32

Maria collapsed on the bed as she watched the FBI agents file out of the motel room.

Nat Daniels agreed to go to the station and view the video and the receipt, but as far as he was concerned, Maria was free to go. ‘No longer a suspect’ were his words to Conrad. As long as the evidence verified what Maria and Conrad had told him.

Conrad and Nat Daniels seemed to have bonded. The two men discussed the case and the evidence. Nat Daniels had even apologized to Maria before leaving.

As the door shut, Morgan Reed turned to her. “I’m so—”

“Don’t bother. You need to leave. I am so done with you.” Maria was finished with this woman’s incompetence.

“I was only—”

“Only what? I thought your job was protecting Layla and me. And you certainly didn’t do that. In fact, you haven’t been doing it all along.” Maria jumped off the bed and marched towards the door. “You need to leave. Now.”

Conrad walked over to Maria’s side and opened the door. “You heard the woman.”

“It’s my job to protect her.”

“I’ll take over that detail. You can have your boss call me at the Sunberry Police Department. I have a few things I need to tell him.”

Morgan’s face flushed red. Her gaze went around the room. ”I can’t just leave. Maria, you have to come with me. We’ll pick up Layla and—I…”

Conrad opened the hotel door. “You don’t have a choice, Marshal Reed.”

“Maria, you’re making a mistake.” Morgan stalked out of the room.

Conrad closed the door. ”I’m sorry I brought you here,” Conrad said to Maria. “I didn’t know they were going to do that.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

Conrad’s phone rang. He grinned as he fished it out of his shirt pocket. “Wow. That was quick. Want to take bets on who it is? FBI or U.S. Marshals? Hello.” A smile spread across his face as he listened. “Thanks, chief. That is wonderful news.”

“What’s wonderful?”

Conrad smiled, lifted her up in an embrace, and whirled her around. “They did it. Emily’s safe.”

She hugged him back as her feet touched the floor. His arms continued to embrace her. Maria followed his lead and the two danced around the room laughing. After another twirl, she planted her feet and the two bumped to a stop. “Details, please.”

Conrad kept his arms around her as he spoke. “According to Ben, her biological father’s in custody. She’s fine except for being scared, of course. He was arrested without incident trying to cross the Canadian border. She’s on her way home now with a police escort as we speak.”

“Layla will be so happy”

“Layla happy? I’m the happy one. A beautiful woman in my arms dancing with me.” They danced once again.

Maria giggled.

The dance ended and in the next moment, Conrad bent down and their lips touched. Warm and sweet.

Not moving, Maria savored the moment.

Conrad straightened up. “I’m sorry, Maria I shouldn’t have done—”

“Oh, yes you should have.” She touched his cheek. It will be my very best memory of my time in Sunberry.”

Conrad met her gaze. “Then maybe I should give you one more memory?”

She moved closer. “That seems like a very good idea.” When they parted, Maria turned away and wiped away tears.

“Maria?”

“I’m fine, really. That is wonderful news. Emily’s safe and just like we suspected, Raymond didn’t have her. It was all a ruse. Layla will be so happy. I can’t wait to tell her.” Her phone rang. She looked down at the screen. “It’s not him. At least it’s not the same number as before.”

Conrad walked over. “That’s Suzanne’s number. Better pick up.”

She flipped the phone open. “Hello.”

“Mommy.” Her daughter’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Mommy, the bad man’s after me.”