by Rita Herron
He spoke to his deputy as he entered, but he was talking on the phone, so Jacob escorted Cora to his office. “Do you want coffee?” he asked.
“No, thanks.” She paused and looked around the interior, focusing on the bulletin board above his desk, where he’d tacked two fliers for wanted felons along with a missing persons flier for a teenager who’d disappeared from Raleigh three weeks before.
Liam rapped his knuckles on the door and poked his head inside. Jacob waved him in and gestured toward Cora.
Liam offered his hand. “We met before, Cora.”
“I remember,” Cora said. “Jacob said you were still searching for my daughter. I appreciate it.”
“We never gave up,” Liam assured her. “Unfortunately leads went cold for a while, but that could change.” He paused, then cleared his throat. “As a matter of fact, one of the major news stations is running a special segment to showcase missing persons’ and children’s cases that have gone cold. They do it every so often. Sometimes people recognize the child from our photographs, or recall details they’ve forgotten, and we get a lead.”
Cora drummed her fingers on her arm. “They’re going to include Alice?”
Liam nodded. “I insisted. I’ve already sent over the information we have on her disappearance along with your sketches.”
Cora blinked as if fighting tears, and Jacob wanted to hug his brother.
He shared his conversation with the nurse. “We need to locate Evie Hanson and question her.”
Liam gave a quick nod. “I’ll text my analyst and have her start searching.” He quickly sent a text, then gestured to Jacob’s desk. “I have some photographs I’d like you to look at, Cora.”
Liam set a folder on the table, then removed a photograph of a thin dark-haired woman wearing a gray suit. Her expression was drawn and sad.
“Her name is Lydia Bainbridge,” Liam said. “She and her husband lived in Chapel Hill and lost a baby when it was born. A heart defect.”
“That’s awful,” Cora murmured.
“It was and they didn’t take it very well,” Liam said.
“When did this happen?” Jacob asked.
“Three weeks before Cora delivered,” Liam replied.
“The timing could be significant,” Jacob added.
“Yes. The husband sued the doctor for incompetence, and they settled out of court. After that, they moved to Florida. They adopted a little girl two weeks after Alice went missing. One of our agents is investigating the adoption now.”
“You think they may have adopted Alice?” Cora asked.
Liam shrugged. “I don’t know, but we’re exploring every possibility.” He angled the photograph toward Cora, then added another picture of the husband, a tall auburn-haired man in a fire fighter’s uniform.
Jacob and Liam exchanged a silent message. If the husband wanted to set a fire, he’d know how to do it and get away with it.
Liam tapped the photograph. “Look at this picture, Cora. Do you recall seeing this woman or man at the hospital when you were there?”
* * *
CORA SCRUTINIZED THE picture of the couple.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t recall seeing them. They could have been there, but I was already in labor when I was admitted, so I was wheeled to a labor and delivery room. I stayed there for hours until the birth.”
“You didn’t go into the hall to walk?” Jacob asked.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “No.” Frustration knotted her insides. “I was so exhausted I fell asleep shortly after the birth. When the alarm sounded, all I could think about was saving Alice.”
“I know it was mass confusion,” Jacob said. He’d been there.
Liam patted Cora’s hand. “It’s all right. It was a long shot. They may not have been there. But my analyst is reviewing every inch of the security footage.” Liam slid another folder beneath the one of the couple. “We’re also working another angle.” He glanced at Jacob as if uncertain whether he should continue.
“Please tell me,” Cora said. “I promise I won’t break down and go maniacal on you.”
Jacob chuckled, and so did Liam. “I’m not worried about that,” Liam said. “And if you did, I’d understand. Missing children bring out emotions in all of us.”
Cora swallowed back a sob. Compassion and tenderness triggered tears every time.
“What’s in the other file?” Jacob asked.
Liam scrubbed a hand through his hair, then removed a photograph of a middle-aged lady with graying hair. She was seated on a train with a baby boy and a toddler girl. “An agent in Atlanta sent me a picture of this woman. She goes by the name Deidre Coleman.” Liam paused. “We believe she’s running an illegal adoption ring.”
Cora made a pained sound.
“One of our agents is going undercover to verify our suspicions,” Liam said. “At this point, we’ve uncovered reports of three missing children, including that baby boy, who match photographs of recently adopted children on the dark web and linked them back to her. So far, no legal documents have been located. But we traced large sums of money deposited into an offshore account in the name of Deidre Coleman, although we believe that name is an alias. Our agent is gathering intel for a warrant to pick her up for questioning.”
He angled his head toward Cora. “Do you ever remember seeing this woman? It could have been at the hospital or around town or even at your ob-gyn’s office.”
Cora studied every detail of the woman’s face. Although she was definitely in the shadows in the picture, she could tell the woman was austere. A blunt nose. Graying, thin eyebrows. Long fingers with nails that needed a manicure. Even though she was seated, she held a firm grip on the toddler’s hand and cradled the baby close to her, its face hidden.
Cora closed her eyes, mentally transporting herself back to her ob-gyn’s office. So many happy, pregnant women congregating to share stories and the excitement of upcoming births. Talk of nurseries, baby showers, and little girl and boy names. Laughter over arguments between spouses and grandparents over those names. Talk of different parenting styles.
