Still, neither Brandon nor Jordan answered her calls.
She stared at the phone and whispered a prayer for their safety. Then her mind went back to the anonymous caller who wanted her to stop searching for Molly.
It had to be Molly, right?
No, not necessarily. It could actually be about any of the cases she was working right now. She mentally ran down her list. The call could easily be about the little girl whose father had snatched her three weeks ago. Her heart dipped a bit at the thought, but her gut was telling her the call had to do with Molly.
Was that just because she desperately wanted to believe?
Erica rubbed the heels of her palms against her eyes and sighed. Please, God…
A crack of thunder made her jump. The lights flickered then went out.
Eerie silence surrounded her. Her heart pumped faster. “It’s just the storm, Erica.” She stepped to the window and let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She could see the lightning flashing, hear the rain coming harder. “Come on, Max, where are you?”
Erica saw headlights in the distance. They passed her office. She grabbed her purse and moved to the front door.
Lightning flashed again, illuminating a dark silhouette standing in front of the glass door. Erica screamed and dropped her purse.
The figure at the door ducked before Erica could get a glimpse of a face and hurried from the building. Erica gasped, breathless from fear. Shaky fingers checked the lock, and then Erica slid to the floor, her legs refusing to hold her anymore.
Headlights cut through the lobby, and Erica felt her pulse speed even faster. Then she recognized Max’s truck and allowed herself to wilt back against the wall for a brief moment of thanks.
With effort, she rose and unlocked the door.
Max was already out of the truck, running toward her through the drenching rain. “Are you okay? Why were you sitting on the floor?”
To her surprise, she found she wanted nothing more than for Max Powell to wrap his arms around her and let her simply rest her head on his very broad shoulder. Only the memory of his reaction to her volunteer work held her back. That, and the fact that she’d only known him a short time.
And his sister possibly having something to do with Molly’s kidnapping.
Erica straightened her shoulders, took a step back and told herself to be strong. She allowed him to escort her to the truck as he held his jacket above her head to keep her from getting wet, and then help her up into the seat. “It’s a long story.”
He climbed into the driver’s side, slammed the door and turned to her. “What happened?”
“The lights went out. I was watching for you from my office window and saw your headlights. I went to wait for you in the lobby and when the lightning flashed—” she swallowed hard “—there was someone standing in front of the door. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Did the person say or do anything?”
“No. When I screamed, he ran.”
“Ran? Did he get in a car?”
“No. Just ran through the rain toward the street. It was weird.”
A frown creased his forehead. “Everything that’s happening is weird.”
“And now Brandon and Jordan aren’t answering my calls. I’m worried something’s wrong.” She ran a hand over her hair. “Could you pull into that convenience store across the street? That’s where the call originated from.”
He lifted a brow. “How do you know?”
“I have tracing software.”
“Handy,” he said as he pulled out of the parking lot. A minute later, he turned right into the convenience store, and Erica jumped out of the vehicle.
She found the pay phone in the back toward the restrooms. A security camera attached to the side of the building gave her a rush of hope—could it be that easy to figure out who had called her? She stepped inside the store and approached the clerk, a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties.
“Help you?” The woman snapped her gum and swiped the counter with a cloth. Her tag read Doreen.
“Yes. I have a strange request, Doreen.”
“Probably not so strange. You wouldn’t believe some of the stuff that goes on around here.”
“I’d like to see the security video of the pay phone and restrooms back there.”
Doreen lifted a brow. “Okay, now that’s strange enough. What for?”
“I got a threatening phone call and it came from that pay phone.”
“You a cop?”
“I specialize in finding people. I could probably get a court order to look at the video but I really don’t want to do that.”
“Well, I’d show it to you, but it’s broke.”
“Broken?”
“Yep, got hit by lightning last night. Waiting on the repair guy to come sometime tomorrow. Sorry.”
Of course. “What about the one that monitors the gas pumps. I could see who came into the store, right?”
“I reckon.”
“You know how to work the video?”
“Sure. Someone tried to rob the place about three months ago and I had to show the cops the tape.” Uncertainty creased the girl’s brow. “But I can’t leave the front untended.”
“What time do you close?”
She snickered. “We don’t.”
Erica did her best to rein in her impatience. “Could you just put a sign on the door and say you’ll be back in ten minutes?”
The young woman hesitated. In desperation, Erica said, “I’ll give you twenty bucks.”
“Make it fifty and you’ve got a deal.”
“Everything all right?”
Erica turned to find Max. “Yes, Doreen here is going to show us the video footage from around the time the call was made.” She passed the money to the woman who quickly slid it in her pocket.
Doreen locked the doors and put a sign in the window, and Erica and Max followed her to the back room. “What time do you need to see?”
Erica said, “Try around seven fifteen.”
Doreen clicked on the computer and within seconds had the video rolling. Erica leaned in and watched. At seven twenty-two, a figure in a hoodie walked into the store. The figure immediately reminded her of Lydia, but she didn’t want to jump to conclusions. They watched a few more minutes, but Erica knew this was the person who’d made that call. “Can you back it up?”
