22

 

“David Hamm, with the address you gave me, doesn’t exist as far as I can determine.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Conrad sat on his couch in his sweats with BowWow half in his lap. He rubbed the golden retriever’s head while he talked to Leonard, his FBI contact and friend. “What about Veronica Minor?”

“That’s where it gets interesting. Her records are sealed, and I couldn’t get access to them.”

“But you’re the FBI.”

“I know that.”

BowWow rolled over to allow Conrad better access for a belly rub.

Conrad obliged. “I thought you guys had access to everything everywhere.”

“You’ve got us confused with the CIA and Homeland. They are the super-cops these days. They get all the good toys.”

“Toy envy isn’t a good thing. You have plenty of your own, anyway. So, what are you thinking?”

“It could mean several different things. She could be an undercover agent of some sort.”

He smiled. “Why would there be an undercover agent running a flower shop in little old Sunberry?”

“My thoughts exactly. Another option could be she’s under protection for some reason. It was a U.S. Marshal’s file.”

“You mean Witness Protection?”

“Yep.”

Conrad sat up straighter on the couch.

BowWow crowded closer and gave him a slurpy kiss.

Conrad pushed him away. “Can’t you get any information about her? She might be in danger. This Hamm guy was at her flower shop and her apartment. We need to get her in custody right now if she’s in danger.”

“I’ll see what I can do. And another thing, I looked into little Emily Most’s adoption records like you asked.”

Conrad waited. He knew his friend was about to drop a bomb.

“Turns out her bio father was in prison at the time of her adoption. Basically his rights were taken away without any input from him.”

“And...”

“And he got out about a year ago. Hired a lawyer to rescind the adoption, but that was shot down about a month ago. The judge refused to hear the case, and it looks as if the Mosts weren’t even made aware of what was going on.”

“Got a name?”

“I already sent it to your email address along with a pic.”

“Thanks, I owe you one.”

“Just one?”

After Conrad hung up, he walked over to the laptop sitting on his dining room table along with a week’s worth of newspapers and mail. His mother wouldn’t be happy if she saw his house. He accessed his email and checked out the pic, name, and address, and then sent it to the chief’s and Zink’s phones. Clicking his laptop shut, he jumped up. He had things to do.

First on the list was to get a new phone, but that wouldn’t happen until the store opened.

After that, it was time to focus on bringing Emily back to her family, and then finding Veronica Minor before this other guy did.

 

****

 

Maria had driven through the night and was back in Sunberry. Coming back had been the best option.

The FBI was looking for her, and with her picture all over the TV, she’d never make it to Florida to Patti’s. She couldn’t risk being arrested in a strange place with Layla. Conrad was here. He’d told her he would help her.

And she believed him. Her instinct said he would keep Layla safe and that was all that mattered.

She’d tried calling Conrad back on his cell phone, but it went directly to voice mail and she wasn’t going to leave a message. She couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t picking up. He’d told her he was there to help. But now he wasn’t taking her calls?

Her stomach knotted. Oh, well. For better or worse, she was here now.

She prayed nothing had happened to him.

Since she couldn’t get hold of him, she had no choice but to go to the police station. Checking the rental car’s clock, he was probably at work, anyway. From the times he’d been in The Bouquet, she knew he worked first shift most days.

Maria pulled into the parking lot behind the police station.

Her mouth dropped open as she looked around. Her eyes widened at the chaos. Several news vans littered the parking lot with satellite dishes atop them. Small groups of people were scattered around the area talking with each other.

What was going on? Had they found Emily? Hope lurched for a brief moment, and then her stomach twisted. If they had, was she alive? Oh, please God, let Emily be safe and this nightmare be over.

A woman broke from the pack of reporters, making a beeline towards Maria. With a glance behind her, she motioned for someone else to follow. A man with a camera moved away from the crowd.

They gap between them closed.

Her stomach fluttered, torn between wanting to know what was going on and being terrified of the cameras. But she had to know if Emily was safe. She rolled down the window. “Did they find Emily safe? Is that what’s going on?”

The reporter shook her head and jogged the last few steps to Maria. She pushed a small microphone towards Maria. “Who are you? Do you know Emily?” She leaned into the window towards Maria. “Hey, aren’t you the woman they’re looking...Veronica...” She turned to the cameraman behind her. “Quick get a close up.”

Turning her face away, Maria jerked the car into reverse and backed out of the parking lot. The woman and the cameraman chased behind. She put the car into forward and hit the gas.

The car lurched forward.

“Mommy, I thought we were going to talk with the police. We need to tell them about the bad guys so they can find Emily.”

That had been the plan, but hearing that woman say her name had made her panic. If she went back now, it would only complicate matters. The reporter would certainly recognize the car and be all over her—and Layla. “We are, honey. Just not here. Look at all the people. It’s too crazy.”

Her hands shook has she drove. Exhausted from driving all night, it was getting hard to think. She needed to sleep. Maybe they should go to a hotel and sleep. Then she would find Conrad.

Maria found a quiet spot and pulled over once again. Hitting Conrad’s number, she waited for him to answer.

He didn’t.

