WHERE'S MY SON? (Det. Jason Strong (CLEAN SUSPENSE Book 1)

by John C. Dalglish

  “Where’s My Son?”

  by

  John C. Dalglish

  2012

  For Beverly, Gavin, David and Kristian.

  If I am a good husband and father today, it is because you made me into one.

  Other Clean Suspense Books

  by

  John C. Dalglish

  BLOODSTAIN - Det. Jason Strong - #2

  FOR MY BROTHER - Det. Jason Strong - #3

  SILENT JUSTICE - Det. Jason Strong - #4

  TIED TO MURDER - Det. Jason Strong - #5

  ONE OF THEIR OWN - Det. Jason Strong - #6

  DEATH STILL - Det. Jason Strong - #7

  LETHAL INJECTION – Det. Jason Strong - #8

  And a New Christian Fantasy Series

  CROSSOVER – The Chaser Chronicles #1

  JOURNEY – The Chaser Chronicles #2

  DESTINY – The Chaser Chronicles #3

  THE CHASER CHRONICLES – (Books 1-3)

  Prologue

  It was Friday night and Benny Carter was just stretching his lanky frame out on an old lawn chair when he noticed a trail of dust coming down the drive.

  It was a newer model Lincoln, not the usual kind of vehicle to drive down his lane, and he didn't recognize it. Black, with chrome wheels and dark tinted windows, Benny’s gaze followed it down through the gate, over the gulch that becomes a torrent on rainy days, until it slowed to a stop in front of his chair.

  The door opened and a man nearly as tall as Benny stepped out. He had red hair, a red beard, and easily weighed double Benny's one hundred-seventy pounds.

  Everything about him was large. His nose, his eyes, and his fat cheeks all looked cartoonish. Benny figured this guy played Santa a lot, but with the red hair, he looked more like the Great Pumpkin.

  Wearing a gray suit and white button-down shirt, he came around to Benny's side of the car, and offered a meaty hand. Benny just stared at it.

  “You Benny?”

  “Who wants to know?”

  “Zebulin Johnson. Most people call me Zeb.”

  He withdrew his hand. Benny shaded his eyes as he looked up at the stranger.

  “So, what brings you all the way out here, Zeb?”

  Zeb took a slow look around. Twenty or so acres of west Texas dust and scrub surrounded the travel trailer Benny called home. The yard was overrun with old barrels, tires, and trash.

  “Mind if I sit?” Zeb asked.

  “Don't mind if you do, don't mind if you don't.”

  Benny watched as the man dragged an old stool over. When he had settled his considerable girth, Zeb smiled at him. “We have a mutual friend.”

  “Oh, yeah? Who’s that?”

  “David Hinson.”

  David Hinson was Benny’s cellmate when he did time for car theft, and someone Benny trusted, but he couldn't figure what connection David had with this guy. He needed to be careful. Someone could easily find out he was friends with Hinson. “How did you come by that name?”

  “I've known David for years. He did some work for me.”

  “Funny, I don't remember him mentioning you.”

  Zeb pulled out an envelope and handed it to Benny. Inside was a note from Hinson. It told Benny he could trust Zeb, and it was signed Richard Hinson III. Benny knew that signature. David always signed his given name.

  Zeb spoke as if the note had settled the matter.

  “I need someone with your skills and your position. David said you might be interested and could be trusted.”

  Benny gave Zeb a curious look.

  “What skills are we talking about, exactly?”

  Zeb smiled and wiped a thick arm across his sweaty forehead, staining his sleeve.

  “Well, I hear you can get in and out of a home and not be heard.”

  Benny smiled. He was pretty proud of his reputation.

  “And the position?”

  “You work at Hondo Regional, isn't that right?”

  Zeb was still smiling and still sweating.

  “Maybe. Why don't you get to the point?”

  “Okay, I want you to identify someone and break into their home.”

  “That so? Why?”

