Sweet Reward: A Last Chance Rescue Novel

by Christy Reece

  “Not yet.” When she leaned forward, he could practically feel the vibrating intensity in her slender frame. “Think about it, though. The day after it breaks on the news that a wealthy couple’s child had been taken, there’s a ransom demand and the baby is found. On that same day, the man with a limp tortures and kills Spunky to get to me, because I’m investigating the other missing baby. And then that same man is found dead.”

  “That ransom was over a month ago,” Jared said. “He could’ve been killed for something else.”

  She was shaking her head before he finished. “He’d been dead for a couple of weeks when they found him. The body was so decomposed, they had trouble identifying the remains. A couple of days ago, they ID’d him as Boyd Fuller.”

  “How do they know it’s the same guy? Did Sandi identify a picture of him?”

  “No. She couldn’t.”

  “Why not?”

  Sadness and a hint of grief flickered over her face. “She OD’d last week.”

  “Then how do they know it’s the same guy?”

  “The Hempsteads identified him as the man who’d worked in the kitchen the night before their baby was kidnapped. And his photo is almost identical to the sketch of the man Sandi described.”

  “You’re sure Sandi’s death was an overdose?” McCall asked. “Not murder?”

  “Based on what I know about her, yes, I’m sure she OD’d.”

  “Your client is dead … why’re you still on the case?” Jared said.

  A flare of heat glimmered in her eyes. “The child is still missing whether the mother is alive or dead.”

  Jared shrugged. “Most people would’ve given up and left it to the police.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Not any people worth their salt.”

  “I still don’t see how this has anything to do with our case. Lara and Carter aren’t wealthy like the Hempsteads, but they’re not destitute or drug addicts like Sandi, either. And Mandy Dennison’s disappearance has been all over the news.”

  With fire still in her eyes from his earlier comment, Mia snapped, “Perhaps it would be helpful to let me finish before you made that assumption.”

  Before Jared could snarl a reply, McCall’s voice cut into the crackling tension. “Okay, let’s get back on track. Anything else?”

  “Just that and a gut feeling. I agree there are differences, but if there’s been no ransom demand, the chances are good that if we find one child, we might come across the others.” Her chin tilted with determination. “All of my leads in Chicago have dried up. I can’t find Sandi’s baby on my own. I need help.”

  No way was Jared going to argue with that statement. “So you’re just here for this case?”

  He knew McCall was looking at him strangely. Asking people personal questions wasn’t the norm for him. Yeah, if he needed to get information for a case, he would interrogate with the best of them. But anything else, he didn’t pry. So why did he care if she planned to be a permanent fixture at LCR?

  “Just for this case … and however long it takes.”

  “What about your pets? You just going to abandon them?”

  “They’re my family—of course I’m not going to abandon them. A friend of mine is staying with them.”

  Jared knew he needed to stop with the questions. What the hell did he care about her plans, anyway?

  Furious words trembled on Mia’s mouth, but she refused to let them spew. Jared had made it more than clear that he didn’t think she was competent. Even while she reminded herself that she had nothing to prove, she knew that wasn’t exactly true. If they were going to be working together, he needed to trust her. She tried to convince herself that this was the only reason she would want him to think well of her, but she’d stopped lying to herself long ago. Dammit, Jared Livingston was the first man she’d been attracted to in years, and he saw her as a brainless twit.

  Her mind raced through different scenarios she could create to quickly show him that she was not only intelligent and extremely qualified but could probably best him in several areas.

  Pulling herself out of this ridiculous fantasy of one-upmanship, Mia looked at Noah. “I’ve got a list of about a half dozen people who could be connected to the disappearances in Chicago. If they match up with any of your suspects, maybe we’ve got ourselves something other than a lot of suppositions and dead ends.”

  Noah nodded. “I’ve got two other operatives coming in this afternoon. I’d like for them to hear your list. Why don’t you go get settled in your apartment.” He moved his gaze to Jared. “Livingston, can you come back at six o’clock for another meeting?”

  There was a long, electric silence. Mia waited for Jared to say something else, sure that before he left, he’d take the opportunity to tell Noah how unqualified she was. Instead, with an abruptness that didn’t even border on rudeness, he surged to his feet, saying, “I’ll see you at six,” and walked out the door, closing it with a definite click.

  Mia watched him leave, then turned to Noah with a small, wry smile. “Guess you might say that he doesn’t think a lot of me.”

  Noah’s mouth twitched. “Not sure that’s how I’d describe it. Is it going to be a problem for you to work with him?”

  She wanted to say no, that it didn’t matter if he liked her or not. She wished it didn’t matter, but it did. Still, it wouldn’t stop her from doing her job. “I’ll be fine. But are you sure you’re okay with me working this case, even though it’s just temporary?”

  “Wanting you on the team was never an issue, Mia. It was your methods I couldn’t abide.”

  She grimaced and admitted, “Not sure I’m a whole lot better.”

  “If I see a problem, I’ll call you on it. You’ve got the talent, training, and guts. If you decide the rules are still too rigid …” He deliberately let his words trail off.

  Mia nodded, appreciating, as always, Noah’s honesty and straightforwardness. “How are Samara and the kids?”

