Mission--Colton Justice

by Jennifer Morey

  Knox began searching around the Suburban. “The second tracks lead here.” Knox aimed the flashlight at the fresh set.

  Jeremy went to stand next to him. “There was another car.” The kidnapper had used the Suburban to tail Adeline and kidnap Jamie. He’d parked his own car there.

  “I’ll get a team here. We’ll get those tracks analyzed.”

  Jeremy looked through the dark spaces between the trees, turning in a circle. “If only the woods had eyes.”

  * * *

  Lying in the hospital bed, Adeline fidgeted, as she had for the last several hours. She wanted to get out of there. Twice, the nurse had come in to keep her from getting out of the bed. The last time she’d threatened to sedate her. She didn’t want that. She didn’t like drugs of any kind, not even over-the-counter pain medication.

  Jeremy had been gone all night, searching for Jamie with Knox. Had they had any luck? She wished he’d call. Her mother had stopped by this morning on her way to work. She’d come by again over lunch and after she got off. Adeline hoped she wouldn’t be in the hospital much longer. The doctor wanted to make sure she was safe from the risk of infection.

  She flipped through channels on the television as she’d done repeatedly through the night. Nothing captured her interest or distracted her from Jamie’s kidnapping. Dropping the remote onto the bed, she tossed the covers off her and would have once again tried to leave when she spotted Jeremy coming through the doorway.

  He came right to her, leaned down and kissed her. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Flustered that he’d kissed her, as though they’d done that a million times, she leaned back against the reclined bed.

  Jeremy covered her back up. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. We found the Suburban.”

  He had all her attention now, and not the physical kind.

  “Prints were wiped clean, but they found a blond hair in the back seat that will be tested to confirm it’s Jamie’s. They will keep searching for evidence.”

  Adeline covered her mouth with a wave of apprehension and worry for Jamie.

  “We found a second set of tire tracks at the scene. Investigators will run some tests and ask an expert what kind of car made them.”

  That sounded like a huge lead.

  “That’s good but it’s been almost forty-eight hours since Jamie was taken,” Jeremy said.

  Adeline lowered her head, knowing too well what that meant. “We haven’t received a ransom demand.”

  Jeremy took her hand. “No.”

  “What if it isn’t a ransom? What if...?” She couldn’t bring herself to say it. What would she do if something terrible happened to Jamie? She’d feel responsible. He was with her when he was taken.

  “Don’t, Adeline.”

  How did he know what she thought? “I should have checked for suspicious people. I usually do. I didn’t that time and now Jamie is missing.”

  “You’re not the one who kidnapped him.”

  “How can you be so forgiving?”

  “Because I know how much you love him.”

  How did he know that? “W-what?”

  “Your mother told me, but I didn’t need her to. I’ve been denying the fact that you’re Jamie’s mother, especially now.” He pinched the bridge of his nose momentarily. “I kept forcing myself to think of you as the surrogate and egg donor, that Tess was Jamie’s mother. Even when Tess was alive that was hard for me. You are his mother now, Adeline.”

  He seemed pained to admit all that. The reason scared her. Even knowing how much she loved her son, he still needed time to get over losing Tess. Maybe he and his wife had had conflicts, but they had loved each other enough to marry and have a child. Jeremy was the kind of man who valued integrity. Faithfulness. He was a family man through and through. While that made her fall for him even more, she could not allow her heart to get any more involved with him. She had to protect herself. She’d already been hurt once. She never wanted to feel that way again. Jeremy refused to give up on the investigation into Tess’s accident. He couldn’t let go. That made him too risky for her.

  “Who could have done this?” Jeremy asked. “Someone planned to take a Suburban and park it at a hidden campsite. He likely parked it at different locations to avoid detection. He drove his own car there and drove the Suburban. Police ran the plates. It’s stolen.”

  “Oscar?”

  “He was at work the day of the kidnapping.”

  “I had just left Evan,” she said. “He wouldn’t have had time or a reason. He was annoyed I came to ask him questions but that’s nothing to incite him to murder and kidnapping.” Jeremy had fired him but that was so long ago. He’d have retaliated already. Besides, he ran a seemingly successful escort service now. He’d made something new of his life. She’d expect him to not like Jeremy but he’d have to have more of a reason to kill and kidnap.

  “I’m telling you. This is Livia.”

  Adeline nodded. She’d begun to believe him now. If Livia killed Tess, she’d used or attempted to use the same tactic on her and Jamie, having them nearly driven off the road. When that failed, she grew bolder. She could have paid someone to drive the Suburban, to shoot her and take Jamie.

  “You believe me now?” Jeremy asked.

  “Yes. I’ve always believed you had a good reason to suspect Livia. I only need the proof. We don’t have any proof, but we do have circumstantial evidence.”

  He half smiled and Adeline watched as heat was injected into the expression. Satisfaction that she finally agreed with him about Livia fueled his response and caused one in her, too.

  “When do I get out of here?’ she asked to douse the chemistry.

  “When you’re well enough. You were shot.”