  Zeb stopped smiling. “First, you must promise never to mention this conversation to anyone.”

  “I can promise, but what's to stop me from telling whoever I want?”

  Benny watched as the man pulled back the lapel of his jacket, exposing a.38 pistol.

  “Well, let's just say I don't take kindly to people who break their promises.”

  Benny tried not to look nervous, but guns were not something he messed with, and they made him uneasy.

  “That would appear to be a threat.”

  Zeb had started smiling again. “Just some insight into my personality. Do I have your word?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  Zeb removed his coat altogether. He looked to Benny like a marshmallow over a fire, slowly dissolving.

  “I want you to steal something for me, or more specifically, kidnap someone...”

  Benny started to get up. “Whoa, whoa...there must be some confusion here. I steal things, not people!”

  Zeb continued smiling. “You haven't heard what I have to say. It's something you can handle, I'm sure.”

  Benny slowly sat back down as Zeb continued. “I want you to take a baby.”

  “A baby! Seriously?”

  “Absolutely. I need you to use your position at the hospital to identify a newborn and, when I call, you’ll deliver him or her to my contact.”

  Benny stood up and started pacing back and forth.

  “I don't know... I've never done something like that. It would have to pay awfully well for me to take such a risk.”

  “Ten thousand.”

  Benny stopped and turned slowly to look at Zebulin Johnson.

  “Did you say ten thousand?”

  Zeb's smile had disappeared again. “Yes. Ten grand on delivery. You’ll have the baby in your possession for no more than four hours.”

  Benny resumed his pacing. He’d never gotten near that much from his thefts and it would set him up for a while. But if he were caught, especially with his record, he would be in for a long sentence.

  Benny knew what Zeb was asking was not that difficult, but it was dangerous. A thought struck him.

  “You’re going to sell the kid?”

  “No, not sell, adopt out. There’s nothing more you need to know. When I have parents for a child, I will contact you. You’ll identify a suitable newborn at the hospital, find the address, and remove the child from its home. After removal, you will meet your contact within four hours and be paid on delivery. Are you interested?”

  Benny hesitated, trying to get a read on the big man. “How do I know I'll get paid?”

  Benny watched Zeb stand up and walk over to the trunk of his car. Popping it open, he motioned for Benny to come over. When Benny was beside him, Zeb reached in and pulled out a paper bag, handing it to him.

  “You’ll find a thousand dollars and a cell phone in the bag. You’ll need to buy a few things, a list of which I will give you when I call. The phone is a throwaway, dispose of it immediately after the transaction. The other nine thousand will be given to you upon delivery.” Zeb paused. “Do we have a deal?”

  Benny stared at the bag for a long moment and then tucked it under his arm.

  “We do.”

  *******

  Stan Turnbull turned the a/c up full blast in the Lincoln. As he headed out of the long driveway, he wondered to himself how anybody could stand this west Texas heat.

  He looked at himself in the r
ear-view mirror and smiled. Zebulin Johnson. He thought it was the best phony name yet. This was the fourth ‘adoption’ he and his sister had done together. He punched her number on the speed dial.

  The phone rang twice before he heard his sister’s voice. “Hello?”

  “Susan, this is Stan. We’re go with my contact in Texas.”

  “Good,” her voice dropped to a whisper, “I'm at work so I have to go, but I'll let you know when we have someone.”

  The line went dead.

  Susan was a Labor and Delivery nurse in Springfield, Missouri, and she’d chosen the “adoptive parents” all three times. She was also the contact for the exchange, because she could care for the baby.

  What a good team we make.

  He started to sing his favorite song. “We’re in the money, I love ya honey.”

  Chapter 1

  Shirley Murphy knocked for the second time. Still no answer, so she let herself in with the key her daughter had given her.

  “Katie?”

  “In the kitchen, Mom.”

