by Donna Grant
Those eyes, that mouth.
His voice!
She dropped her arms to her sides and opened her eyes. “This can’t be happening.”
Or could it? She could use Cooper to get close to Brice and Naomi and talk to them.
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “That’s crossing a line I’ve not done before.”
Then she thought about the man with two young kids who had buried his wife and was in turmoil about his missing baby. The timeline for the kidnapped boy and Nate coming up for adoption was too similar.
Marlee had followed Brice, Naomi, and their friends and family for nearly a week. She knew their habits and frequented locations. She didn’t want to use Cooper because … well, she knew it was morally wrong. She didn’t want to hurt anyone, but if it stopped pregnant women from getting murdered with their unborn children cut from their bodies, then she’d do whatever it took.
Even if it meant using Cooper Owens.
Marlee warred with her internal moral compass for another thirty minutes. No matter how she tried to spin it, she wasn’t comfortable using Cooper. But she didn’t have a choice. She needed to get the baby back to his rightful father—even if that meant tearing the child out of the arms of his adoptive parents.
She’d done it a few times before. It was one of the hardest things she’d ever done. Some of the parents understood why the baby was being taken away by the authorities, but others had fought tooth and nail to keep the child.
What few understood was that Marlee felt everyone’s pain. The family of the murdered mother and the missing child, the new parents who thought they had finally begun a family of their own. And even the authorities, who stood in the middle with her, making sure everything was done properly.
She worked for the families devastated by such tragedies, and those yearning to find their missing children. That’s who paid her and came to her for answers—and closure. She didn’t work for the police, the FBI, or the adoptive parents. She had to remind herself of that sometimes because it was easy to get caught up in all the emotions. Because all of it was emotional.
Marlee might not like some of the things she had to do, but she did them anyway. And Cooper would be one of those things. She was eager to speak to him again and it sent all kinds of warning bells off in her head. She would just have to be careful. No matter how she felt around him, or how he made her feel, nothing could happen. He was merely a means to get what she needed—which was a baby returned to his rightful family.
With her decision made, Marlee took off her sweatshirt and jeans. She rummaged through her suitcase until she found the gray V-neck sweater that clung to her breasts. Together with the black jeans and boots, she looked passable. She’d learned to make sure she packed one outfit that was nicer casual for just such instances.
She looked at her hair in the mirror and grimaced. The wind had wreaked havoc on her curls, making them frizz. She used some more product to tame the worst of it but also pulled back the sides to get it out of her face. It didn’t look too bad. Not great, but not horrible either. She shrugged and glanced at the clock by the bed.
Her best bet for running into Cooper was later that evening, so she had a couple of hours to kill. Marlee first cleared out her voicemail box, then she went to her laptop and opened it. She answered some emails, but it was the one to Bill, the father of the missing male baby, that was the worst to answer. He wanted an update, and unfortunately, she didn’t have much to tell him.
Giving families false hope was something she desperately tried not to do—ever. Marlee presented facts and always cautioned the families about being unrealistic regarding the outcome, and how long these investigations took. Not that they all listened to her, but she made sure to tell them anyway.
Marlee also called the hospital to get an update on her mom. The nurse let her speak to her mother briefly. Diane was a fighter, always had been. Her father had often called his wife a firecracker, and she was that. Not just because of her auburn hair but also because she never gave up on anything important. Marlee got all of that from her mother.
“You doing all right, pumpkin?” her mother asked.
Marlee had stopped lying about her jobs in an effort to save her family because her mother knew the truth. “This is a hard one, Mom.”
“Did you find the baby?”
“I’m ninety-five percent sure.”
“I know these jobs take a toll on you. I hear it in your voice, and I see it on your face when you come home.” Her mother sighed. “But this is your gift. As hard as it is, you have a knack for knowing where to go and who to see. Don’t ever forget that.”
Marlee smiled. “Thanks. I wasn’t really looking for a pep talk.”
“Sure, you were,” her mom stated. “You just didn’t know it.”
Marlee laughed, but it soon faded. “I’m sorry I’m not there to take care of you.”
“Don’t you dare. I don’t need you to take care of me. I need you to find those missing babies. I know how those families are suffering. So do you. That’s what makes you so damn good at your job. Don’t think about me, sweetheart. Your father and I are fine. Pam is wonderful. Just come home every now and again so I can see you. But I want you to know that we support you.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, pumpkin. Now, go get to work.”
Her mother ended the call, and all Marlee could do was shake her head. Her parents put up a good front, but she knew that their health wasn’t good. It tore her up to be away from them. After this job, she was going to spend a few months at home. She needed it, and they needed it. And if luck was on her side, Marlee would have this job wrapped up before Thanksgiving.
She was about to shut her laptop when an email alert came across her screen from John in Dallas. Another child had been taken. Less than a week old, an infant girl had been snatched from a woman who was putting the car seat into a vehicle at a shopping mall. Two cameras—each with a different angle—caught the entire thing. However, there wasn’t a clear view of the two individuals. Making it even more difficult was the fact that they wore ski caps, covering their hair and most of their faces.