  “Your concern is touching.” She kept her tone teasing and softened it with a smile similar to the one he’d bestowed on her.

  He moved closer. “You must be getting better.”

  Her breath stopped for a second while a delicious zing flashed.

  He closed the distance between their lips and kissed her softly.

  When he lifted away, she said, “Then get me out of here.”

  Warm, swirling desire mushroomed, soothing the ever-present fear for Jamie. Although brief, the moment somehow made the waiting more bearable. They would get through this together.

  Jeremy moved back. As he did, his phone rang. He checked caller ID. Adeline saw that the number was restricted. He answered.

  “Yes?” A moment later, Jeremy flashed a look to Adeline. “Where is he? Did you take him?”

  Adeline sat straight up on the hospital bed. He must be talking to Jamie’s kidnapper.

  “Why did you take Jamie? For money?” Jeremy asked, and then said, “We need proof of life.” He stepped across the room and then turned, agitated. “That’s not good enough.” His head tipped back as he must be listening to the caller. “How do I know you’re going to bring him? That you’ll give him back to us?”

  Jeremy lowered the phone and stared at her. The caller must have disconnected. She felt his anger brewing, and the helplessness to put it to good use.

  “Five hundred thousand. Rabbit Trail Park,” he said. “Nine p.m. the night after tomorrow.”

  “They won’t give proof of life?”

  Gravely, and with more anger, he shook his head.

  “What are we going to do?”

  “Pay the ransom and kill whoever took him. That’s what I’m going to do.”

  His resolve was chilling. He’d kill Livia if she had anything to do with this.

  “We have to wait two days. Why is he giving us so much time?” Jeremy asked.

  “Maybe he knows getting that kind of cash takes time. Will Jamie be there?” The caller had refused Jeremy’s demand for proof of life. Wh
at if he’d already harmed Jamie...or worse?

  Anything could go wrong at the drop site. The kidnapper had given them plenty of time to get the cash.

  The doctor came into the room. Lean and gray haired with glasses, he walked to the computer to read her file. “How are you feeling today?”

  “Ready to go home.”

  Jeremy moved away to allow the doctor to go to Adeline. The doctor checked her wound.

  “How’s your pain level?” the doctor asked.

  “Manageable.” She hurt but she could hurt at home as much as she could in the hospital.

  “You’re tougher than you look.” He finished checking her out. “No sign of infection. I think we can let you go.” He pointed his finger at her. “But you need to rest. I’ll send you home with some physical therapy instructions. Work slowly back up to your original speed.”

  “I’ll do anything as long as I don’t have to stay here.”

  The doctor smiled. “We’ll start the discharge process.”

  When the doctor left, Adeline went back to the terrible facts. “As soon as we leave, let’s try and find Jamie.”

  “Adeline, no. You heard the doctor. You have to rest. You won’t be able to move well for a while anyway. Besides, Knox has a whole team behind this, helping.”

  “The kidnapper won’t let us talk to Jamie. What if he’s being treated badly?” She couldn’t bring herself to think of him worse than injured.

  “It’s a fear tactic.”

  She hoped that’s all it was.

  Chapter 12

  Two days later, Adeline’s movement was much better and she insisted on accompanying Jeremy to the drop site. He only agreed after she promised to stay in the car. Looking back as he walked, he saw her still there and held his hand up as a way of reassuring her. She raised her hand in response, the sleeve of her white blouse sagging down. She’d worn one of her PI outfits again, silky slacks cupping her rear end a bit too appealingly for him and the vest dipping low in front, just below the top button of the blouse. He glanced around for signs of Knox and the team but they kept themselves hidden. Jeremy would stay in contact with Knox.

  He walked to a bench. At this time of night, the park was deserted and this area didn’t have much lighting. Moving in a circle, he searched for Jamie and his kidnapper. It was too dark to see very far. He waited fifteen minutes before his cell rang.

  “Jeremy.” The voice sounded altered.

  “There’s a bus stop straight ahead from the park bench. Take a bus to Ashland and get off at Main and Second. Come alone. It’s all right if the boy’s mother joins you but no one else.”

  “You want me to go to the next town over?”

  “Do as I say or your son dies.” The kidnapper disconnected.

  The kidnapper knew Adeline was Jamie’s mother. Whoever had the boy must know Jeremy pretty well.

  He called Knox. “He has me getting on a bus to Ashland and getting off at Main and Second.”

  “We’ll get set up there.”

  “He knows Adeline is Jamie’s mother.”

  “He said that?”

  “Yes. He said the boy’s mother can join me.”

  “It’s someone you know, then.”

  “That’s what I thought.” Jeremy looked ahead from the bench and spotted the bus along the street that bordered the park there.

  He jogged back to the car to get Adeline. She’d never forgive him if he didn’t take her with him.

  She’d gotten out of the car when she saw him approach. He could see her looking for Jamie. He explained what the kidnapper had instructed. Carrying the duffel bag, he walked with her back to the bench and the bus stop. The bus had just arrived. The kidnapper must have known it would arrive just in time.

  He let Adeline on first and sat beside her, putting the bag down in front of him.

