The Woman Most Wanted

by Pamela Tracy

  It was wrong. He knew it. He just couldn’t let his heart change his mind.

  Not about this.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  “RICHARD WOKE UP! This morning!” Bianca yelled up the stairs. Then, she added, “And it looks like he’ll be all right. I mean they can’t tell about everything yet, but he’s talking cohesively.”

  Tom, Heather thought, would probably add “and he should be able to stand trial.”

  “Tom’s allowing Rachel a compassionate visit,” Bianca continued.

  Okay, Heather gave Tom a point for that small mercy.

  “They’re on their way over. I mean Oscar and Tom. Apparently, they have some things to tell us. Er, you,” Bianca amended.

  It had been four days since Heather’d seen Tom. Her heart danced a little, but she knew how to turn off the music of her soul. Tom didn’t deserve such a reception.

  Almost every day, after work, Heather had driven to the foster parents’ home in a nearby community north of Sarasota Falls to see Abigail. Rachel and Richard had done a great job of raising a happy, healthy little girl, who felt a whole lot better knowing she had an aunt who looked “exactly like Mama.”

  Tom was wrong to put the sins of the father on Abigail.

  “They must have called from the squad car,” Bianca said when the front door opened. Oscar came in first, bypassed the doughnuts and grabbed an apple before giving Bianca a peck on the cheek.

  “You don’t want a doughnut?” she asked.

  “Shelley can’t seem to stop baking. If we have a dozen kids, I’ll be bigger than a house.”

  Tom apparently didn’t have the same worry. He took a doughnut and settled in one of Bianca’s living room chairs. Bianca herded Oscar into the room and gestured for Heather.

  “It was my memory that solved this case, so I get to hear everything. It’s only fair.”

  A few seconds of silence followed before Oscar leaned forward and said, “Chief says the mayor’s house was practically empty. He couldn’t get over the change because he remembered it when it used to practically burst at its seams with a wife and four children.”

  Tom nodded. “His family used to host an Easter egg hunt in their backyard. We kids looked forward to it all year.”

  Heather almost felt sorry for the mayor. Almost.

  “He couldn’t stop talking,” Tom said. “He must have had all the guilt bottled up. The mayor knew he’d messed up, almost continuously for twenty-eight years, from when he’d purchased an old car from Owen Tanner and started an affair with Tanner’s youngest daughter.”

  “Diane,” Bianca breathed.

  “Some of this we got from her father, who is still alive but doesn’t want anything to do with—” Oscar sent Heather an apologetic glance “—with any of this. Apparently, Diane Tanner considered the mayor quite a catch. It apparently hadn’t occurred to her that, since he was married, he was already caught.”

  “How old was she?”

  “Eighteen.”

  “And he a man of forty-something,” Bianca muttered.

  “After Heather’s birth and Diane’s family’s annoyance with her, she drove the car Mayor Goodman purchased to Sarasota Falls and stayed.”

  “How did she hook up with Kyle Ramsey?”

  “She got mad at the mayor and did it to spite him. At least that’s what he says.”

  “Ew,” Heather said, thinking about Rachel. “But she didn’t stay mad forever.” Again, thinking about Rachel.

  “That must have given Mayor Goodman quite an ulcer,” Bianca said.

  Tom agreed. “In Goodman’s mind, Diane was a mistake that dominoed. He says he watched Diane with you and didn’t like what he saw. Heather, your parents didn’t exactly kidnap you. Goodman was your dad’s landlord, knew he was a good guy and saw that a romance was brewing between him and Sarah. He also knew your dad was pretty much broke and that your mom couldn’t have children. He made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.”

  “To kidnap me.”

  “No, Goodman is your father. It’s not kidnapping if the parties willingly go into an adoption. They used an out-of-state lawyer and Sarah and Ray took custody of you.”

  “Why didn’t I find any of that paperwork?”

  “Goodman says he burned it, too afraid someone would find it. Maybe Sarah and Ray thought the same.”

