by Judy Kentrus
“Did you have a message for me?” Lincoln prodded.
“Yes. Reggie said he’s been trying to call you, but your phone keeps going to message, so he texted me. He wants you to call him.”
“Did he mention anything about getting the information I need ASAP?”
“No, he just said he had to talk to you personally.”
“Thanks. I’ll call him when the race is over.”
“It was nice meeting you Cindi,” Treig said. “If you’re not doing anything later, how about joining us at the Long’s barbecue after the race?”
“It’s nice of you to ask, but I’m babysitting Cupcake and Muffin. They’re moving into a strange house, and I don’t want them to be frightened.”
“That’s an odd name for children,” Treig said.
“Oh, they’re not children. They’re ducks.”
Treig’s healing face broke out into a big grin and he belted out the first hearty laugh he’d had in weeks. This woman was a treasure. Moving back to Laurel Heights was looking better and better.
Margaret took the podium before the start of the race and gave her welcoming speech. She briefly mentioned the passing of Mayor Humperdinck, Leon Price, and Harvey Thornton, but encouraged everyone to have a good time. She depressed the button on the horn to give a warning shot and gave Clara Bell’s Clowns, the first team at the starting line, an encouraging smile. “On your mark, ready, set, go,” and the horn blasted the air. Enthusiastic cheering and clapping gave the team encouragement to race to the finish line with lightning speed.
“Edie, are you all set?” Jessie asked. “Make sure you lie flat, hold onto the bed rails, and stay in the middle of the mattress.”
“I will, Mommy. Grandpa told me how you helped win the race when you were a little girl. He’s looking down from heaven and is cheering for us.”
“I believe that too, with all my heart.” Jessie kissed her daughter and looked up at the sky. “Dad, you and Buford better cheer up there.”
“I heard that, Sergeant,” Lincoln said and kissed Jessie on the side of her neck. The wide, ruffled neckline of the blouse was driving him crazy. “When are you going to tell me the identity of our fourth team member?”
“Turn around.”
“Clyde!” Linc said, and held out a hand.
“You look fantastic! Right down to the fake pirate hook.” Jessie couldn’t stop smiling at the landscaper’s pirate getup. He fit right in.
“I’m honored Ms. Jessie asked me to help push Taylor’s Tornado. Thank you for speaking to the judge about me loaning my truck to my Uncle Harvey when he was up to no good.” Clyde reached in his pocket for a set of keys and passed them to Lincoln. “I changed the locks on the doors in Buford’s basement. They’re all keyed the same and you have the only set.”
“Thanks, Clyde.” Linc removed one of the keys from the metal ring and passed it to Clyde. “Now, we each have one.”
Clyde didn’t think he was capable of blushing. “Thanks for trusting me.” He looked at Edie and gave her a high five. “We’re going to win this for your grandpa!”
“Okay, team, we’re next.” Jessie gripped the curved rail of the metal bed. “Edie, we’ll get you to the finish line faster than you can say Jack Sprat can eat no fat.”
“Who is that?” she asked.
“Never mind,” she laughed. They got in line the moment the bed in front of them left the gate. “One more thing for good luck.” Lincoln took Jessie in his arms and kissed her soundly in front of the entire town.
Adrenaline pumped through their bodies and their palms began to sweat. Jess took up the middle position in back of the headboard, flanked by Lincoln and Clyde. The moment the horn blew, they took off and ran like the devil incarnate was after them with a fiery torch. The cheering crowd gave them the incentive to push even harder, and within minutes, they were at the finish line. Edie jumped off the bed and hugged her mother and uncle daddy. Clyde wasn’t left out. “We did it! We did it!” she yelled, jumping up and down. Lincoln thanked Clyde profusely and invited him to come out the Long’s home for something to eat.
He said there was something he had to do, but would come out as soon as he could.
