The Missing McCullen

by Rita Herron

  “The money’s gone.”

  “I know. There are two of them. I saw a figure in black snatch it and run.” Maddox’s breath heaved out. “I’m going after the shooter.”

  A dark figure caught Cash’s eye. To his left. On a path that led to a scenic overhang.

  “I’ll follow the money.” Cash kept his eyes trained on the figure as he darted down the hill and jogged toward the Cadillac.

  BJ was running toward him. “Cash!”

  “I told you to stay in the car,” he growled.

  She caught his arm. “Are you hurt?”

  “No.” He ushered her back to the car, ignoring the fear in her eyes. “Now get in,” he rasped. “We need to go.”

  BJ slid into the seat, and he jogged around the front of the car and jumped in. A quick flick of the switch and the car sputtered to life.

  He threw the car into Drive, swung it around and raced over the graveled road to a parking area. Just as they reached it, a dark green SUV tore from the lot.

  Cash stomped on the gas and sped after it. The SUV’s tires screeched as it roared down the incline. The Cadillac’s tires churned over gravel as he followed.

  “Did you see the shooter?” BJ asked.

  “No, he was up higher.” He swung a right, desperate to keep up with the SUV as they careened around a curve. “Did you see anything?”

  “No.” She gripped the dash as he made the turn on two wheels.

  “Is Tyler in the car?”

  BJ leaned forward, eyes narrowing as she searched. “I can’t see anything. The windows are tinted.”

  Cash cursed. “Tyler had better be in there.”

  “You said there were two,” BJ’s voice cracked. “The shooter might have him.”

  Cash swallowed hard to control his panic. The fact that they had been ambushed was a bad sign.

  Tyler might not be with either one of them. He might be dead, just like Sondra, and this was a setup to extract enough money for the kidnappers to escape.

  * * *

  TERROR SHOT THROUGH BJ.

  If Tyler wasn’t in the car, the kidnappers could have left him somewhere safe. Maybe they’d planned to get the money, then go back, pick up Tyler, drop him somewhere, then call Elmore and tell him where he was.

  Or they might not have planned to give him back at all.

  Cash hit a pothole and the vehicle bounced, jarring her even more. She clawed at the seat to keep upright as he swung to the left and sped up on the SUV. Seconds turned into minutes as he chased it onto the highway. A truck pulled out, nearly cutting them off, and Cash rode the shoulder to keep from hitting it.

  The river loomed ahead. Cash picked up speed. The SUV did the same, but it suddenly swerved as an oncoming car crossed the line. The car zoomed past. The driver of the SUV tried to straighten its course, but it was going too fast and he lost control.

  The vehicle skidded, careened to the right, then went into a spin. Instead of coming to a stop, it flipped, then rolled.

  Cash muttered a curse, slowed the Cadillac, then threw it into Park on the side of the road.

  The SUV dived nose first under the water, the rest of the vehicle slowly sinking.

  If Tyler was in there, he might drown.

  Déjà vu of losing her son made BJ’s head spin. For a moment the world blurred. She was standing on the embankment, watching rescue workers haul her ex-husband’s car from the lake.

  Panic, fear and sorrow gripped her, and tears blurred her eyes. If she’d been with them, maybe she could have saved her son.

  Dammit, BJ. Get a grip.

  It might not be too late for Tyler.

  She threw open the door, yanked off her shoes, ran toward the river and dived in.

  The current was strong and immediately swept her downstream, but she took a deep breath, swam below and fought it as she searched for the vehicle. The water was muddy and cold, and a chill invaded her as she spotted Cash yanking at the door to the driver’s side.

  She kicked hard and swam deeper, pushing forward until she reached the other side of the SUV. The murky water blurred her vision, and loose strands of her hair drifted in a tangle around her face. She pushed them away, leaned toward the window and peered inside. No one in the passenger seat.

  Heart pounding, she swam to the back window, then pressed her face against it. A child’s blanket lay on the seat, a bulge beneath it.