  “Then the mayor got Diane pregnant again. And this time, she wasn’t eighteen and somewhat naïve. She made him pay. He was terrified she’d expose him.”

  “I never trusted the mayor.” Bianca frowned. “I didn’t vote for him. But why, if he was paying, why didn’t they live better?”

  “The mayor says Diane didn’t hold on to the money. Much of it disappeared into Kyle’s pocket or she used it for partying.”

  Heather flinched, again thinking about Rachel.

  “The mayor contacted your parents,” Oscar continued. “They came here but realized that Diane was out of control. You and Tom were right. They were afraid that taking on Rachel might mean losing you.”

  “So, they bought the house and rented it to Diane.”

  “With the mayor paying the rent most of the time.”

  “What a tangled web of secrets,” Bianca said, standing and stretching. “Glad this story has a happy ending.”

  Tom didn’t look Heather’s way. Fine. Sometimes happy endings took time. Sometimes, a happy ending wasn’t the one you expected.

  Both Bianca and Heather followed Tom and Oscar out to the SUV.

  “We’re glad you stopped by,” Bianca said. “We were wondering...”

  “You still want my truck on Saturday?” Oscar asked.

  “Yes,” Heather said, “I don’t have much. If I take your truck instead of my—”

  “Toy car,” Tom interrupted.

  “Then I’ll only need to make one trip.”

  “She’s moving to her house this weekend,” Bianca explained. “She wants to clean it real good, get it ready for Abigail.”

  “You hear anything?” Oscar asked.

  “They said after I get a permanent address, they’ll do a home visit. Then, most likely I can take over her care.”

  “It can take weeks, months even,” Oscar advised.

  “Not this time,” Heather said. “I’ll call social services every day if I have to.”

  Oscar climbed into the passenger seat. Tom walked around to the driver’s side. Heather saw him open his mouth, like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

  Instead, he tipped his hat and then hopped in his SUV and drove away.

  Stubborn man.

  Stubborn man that she loved.

  Couldn’t have.

  Didn’t need.

  * * *

  “HI, TOM.” Jimmy Walker, old, bent and a member of the chamber of commerce, as well as owner of the Station Diner, entered Tom’s office. Lately, time seemed to crawl and the cases handed to Tom were mundane.

  “Jimmy, what can I do for you?”

  “Well, you know I’m on the town council.” Tom did know this. And he could guess what was coming next.

  “You’re stepping into the role of mayor.”

  “No.” Jimmy coughed and sat down. Tom couldn’t remember a time the man had been healthy. Heck, he couldn’t remember a time Jimmy had been young.

  “I’m not taking over as mayor. Health won’t allow it, and besides, we’ve got a better candidate in mind.”

  Tom turned away from his computer screen, folded his hands in front of him and gave the man his full attention. “What’s up, Jimmy?”

  “We’re not a big town,” Jimmy began. “We don’t have a deputy mayor, and so, yes, according to bylaws, with my seniority, I’m next in line.”

  “Then, you ca
n just appoint an acting mayor until...” Tom’s words tapered off. “No, you’re not here to ask me to be mayor.”

  “I am. We had a special meeting tonight. It was unanimous.”

  “Sure it was. No one was there to talk any sense about why I’m not the one for the job.”

  “It would only be temporary.”

  “No, it wouldn’t. Once you got me in place, I’d be there forever. I’m happy as the chief of police.”

  “You’re not happy,” Leann called from the front-desk area.

  “You want me to close the door?” Jimmy offered.

  “No. We’re good.”

  “I’m sorry you’re not happy. You want to talk about it?”

  Tom cocked his head. “Are you serious?”

  “I am. I know you and Heather are having problems. I never married, but over at the diner I hear quite a bit. I’ve given advice to quite a few couples—”

  Tom held up his hand, effectively halting Jimmy.