She watched the footage again and Max said, “Can’t tell anything about him.”
“Or her,” Erica murmured.
He shot her a dark look. “According to where he hit on the height of the door, he’s around five foot five or six. It’s hard to tell by body build—he’s hunched over, avoiding the camera. Which means he might be quite a bit taller, too.”
Erica had Doreen rewind and she watched again.
Max sighed. “I don’t think you’re going to get anything else from this. We need to find another camera.” She told him about the nonworking camera. He shook his head. “Doreen, did you notice anything about this individual?”
She shrugged. “Nothing that caught my eye. Noticed he kept his hood pulled low and he was kinda skinny. Like a junkie. He just used the pay phone and went on his way. Didn’t even come inside.”
Max sighed. “Then I’d say we’re done here.”
Erica agreed. She thanked Doreen and followed Max to the door.
The rain had slackened to a drizzle by the time they headed back to Max’s truck. She pulled out her phone once more. “I need to try Brandon—”
Her phone rang just as the words left her lips. “Brandon, are you all right?”
“Actually, this is Jordan, and yeah, Brandon’s all right. He’s in the hospital, though, getting patched up.”
“What? What happened?”
“His informant was followed, and Brandon caught a bullet.”
Erica gasped. “Where were you?”
“Grabbing the kid.”
Her heart jumped. “So she’s safe?”
“And
back with her mama in an emergency shelter. The cops are talking to Christine there now.”
Christine. The sweet young mother who’d been terrorized by her husband. When she’d left him, he’d tracked her to a hotel room and nearly killed her. He’d snatched their seven-year-old daughter and gone on the run. Now, after three months, mother and daughter were reunited and hopefully could rest assured that the terror was over.
Erica closed her eyes and breathed a brief prayer of thanks. “And Brandon’s going to be all right?”
“Yeah. It’s just a flesh wound. Shouldn’t slow him down much.”
Erica swallowed hard. “Okay, thanks for the update. I’ll be at the hospital in a few minutes.”
“You don’t need to come. We’re almost done here.”
“He’s my brother. I’m coming.”
“You need me to pick you up?”
“No. I’m with Max.”
He paused. “You’re seeing a lot of him, aren’t you?”
“We’re looking for Molly, Jordan.” Max glanced over at her, and she said, “Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll be there shortly. Would you please put Brandon on the phone?”
Max made a U-turn to head for the hospital. Her heart gave a grateful thud at his thoughtfulness. She waited for Brandon to pick up the phone, feeling sick to her stomach with worry.
“Hey, sis, I’m all right.”
“You got shot, Brandon.” She hated the shakiness in her voice, but the thought of him being in danger scared her. “I know you’re talking to me, but are you sure you’re all right?”
“Once again, I’m fine. I’ll be out of here in a few minutes. Jordan will drive me home. Sorry I didn’t answer the phone, I was a little preoccupied.”
“I know. I’m on the way to the hospital. We’ll talk about that when I get there.”
“What? No way. Don’t waste your time. I’m almost ready to walk out of the door.”
“But—”
“I said no, sis.”
She bit her lip. “Brandon, you got shot. I can’t just go home and sleep.”
“That’s exactly what you’re going to do. You can check on me tomorrow. I’m going to take a painkiller and go to bed.”
“Jordan’s going to be with you, right?”
“Probably wouldn’t be able to pry him from my side with a crowbar,” he muttered. “He’s worse than a mother hen.”
She almost smiled. Almost. “All right. I’ll check on you tomorrow then.” She hung up with Brandon and said to Max, “You can do another U-turn.” He did.
“I’m glad he’s all right,” Max said.
“I am, too. He didn’t want me coming to the hospital.”
“Doesn’t want to be mothered, I guess.”
She pursed her lips, trying not to be overwhelmed by emotion as she thought of her brother in the hospital with a gunshot wound.
Max didn’t say anything, just reached over and grasped her cold fingers.
They rode in silence until they reached her driveway.
When he released her hand, she wanted to grab it back, to hold on to the security and warmth he offered. Instead, she curled her fingers around the handle. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Anytime.”
Weariness eating at her, Erica opened the car door and stopped as Max placed a hand on her arm.
“I’m also glad you called me tonight.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “Even after I bit your head off earlier?”
“Even after.”
“So what was that all about?”
He dropped his head for a moment. When he looked up, he said, “I’ve had more than one bad experience with the homeless. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I suppose I’m a bit prejudiced against them.” He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “It’s not something I’m proud of. In fact, I really don’t like that part of myself, but I’m not sure how to get past it.”
“I…see.” She didn’t really. Didn’t most cops have run-ins with homeless people on a regular basis? “Sounds personal.”
“Very.”
She closed her door. “Want to tell me about it?”
His lips tightened. “Two years ago, my fiancée was killed by a homeless man.”
Erica felt her anger toward him dissolve. “Oh, no! I’m so sorry.”