  Fear choked her. Was Tyler under that blanket?

  * * *

  CASH PULLED AND yanked at the car door, but it wouldn’t budge. One look inside and he’d seen the driver, a dark-clad figure slumped over the wheel. Blood gushing.

  No seat belt.

  Muddy river water seeped into the car, slowly filling it and making it impossible to see if anyone else was inside. He spotted a blanket in the back and prayed that if Tyler was under it, he was alive.

  He had to get the damn door open. But it wouldn’t budge.

  The window was his best bet. He ripped off his shirt, wrapped it around his fist, then punched the glass. Nothing happened and he tried again.

  The force of the current was too strong.

  And his lungs were about to explode.

  Suddenly, BJ appeared beside him with a rock in one hand. Hair swirled around her face, and terror widened her eyes. But she shoved the rock toward him.

  Adrenaline fueled his strength, and he swung the rock against the glass. It took three tries, but it finally shattered. Water gushed into the SUV, and he fought the current to reach inside and open the car door.

  The force of the water threw him backward. BJ was struggling. He motioned for her to surface for air, but she shook her head.

  He didn’t have time to argue.

  He grabbed the car door, swam to the driver, then yanked the body from the car. The hooded sweatshirt had shrouded the person’s face. The body was lighter than he’d expected.

  A woman?

  He didn’t take the time to look. He tucked the body under one arm, desperate to see if Tyler was in the backseat.

  BJ must have been thinking the same thing. She fumbled with the seat, trying to move it forward so she could reach in back.

  The current tried to sweep her away. He caught her and pushed her forward. She clutched the edge of the door, and he guided her inside.

  His heart pounded as she grabbed the blanket.

  * * *

  BJ’S LUNGS STRAINED for air as she dragged the blanket from the seat. Thank God...

  Tyler wasn’t there.

  Relief flooded her but her lungs were about to explode. She frantically searched the floor, but found nothing.

  Cash pulled her from the vehicle and held on to her as they swam upward. As soon as they broke the surface, she gasped for a breath. Cash did the same.

  He clutched the driver’s body under one arm and motioned for her to swim to shore. She took another breath to get a second wind, then gathered her strength and pumped her legs and arms to propel her to the river’s edge. When she reached the embankment, she crawled onto it and collapsed, the soggy blanket clutched in one hand.

  Tears blinded her vision, and a sob broke loose. She pressed the blanket to her cheeks, inhaled the little boy’s odor blended with the smell of the murky water, and emotions overwhelmed her.

  An image of Tyler hugging this blanket for comfort taunted her. Her son had loved his blanket, too. A ratty yellow one that he’d worn thin by rubbing one section of ribbon with his fingers.

  Her heart had broken at the thought of him being without it. But she hadn’t wanted to part with it, either.

  So she’d cut it in half, kept a piece of it under her pillow and buried the remainder with him. She remembered tucking it under his arm the way he’d held it at night, then kissing his c
heek as she’d been forced to say goodbye.

  Behind her, Cash’s grunt brought her back to reality.

  Her son was gone, but they still might be able to save Tyler. She prayed the driver of that car was alive and could tell them where he’d left the little boy.

  Cash’s muscles were straining as he shoved the body onto the dirt. She crawled to them, and he flipped the body over.

  All black clothing, black hoodie.

  Long strands of hair peeking out. Tangled and wet.

  Cash pushed the hood back. BJ gasped again.

  Diane.

  Sondra’s best friend.

  Diane had acted so concerned and worried. Elmore had trusted her. Had believed she didn’t know where Tyler was.

  Sondra would have trusted her, as well.

  Which would have made it easy for Diane to get close enough to kill Sondra. Diane would also have known Sondra’s routine. Her schedule.

  But why would Diane kill her best friend?

  Cash checked the woman’s pulse. “We need an ambulance.”

