Day ten, 12:00 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and twenty-four hours ago
Sitting in J.T.’s Jeep on Monday afternoon, Madison sank her teeth into the juicy hamburger from the fast-food restaurant. “These are as good as I remembered them.”
“Yeah, people come from Central City to eat at Eddie’s Hamburger Joint.” J.T. popped a fry into his mouth.
“I wish this morning had gone better.” She took another big bite of her sandwich.
“Me, too. It was a good idea, though. Howard had four vacant houses listed in the area. They all had basements but not like Ashley described.”
“Which probably rules him out.”
J.T. reached out and wiped his napkin at the corner of her mouth. “You had some juice there.”
“Thanks,” she murmured while her heartbeat kicked up a notch. The gesture suddenly made the atmosphere in the car intimate.
“You know when the case is over with we need to talk about this.”
What? This intense attraction between us? These emotions that scare me, make me feel so vulnerable? “Yes.” She dropped her gaze away from his handsome face and concentrated on the pile of fries in the sack in her lap. She took one and nibbled on it. His presence so close to her sharpened her senses, all centered on him.
“I don’t want to ignore what’s happening here like we did last summer. You make me feel as though somehow everything will work out.”
The huskiness that laced his words caused her pulse to beat even faster. She peered at him. “We will catch the kidnapper.”
He smiled, a smile that encompassed his whole face, the kind that did funny things to her insides. “I know. I think we’re close.”
“Let’s hope Paul had a productive trip this morning.” Madison finished the last bite of her hamburger and patted her napkin along her mouth.
J.T. scrunched his trash into a ball and stuffed it into his paper sack, then straightened and started the engine. “Come on. I want to relieve Colin and Emma of watching Ashley and be there for Kim and Neil when they get home from school. We need to make the most of the next couple of hours.”
“You’re right. Let’s go.”
He backed out of the parking space, then directed his Jeep toward the station down the road. Two minutes later they entered.
“Boss, Agent Kendall just called.” Derek checked his notepad. “He said that Max Dillard worked for Goldie’s Grill for several years. The owners changed once while he was there.”
“Who were the owners?” J.T. stopped on the other side of the counter.
“Ann Laskey, then Cheryl Masters.”
“Let’s find out everything we can about those ladies.”
“I’ve already got Rachel working on it. Kendall is now heading to Bakersville to check out another lead.”
At the mention of the town where Susan Winn, aka Cora Baker, used to live Madison glanced around the large office. Susan wasn’t there.
“Where’s Susan?” J.T. asked, looking around, too.
“Remember, boss. She had a doctor’s appointment in Central City this afternoon.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot she said something this morning about it.” J.T. walked toward his office, pausing by Rachel’s desk. “Come in and give me and Madison an update on anything you’ve found this morning.”
“Don’t have to come in. The only person I’ve been able to clear is Bobby Johnson. His alibi holds up. He doesn’t have a girlfriend, or wife. He didn’t have one when you put him away. He’s an only child and his parents are dead.”
“Okay. How about Timothy Connors and Aaron Adam Acker?”
“Still tracking some leads down. I haven’t been able to find Aaron’s sister or mother.”
“Work on the owners of Goldie’s Grill. Madison and I will work on the names on the list.”
Rachel gathered up her sheets spread out on the desk beside her. “I take it nothing panned out with Howard Wright.”
J.T. shook his head. “We can cross him off, at least for Ashley’s kidnapping. But when this is over, I will delve into his story about the porn and his brother-in-law.”
Madison took the papers Rachel held out for them. “You’ve got great computer skills. Have you ever thought of working for the FBI?”
“Nope. I like it here.”
J.T. continued toward his office. Madison followed him and took a seat across his desk.
“You never lived in a small town, did you?” J.T. lounged back in his chair, his fingers forming a steeple in front of him.
“No. Most of my life I’ve been in Chicago.”
“Life here probably would seem dull to you.”
“There hasn’t been anything dull about Crystal Springs while I’ve been here.”
A grin pushed through his serious expression. “That’s unusual. Believe me, kidnapping and murder don’t usually happen here.”
“And you aren’t bored?”
He laughed, but it was a humorless sound. “I worked in Chicago for years. My focus is different now. My family is the most important thing in my life. It took hitting rock bottom to see that. Crystal Springs is a great place to raise a family.”
When he mentioned family a yearning planted itself in her heart. Would it be enough for her? She liked the excitement, the challenge of a complicated case—like doing a jigsaw puzzle with thousands of pieces. But going home to an empty apartment was getting lonely.
Day ten, 3:00 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and twenty-seven hours ago
“That’s good, Paul. I’ll tell J.T.” Madison disconnected her cell and pocketed it. When J.T. looked up at her, she smiled. “Paul just called. He’s heading back here. Susan’s story checked out. Her husband is one mean man who has quite a reputation in Bakersville.”
J.T. breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad she got away from him. We’ll have to make sure she stays unharmed. I don’t want anyone else knowing about her other name or life.”
“Paul was very careful.”
