On the fourth call a woman with an accent answered. “Amalia? Is that you?”
“No!” Following that angry sounding no, the woman on the other end hung up. Claire looked at Vic. “Did you notice she answered after the first ring? Like she was waiting for a call?”
“I noticed everything, and you did it perfectly. What’s the address on that listing?”
“It’s in Kyle, but there’s no street address listed.”
“Kyle’s only ten or so miles from here. By the time we get there, maybe Clint will have more information for me.” Vic started the car and drove to the I-35 corridor headed southwest. “Once we get an address, I’ve got a plan, and I hope it works.”
* * *
ON THE WAY to Kyle, Claire prayed with all her might that they were on the right track. When they reached the outskirts of town, Vic pulled into a gas station to fill his tank. His phone rang before he got out of the car. After he greeted Clint, they talked for a minute before he hung up.
He turned to Claire. “Castillo’s last known address was Bernie’s Mobile Home Park in the north end of Kyle.”
Claire quickly looked it up to find the exact location. After Vic filled the tank, he got in behind the wheel and they drove to the park in question. Like the bar they’d just left, the park was out of the way and run-down. The place looked old with shabby rectangular mobile units and only a few shade trees here and there.
Vic parked near the first trailer. “I’ll find out where she lives. Lock the door while I’m gone.”
She nodded as he got out and strode toward the end of the unit with the weathered white siding. An older woman answered his knock. A second later she pointed in the direction of the other units. Vic walked back to the car. Claire unlocked the doors so he could get in. “What did you learn?”
“I told her I was an insurance agent looking for Eva. She told me she lives in the end unit, but she’s behind in her rent since her husband went to prison. If she doesn’t pay it by tomorrow, she’ll be evicted.”
“So she’s here?” Claire asked.
“Maybe. The manager says she hasn’t seen her for a couple of days.”
Claire could barely breathe. “This could be it. Jeremy could really be here.” Her voice shook.
“God willing.”
“What are you going to do, Vic?”
She heard his sharp intake of breath. “If Eva’s keeping Jeremy here, then she’s waiting for further orders. That could be the reason she answered her phone so quickly. I’ll pretend I’ve come to take him to a secure place because she’s being evicted tomorrow. I’ll tell her that if the police find her with the boy, she’ll be charged with kidnapping. That should scare her to death and she’ll cooperate.”
It was a brilliant idea, but dangerous for so many reasons. “How can I help?”
“I want you to stay in the car with the doors locked. She’ll have a gun. If there’s trouble and I don’t come out, drive to the other end of the park and stay there while you call Kit. He’ll know what to do. I’ll leave the key in the ignition. Give me your phone and I’ll program his number for you.”
Her fingers shook as she handed him her cell. “Please be careful.”
After he’d punched in the number, he gave it back, eyeing her with his jet black eyes. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to find my son.”
“So will I.”
His lips brushed her cheek before getting out of the car.
Please, please, please be in there, Jeremy.
* * *
VIC WALKED UP to the mobile home entrance and knocked hard with his fist. “Open up, Eva. Fidel got word to me from a friend at the jail where Leroy and Armando have also been arrested. The police confiscated Leroy’s truck containing evidence, so I’ve come for the boy. I have to get him out of here before the police show up.”
“Police?”
So she was here. The fear in her voice convinced him she had Jeremy with her. That meant whoever had planned this kidnapping would be coming for Jeremy. Every second counted. Vic had to move fast.
“The manager is going to evict you tomorrow. If you’re caught with the boy, they’ll force you to tell who’s behind this and you’ll go to prison for kidnapping. No one will save you. Fidel told me to bring you money to pay the rent. Just hand the boy over, Eva.”
“How do I know you’re working with Fidel?”
Vic took a chance. “Shorty from the bar in Buda is our go-between. Now it’s my turn. I need proof before I hand over the money. How do I know the boy is alive?”
“Claro que si!” she rapped out in Spanish.
Joy swept through Vic at her declaration that his son was inside. “Then open the door and I’ll take him out to the car.”
“First the money!” She opened the door, but it was a mere slit because of the chain guard.
Vic reached for his wallet and pulled out four one-hundred-dollar bills. “This is all I could come up with on such short notice.”
Her fingers took it from him. “It’s not enough.”
“There’s more coming, but the manager won’t call the police if you give her that amount tonight. Now hand over the boy.”
“He’s tied up in the back room.”
Cringing with rage, Vic said, “I’ll carry him out. Now open the damn door before I kick it in.”
Suddenly it opened and he charged past Eva to the other end of the unit. The second he opened the door, he saw his precious son lying in a fetal position on the twin bed facing the wall. They’d gagged him with a scarf and tied his ankles with rope. He wasn’t wearing shoes or socks.
Terrified he was unconscious, Vic hurried over to the bed and gathered him in his arms. Eva kept her distance as he carried his son through the unit. Once out the door he headed for the car.