  “Is the kidnapper leading us on a wild-goose chase or is he trying to cover his tracks?” she asked.

  “Covering his tracks. Making sure we don’t bring the sheriff or any of his deputies.” He noticed the dark circles under her eyes. “You should have stayed home.”

  She looked at him and seemed to hesitate over his use of “home.” He said the word as though his house was their home. Maybe living with her had begun to make him feel that way.

  Her eyes traveled over his suit. “Are you armed?”

  “Yes.” He’d put a gun in his waistband.

  She turned her head and looked at him as though surprised. “You own one?”

  “I keep it locked up in a safe. Licensed and legal.” With Jamie in the house, he couldn’t be too cautious.

  “You didn’t tell me.”

  He grinned. “You didn’t think you were the only one who could handle a gun?”

  “It’s not that I don’t think you can... I just...”

  “I’ve owned one ever since Jamie was born.”

  With her soft smile and twinkling eyes, he felt her admiration. She liked that he took extra steps to protect his son. As a detective who carried her own weapon, she understood when the need warranted doing so.

  “Was it really one of your cases that made you get one?” he asked.

  “My mother always had one. I bought one when I moved out on my own. I took lessons back then.”

  She’d learned her independence, or had been taught. She was different from Tess in many ways. Tess had decided not to work after she had Jamie. She’d worked as an accountant before that. He wouldn’t go so far as to say she was dependent, but she was much needier than Adeline, her emotions more sensitive. Jeremy respected Adeline’s ambition. She needed no one. She’d made her own way. While he’d had similar thoughts before, this time he felt something deeper for her. Respect had grown into a personal admiration, one with definite sexual undercurrents. He was growing more and more attracted to her.

  The bus stopped at Main and Second. Jeremy picked up the bag and led Adeline to the exit. With a chill in the air, he put his arm around her and went into the well-lit, covered waiting area. A man left a pub across the street, letting out the sounds of country music and boisterous voices. A breeze swirled around the plastic walls of the shelter. Patches of stars glimmered beyond gathering clouds.

  Adeline huddled closer with the chilly breeze. He wasn’t sure if warmth kept her by his side or if she shared the pleasant tingles he experienced. She felt good right next to him.

  Minutes passed and he grew more and more aware of her. She seemed to experience the same as she turned her head up to look at him. When he looked at her, his lips came into position just above hers. Holding her gaze, he did what instinct drove him to do. He pressed a soft, light kiss on her mouth, and it felt comforting in such a perilous time. His cell phone interrupted.

  He answered.

  “Walk east down Main Street to the library. Wait on the front steps.”

  The caller disconnected.

  “We’re supposed to go to the library,” he said to Adeline.

  “Will Jamie be there?”

  “Let’s go find out.”

  Jeremy kept his arm around Adeline as they walked, feeling her slip her arm around his waist. He caught her nervous glance up. She sought comfort. He was nervous, too. He just wanted his son back.

  He spotted the library ahead. No sign of Jamie. He shared another nervous look with Adeline. Reaching the library steps, he stopped with Adeline, looking for a place to get out of the wind. He expected to wait several minutes again, but his phone rang.

  “There’s a construction site across the street,” the kidnapper said in his disguised voice. “Put the money in the front, southwest corner.”

  “Where is my son?”

  “You’ll get him when I have all the money.”

  “Show him to me.” Jeremy looke
d around and saw no movement. The construction site was dark, except for the spheres of light coming from the top of two poles.

  “You have five minutes to deliver the money. If it’s not there, I’ll kill Jamie.”

  “How did you know Adeline was Jamie’s mother?” Jeremy wanted to keep the man talking for as long as possible, try to get as much information out of him as he could.

  “Bring the money or the kid dies.” The caller disconnected.

  Jeremy let out a frustrated breath. Had Knox traced the call? He wished he had mental telepathy so he could know who had his son. He’d track that monster down and wring the life out of him. What kind of man kidnapped children?

  “Let’s drop the money,” Adeline said.

  She must have realized the kidnapper had threatened Jamie’s life.

  “Be ready.” He walked into the street.

  “Oh, I’m ready. I’ve been ready since we got the call.”

  Together they crossed the street and walked along the construction fence to an open area where vehicles could pass. Someone had either left the makeshift gate open or the kidnapper had.

  When he drew nearer the shell of concrete, he took out his gun and turned the safety off. Beside him, Adeline did the same. The structure had spaces for windows and a front entrance but no ceilings, only steel beams running across each floor. The building was large enough to be some kind of department store. At the entrance, light from outside faded.

  He stepped into the building. While he aimed to the right, Adeline aimed to the left. No one and nothing stirred. Only the breeze rustling light debris broke the silence.

  “We’re just supposed to leave the bag?” Adeline whispered.

  Jeremy didn’t want to do that. If they left the money, what would become of Jamie?

  “Let’s leave it but stay until someone comes to get it,” he said.

  “Okay.” Jeremy walked to the southwest corner and dropped the bag.

  They stepped back toward the entrance and waited. A text dinged on his phone shortly thereafter.