  BJ pushed to her feet, then staggered back toward the Cadillac. She dug her phone from her purse, then punched 911. “We need an ambulance at Stone Gap. A woman ran her car into the river. She’s unconscious.”

  She hung up and rushed back to Cash.

  He was on his knees, patting Diane’s cheeks in an attempt to rouse her to consciousness. Diane’s face looked sickly white. Her clothing was soaked and covered in murk from the river.

  A siren wailed.

  “Come on, dammit,” Cash said. “Wake up and tell us what you did with the boy.”

  It did no good. Diane didn’t move.

  She lay stone still, the slight rise and fall of her chest the only indication she was alive.

  The ambulance screeched to a stop, lights twirling in the darkness falling over the land.

  Land as desolate as BJ felt.

  Medics jumped out and ran toward them, then took her vitals. Seconds later they retrieved a stretcher and loaded her onto it.

  “Do you know her name?” one of them asked Cash.

  “Diane Stuckey,” he replied. “I have no idea if she has family.”

  The medics carried her to the ambulance.

  “I’d like to ride with her,” Cash said.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but that’s against the rules. You can follow us.”

  Irritation darkened Cash’s eyes, but he didn’t argue. BJ was trembling as she followed him to the Cadillac. His jaw hardened as he started the car and followed the ambulance.

  BJ turned to look out the window. Emotions racked her, and she swiped at tears she couldn’t stop.

  Cash reached out and laid his hand over hers. His palm felt warm and strong, comforting. She held on to it for dear life.

  Traffic and night noises blurred into the background. Storm clouds rolled in, making it seem dark and eerie.

  She kept seeing her son in that wreck. His face battered and bruised. His still chest... The soul-deep ache that never went away stirred to full force.

  Cash’s phone buzzed. He snatched it up. “The kidnapper crashed into the river. I’m following the ambulance. Did you catch the shooter?” A pause. “Hell. Just meet us at the hospital.”

  Cash veered into the hospital parking lot, and they both jumped out and ran toward the ambulance.

  But the medic shook his head, his expression grave.

  Diane was dead. The shooter had escaped.

  And they had no idea if Tyler was dead or alive.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Frustration built inside Cash.

  Diane Stuckey was dead.

  Sondra’s friend had kidnapped her son and now they had no idea where he was.

  Had she hurt Tyler?

  And why would she steal her best friend’s little boy? Was she jealous of Sondra? Did she want the child for herself?

  Or was it all about the money?

  “I issued a BOLO for the truck,” Maddox said. “Whitefeather is examining the woman’s car and searching for a phone. We’ll look for a computer at her home. Somewhere in there, we’ll find this son of a bitch.”

  “You got the license plate of the truck?” Cash asked.

  Maddox frowned. “Afraid not. We need to know more about Diane.”

  BJ had excused herself to go to the ladies’ room to clean up. She was obviously shaken over the death of Sondra’s friend, and they were both still wet from the river. But something else seemed to be bothering her.

  She’d looked almost despondent when they’d emerged from the river.

  Maddox’s phone buzzed. “It’s Elmore.”

  Maddox stepped aside to talk to Elmore and Cash went to the Cadillac to retrieve his shirt. The damn thing was wet but he couldn’t do anything about that until they returned to the cabin.

  By the time he made it back to the waiting room, BJ had emerged from the ladies’ room. She’d combed her hair and wrung some of the water from her clothes, but her face was splotched. She’d been crying.

  Cash’s gut clenched. “BJ, are you okay?”

  She averted her gaze but nodded. “Any word on the shooter?”

  “Not yet. Maddox issued a BOLO.” He gestured toward Maddox. “He’s talking to Elmore now.”

  “That can’t be a pleasant phone call.”

  “No.” Cash touched her elbow gently. “BJ?”

  She lifted her chin. “I’m fine, Cash. Let’s just focus on finding where Diane might have taken Tyler.”

  Cash hissed between his teeth. “Right.”

  Finding Tyler was all that mattered.