Now what? She couldn’t go home and she certainly wasn’t going back to the police station. It was a madhouse. There was no way she was exposing herself or Layla to those camera crews again. Her head dropped to the steering wheel.

“What are you doing, Mommy?”

“Thinking, sweetheart.”

“About what, Mommy?

Maria smiled. “The police station was too crowded. Officer Conrad’s not answering his phone so I was trying to decide if we should go take a nap, and then call him later. I’m tired. How about you?”

“Oh, no, Mommy. We gotta tell ’em about the bad guys first.”

Yes, they did need to do that.

“We could tell the other policeman—the woman, remember?”

Suzanne Zinkleman—the other officer? The woman had written her address down so Maria could bill her. She wasn’t Conrad, but she would have to do. She’d know how to get hold of Conrad or she could help. “Great idea, Layla. Let’s go find that nice police woman, Miss Suzanne.”

“Thanks, Mommy. I was thinking really hard ‘cause I want to find Emily really bad.”

Tears sprang to Maria’s eyes. Her daughter was so sweet, so compassionate and loving.

Maybe she could catch Suzanne Zinkleman at home before she left for work for the day. Unfortunately, her address was in a box at The Bouquet. Was it safe to go there?

Raymond could possibly be watching the shop, waiting for her. On the other hand, it was more likely he was at their apartment building watching the flower shop’s van. At least that’s what she would be doing.

He had to know she wasn’t going to open up the flower shop with him on the loose, so there would be no reason for him to be there. No, if Raymond was around, it was at their apartment building.

Raymond wanted Layla.

The Bouquet wasn’t the target. It would only take a moment to get the address and phone number, and then they could be on their way.

Maria drove to the square and slowly made her way around it. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. There weren’t many people around, of course, but it was early and the town was focused on other things.

Emily Most.

Not surprising, considering the disappearance of one of their own.

Maria drove around the square. Nothing unusual as far as she could see. Nobody near the flower shop or watching it. Good, so far. She turned and drove down the next street.

There was no back parking lot for her shop, only an alley that was rarely used. Driving past, the alley was empty. That was good. Nobody was waiting there, either.

Two minutes. That was all the time she needed.

“Layla, I need you to unbuckle yourself, and then hide on the floor.”

“Why?”

She rolled her eyes. Why couldn’t children just do what they were told? “Because I need to go into The Bouquet to get Miss Suzanne’s address and I don’t want anyone to see you in the car alone. Can you do that?”

“OK, Mommy.”

She drove around the block as Layla unbuckled herself and slid down on the floor. Maria’s stomach churned. She didn’t want Layla out of her sight for even a moment, but she had to get that address.

She could take her in the store but that would actually take more time. If she went alone, she could run in and out. It should take under two minutes. And Layla was much safer in the car, hidden, than out in the open with her.

What if Raymond was in The Bouquet? He’d be able to break in without a problem. She had an alarm system, but it wouldn’t stop Raymond. Nothing would stop Raymond. He promised that and he meant to keep that unholy vow.

“I’m ready, Mommy.”

She sighed. Should she take the chance?

Why had she even listened to Layla? She should have taken her to Patti’s as she planned. But she had to do the right thing.

Please God, keep Layla safe while I’m in the shop.

She turned down the alley and stopped at the back door. Turning, she found Layla sitting on the floor staring up at her. She whispered, “Ok, I’m getting out and I’m locking the door. You stay hidden until you hear my voice.”

“OK.”

Maria wiped her sweaty palms on her pants and took a deep breath. She stepped out of the car and locked it immediately. So far, so good. Nothing happened.

She moved to the back door and hit the code into the alarm box. Buzz. She slid the lock in and rushed to the front of the store. If Raymond was in here, then he had her. If he wasn’t, she needed to get in, get the address, and get back to Layla.

She kept low and crept behind the counter. Finding the box of receipts, she grabbed it. Running back through the darkened store, her foot caught on an old board. She stumbled, but grasped the box close. Regaining her footing, she stood up.

A knock sounded on the door.

Her heart plummeted.

“Hey,” a man’s voice called. “Maria.”

Maria not Veronica. Half-crawling, half-running, she propelled herself forward. She had to get out. Had to get back to Layla. She ran through the back door, not bothering to lock it. Pressing the unlock button for the car door, she jumped in and relocked the doors.

“Layla?”

“I’m here.”

“Stay down, sweetie.” Her hands shook as she put the key in the ignition.

A man appeared at the other end of the alley blocking the way out.

She started the car.

He jogged towards her. Not Raymond, but it must be someone helping him.

Checking the rearview mirror, the other end of the alley was still empty. She put the car in reverse and hit the gas. She moved backwards. No good at backing up, the car weaved one way, and then the other. But it was the only way out.

The man still ran towards her. Towards Layla.

“Mommy?”

“Stay down. Don’t move.” If the man didn’t see Layla, he might think she was somewhere he couldn’t get to her.

“Why?” Fear trembled in her daughter’s voice.

She weaved her way down the alley backwards, hitting a trash can. The man was catching up. She couldn’t let him near her or the car.

End of the alley.

Finally.

She backed up into the street and turned left away from the square. She fishtailed as she hit the gas. The man ran out of the alley and stared at her.

And then, he pointed a gun at the car.