He could see Claire behind the wheel. She undid the locks and he opened the back door and got in, taking Jeremy with him. He looked at Claire. “Drive us home,” he said.
* * *
NEARLY OVERCOME WITH JOY, Claire started the engine and drove the car out to the road that led to the highway. Through the rearview mirror she was able to watch Vic undo Jeremy’s restraints.
“Son? It’s your dad. Can you hear me?”
“Dad?”
His dear voice was the sweetest sound she’d ever heard.
“You’re safe now, sport. Thank God.”
Claire saw Jeremy throw his arms around Vic’s neck. They hugged each other so hard, she didn’t know how either of them could breathe. “I knew you’d come, Dad,” Jeremy said. Then he broke down sobbing.
“You’ve been so brave, Jeremy. Do you have any idea how proud I am of you? How much I’ve missed you?”
“I missed you, too. Did you find my magnet? I dropped it in the bucket before the janitor put something over my nose. It smelled awful and I fainted.”
Tears rolled down Claire’s cheeks as she listened.
“Was he waiting for you after class?”
“Yes. Right by the door. He grabbed my arm before I could get away from him and dragged me into the closet before anyone saw him. I screamed but he put a rag in my mouth. I don’t remember anything else until I woke up in that room where you found me.”
“Did that lady take care of you?”
“Yeah. She gave me some drinks and peanut butter sandwiches, and she let me go to the bathroom. But then she would put that scarf around my mouth and tie up my ankles.”
“Are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel sick?”
“No. I just want to go home and see Claire.” Jeremy sobbed again.
“Guess what, sport? She’s driving our car.”
“Claire is?”
“I’m right here, honey,” she said over her shoulder. “I’m so happy your father found you, I could
croak. Should we stop and get you a frosted root beer on the way home?”
“Can we?”
“Of course. This is a celebration!”
Jeremy had grown animated. “I bet Comet has missed me.”
“We’ve taken him for walks, but I can tell he’s been looking for you.”
“Does Nate know what happened?”
“He knows you didn’t make it home from school. And he told us that last week the janitor tried to show you his tattoos.”
“I wish he never worked at my school.”
“I wish he never did either, but now he’s in jail,” Vic said, reassuring his son. “After he’s found guilty in court, he’ll be sent to prison for life, and you’ll never see him again.”
“Good.”
“How did you get so smart to put that magnet in the bucket? If I hadn’t found it, I wouldn’t have known what the janitor did to you.”
“You’ve always said that if I’m ever in trouble, I should leave clues.”
“Well, that was a big one. When I asked Claire if any of your magnets were missing, she looked and told me two were gone. Sabretooth and Wolverine. I didn’t know the two of you had a secret word.”
“Yeah. We like to play spy.”
“Because of that clue, Claire and I were able to find you.”
“Our plan really worked, huh, Claire?”
“It worked so well, you’ll need to write all about it in your spy journal. One day when you’re married and have kids of your own, you can show them the journal and let them read what happened to you in your own words. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a superhero already.”
Jeremy giggled, the first giggle she’d heard come out of him tonight.
They arrived at a fast food place and Claire pulled up to the drive-through speaker. “We’d like three frosted root beers, please. Anything else, guys?”
“Nope,” Jeremy and Vic said at the same time.
She drove to the window to pay and passed back the drinks. On the way to the house, she drank hers, savoring the root beer and this moment. When he’d first gone missing, she’d feared she might never see Jeremy again.
“Dad? Can I say hello to Comet before I go to bed?”
“I think that’s a terrific idea. It’ll make your pony so happy, he’ll be able to go to sleep.”
He finished his drink. “Do horses sleep?”
Both Claire and Vic chuckled. “Yes, but most of the time they do it standing up.”
“But I can’t sleep doing that.”
“Your legs don’t lock like a horse when they sleep. But sometimes they lie down if there’s no danger. Otherwise they need to be standing in case they have to get away from a threat really fast.”
“I fought as hard as I could, but I couldn’t get away from that janitor.”
Claire saw his father hug him close. “He’s a human predator, but he’s been put away where he can never hurt anyone again.”
“Dad—” he blurted. “Do you know where my backpack is?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Maybe it’s still in the closet at school.”
“No, I checked there.”
“I hope you can find it. I took my spy kit to school to show my friends. It has all my stuff.”
“Even your Sabretooth magnet?”
“No. It’s in my pocket.”
“Tell you what, sport. I’ll see what I can do to track it down.”
“Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“You sure can.”
“Do you have to go to work tomorrow?”
Claire looked at Vic through the rearview mirror, and he flashed her a silent message. “No. Tomorrow we’ll spend the whole day together.”
“And Claire, too?”
“All of us.”
“Hooray.”
As soon as they got home, Jeremy flew to the bedroom to put on his cowboy boots. Then he came running down the hall right into Claire’s arms. He hugged her hard, then hugged his dad again. “I’m going out to the barn.”
“We’ll be right there.”