  “Okay.” Jimmy, making a big production of it, stood. “I’m not done talking to you. You’d be a great mayor. You’re what this town needs. Plus, there’s at least two of your staff who could be acting chief. We don’t have anyone—”

  “Willing to be mayor. I get it. The answer is still no.”

  Tom heard the front-desk phone ring as he handed Jimmy his hat. “Bianca will be here tomorrow,” Jimmy said. “We’ll take turns bugging you until you accept.”

  “Great.”

  “If you’d just—”

  “Not interested.”

  Leann skidded to a stop in front of him. “Chief, that was social services. Abigail Ramsey’s missing.”

  Life, as Tom knew it, had just stopped being mundane. “Have you called Heather?”

  “No, but she was there earlier this morning, in Springer. Social services thinks maybe Heather took Abigail.”

  “Pfftt, not a chance. Keep trying Heather. She gets spotty reception out at her place. I’m going to make her get a landline. First thing I do after finding Abigail.”

  “You going to the foster family’s place?” Leann asked.

  “Right after I find Heather. You stay here. Call Oscar and Lucas, find out where they are and tell them they’ll hear from me”

  “Should I tell Rachel?”

  “Get Bianca over here. You can tell Rachel with Bianca in the room and then Bianca can stay with her while you man things out front. We’ll tell Richard in a few hours. He’s still weak and I don’t want to worry him if we find the little girl quickly.”

  “Got it.” Leann flew out to the front.

  Photos. Tom wanted photos of Abigail. He hated that the foster family’s place and Heather’s property, in Sarasota Falls, were in opposite directions. And he was mad at himself. He should have been out there with Heather, giving her advice and helping.

  The SUV started easily and Tom headed for the farmhouse. It had been second nature back when he was trying to trip up Richard, but now when it should have felt right, it felt wrong. He called Oscar and told him to gather as many able-bodied men and women as he could and get to the foster family’s address as fast as they could.

  Social services would have photos, he told himself, but maybe he’d find a few at Heather’s place. He figured it still had Rachel and Abigail’s belongings.

  But her car wasn’t in the driveway.

  He turned around, headed for the Turners’. Not seeing her car there, either, he immediately left, and his phone pinged. Quickly, he filled in Albert Turner on what was happening. The past chief of police had spotted his SUV through the window. He said he was already in his truck before Tom was able to say goodbye. His job: find Heather.

  Tom tried Heather’s phone again as his SUV skidded onto the highway. No answer.

  Where was she?

  He called Lucas, who answered, “They’re gathering forces. Wouldn’t surprise me if the ladies’ bible-study group beats you there.”

  “What are you doing?” Tom asked, not surprised that his lieutenant had already heard the news and was acting.

  “Halfway there. I’ll bet you, too.”

  Instead, Tom beat Lucas. Siren on, pedal to the metal, he passed every car in front of him. He recognized all of them as friends heading a good hour away to help look for the missing five-year-old girl. For a town with a small population, Springer, with Sarasota Falls’s aid, lit up the sky.

  Tom’s phone pinged again. Leann. “I just got off the phone with Heather. She’s on her way.”

  “Tell her to drive carefully,” Tom barked.

  “Call her yourself,” Leann barked back.

  The forces had commandeered the nearby grade school for their headquarters. At Tom’s direction, Oscar began organizing the volunteers. Tom, meanwhile, couldn’t let go of his phone, making call after call, desperate for any new news. Oscar approached him. “We’ve divided into four teams. Everyone’s double-timing it out there. I’ve got people in every direction and branched all the way to the national forest. The temperature is dropping. We really don’t want that little girl outside when it gets cold. They don’t think she’s wearing a coat.”

  “Do you know why or when she wandered away?”

  “Probably an hour ago, after her aunt left. The foster mom put on Frozen and went in to do the dishes. When she came back, the little girl was gone. Door wide open. She ran around the neighborhood, but no luck. That was when she called social services to let them know.”

  “Does the mom think she was taken or wandered away?”