They stayed to support their friends and the rest of the bed teams. As soon as the last bed crossed the finished line, Margaret consulted with the other judges before stepping up to the podium and to announce the winner. Taylor’s Tornado had come in first, the Bumble Bee team was second, and the Bat Mobile was third. She hoped Mr. Long was all right. While running the race, he’d been stung by a bee on a part of his body she preferred not to mention. Edie was thrilled to go with the others to the party. As a reward for staying out of trouble, Julie said they could go in the hot tub for a little while, minus the bubbles.
Much to Lincoln’s disappointment, Jessie changed out of her sexy pirate outfit and donned a soft blue button down sweater and jeans. She’d also clipped her sergeant’s badge to the black belt around her slender waist. It was time to be a police sergeant and walk the town along with the other police officers.
Linc took the bed home and changed into jeans and a silver T-shirt. He also reached out to Reggie. “Tell me what you’ve got.”
“I hacked into records I had no business dipping into, and wasn’t able to find a step-brother for Andrew Sayers. I searched his damned family tree. His mother was married four times, but she didn’t have any children by any of her other husbands.”
Lincoln thought a moment. “Do a search on her husbands. Maybe she took on one of her former husband’s children, but didn’t formally adopt.”
“Good thinking. That’s why you’re the boss. I’ll get back to you ASAP.”
Before leaving the house, Lincoln took a picture of the rear yard and sent it to Jessie. “I did not purchase or plant these. The daffodils are a gift from Clyde.”
By late afternoon, the vendors were closing up their stands and the crowd had thinned. Many of the citizens were having private parties to celebrate the day. The Nose Patrol had declared this the best and most successful bed race ever.
Jessie finished her trek through the town and got in Lincoln’s truck that he’d parked in the back of the Spoonful. This was the first time they’d had a few moments alone all day. She slid across the seat, picked up his arm, and snuggled close. “I don’t know how to thank you for such a wonderful day. If it wasn’t for you, we would never have been able to bring home another winning trophy. To quote my daughter and your niece, “her grandfathers are so proud.” When he didn’t respond, she looked at him questioningly. “What’s wrong?”
Lincoln twirled a lock of Jessie hair around his finger. “I’m sorry to be so distracted, but I spoke to Reggie and he wasn’t able to identify Sayers’ step-brother. He was going to look further.”
Jessie’s phone signaled an incoming text message. “It’s from Julie. The girls want to go over to Samantha’s to see the ducks. Clyde has offered to drive them over in his truck. He’s been taking care of the grounds, so he knows where he’s going. She would like to call first, and is asking for your assistant’s cell number.”
“No problem,” he said and repeated Cynthia’s number. “As soon as you get rid of that phone, I’m going to kiss you, and then we had better head over to the Long’s.”
“The kissing part is one of the best suggestions you’ve had all day.” Jessie straddled his lap, reached for the top button on the scooped neck of her sweater and took the kissing suggestion a whole lot further.
An hour later, they were greeted with open arms and congratulations. The party attendees included Sallie Mae and Northrup, his family, and many of the town’s political dignitaries. The chief had put in an appearance, along with other members of the police department. An area of the yard had been covered by a rug-like carpet, surrounded by a white fence. Five young children were having a field day with their toys and the attention of the adults, including Lisa Kay and her mother, Gerry. Sam Morlock was in deep conversation with Henry Long.
> Lincoln was glad to see Marie Kelly and Patrick O’Reilly. When he introduced the couple to Jessie, Marie extended her congratulations on their engagement before flashing the ring on her left hand. She’d finally given into Patrick’s numerous proposals of marriage.
Florence had her chef prepare the food, so the fare was plentiful. Russell’s mother was ecstatic about Lincoln and Jessie’s wedding, but insisted the venue be changed to their rear lawn. There was plenty of room for a tent, and they could set up torches along the water’s edge and continue the party into the evening hours.
Jessie and Linc were finally able to relax by the pool. Julie was bouncing Joshua on her hip and Scott had Anna in his arms. “We better get the girls,” Julie said. “It’s close to six, and they should come back for dinner.”
“You take care of the babies. We’ll get them.” Jessie stood up and grabbed Linc’s hand. “Up you go, Uncle Daddy.”
