by Joanna Wayne
A plan of action to find her daughter. It was just words, but still it ignited a new spark of optimism. She put the phone back to her ear. “We’ll be in New York tomorrow, Craig. I’ll call once I make flight reservations and let you know what time we’ll be available.”
“That’s a push for my schedule, but we’ll set something up, maybe over dinner.”
“I’d prefer the meeting be in your office.”
Her resolve hardened now that the initial hurdle had passed. She and Hawk Taylor would be traveling to New York. For the first time in over a year, the search was actively moving forward. She had Hawk to thank for that.
ALONSA STRETCHED BENEATH the sheet and light blanket, staring at the whirling blades of the ceiling fan. The fan wasn’t really needed this time of year, but she depended on the soft whir to lull her into sleep. Most nights it worked.
It should have tonight. Everything had fallen into place. Cutter’s Aunt Merlee was visiting the Double M this week and she’d been genuinely delighted at the prospect of helping Linney babysit Brandon. He was excited about seeing the horses. They’d even invited Carne along.
Alonsa had been fortunate enough to book direct flights at halfway reasonable rates departing from George Bush Intercontinental at 9:10 a.m. Her Marriott points allowed her to book a five-star hotel within walking distance of Craig’s office. Only the weather wasn’t cooperating. The weather channel was predicting sleet and possible snow in New York by afternoon.
She missed the city in many ways, yet she dreaded walking the familiar streets again. Her memories of the city were all tied up with her memories of Lucy.
Tomorrow she’d return to the city with Hawk Taylor. That in itself should make the trip even more traumatic for her. Oddly, it was having the opposite effect.
Watching Hawk at the party the other night, she’d been put off by the way women had so eagerly succumbed to his charms. His flagrant virility, rugged good looks and devastating smile had them practically swooning.
She’d discovered a different and far more impressive side of him over the last two days.
Everyone who heard about Lucy’s disappearance had offered condolences and their willingness to help in any way they could. Hawk had been the only one who’d actually backed up that offer with direct action.
Not that the others hadn’t meant well. It was just that Hawk had some added dimension to him, a strength of purpose and determination that defied the odds. It was as if he was wired for action.
She’d never keep up with him tomorrow if she didn’t get some sleep tonight. She rolled onto her side, took deep breaths and began silently chanting a yoga mantra. Finally her mind drifted into indistinct shadows and her eyelids grew heavy.
The jangling ring of the phone on her bedside table practically sent her into orbit. She reached for it, then hesitated. No one called her this late. If this was another tormenting reminder of Lucy’s sweet voice, she didn’t think she could take it.
The caller ID said Craig Dalliers. She pounded her pillow in a rush of frustration and picked up the receiver and grumbled a greeting.
“Is that you, Alonsa?”
His voice slurred. He’d been drinking. That explained the late call. Whiskey brought out the worst in him. “Do you know what time it is?”
“You’re grumpy. Were you busy?”
“It’s midnight, Craig. I’m in bed.”
“Alone?”
“Of course. Brandon has his own room. He’s—” She realized then he hadn’t been referring to Brandon. The question was too far over the line to warrant an answer. “Do you have news about Lucy, because there’s no other reason for you to be calling me this time of night?”
“No news.”
“I need to get some sleep, Craig. I’ll see you tomorrow. We can discuss whatever you’re calling about then.”
“Right. You’re coming to see me and bringing some cowboy detective who’s convinced you he can do what the whole damn FBI can’t.”
“This isn’t a territorial battle between him and the Bureau. I’m just trying to get Lucy back.”
“That’s what you have me for. You should trust me. You should have listened to me when I warned you about Todd. You weren’t the first woman whose life he destroyed.”
His voice slurred more. The guy was more inebriated than she’d thought. He must be in a bar somewhere. “Go home, Craig, but take a cab or call Ginny to come and pick you up.”
“Ginny’s at her mother’s.”
“Then call a cab. Good night.” She hung up before he had time to continue the conversation or go off in another direction. Whatever he said tonight under the influence, he’d likely be sorry for tomorrow. Even if he wasn’t, she would be.
Unfortunately she was wide awake again. She snuggled beneath the covers, but one of Craig’s annoying questions became a niggling deterrent to sleep.
Are you alone?
Very alone in her king-size bed, the same way she’d been for two years. Her emotions had been too raw after Todd’s death and Lucy’s disappearance to even think of a man in a sexual way. She still didn’t need a man.
Yet she’d felt something the other night when her gaze had first locked with Hawk’s. She’d blamed it on the champagne, but he was too much a man not to affect her on a sensual level.
But a slight stirring of sensual attraction was normal. It just meant she was still alive. She’d make sure it went no further than that.
IT TOOK HAWK LESS than five minutes to realize that Craig Dalliers had no intention of cooperating fully with him. This was his baby, and he had no interest in throwing it into the private sector.
Craig had the power seat behind his desk. Alonsa and Hawk sat in uncomfortable straight-backed chairs facing him. So far they’d covered the introductions and greetings and not much more.
