always got consumed by the task, which was why she often forgot to eat. Time got away from her while looking for the bad guys.
When she moved to the next photo, one of Cooper Owens, she hated to think that anyone who looked that good was one of the villains. But she knew all too well how often that was the case. Though, from what she’d discovered, Cooper Owens was a good guy. So, maybe he really was. She’d probably never know.