They took their time, enjoying the balmy pre-summer evening, driving country roads that bordered plowed farmlands. Linc turned down a dirt driveway that led to a two story, stone house that was over two hundred years old. A small porch had been added to the side and twisting vines of white and purple French lilacs clung to the edge of the roof. Two white wicker rockers had been added to the serene setting.
Jess and Lincoln got out of the truck and expected to be greeted by three happy little girls and two ducks, but all was quiet.
“I don’t like it,” Jess said, and approached the front door that had been painted a wine red. “Cindi, girls,” she called, knocking on the front door. “Nothing.”
“Maybe they’re around back. There’s a barn and a couple of sheds.” Lincoln didn’t like it either.
Their eyes widened at the site of Cindi, sitting on the slate path between the house and the red barn, rubbing the back of her head. “What happened? Where are the girls?” Jessie asked hurriedly, pushing Cindi’s hand away to see if there was any blood.
“Can you stand up?” Lincoln put a supportive arm around her waist and asked again, “Where are the girls?”
“With the police,” she moaned. Her head began to swim and she leaned into Jessie. “Goddam liar. Said you sent him. I need to sit down again.”
Linc swept her up in his arms, carried her to the porch and set her in a rocking chair. “Start from the beginning.”
“We were having a good time with Muffin and Cupcake. The girls were feeding them and running around the yard. The ducks love to follow them. I’d just checked the time on my watch, figuring the girls would have to leave for dinner, when I heard a car come down the driveway and this cop appeared. He was in full uniform and said you sent him to pick up the girls. He apologized for using his own personal vehicle. All of the police cars were in use because of the bed race, but he was officially on duty. I think I’m going to be sick,” she groaned and leaned forward to put her head between her knees.
Jessie wanted to scream hurry up and tell me where the girls are, but reverted to her cop mode. “Linc, go in the house and get her some water. We need to call an ambulance. She probably has a concussion.”
“I’m not going to a hospital. I hate hospitals. Just get me some water. I’ll be fine.”
“What did this police officer look like?”
Cindi started to give an approximate description, when Linc hurried back with a bottle of water. “Drink slowly,” he said.
“Thanks,” she sighed. “The guy was big, had on dark sunglasses. Edie just waved at him when he walked in the backyard, but continued to play with the ducks.”
“She didn’t call him by name?” Jessie asked.
“No. He told the girls to get in the car and he’d be right with them. He said to give you a message. ‘If you want the girls back in one piece, you will meet him at the old train depot. You are to come alone.’ Then, the son-of-a-bitch hit me! I woke up a few minutes before you got here.” Cindi looked at her watch. “Oh, my God, this happened over an hour ago!”
Lincoln looked around. “Where are the ducks?”
“Cupcake! Muffin!” Cindi cried. The bottle of water upended onto her lap when she put her hands to her cheeks. A wet spot blossomed on her purple pants. “They followed the girls to the car. That dirty rotten cop has the girls and the ducks!”
Jessie was worried sick about the girls, but had to make sure Cindi was alright. “Are you sure you don’t need an ambulance?”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Lincoln took out his cell phone and called Treig. He answered immediately. “I need you to take Scott and Julie and Russell and Alex aside and put me on speaker phone. Is Jackie still there?”
Treig was alarmed by the urgency in his best friend’s voice. “She left. I’m with them right now. We were discussing your wedding. What’s happening?”
“I’ll get right to the point. The girls and the ducks have been kidnapped by a cop on the Laurel Heights Police Department.” Gasps and cries filled his ears. Jessie grabbed his hand and spoke up. “He won’t hurt them. It’s me he wants. I know where he’s taken them, but he wants me to come alone.”
“You’re not going alone,” Treig declared.
“I’ll be there. Have Scott bring you over to the farm. Henry can give you directions. The asshole hit Cindi on the back of the head. She’s woozy, but refuses to go to the hospital.”
“All of us are going to the farm,” Russell said, as they were leaving the pool area. “We’ve got plenty of babysitters.”