Craig was throwing around his importance, telling them about his recent promotion and how he’d specified to his superiors that he remain in charge of the investigation into Lucy’s disappearance.
Hawk wasn’t impressed. Bureaucracy and formalities bored him. That was the one part of the military he’d had enough of. He was about to ask Craig to get on with the show when Alonsa beat him to it.
“I want to see the photograph Elle Carrigan sent you.”
“Technically, Tonya Carrigan sent the snapshot. It was taken with her camera,” Craig said.
Alonsa leaned forward. “I want to see it.”
Craig nodded and reached for a manila folder from a stack of similar ones on the back of his desk. He opened it slowly and pulled out a 4 x 6 color glossy. He shrugged and his lips slanted into tight lines of resignation as he walked to the front of his desk and handed the photo to Alonsa.
Her muscles visibly bunched and her right hand shook as she reached for it. She fixated on the image and then put a hand to her head as if she needed the support to hold it up.
“It’s definitely Lucy,” Alonsa said, her voice tremulous.
“I know, and I was trying to avoid putting you through this,” Craig said.
She continued to study the photograph. “I don’t understand why she’d walk away with that woman. She had to know I’d be looking for her.” Alonsa handed the photograph to Hawk.
The child’s profile was distinct. Even Hawk recognized her as Lucy from the many framed photos he’d seen of her in Alonsa’s house.
There was nothing of the woman but her back. She had on fitted jeans and a pale pink knit shirt. A nice figure. Slightly longer than shoulder length blond hair that hung straight until it curled a bit on the ends. No way to accurately judge her age, but the hairdo and dress suggested youth. No older than thirty-five, he’d estimate.
Lucy looked a bit upset but not hysterical the way you’d expect from a girl being abducted in the bright light of day. It was possible she’d gotten lost and asked for help. She might have believed the woman was taking her to Alonsa.
But what was the chance that a random woman visiting the zoo in the broad ligh
t of day would take a lost little girl as an opportunity for a kidnapping, especially when she’d never asked for a ransom?
“Maybe the woman was hired by the drug cartel that killed Todd,” Alonsa speculated.
“We’ve covered that possibility from every angle,” Craig reminded her. “We haven’t found any evidence to corroborate that.”
Hawk slid the picture back onto the corner of the desk. “Then let’s get down to the specifics of the investigation to this point.”
“If that’s what you want.” Craig looked to Alonsa instead of Hawk, as if he were giving her one last chance to back away from hiring him.
She didn’t budge or waver.
Craig shrugged and went back to the seat behind his desk. He pulled another folder from the stack and started talking. An hour of discussion and note-taking later, it became clear that Craig had told them everything of value that he was going to share with them. Hawk was certain the information barely skirted what Craig had available to him.
Alonsa excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. The tension in the room climbed to new levels as Craig leaned forward and propped his elbows on the desktop.
“I don’t know how you talked Alonsa into hiring you,” he said, “but if you’re halfway honest you’ll admit to her right now that you’re not up to the job.”
“And just why would I do that?”
“Because you have no idea what you’re up against. Whatever experiences you’ve had as a commando aren’t going to translate to this type of crime.”
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
“It’s fact. You’re untrained when it comes to the abduction of a child. You’re giving Alonsa false hope. Worse, you’re putting her at risk.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Todd was responsible for putting some very dangerous criminals in prison. You mess with these bastards and they won’t just roll over and play dead because you’re a big, tough navy SEAL.”
“A former SEAL, and I thought you were convinced this wasn’t connected to Todd.”
“I am, but you start questioning these guys and you’ll bring Alonsa to their attention all over again. There are guys in Texas who’d take her out for the price of a good steak.”
“There are guys in every state who’ll do that,” Hawk said, “New York included.”
“Right. So don’t give them a reason.”
“Did you back away from the investigation to protect Alonsa?”
Craig smirked as if the question were preposterous. “Of course not. I was in a position to protect her and I know what I’m dealing with.”
He scooted his chair back from the desk and rubbed his chin. “I’m sure you’re aware that even if you were to discover what happened to Lucy, Alonsa may not end up falling into your arms in gratitude. There’s no guarantee this has a happy ending.”
“I haven’t promised one.”
“All the same, Alonsa clings to the hope that her daughter’s alive. Finding out differently could destroy her.”
“I suspect she’s stronger than you think,” Hawk said.
“But you can’t be sure of that.”
“Nope, but I figure a mother deserves to know if her child is dead or alive. And if Lucy is alive, that’s all the more reason that someone needs to find the truth of what happened to her. The FBI hasn’t proven up to that task, so I figure I may as well give it a shot.”
“If you let Alonsa get hurt, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”
Hawk stood. “She won’t get hurt on my watch.”
Craig walked over to stand in front of Hawk. “Your macho SEAL act doesn’t impress me. I know what you’re up to, and using a missing kid to get a roll between the sheets is about as low-down as you can get.”
Hawk’s muscles clenched and his fists knotted. He’d love to plant one of them in Craig’s face, but starting a fight in an FBI facility didn’t seem the best of ideas. Still, he stood toe to toe with the guy.