  A huge smile brightened his face. “Perfect.”

  That was the expression Noah always had whenever his wife or family was mentioned. And it was something that continued to awe Mia. Having known Noah years before he’d married Samara, she found the changes in him remarkable. Though he was still as dedicated as ever to LCR’s goals and could be a hard-ass when necessary, the obvious contentment and happiness his family brought him had changed him. She and Noah had had their arguments and their differences, but she had always admired and respected him. She was glad he’d found the happiness he deserved.

  Mia stood. She needed to get going if she was going to do all the things she planned to before their meeting this evening. “Give her my best.”

  Noah walked her to the door. “I’m sure she’ll be calling, inviting you over for dinner.”

  Stopping at the door, Mia turned back to him and asked, “What do you think of the chances of my case and yours being related?”

  “I’d say there’s a strong possibility. Infant abductions are rare enough. With so many similarities …” He shook his head. “Seems like a damn good theory to me.”

  She agreed. Now, if only they could find the bastards. “I’ll see you at six.”

  Mia headed to the elevator, her mind on the various things she wanted to get done before the meeting. And while she was performing all those tasks, she would be fortifying her defenses. Jared wasn’t pleased that he’d be working with her, and she had no doubt he’d do everything he could to persuade her to go back to Chicago. Not that it would do any good.

  Odd how she was looking forward to the challenge.

  six

  Package delivered. Payment received. Transaction complete.

  Garwood Kinsey pressed Send, and another profitable business deal was complete. One hundred fifty grand in the big boss’s coffers, seventy-five in his, and the other twenty-five went to the grunts—the sleaze and slime who oozed through the world doing whatever they could to make a buck. They were the most disgusting forms of humanity, but
he was glad they existed.

  The boss would be pleased. This was their fifth transaction in as many months and the seventh this year. They were both really racking up the dough. Garwood had already made over a half a million dollars for the year. Not bad for a farm boy from Pennsylvania who literally hadn’t had a pot to piss in until he was out on his own.

  He stood and stretched his big body, wincing at the popping of his muscles. His day job of supervising a small group of data-entry people for a major charity was mind-numbingly boring, but it paid the rent and the utilities and bought his groceries. The money he made on this new deal would go into his savings with the rest of his earnings. He’d been saving for only three years and already had a couple million and change. Another year or so and he’d be buying that mansion in Bermuda he’d always dreamed of. Hot sun and even hotter women. He’d never have to work again.

  A chime from his computer told him he had a new message. He wasn’t expecting a response to his previous email. That was a completed job; nothing more to do but pat himself on the back and put the money in the bank. Garwood plopped back into his chair, and as he read the message, a smile spread across his face. Another job. This one here in Paris.

  He jotted down the details and then deleted the email. Every other day, he wiped out his entire email system. That was one of the things his boss liked the most about him. He was a computer genius. No one could trace these transactions. Nothing could tie him or his boss to the sad and oh-so-tragic abduction of infants. Why, he’d even heard the man express sympathy for a couple of the families and outrage that the police had not been able to catch the evil fiends.

  He picked up his disposable cellphone and started making the calls. In a week, two at the most, he’d be sending another email with the exact same message. And he’d be that much closer to his dream.

  The instant Mia opened the door to her apartment, a wave of loneliness swamped her. Even though this was only a temporary residence, she almost regretted not having rented a small house outside the city. At least she would have been able to see green grass and breathe fresher air. But if she had done that, she knew, she would have missed her fur family even more.

  Her friend Allie was staying at her house and watching over the animals. Still, Mia missed and worried about them. Each one was a rescue and had been through enough trauma. Putting them in a kennel for weeks wasn’t something she’d been willing to do.

  She pressed her back against the closed door as her mind raced with what she needed to accomplish. She had only a few hours before the meeting back at LCR. First, unpack; then a trip to her favorite store in Paris for some much-needed personal touches to spice up the decor. She’d rented the apartment furnished, but its cream walls and blah furniture screamed for color. Then, on her way back from shopping, she’d stop at the market and grab some groceries.

  Doing what she’d done since she was seventeen years old, she went through the apartment and checked the closets. Thankfully, there weren’t that many and they were extremely shallow. The largest of them could barely hold a teenager, let alone two grown men.

  With that ritual completed, she dug out her cellphone from her purse and made the call she’d been dreading since she had learned that she was coming to Paris. She needed to let her parents know she was in Europe.

  Informing them that she was in another country was the only promise she’d made to them. That way, when there was “trouble”—and to her parents, there was always “trouble”—her father could be prepared to call his contacts and smooth out the problems.

  There had only been that one incident, and it had been years ago. Still, it had earned her the title of troublemaker of the family. To be fair, being called out of a meeting at the White House and told that your daughter had just kicked the balls of a prime minister and was now sitting in jail had probably not been the best news a parent could receive. The fact that the bastard had grabbed her breast and made a very vulgar remark had been no excuse. At an early age, she’d learned how to get out of such a predicament. One second before her foot went between his legs, she had considered that alternative. However, the kick was so much more effective and final. Once she had been released from jail, she’d never had to be around the creep again.