Dreams of finally nestling their baby in their arms.
Occasionally a woman leaving teary-eyed over bad news. But this woman in the picture—she would have stood out in the maternity waiting room because she’d passed her childbearing years.
“I don’t remember seeing her at my doctor’s office,” Cora said. “I guess she could have come in the hospital, or maybe she was on the lawn that night.” She gave Liam a pointed look. “Have you found a link between her and Alice?”
Regret darkened Liam’s face. “Not yet, but we’re looking.”
Disappointment threatened to steal her budding hope, but she squashed it. With both Jacob and Liam on her side now, at least Alice hadn’t been forgotten.
“I’ll keep you posted, Cora.” Liam gathered the photographs and files and Cora thanked him.
“Let me know if you locate Evie Hanson,” Jacob said.
Liam agreed, said goodbye and headed outside.
Jacob stood and adjusted his belt where his gun hung, drawing her gaze to his big, strong body.
Cora jerked her eyes away. How could she possibly think about how handsome Jacob was when they’d just been discussing an illegal adoption ring?
When the woman with the graying hair might be stealing babies and selling them.
When Jacob had told his brother he wasn’t interested in her personally.
Chapter Thirteen
The thought of a person selling children nauseated Cora.
“You want me to drive you home now or to pick up a rental car?” Jacob asked.
She shook her head. “I’ll take care of it.” Waiting alone at home did not appeal to her at the moment. She was afraid she’d get mired in the fact that she had endless days ahead with nothing to do but think about her
daughter and her jobless future.
She brushed her hands down her shirt as she stood. “I’m going to the bookstore for a while.”
“All right. Call me if you need anything,” Jacob offered.
She thanked him and slipped from his office, determined to keep her feelings for him at bay.
A dark cloud had formed, shrouding the sun and adding a chill to the air as Cora walked down the sidewalk and crossed the street to the bookstore. Mothers and children filled the park, their laughter and chatter a reminder that life moved on, that happiness did exist.
Even if it evaded her.
One day she’d push Alice in the swings and fly a kite with her, and they’d skate on the rink the town erected for the winter holidays.
She reached the bookstore and smiled at the array of children’s books displayed for the summer reading program. Through the glass window, she saw Nina at one of the tables drawing, with Faye close by. A minute later, Faye opened her laptop and Cora noticed her browsing the real estate website where she worked.
Envy stirred inside Cora. If she found Alice, would they ever be that close?
She desperately wanted to join them, but Faye’s shared confidence gave her pause. The poor woman had suffered.
She didn’t intend to add to her problems.
Clutching her purse, she walked toward the diner. Inside, the place was bustling with the late-afternoon lunch crowd. She slipped up to the bar, ordered a turkey sandwich and sweet tea, then phoned to arrange a rental car as she waited on her meal.
The owner, a cheery lady named Billie Jean, grinned at her. “There you go, sweetie. You doing okay today?”
“Sure.” Cora forced a smile. Discussing baby kidnapping rings wasn’t her idea of fun, but if it helped find Alice or saved another mother from experiencing the pain she’d suffered, she’d look at any pictures Liam or Jacob showed her.
She paid for the sandwich and drink, carried them across the street to the park and found an empty picnic table beneath a live oak. The shade of the tree offered her privacy, but also allowed her to people-watch.
Signs for a watermelon festival in two weeks had been tacked up around the park along with a sign for Pet Adoption Day the following Saturday. She’d considered adopting a dog over the years to keep her company, but wanted to wait until Alice came home so they could choose the pet together.
She spread out her sketchbook and pencils on the table, and nibbled on her sandwich as she studied the children on the playground. A little curly-haired blond toddler in a purple romper was learning to walk and kept stumbling. The mother clapped and laughed, offering encouragement as she called the child’s name.
A group of elementary-aged children played chase while a father tossed the ball to his son in a game of catch.
She was just about to begin a new sketch of Alice when the sound of a woman’s voice made her pulse clamor.
“Cora?”
She clenched her pencil as she faced the woman. Julie Batton. At one time, they’d been best friends.
Before Alice had been taken.
Julie’s little boy, Brian, looked up at her with the same grass-green eyes as his mother. Cora remembered the day he was born as if it was yesterday.
It had been exactly one week before Alice came into the world.
Cora had cooked Julie and her husband dinner that night and carried the excited couple a bottle of champagne. They’d toasted the occasion and laughed over dreams they shared for their children.
Cora’s homecoming had been the opposite. Filled with fear and anguish. Police hovering around, asking questions. People staring at her and Drew with sympathy and suspicion.
Julie had tried to be a friend. She’d sent cookies. Offered Cora a shoulder to cry on.
But the day Cora followed a woman with a stroller in the mall, Julie had told Cora she needed psychiatric help.
Then she’d run to Drew. Made it seem like Cora was losing her mind. Drew had gotten rid of Alice’s things later because of the counselor—and Julie.
She’d never forgiven either one of them for that.
* * *
FIVE MINUTES AFTER Cora left, Jacob’s phone buzzed. Liam.