This wasn’t the first time a baby had been snatched in such a way, but it would take some work to see if the case matched others over the last couple of decades. Investigators like her would be working quickly to try and get a jump on the kidnappers and figure out where they might take the baby.
Usually, Marlee joined in on the hunt, but she’d been on this job for a long time and felt confident that she could wrap it up soon. She might not actively join the others in the search, but she’d keep her eyes peeled since Clearview wasn’t too far from Dallas. The more eyes, the better on such cases. That’s why Amber Alerts were so successful.
Kidnapping was a tricky business. Taking a young child or a baby made it so they didn’t remember their families, which sometimes made things even harder on those searching for them.
Marlee shut her computer and got to her feet. She was more determined than ever to close her current case. It affected her more than usual. That generally meant it was time for her to take a break and recharge. There were other ways outside of traveling for her to help the investigators. And that’s precisely what she was going to do once she got home to her parents.
She put on her coat and grabbed her keys and purse before heading to her car. The restaurants were filling up with customers wanting dinner, so Marlee headed to the local café, which happened to be Cooper’s favorite based on her reconnaissance. There was no guarantee that he’d be there, though. If he wasn’t, she’d try later. If he was … well, then she would proceed with her plan.
Marlee parked and walked inside. She never minded eating alone, but doing so resulted in being stared at by others. She never understood it, but she had learned to ignore it. The café had an old-time diner feel to it. She had been in here for breakfast before and had sat at the bar then. This time, she chose a booth and faced the entranc
e. The seats were powder blue, and the table white. Both had a classic look, but they were brand-new.
The waitress walked over and handed her a menu as Marlee took off her coat. The waitress was in her thirties and had her blond hair up in a bun. She wore a dark blue fifties-style waitress uniform, complete with white sneakers. “Evenin’. What can I get you to drink?”
Marlee looked at the choices of beer on tap. “I’ll take a Yuengling, please. And water.”
“Comin’ up,” the waitress stated with a grin and walked away.
Marlee went back to perusing the menu, trying to decide between a burger or something a little healthier like the grilled fish and veggies. The café might look like a diner, but it had an assortment of food for everyone. Suddenly, her hair rose on the back of her neck again. She stiffened and slowly turned her head to look out the window, but once again, she couldn’t locate anyone.
“Well, hello.”
She recognized Cooper’s voice immediately. Her head snapped around, and she found herself smiling before she knew it, her possible watcher forgotten. “Hi.”
“Not sure if you’ve been here before, but the food is excellent. You can’t go wrong with any of it,” Cooper told her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “And I can say that honestly because I’ve had everything on the menu.”
Marlee laughed softly. “Have you?”
“It’s my favorite place to eat.”
“Then you must have a favorite meal.”
His grin widened. “The blackened crab nachos. They’re out of this world. Trust me.”
She nodded, spotting the nachos on the menu. “They do look good.”
“Marlee,” he said and cleared his throat as he glanced around to see if anyone was listening. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
“It’s fine. Really.”
“It isn’t. We don’t get many new visitors in town, and you’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure you get approached all the time.”
She never got approached, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “Thank you for the compliment.”
“I just want you to know that I’m a good guy. Promise,” he said with a smile.
Marlee held his gaze for a heartbeat. This was her chance. It was now or never. She took a deep breath and said, “Prove it. Have dinner with me. We each pay our own way, and we share some conversation.”
“All right,” he said without hesitation. “I’m game.”
She motioned to the seat opposite her. Cooper removed his coat and tossed it into the booth before he slid in. Marlee got a view of his cute ass in his jeans, but the broad shoulders showcased by the blue and green plaid flannel shirt he wore really got her attention. Near his throat, she glimpsed a black thermal shirt.
He filled the booth and took all of her attention in the process. Her training as a police officer made her aware of everyone and everything. Not so when Cooper was near. He was all she saw.
I can’t do this.
But she had to. Whether she wanted to or not, people were counting on her. No one had ever made her second guess herself before. Or maybe she just didn’t want to cause Cooper any harm because he was genuinely a good guy.
That was it. She’d met so few people in her life that were decent human beings. She wasn’t sure what to do with one, even when he was seated across from her.
Liar. You know exactly what you’d like to do to him. Beginning with stripping him out of those clothes.
Marlee swallowed and pushed up the sleeves of her sweater as heat filled her. Her nipples hardened, making her want to reach up and cover them so they’d stop tingling. But Cooper was there, looking at her with those gorgeous forest green eyes of his.
“You sure about this?” he asked, a worried frown filling his face.
She nodded her head—a little too quickly. “Yep.”
Marlee inwardly winced at how high-pitched her voice was. Given Cooper’s expression, he wasn’t buying her lie.
“I won’t hurt you,” Cooper said. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t even walk you out to your car when you finish eating if you don’t want.”