  Shirley walked down the hall to the kitchen, smiling as always. A bright red pantsuit covered her five-foot, five-inch frame, complete with white scarf and white shoes. At fifty-six, she was slim and stunning with her jet-black hair and bright, blue eyes.

  “I knocked... Guess you couldn't hear me?”

  “No, the dishwasher was running.”

  “How you feeling, Sweetie?”

  “Oh, fine.”

  Since finding out Katie was pregnant, they had this conversation about ten times a week and this was number three for today. Shirley sat down at the kitchen table as she watched Katie finish making a sandwich.

  “You want a sandwich?”

  Shirley shook her head. “No thanks, dear. I bought something for the nursery.”

  “Really? What?”

  “It's in the van, but you'll have to wait until Wade gets home. I need his help getting it into the house.”

  Katie joined her at the table. Normally, she was a tiny thing, but with the baby, she had put on twenty pounds. Her warm green eyes and curly blonde hair gave her a bubbly look that matched her personality.

  “Aren't you going to tell me what it is?”

  “Nope, don't want to spoil the surprise!”

  Shirley laughed as Katie took a bite and rolled her eyes. She knew Katie enjoyed getting the surprises as much as she did giving them.

  When Katie was done eating, Shirley helped her clean up, and the two of them went up to the nursery. A short time later, they heard Wade come home. Katie went to the door of the nursery. “Upstairs, Honey!”

  Wade Duncan was tall—he towered over Katie and had to bend down to give her a peck on the check.

  “What kind of trouble are you two stirring up?” he asked, winking at Shirley.

  Even though he’d been out showing properties all day, his light brown hair was still neatly combed. Fit but not athletic, he had dark brown eyes and a wide smile.

  Shirley loved Wade. He was more than a son-in-law. She had leaned on him when her husband passed away, and he was both her and Katie's rock.

  She gave him a mischievous grin. “Actually, we've been waiting for you. There's something in the van for the nursery, and I need you to carry up the stairs.”

  “Certainly, Madam!” He mock saluted, drawing a giggle from Katie, then wheeled around and headed downstairs on his assigned mission. When he returned, he was carrying a beautiful oak rocking chair.

  Katie squealed when she saw it. “Oh, Mom! It's just like the one you had at our home on Glenwillow.”

  “I know. When I saw it, I had to get it. I remember softly singing hymns and rocking you to sleep many nights in that old chair. Just don't forget, grandmas get first dibs.”

  Shirley watched as her daughter walked around the room, trying to decide on the perfect spot. Finally, she stopped and pointed. “Wade, put it down over by the closet. I want to give it a test drive!”

  Wade flashed a big smile and did as he was told.

  They watched as Katie adjusted the placement just a little before settling into the chair. Her daughter gently rocked and Shirley thought Katie might burst into tears.

  “It's fantastic, Mom. Thank you so much!”

  Katie started to get up, but froze and grabbed her belly, falling back into the chair. She let out a small grunt. Both Shirley and Wade were beside her in a flash.

  “What is it? You okay?” Shirley asked, as she stroked her daughter’s forehead. Katie had broken out into a sweat.

  “I think so. It was just...” This time, she clutched her stomach and let out a scream. Wade scooped her up and turned to Shirley.

  “Get your van, I'll bring her down.”

  Katie started to protest, but was gripped with pain a third time. In less than five minutes, Wade had carried her to the van and they were on their way to the hospital.

  *******

  Wade burst through the doors of the St. Luke Hospital emergency room. “Help! I need help!”

  A nurse came around the desk to meet him. “What is it, sir?”

  “My wife, I think she's in labor.”

  Wade tried not to sound as panicked as he felt. The nurse grabbed a wheelchair and followed him out the door to the van.

  “How far along is she?”

  “About six months.”

  When the nurse reached the van, Wade slid the side door open, revealing his wife, who was clearly in trouble. She was very pale and obviously in pain.

  The nurse stepped around Wade. “What's your name?”

  “Katie.”