  Maddox walked toward them, his expression worried. “Brett said Nix has been home all evening, so we can rule him out. Whitefeather’s searching Diane’s vehicle. Elmore said Diane has no family. I have her address. I’m going to search her house.”

  “We’ll go with you,” BJ said.

  Maddox shook his head. “This is police business. Besides, you two were almost killed tonight. BJ, you probably have enough now to get the charges dropped against Cash. Focus on that. Go back to the cabin and I’ll keep you posted.”

  “Look, Maddox, we’ll be safer with you,” Cash said. “If we find Tyler, he’s going to need me. I’m not going to let him down again.”

  * * *

  BJ FOCUSED ON finding out all she could about Diane Stuckey from the internet as they swung by Horseshoe Creek so she and Cash could change.

  Maddox’s wife Rose loaned her some jeans and a shirt along with a pair of cowboy boots. Meanwhile, Maddox secured a warrant for Diane’s condo, car, computer, phone and her personal belongings. Cash retrieved his truck, and they followed Maddox to Diane’s condo.

  “Her parents weren’t well-off like Elmore, but they tried to give her a good life. She and Sondra became friends when they met at a horseback riding class. Both girls excelled, and went on to show. Diane had to work mucking stalls to help pay for her trainer.” She skimmed for more information. “Both girls did well in competition, although Sondra always placed first and Diane second.”

  “Friends and rivals.” Cash made a low sound in his throat. “So Diane could have been jealous of Sondra. She got tired of coming in second.”

  “It’s possible.” BJ found some photos Diane had posted of her and Sondra on the first day of college and at dressage award ceremonies. Sondra’s father stood beside her, looking regal and important, while one photo caught Diane watching them with envy.

  * * *

  “YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. Diane may have wanted the life Sondra had.” BJ found a photo of Diane holding Tyler at his first birthday party. “Sondra always came in first in everything. She had her father’s love, and then her own child.”

  “But Diane
has that expensive condo. Where did she get the money?”

  “There are pictures of her with several different men, a couple of them older. She may have had a sugar daddy.”

  “Then why ask for ransom money?”

  “To throw police off of the real motive?” BJ searched Diane’s Facebook posts “There are some comments here about Diane having health issues a couple of years ago. I don’t think she could get pregnant.”

  BJ drummed her fingers on her thigh. “If she wanted Sondra’s family and loved Tyler, at least she would have taken care of him. She would’ve left him somewhere safe.”

  Cash nodded. “What if Tyler was with the shooter, though? Just because Diane wanted Tyler doesn’t mean her cohort does.”

  Cash veered into the complex and parked. They climbed out and met Maddox at the door.

  “Cash, you have to stay outside again,” Maddox said. “I don’t want any evidence thrown out because of your presence.”

  “Maddox, the fact that you’re related to Cash could raise doubts,” BJ said.

  “Maybe. But you can testify that Cash didn’t take part in the search, and that I didn’t plant evidence.”

  Cash hissed in frustration but stepped back. Maddox picked the lock, then pushed the door open.

  “Sheriff McCullen here. I have a warrant. Is anyone home?” Maddox called out.

  “I think she lived alone,” BJ said.

  “Let’s look around,” Maddox said as he went inside.

  “What are we searching for?” BJ asked.

  Maddox tossed her a pair of latex gloves. “Phone records, personal notes, a calendar, journal, anything to indicate who she was working with.”

  BJ yanked on the gloves. “I’ll check the kitchen.”

  “I’ll take the desk in the den,” Maddox said. “BJ, search Diane’s bedroom first.”

  BJ veered down the hallway, once again struck by the plush furnishings. As Cash had said after his initial search earlier that day, there was nothing visible to indicate a child had been here. No toys, children’s books, kid’s blanket or bedding.

  The master held a canopied bed draped in white with a white satin comforter.

  She searched the dresser drawers. T-shirts and yoga pants, sexy lingerie.