He finished with a grin meant to ease her mind. If only that were the issue.
Marlee made herself relax. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I’m sure being a woman isn’t easy. My mom used to get asked out all the time. She was afraid for herself at times, so I’m keenly aware of how you might perceive me,” he told her.
“Your mom is fine, though, right?”
Cooper chuckled. “The woman is amazing. My dad died when I was thirteen, and she raised me on her own. She faced any hardship that came her way with her back straight and chin raised. When she feared for her life, she took self-defense classes and honed her shooting skills. But she did teach me how to respect women and know when to back off.”
“She sounds wonderful.”
“She is,” he said with a smile.
Marlee nodded her thanks to the waitress when she delivered Marlee’s beer. Cooper ordered his own. When they were alone again, Marlee asked, “So, the two of you are close? You and your mom.”
“Very. She owns a hair salon on Main Street.”
Of course, Marlee knew that. Just as she knew that Betty Owens had raised Cooper on her own. However, Marlee hadn’t known the Betty that Cooper spoke of so highly. Research only showed you so much about a person.
“What about you?” Cooper asked. “You have family?”
Marlee dreaded this part. She often left talk of Macey out, altogether. Not because she was embarrassed but because people genuinely didn’t know how to react. She was saved from answering when the waitress returned with Cooper’s beer and waited for them to order.
Cooper looked at her, still waiting for her to tell him about herself. How Marlee wished she could gloss over this part.
But it wasn’t to be.
Chapter 7
He could look into Marlee’s soft brown eyes for eternity. She had a wall up, a formidable one at that, but Cooper didn’t begrudge her for that. He had no idea what she’d suffered in her past. All he knew was that he wanted to get to know her. She was the only thing he’d thought about since meeting her at the gas station.
That five-minute meeting had left a lasting impression for sure.
And then to find her at the café? He couldn’t believe his luck. He’d thought to just stop by and say hello, maybe talk to her a little more so she wouldn’t run from him. The next thing he knew, he was sitting with her for dinner.
She observed him when he spoke as if she were interested in every word he said. Yet the minute the conversation switched to her, that wall rose a little higher.
“My parents are still around,” she finally said.
He wanted to probe for more, but he sensed that was all he was going to get out of her. “I’m sure you’ve been asked this a lot, but are you visiting or moving to the area?”
“Just visiting.”
Damn. Getting information out of her was like pulling teeth. However, Cooper wasn’t put off by it. He smiled. “I hope you’ll be in town for a bit. Clearview might not look like much, but it actually has quite a bit of character.”
“It’s quiet. Reminds of me of where I grew up,” she said.
The moment the words were out of her mouth, it appeared as if she regretted them.
Instead of asking her where she was from, Cooper said, “I volunteer at a sanctuary nearby. They take in all kinds of animals, but mainly, it’s for horses. If you have some free time, you should check it out.”
“That sounds nice. I might do that. I think I saw a sign about it a few days ago.”
And just like that, Marlee seemed relaxed again. Cooper inwardly patted himself on the back. This woman got more intriguing by the moment. She was like a flower. If he wanted to discover anything about her, he needed to go slow and allow each petal to open so he could learn more about her.
“One of my best friends’
wife is an equine veterinarian. Audrey takes care of the horses at their ranch, the Rockin’ H, as well as at the East Ranch. In between all of that, she tends to the animals at the sanctuary.”
Marlee drank some of her beer and put her forearms on the table, leaning forward. “The East Ranch? That’s a prominent place around here.”
“Yep. You’ll never meet nicer people than Clayton and Abby East. They’d give you the shirts off their backs. Abby has two younger brothers, Brice and Caleb. My best friend, Jace, and I befriended Brice and Caleb at a young age and found ourselves at the ranch all the time. Abby and Clayton took full advantage of us being there and had us helping out all the time.” Cooper smiled, thinking back to those days. “We’ve remained close friends ever since.”
“It must be nice to have people you’ve known for that long.”
“It is.”
“But,” she paused, her brow furrowing, “does anyone ever really know someone else?”
Cooper wrapped his fingers around his cold bottle of beer and brought it to his lips as he regarded Marlee. He didn’t answer until the bottle was back on the table. “I think it depends on the people you let into your life. For me, Jace, Caleb, and Brice, we’re brothers. We’ve had each other’s backs for years, and that won’t change. Ever.”
“People say they have others’ backs all the time,” she replied with a shrug.
“Maybe. But can they say they’ve joined forces with the local authorities to bring down a ring of individuals who were making the women in the rodeo pageants nothing more than prostitutes to win the crown and the money? Can those people say they joined the local authorities to stop a veterinarian from killing horses? Can those people say they joined the authorities to stop a madman from killing the sheriff and his girlfriend?”
Marlee’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? You’ve done all that?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am,” she stated with a nod. Her bourbon-colored eyes darted away for a heartbeat. “You did all of that for your friends?”
Cooper nodded slowly. “And I know they’d do the same for me.”