  “Okay, Katie, we're going to get you inside.”

  Katie let out a howl when they went to move her into the chair.

  The nurse tried to get Katie to focus on her. “Are you having a contraction now?”

  “No... Yes... Well, I mean, it hasn't stopped.”

  “Like a cramp?”

  “It feels like a lot more than a cramp.”

  The nurse turned to Wade. “Who's your doctor?”

  “Phelps...Dr. Larry Phelps.”

  They finally manoeuvred Katie into the chair, and Wade stayed with his wife while Shirley parked the van.

  The nurse wheeled Katie inside the hospital, around the desk, and into a partitioned room. When Wade and the nurse had moved Katie to the bed, the nurse drew the curtains and picked up the phone.

  Wade listened as the nurse first called Dr. Phelps, who said he was on his way, and then the obstetrics ward. He could hear the voice on the other end of the line.

  “Labor, Susan.”

  “Hi Susan, Jan in ER. We have a pregnant woman in distress on her way up. Dr. Phelps is on his way. We’re putting in an IV, and he wants a monitor on her ASAP.”

  “What's the patient’s name?”

  “Katie Duncan.”

  “Okay, we'll be ready.”

  The nurse hung up.

  An orderly came into the room, and Wade watched as she gave him instructions. None of this was new to Wade. This was the third time he had rushed Katie to the hospital during a pregnancy. The last two times had been very early in her pregnancies, and resulted in both babies not surviving. He tried not to think about it.

  A short elevator ride later, another nurse met them. A nametag identified her as Susan Turnbull. “In here.”

  The orderly swung the gurney through the door Susan had appeared out of, and rolled it up next to a labor bed. Katie was quiet except for the occasional moan.

  Wade clutched her hand as she was transferred to the bed. “Is Dr. Phelps here yet?”

  “He's on his way and should be here any minute.”

  Right on cue, Dr. Larry Phelps came through the door. He and Wade exchanged grim smiles before the doctor looked down at Katie. “What's going on here? You’re not supposed to show up for another three months.”

  Wade watched as Katie tried to smile, but she couldn't manage it. He knew she was just as frightened as he was. “I don't know. One minute I was fine
, and the next I was in pain.”

  Dr. Phelps positioned himself in front of Katie on a stool. “Well, let’s have a look, shall we?”

  He put on gloves and lifted the sheet. He said nothing while examining her, and when he looked up, he spoke to the nurse.

  “What's her blood pressure?”

  The nurse showed him the chart.

  “And the fetal heart rate?”

  “Slow.”

  Dr. Phelps studied the chart for a few moments longer. Wade could tell he was weighing options, but he wished the doctor would share with them what the options were.

  Wade recognized the look of fear on Katie's face and he knew his face reflected hers. When the doctor finally looked up, Wade and Katie were both staring at him with the same intensity.

  “We're going to have to do a C-section. I won't mislead you, we're in a hazardous place right now. It appears Katie has suffered a placental abruption.”

  Wade's look of fear deepened. “A what?”

  “It's when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and the baby is deprived of oxygen. We're going to move Katie to surgery. We need to deliver the baby as soon as possible.”

  “Will they be all right? The baby is still so small.”

  “I hope so, but we must move quickly.”

  Dr. Phelps turned to the nurse and spoke, but Wade didn't hear what he said, he was in shock.

  When the doctor rotated on his stool back to the Duncans, he was looking at Wade. “I will see you shortly in surgery.”

  Dr. Phelps gave them another quick smile, and then left the room.

  Wade looked at Katie. Tears streamed down her face. They were both thinking the same thing. Katie said it for both of them. “We can't face it again... We can't...”

  Wade squeezed her hand. He understood; he just didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell her it would be okay, not to worry, that things were going to work out.

  He knew better. They both did. Sometimes things don’t work out. Ultimately, he did the one thing that helped them both. He bent over the bed, laid his head on her chest, and prayed.