“I don’t appreciate your suggestion that Alonsa can be seduced by an offer of help. And I don’t manipulate women for sexual favors. I do finish what I start, so if you come across anything that will help me find Lucy, I’m always ready to hear it. Otherwise, stay out of my way.”
If Alonsa noticed the tension between the two men when she entered the room, she made no mention of it. The meeting came to an abrupt end. Hawk and Alonsa left with a duplicate of the recently acquired photo, scrawled notes and copies of the limited information from the files that Craig deemed appropriate for them to have.
They hit the clogged streets of New York and entered the realm of blaring horns, exhaust fumes and layers of threatening clouds topping the skyscrapers.
A car skidded to a stop as the light at the corner turned red. “So exactly what is it you miss about New York?” Hawk teased. “The noise, the pollution or the lunatics behind the wheels?”
“Give it a chance,” she said. “You just might grow to like it.”
“Not unless they put in a pasture at every corner and pipe in a lot more sunlight than is getting past those skyscrapers and clouds now.”
“Let’s get back to the hotel,” she said. “We’ll go to your room and go over the information from Craig.”
His hotel room. A room dominated by a king-size bed while they pored over any and every aspect of Alonsa’s late husband’s life that could have had an effect on Lucy’s abduction. Alonsa would be reminded again and again of the type of madman into whose hands her daughter might have been delivered.
She’d be vulnerable. He’d have to comfort her. And he’d be sucked into an avalanche of temptation that neither of them needed at the moment.
“How about we go to a coffee shop instead?” he suggested.
“Perfect. I could use an espresso.”
That he could handle.
IT WAS THREE HOURS and pages of convoluted facts later when Hawk made it back to his hotel room for a shower. He went straight for the bathroom, turned on the hot water and kicked out of his shoes and socks. The temperature of the tile sent a jolt through his bloodstream. Six months out of the service and he was already growing soft.
Six months out and he was still trying to find himself. It had to be the same for Alonsa. No doubt she missed the life she’d had in New York, probably ached for the husband who’d been taken from her too soon, endured constant heartbreak for a daughter who she couldn’t even be certain was still alive.
He missed being part of a team that worked as one when they were on a mission. Missed jumping from planes into total blackness trusting he’d be picked up from choppy waters in the black of night. Missed tramping through enemy-held territory with a backpack whose weight seemed to equal that of a small elephant.
Go figure.
He undressed and stepped beneath the pulsating spray. He stood there for long minutes letting the water massage the muscles in his shoulders before pouring half the small bottle of shampoo into his hair and lathering.
He was just starting to relax when the truth sank into his brain. Dalliers had thought he was joining the game just to work his way into Alonsa’s bed. He wasn’t, but his reason might be even more selfish.
It was more than possible that he’d jumped into this because he craved real action.
You’re putting Alonsa in danger.
Dalliers’s words echoed through his mind.
Too late for second thoughts now. Alonsa was counting on him to do what he’d promised. If Lucy was alive, he’d find her. If not, he’d find out who was behind the kidnapping.
He’d keep Alonsa safe while he was doing it, but if he found out that someone had killed that little girl, heaven help them.
Dalliers might have the strength of the FBI behind him, but he also had their restrictions. Hawk made his own rules.
ALONSA HADN’T INTENDED to nap, but two restless nights had left her exhausted. Her eyes had closed almost the minute she’d stretched out across the bed and rested her head atop the soft pillow.
She’d waked just in time to shower and dress for dinner. They’d planned to dine at a quaint restaurant that had been in the area for years, only now the slush the weatherman had predicted had arrived.
Not quite snow, not quite sleet, not quite rain. She’d forgotten how it could set in like this in New York, leaving the city gray and frigid. The restaurant was several blocks away and available cabs would be slim, though she supposed the hotel could get one for them.
Picking up the remote, she flicked on the TV to catch the evening news. The lead story was the economy woes. The bright spot was the fact that the Giants were now favored in the upcoming playoff game.
There was a tap at the door. Hawk was early. She was about to turn off the TV when she heard a mention of a missing child. She froze to the spot. The anchor’s next words sent the frigid paralysis clear down to the bone.
Chapter Five
Hawk knocked for the third time, louder this time. He knew Alonsa was in the room. He could hear the TV in the background. Finally, she unlatched the door and opened it a crack. Her eyes looked as haunted as they had the other night when she’d gotten the cruel phone call. Her face was ghostly white.
He pushed through the door and curled his hands around her forearms. “What’s wrong?”
“They found a body of a little girl.”
He swallowed the curses that flew to his mouth. Did she fall apart like this every time a child went missing? That had happened far too often of late.
“Here in New York?” he asked.
“In Houston. She was buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of a house in the Museum District. They think she may have been dead for up to four years.”
Son of a bitch. No wonder this had hit so hard. Apprehension swept through him, though he struggled not to let Alonsa see it. “How did you hear this? Did someone call you?”
“No. I was watching a cable news channel.”
“Was there any other information?”
“They estimate that she was between three and six years old when she died. The house’s new owner unearthed the body when he took out an old greenhouse and dug up the ground to put in a garden.”