“Ever since then—” He shook his head as though to dislodge the memory. “I know it’s wrong to lump people into one category because of one person’s actions, but I can’t seem to stop doing it. Tracy was a trusting woman. A woman who never met a stranger and was kind to everyone who crossed her path.” He glanced at her. “Kind of like you.”
Erica swallowed. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered. “My heart breaks for you.”
“I’ve let Tracy go. She’s with the Lord. And while I selfishly wish she wasn’t, it is what it is. I’m still here and I still have a life to live.” He traced a finger down her cheek and she shivered. He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Anytime you need something, don’t hesitate, all right?”
She nodded and blinked back tears. “All right.”
“Good. Now what time should I pick you up in the morning?”
She stared as her brain scrambled to switch gears. “Oh, my car. Right. How about eight?”
“I’ll be here.”
“Do you think Mrs. Harrison would let us see Lydia’s room first thing in the morning?”
“Lydia doesn’t have a room there anymore, but I’ll ask if she minds me bringing you by and introducing you.”
“Great.” Erica looked at her dark house and shivered. She’d forgotten to leave some lights on. Again.
“You want me to walk you in?”
She gave a breathless little laugh that sounded more scared than confident. “No. I’ll be all right. I’m just a little spooked after everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours.”
“Who could blame you?”
In the close quarters of the car, she looked him in the eye. “Thanks again for coming to the rescue, Max.”
His eyes dropped to her lips then rose back to meet her gaze. Thanks to the streetlight, she could make out the hue of a red flush on his cheeks. “Sure. I’ll just wait here until you get inside.”
On impulse, she leaned in and gave him a quick hug. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She opened the door and raced for the cover of her front porch. From the rocker to her left, a shadow rose. Erica stepped back with a scream.
EIGHT
Max bolted from the car as he snatched his weapon from his shoulder holster and trained it on the figure that had stepped toward Erica from the shadows. “Hey! Back away!”
The shadow froze, and Erica darted back into the rain toward Max.
“Erica! It’s me, Peter.”
Max grabbed her hand and led her back onto the porch, out of the rain. “Are you crazy? Scaring her like that?”
Peter held his hands up as though in surrender. “I thought she saw me.”
“Nobody saw you,” Max growled.
“I’m sorry. I was practically asleep when you drove up.”
“What are you doing here?” Erica asked. Max could feel the tension vibrating from her.
Her brother swiped a hand down his face. “The cops think I had something to with crashing into you today. They think I was responsible for that hit-and-run, and the shooting.”
“They said they didn’t have any proof,” Erica said.
“They don’t.” The man fidgeted, fingers tapping against his leg. “But they’re looking for it. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Only a matter of time before what?” Max felt himself leaning toward Peter as if to drive him back, away from Erica. He told himself to cool it. He put his protective instincts on hold and said, “I thought you had an alibi.”
Peter snorted and sank back onto the rocker, his leg jiggling up and down. “I did, but my alibi seems to have suffered some memory loss.” Sarcas
m dripped from his words. He grabbed Erica’s hand. “Erica, you’ve got to believe I didn’t have anything to do with that. I would never hurt you.” His vehemence was almost believable.
Erica sighed and unlocked the door. “Let’s get inside where it’s warm. It’s freezing and you’re soaking wet.”
Peter bolted to his feet as though sitting was too much for him. They stepped inside and he hesitated. “Can I have a towel?”
Max noticed the shivers trembling through the man’s body. Erica set her purse on the small table just inside the foyer and went to the bathroom off the hall. Lips tight, she handed Peter the towel. “How did you get here?”
“I walked.”
Erica flinched and Max raised a brow. She said, “That’s a good ten miles, Peter. Are you crazy?”
The man shrugged.
Max asked, “Where were you tonight around seven?”
“On the way here. Why?”
“It wasn’t him,” Erica said to Max.
“What wasn’t me?” His gaze darted from Max to Erica. Max thought his eyes looked clear. He wasn’t high right now, but he was jittery, constantly moving.
“Someone scared Erica at the office tonight.”
Peter frowned. “Well you’re right, it wasn’t me.” He looked toward the back bedroom then said to Erica, “Do you still have some of my clothes here?”
“Yes. Go take a shower and warm up. I’ll fix some coffee.”
“Decaf, okay?” He started down the hall then turned back. “Oh, I meant to tell you, I saw Denise Tanner today.”
Erica blinked. “You did? When?”
His brow crinkled. “Right before I left to come over here. I was at the gas station trying to get someone to buy me a soda and she pulled in.” He rubbed his head and smirked. “I think she tried to avoid me, but I didn’t let her. Stepped right in front of her and asked her what she was doing in town.”
“And you wonder why she never cared much for you. You constantly antagonized the woman.”
He shrugged his apathy. “She always looked down her nose at me. She was the bossiest thing ever, and I didn’t like her. But apparently her father is on his deathbed. Not expected to live much longer.”
“Oh, no. I knew he was sick, but I didn’t know that he was close to death.” Erica frowned. “Why didn’t she call me and let me know?”
Hide and Seek Page 7