“My analyst just called. They located Evie Hanson. She’s been working at a hospital about twenty miles from Whistler.” Liam paused. “I have a conference call with the task force investigating the baby kidnapping/adoption ring. I’m texting you Evie’s home address so you can check it out. According to our information, Evie took a leave of absence about three months ago to be a stay-at-home mom.”
“Is that timing significant?” Jacob asked.
Liam hissed out a breath. “Could be, could be coincidental.”
“What does that mean?”
“Means it warrants further investigation.”
Jacob snatched his keys, anxious to leave. “I’m on my way to question her.”
“Jacob, listen, man,” Liam said in a no-nonsense voice. “It’s possible she may not be involved in the Reeves-Westbrook baby kidnapping. Even if she obtained the baby through the ring, she may be unaware that the child was kidnapped, so tread carefully. If you suspect at any point that she bought the baby, play it cool and don’t reveal our suspicions. We don’t want to spook her into running or into alerting Deidre Coleman that we’re on to her.”
“You got it.”
Jacob met Martin on the way out the door, relayed the latest turn of events and asked him to cover rounds.
His senses were alert for trouble as he drove through town. This afternoon looked like a normal day in Whistler.
So had the day of the fire, when everything had gone horribly wrong. No one in town had seen it coming. No one knew why the fire was set and the town destroyed.
He passed the square, and veered onto the road leading from town, his adrenaline having spiked at the prospect of solving this case. He sped up once he left the city limits, then maneuvered the curvy roads toward Shady Oak.
The nurse lived in a development a mile from the village of Shady Oak, a quaint little town built in the valley between the mountains.
Minutes later, he reached her house. It was a sprawling ranch house with green shutters and a well-maintained lawn. He scanned the yard and property for a car or children’s toys, any sign indicating the family was home.
He parked in the drive, then climbed out and walked up to the door. The carport was empty, no cars in sight.
He rang the doorbell, but when no one answered, he peeked into the windows flanking the front door.
He didn’t see movement or anyone inside. He gritted his teeth.
Had Evie left town because she knew the feds were on their tail?
* * *
“CORA, IS IT OKAY if I sit with you for a minute?” Julie asked.
Cora inhaled to calm her voice. The last thing she needed was to make a scene. Besides, maybe Julie had been right five years ago. She had been out of control.
“Of course.” Cora gestured toward the bench seat across from her and Julie slid onto it, angling her body to keep an eye on Brian as he played with another boy about his age. They were tossing a football back and forth. Brian dropped it and giggled, then growled like a monster. Cora couldn’t contain a smile.
“Brian has really grown,” Cora said. “Was he in kindergarten this year?”
“He was,” Julie said. “That’s his friend Tony. He lives a couple doors down from us.”
“Cute boys,” she said. “I’m sure he keeps you busy.”
Julie smiled as she watched her son. “He’s all boy, that’s for sure. Loves cars and trucks, sports and superheroes. He dressed as Spider-Man last year for Halloween.”
“Superheroes were the theme this year at school,” Cora said with a pang of sadness that she’d miss the school activities next year.
An awkward silence fell bet
ween them for a minute. Julie took a sip from her water bottle, then offered Cora a tender look that reminded Cora of when they were good friends. Julie had always worn her feelings on her sleeve. She volunteered at the women’s shelter, prepared meals for the homeless, and ran the clothing and food drive at her church.
Julie was one of the most selfless people she’d ever known. They’d actually met during one of the food drives one year and bonded as they sorted and packed canned goods for families who’d lost their homes in a tornado.
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot,” Julie said. “I wanted to see you, but I didn’t know if you’d want to see me.”
“I’m sorry you felt that way,” Cora said. “I was rough on you after Alice was taken.” Cora breathed out. It felt good—right—to apologize and let go of her anger. “No matter what happened, though, I was happy for you, and glad you had Brian. I never meant to imply that I wasn’t.”
Tears flooded Julie’s eyes. “I know that,” she said. “I always did. And it wasn’t your fault. My God, Cora, you’re stronger than I am. I don’t think I could have gone on if I was in your shoes.”
Cora made a low sound in her throat. “Truthfully, Julie, I’m still a wreck. But I’m trying not to give up hope.”
Julie reached across the table, and Cora linked hands with her the way they used to do. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you the way you needed.” Julie wiped at a tear with her free hand. “I just didn’t know what to do, Cora. I felt so bad for you, and I was terrified at the same time. I was a mess myself over not being able to conceive.”
Cora raised her brows. “What? I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Because I didn’t want anyone to know,” Julie admitted quietly. “I was...ashamed. I felt like a failure when we kept trying to get pregnant and couldn’t.”
Cora’s heart broke for her friend. “Oh, gosh, Julie, there was nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of women have trouble conceiving.”
“I know that up here.” She tapped her forehead, then her chest. “But my heart said something else. I felt like I wasn’t a good wife, that I was letting Jimmy down.” She swallowed hard. “Anyway, that’s the reason I pulled back from you. I kept thinking, what if it was Brian? What if someone took my little boy?” Julie choked on the last word, emotions overcoming her.
