29

 

Paul’s alarm clock dragged him out of a horrific nightmare. The few hours he’d slept since Maven went missing took him to places he wouldn’t let his conscious mind go. He sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the clock’s little red numbers.

Maven had been missing for almost sixteen hours. It was as if she’d disappeared into thin air—just like Moses. No Maven. No car. No cell phone or credit card activity. It wasn’t looking good.

He was a cop. They might tell family members otherwise, but…Paul forced himself to stop thinking the worst.

God was a good and loving God. He would take care of Maven.

Paul slipped to his knees and begged for Maven’s safe return. He loved the woman now and forever. When he found her, Paul would spend the rest of his life doing everything he could to make her happy, whether as a friend or as a husband.

Maven wanted a life with a man she could count on. And that man was him.

An idea took form while he showered. He had to take a risk to find her—if it wasn’t already too late.

Paul drove to Donald Decker’s office.

The secretary ushered him right in.

Paul didn’t waste time on small talk. “I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“It’s risky. I wanted to run it by you before I talk to anyone else. I want to offer a reward. Not for finding Maven, but for finding the house.” He held up the drawing Moses had done. “We put on the news that we are looking for this house on a street with the name of Cedar. First person who leads us to the house gets the reward.”

“It might work.”

“Or it might not.” Paul nodded. “If the person who has Maven actually lives in that house and sees the news broadcast, it could make things much more dangerous for her.”

Donald Decker looked grim. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“On the other hand, whatever is going on is probably not good for her. I really feel God telling me to hurry. We don’t have much time. I just know it.”

“Do you want me to put up the reward?”

“Well, I have some money, but I thought you could add a bit to it. The more lucrative, the quicker the responses will come in.”

Donald walked behind the desk and pulled out a checkbook. “How much? Fifty thousand?”

“I don’t think we need that much. Let’s start with twenty-five. You understand, even if we find the house, that doesn’t mean it will lead us to Maven, but we’ll still have to pay the reward. I’ll pay you back, but it won’t be all at once.”

“Not necessary. I want Maven safe and back where she belongs. Have you talked with the FBI about this?”

“No, and I’m not going to. They would do everything they could to stop us. I think we need to go to Cleveland, hold the press conference, and wait for the calls to come in.”

“Why Cleveland?”

“That’s where she was the last time we spoke. I’m sure she’s somewhere in the area. If we’re there, it will take less time to find her.”

“One of my lawyers has an office up there. Downtown. He could help us set something up with the phones.” Donald was already reaching for his phone as he spoke. “And I’ll have him set up a press conference, as well.”