  That had been the first real indication to her parents that she wasn’t the same person she’d once been. The psychologist had called it a total personality reversal. Mia had called it finally getting a life.

  The phone barely got through one ring before her mother, Phoebe Maxwell, answered with “Mia, what’s wrong?”

  The typical greeting barely registered. “Just wanted to let you know I’m in Europe.”

  In the heartbeat of silence that followed, Mia heard a thousand questions. However, her mother only said, “That’s wonderful, darling. Then you’ll be able to come for your sister’s birthday, won’t you?”

  “No, Mom, I can’t. I’m on a job.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Mia. We rarely see you anymore. The least you can do is come visit us when you’re in town.”

  “Mom, I’m in Paris, you’re in Rome. That’s not exactly next door.”

  “It’s closer than Chicago.”

  “Maybe when the job is over, I can come for a quick visit. I’m not making any promises.”

  “Of course you’re not, Mia. We stopped expecting those years ago.”

  As much as she wanted to deny the sting, it was there. She knew she was a major disappointment to her parents. The reminder wasn’t necessary, but her mom was excellent at those tiny little jabs.

  “How’re Dad and Nadia?”

  “They’re doing well. You’re father’s still considering retirement, and your sister is in Switzerland with some friends.”

  Her father, Quinton Maxwell, was an American diplomat and had been considering retirement for as long as Mia could remember. He would never retire unless forced at gunpoint—and perhaps with a machete too.

  And Nadia, her sister, was the perfect diplomat’s daughter, beautiful and outgoing—an asset to her parents, not a hindrance or embarrassment. Mia had never bothered to tell them any different. They saw Nadia the way they wanted to see her.

  Since she didn’t want any questions from her mother she couldn’t answer, she stayed with safe subjects: How’s the weather? What happened at the last embassy party? Who’s engaged, divorcing, or having an affair?

  Her mother was the soul of propriety, but she also loved to gossip. Since she had few people she could share secrets with, Mia was often her sounding board. Slipping in an earphone, Mia unzipped her luggage and, while making the appropriate listening noises, unpacked her bags.

  Half an hour later, Phoebe had finally run out of gossip and Mia was completely unpacked. Multitasking at its best.

  “Well, darling, I must fly. Call and let us know when you’re coming. Smooches.”

  “Okay. Give my love to Dad.”

  “You know, it wouldn’t hurt for you to call your sister. Blood ties should be stronger than old hurts.”

  Mia shook her head. She’d heard it a thousand times before. They thought she still held a grudge against her sister for stealing her fiancé. That really wasn’t the reason. Lewis had made it more than clear that a political career was in his future. Mia had been a viable candidate, but when she’d told him she wanted a different kind of life, Lewis hadn’t been happy. He’d been ripe for Nadia’s schemes. A brief affair had commenced … one that had ended badly. He was now married to another diplomat’s daughter and would probably run for the Senate in the next election.

  Even though there was only a two-year age gap between them, Mia and Nadia had never been close. They were too different and had always wanted completely opposite things. Even before the event that had changed her life, Mia had recognized the differences. Nadia thrived on glitz, glamour, and political intrigue. Mia had found some of it enjoyable; for the rest, she had faked her enthusiasm. She had been expected to act a certain way, and she had. But then everything had changed, a
nd so had Mia.

  Telling her parents that she and Nadia heartily disliked each other had never been an option. She let them keep their illusions that they had two children who didn’t hate each other. It just made for a more peaceful existence all around.

  “I’ll try, Mom, but my job’s taking much of my time these days.”

  As expected, a hurried goodbye followed that statement. Any mention of Mia’s job elicited either a change of subject or the end of the conversation. She was used to that, too.

  Mia gave the drab, utilitarian apartment another sweeping glance and assessed what she could do to make it as homey as possible. The place was in desperate need of both color and comfort. She grabbed her jacket and headed toward the door. If she hurried, she might be able to get in a quick workout at LCR. After seeing Jared again, her body needed some kind of physical release. And since what it wanted was never going to happen, she would take second best.

  She had a feeling she was going to be working out a lot in the next few weeks.

  Jared ducked, avoiding the fist that came at his head. He whirled, kicked out, and knocked his opponent on his ass. The man was back on his feet in an instant, coming at Jared and tackling him to the ground. Cursing, Jared put his forearm against the man’s sternum and pushed hard, putting several inches between them. Using that space, Jared raised a knee and jabbed his opponent in the inner thigh. His opponent cursed, rolled away, and then jumped to his feet.

  “Hell, man, a couple of inches to the right and you’d have some explaining to do with McKenna,” Lucas growled.

  A smile twitched at Jared’s mouth. The idea of him explaining to McKenna why her husband would be sexually indisposed for a few days was the first humorous thing he’d heard in a while.

  “She’d probably send me a thank-you gift.”

  Lucas snorted. “Don’t count on it. She’s rather fond of me.”

  Yeah, he knew that. In fact, Lucas and McKenna were actually the first couple he’d been around that genuinely loved each other. He’d never seen a good marriage growing up, which might account for his poor decisions in his own.