They watched his progress from the back door, not letting him out of their sight. Claire started to follow, but Vic trapped her in his arms and pulled her against him from behind. He’d never done anything like that before. It showed the degree of his happiness, but the contact aroused her desire for him, desire she had to tamp down.
“Thank God for you, Claire. He wouldn’t be home with us now if it weren’t for you. Your inspiration led us to him.”
She turned in his arms and stared straight into his eyes. “We both know that inspiration came from a higher source. It wasn’t meant for you to lose your son. That would have been too cruel after losing the rest of your family. One thing is very certain. The next nanny you hire needs to guard him with her life.”
His hands squeezed her upper arms a little tighter before letting her go. “I’d rather not think about that on this of all nights.”
Maybe he didn’t want to, but when he’d hugged her to him just now, she’d found herself wishing this could go on forever. In truth she’d become way too attached to Jeremy and his father.
She started for the barn ahead of Vic. Naturally he was so grateful for her help, he had to express it in the only way he could. But this moment wouldn’t have happened if his son hadn’t been kidnapped. From here on out, things were going to change in the Malone household.
For one thing, Jeremy would need counseling, too. For another, Vic needed to find a new nanny right away. Now that Jeremy had been found, Claire had to go in for those second interviews that had been set up for her.
The sooner she left their home, the sooner she could carve out a new life for herself. Vic had made his a long time ago. Now it was her turn to get her own life started and ignore the pain in her heart at the thought of leaving them.
After a visit to the horses, they walked back to the house. Jeremy took a bath, and then cuddled next to his father on the couch in the family room. Claire made popcorn, a snack they all loved, while Jeremy talked about his experience. He’d heard male voices once he’d awakened, but he’d been blindfolded. The poor dear had been through a terrible ordeal.
She sat in the chair on the other side of the coffee table. Finally the talking stopped. It was close to midnight when Jeremy fell asleep, safe in his father’s arms. The picture of the two of them looking so relieved to be together brought tears to her eyes. Claire pulled out her phone and took another picture in order to remember this incredible night.
Vic’s eyes opened. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“You need it. Would you like me to cancel your appointment with Dr. Marshall?”
“Thanks, but I’ll do it. I need to make several calls before morning. First, I’ve got to let TJ know he can call off the search for Jeremy.”
Claire nodded. “I’m going to phone my parents and tell them Jeremy’s back home. Before I go to bed, is there anything I can do for you?”
“Get a good sleep. Tomorrow we’ll load the horses in the trailer and drive to Luckenbach.”
“Where your cousin lives?”
“That’s right. Their place is adjacent to the equestrian park, which makes for a fun ride. It’ll be good for Jeremy to be with family.”
“I agree.”
Vic needed his family, too. Clint had given him the address that had led them to Jeremy. She knew he wanted to thank his cousin personally and discuss the case with him. But Claire wasn’t family.
She got up from the chair and started to leave the room. “Claire?” She looked back at him. “I owe you my life and Jeremy’s. I don’t know how to repay you.” His deep voice throbbed.
“I have all the payment I want, seeing the two of you back together. Good n
ight.”
* * *
FINDING JEREMY ALIVE this soon after being kidnapped constituted a true miracle. Claire had been the instrument. The knowledge filled Vic with wonder. If he’d hired any of the other nanny applicants, this case wouldn’t have had the same ending.
He was convinced she’d come into their lives for this very reason. Tomorrow during their ride, he would ask her to stay with them for another year. She could name her fee because he couldn’t lose her. More than ever, Jeremy needed the stability she helped provide.
Vic looked down at his son, whose head rested on his lap with his legs extended. Carefully he slid out from under him and carried him to his bedroom. He’d promised Jeremy he could sleep with him.
After tucking him in, he walked over to a chair and pulled out his phone. He left a voice mail saying he had to cancel his appointment with Dr. Marshall, and then phoned his boss. Though he hated bothering him at night, this was important.
“Vic?” said a voice that sounded more asleep than awake.
“Sorry to disturb you, TJ, but I have wonderful news. Claire and I found Jeremy on our own tonight and he’s home with us right now.”
“What?”
“It’s a shock to me, too.”
“Thank God you found him!”
“Agreed. Ranger Rodriguez can call off the search.”
“Okay. Now that I’m wide awake, tell me everything all over again.”
Vic filled him in. “If you want to suspend me because I found Jeremy on my own, you have a right to do so.”
“What in the hell are you talking about? I figured you would do something on your own. I just didn’t expect results this fast. Are you sure your nanny isn’t working undercover for the CIA?”
A smile broke out on Vic’s face. “She’s a chemist with a brilliant, inquiring mind. I’ll email you all the details so Rodriguez can follow up on everything. And just so you know, I’ve arranged to see Dr. Marshall and will follow through.”
“Good. You do that and call me at the end of next week. Then we’ll talk about you coming back. I’ll have Ranger Rodriguez follow up on the kidnapping case. I’m glad you have some time off to spend with your son. Enjoy it.”
The Texas Ranger's Nanny Page 7