  “Unsure.”

  Tom’s phone buzzed. He pressed the screen and slapped the cell to his ear. “Riley.”

  “State police here. We’ve just heard that the aunt’s been found and is on her way to your location. I’m looking forward to you questioning her.”

  “She had nothing to do with it.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I’m going to marry the aunt. She’s about to become a cop’s wife, and she’s smart enough to do the right thing.” He hung up.

  Oscar smiled. “Good enough. All the rural routes are covered. Why don’t you go back over the neighborhood closest to the house?”

  Tom’s phone pinged. This time it was Lucas. “I’m at Route Two at the junction. I found a shoe.”

  “A little girl’s shoe?”

  “Would I have called about any other kind? I’m near the pocket of trees where the road swerves sharply to the left.”

  “Abigail made it that far?” Tom was amazed.

  “I’m hoping that if her shoe made it this far, Abigail did.”

  Tom quickly filled in the deputy and then jogged out to his SUV. Ten minutes later, he joined Lucas in shining a flashlight left and right.

  “Kids do the strangest things,” Lucas said. “My middle daughter ran away when she was eleven. Wrote us a note that she was going to live in a Dumpster. Instead, she went to her best friend’s house. That mom served only green peas for supper that night and said that was the only thing they ever ate. I had my daughter back the same evening. To this day, she hates green peas.”

  “Here’s another shoe.” Tom bent down, running his flashlight over dry remnants of grass and dead leaves. He reached out to tug the red tennis shoe toward him and saw the sock and the bare leg and the sleeping child.

  “Thank God,” he breathed, bending down to pick her up.

  “Cold,” she murmured in his ear. “Want Mommy.”

  “We’ll see what we can do,” he promised. “First, are you hurt?”

  “No.”

  “Did somebody bring you here?”

  “No, I walked. I want to find Auntie. But I got lost.”

  Lucas quickly left and soon returned with a blanket to wrap Abigail in.

  �
��She’s okay,” Tom said. “Really okay. She wanted to be with Heather. I don’t blame her. I want the same thing myself.”

  “If you’d figured that out sooner, we’d not be out here,” Lucas muttered.

  They’d no more than loaded Abigail in Tom’s back seat when a tiny compact sent dirt flying as it swung behind Tom’s SUV. Heather opened its door, fell out and then hurried to Tom’s side. “You found her. Is she okay? What happened?”

  “Lucas and I found her. She’s all right. A bit shaken up and searching for you.”

  “Oh, sweetie.”

  “I looked for you. You drove way too fast.”

  “Can I get in with her?”

  “Sure.”

  Crawling into the SUV’s backseat, Heather gathered Abigail into her lap and stroked her hair. “Could we find another blanket?” she called.

  “I’ve got one in the trunk.” Tom fetched it, tucked it around Abigail.

  “You did a great job organizing the search. Thank you,” Heather said.

  “It’s my job, but thanks. Right now, we should get Abigail to the doctor.”

  “Yes, let’s hurry.”

  Tom asked Lucas to make sure everyone had gotten word of Abigail’s safe return.

  Tom locked and shut Heather’s driver-side door before returning to his SUV. When he climbed in, Heather asked, “Which doctor?”

  “There’s one at the school where they set up a base during the search. We’ll go there. Have him check Abigail out, just to be sure. By the way, where were you?”

  “I was at the library. I wanted to use its Wi-Fi so I could read about social services. I want Abigail with me, and everything seems to take forever.”

  “How did you find out what was going on?”

  “Maureen saw my car in the parking lot and came in, wondering why I was there and not here. I almost fainted. I was so-o-o scared.”

  “I wasn’t scared,” Abigail insisted. “I was lost.”

  “You were, sweetie. And don’t get lost ever again.”

  It only took ten minutes for the doctor to assess the few scratches Abigail obtained during her “wilderness adventure” as he called it. Then Tom found himself looking into Heather’s eyes as she put an arm around Abigail.