“Keep us posted. Bring our girls home safe and sound,” Scott said, before they ended the call. Not again, not again, kept playing through his head.
Linc and Jessie ran to the truck and buckled in. He gripped the wheel when they pulled out onto the main road and realized he wasn’t familiar with the directions to the depot. “Punch the address in the GPS.”
“I know the damn directions! Make a right at the end of the road. Can’t you make this thing go any faster?” Jess regretted the bitchiness in her own voice. “Sorry. I’m so worried.”
“Me too, sweetheart. There are too many curves to hit my superpower.”
“Who the hell is this guy?” Jessie cried in frustration.
Lincoln’s cell rang. The incoming text message from his computer tech appeared on the special screen on his dash. They read and said the name at the same time.
“Donatiello!”
Chapter 27
“What do you know about him?” Lincoln damned every curve on the country road.
“He was a guard at Riker’s Island for six years before he joined the Laurel Heights department four years ago. Now that I think about it, when the chief announced an opening for a new patrolman, Harvey Thornton strongly supported Donatiello’s application. He’s always had a cocky attitude, but I never suspected him of being dirty. The chief paired us up for a few months, thinking we might have something in common, having worked for the City of New York. The first call we responded to as a team was at the train station.”
“What did the chief say when you told him about Donatiello being dirty?”
“You mean after he finished mouthing off a bunch of colorful swear words. He and two cars are on their way, but will stay out of sight. Linc, I’m scared out of my mind. I’ll skin him alive he harms those girls or the ducks.”
Linc reached for her hand gripped it tightly. “I’ll hold him down and you can do the honors.”
The sun was already going down when Lincoln took a deserted dirt lane and drove into the rear of his new building that offered a perfect view of the train station across the road. There wasn’t a car in sight. “He probably parked on the other side of the warehouse,” Jessie said. “Where the hell did he take the girls?”
They studied the building for a few nerve-racking minutes before they noticed a quick movement at the corner of the building. “Did you see that?” Linc asked.
“Cupcake and Muffin! Thank God he didn’t harm them. That bastard is playing us. Let’s drive over to the train station and
find out what the hell is going on.”
The ducks were quacking uncontrollably and waddled over to Linc and Jessie before the truck came to a halt. They tapped their beaks on the tip of Lincoln’s boot and then Jessie’s. “They are definitely trying to tell us something and I don’t think they know Morse code.” Jessed knelt down next to the agitated ducks. “What do you want to tell us girls?”
Cupcake and Muffin tapped on her knee before waddling across the parking lot in the direction of the deserted buildings. “The ducks want us to follow them. I’ll bet he took the girls through the tunnel and they’re in Buford’s basement! He expects me to show up alone. The best thing you can do is take up a position in your grandfather’s house. Notify the chief and he’ll meet you there.”
Linc wanted to argue with her, but knowing his future wife, nothing he said would change her mind. “Are you armed?”
“I believe I once told you I’m always armed.” She reached into her boot and took out her thirty-eight.
“It’s killing me, but I’m going to let you do this your way. My grandfather set up the doors so you need a key to get in and out because he didn’t want us going in the area connected to the tunnel. If Donatiello has a key to the other part of the basement, his won’t work because I changed the locks. His only escape will be through the tunnel. The chief can station patrolmen at the warehouse passageway. I’ll be in the basement on the other side of the door and will wait for a signal that you need me. Keep the girls and yourself safe. We’re getting married in two weeks. I love you, Jessie Taylor-Adams.” He kissed her as if their lives depended on it.
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I love you, too, Lincoln Adams.”
“Call Treig and let him know what’s happening,” Jess ordered, hurrying after the ducks.
“I don’t like that policeman. He’s a bully,” Edie said. They’d been sitting on the cold floor for a while. The walk down the tunnel had been neat, but they were getting bored. He’d ordered them to sit by the boxes and be quiet. He was on the other side of the room, drinking liquor from a bottle. “Wait until my mother get’s here. She’ll take care of him. Are you scared?”