He rose, rolled his shoulders and stretched. “I feel like that phone is glued to my ear at times. I need to get home and get ready for Neil’s graduation. Ashley, Kim and I will pick you up—”
“Yes! I found a connection.”
Madison whirled around at the sound of Rachel’s shout and hurried into the main office. J.T. came up behind Madison. “What connection?”
Rachel jumped to her feet, grinning from ear to ear. “Ann Laskey was Chris Kline’s mother. She married Bud Laskey and ran Goldie’s Grill where Max Dillard worked.”
“What happened to Ann Laskey? Where is she?” J.T. covered the space between him and Rachel and stared down at her computer screen.
In black letters he saw his answer. Cora Ann Kline married Bud Laskey, then Ralph Baker. No! He blinked as though that would change what was on the monitor. He glanced toward Madison who was making her way toward him. “It’s Susan.”
“Susan? What do you mean?” Rachel asked from behind him.
Madison peered at the computer, sucking in a sharp breath. “She was so convincing yesterday.”
“Because what she said was true.”
“Boss, what are you talking about?”
He turned toward Rachel. “Cora Baker bought a false identity and disappeared. We know her as Susan Winn. Our screening for staff other than deputies only checks for a criminal record. It wouldn’t catch an assumed name, purchased illegally.” The thought that he’d been fooled made his anger boil. “She has to be the kidnapper. It’s too much of a coincidence that she just happens to end up in Crystal Springs working for the man who put her son in prison, a son who died in prison three years ago.”
“Do you remember Chris Kline’s mother at the trial?” Madison asked.
He closed his eyes and tried to remember when he had last seen Kline. The woman he pictured in his mind was different from Susan—heavier, brown hair, large nose. “Can you pull up a picture of Cora Baker or Ann Laskey, Rachel?”
Rachel moved back to the computer and began typing. In a few minutes a photo popped up on the screen. “Driver’s license from four years ago.”
“Susan has altered her appearance, lost a lot of weight, but I can see a similarity around the eyes and mouth. Same height. Did she threaten you, J.T.?” Madison took out her cell.
“At the trial I remember she fell apart when the verdict was read, screaming hysterically. I didn’t stay around. I was working another case and needed to meet my partner.” J.T. withdrew his keys and started for the entrance. “Madison and I are going to her place. Put an APB out on Susan Winn, Rachel. Let the other deputies know we’re looking for her and that she is considered armed and dangerous. Then get me a warrant for Susan’s apartment and call Colin to let him know what’s going on. Ask him to look out for my children.”
While he made his way to his Jeep, Madison called Paul to let him know what was going on. J.T. pressed his foot on the accelerator, speeding toward the far side of Crystal Springs.
“Do you think she’s at her place?” In the front seat Madison angled around toward him.
“Probably not, but we have to check. I know she doesn’t have a basement, but my gut is telling me it’s her.”
“Then where did she keep Ashley?”
“Don’t know.” He came to a screeching halt in front of a two-story white brick building with four apartments. “Hers is the right one on the first floor. There’s only one way into her place.” He checked the driveway on the left side of the house. “Her car is gone.”
“Is it a white one?”
“No, a black Honda. From the beginning we have been toyed with by someone who knows what’s going on and has planned this for a long time.” He thought back over the past week and all the times Susan was supportive and always there to help. She even signed in the volunteers who searched for Ashley. The irony of that struck him as though he had been punched in the stomach.
Inside he knocked on Susan’s door. He waited a minute then pounded again. When no one answered, he tried the handle. It was locked. He started to slam his shoulder into the wooden door when Madison stayed his forward motion with a hand on his arm.
“Let’s wait for the warrant. Rachel should be here shortly. We don’t want Susan getting off because we didn’t follow the rules. If she’s in there, she can’t get away. We’ll block the only way out.”
For the next ten minutes J.T. prowled the foyer of the building. His mind reeled with emotions he tried to suppress. This wasn’t the time to explode with anger.
Lord, give me the strength to see this through to the end and not blow it. All I want to do right now is get my hands around Susan’s neck and make her suffer like my daughter did—like my whole family.
“How could she take Ashley?” J.T. stopped in the middle of the hallway and faced Madison. “She’s been over to my house for dinner before. She’s come to my children’s birthday parties. She…” Despite his resolve, fury welled in him and cut off his words.
Madison hurried to him and gripped his hands. “Don’t think about that right now. She’s had several years to fine-tune her plan. It’s obvious she came to Crystal Springs two years ago to do harm to you and your family.”
“I don’t like what she makes me feel. I wish her husband had permanently taken care of her so that my family wouldn’t have gone through this past week and a half. That’s wrong, Madison, but I’m finding it hard to forgive.”
“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t have those feelings. Give yourself time. You’re still processing her betrayal. This is a woman you counted on, cared about.”
“And she used that.” He gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening around Madison’s.
She tilted the corners of her mouth up. “You know, both of us were right. This was an act of revenge connected to your old life in Chicago and it was a person close to you here in Crystal Springs.”
“I would have preferred you being wrong.”
“So would I,” Madison murmured as the front door opened and Rachel rushed inside.
“I’ve got the warrant, boss.” Rachel waved a piece of paper.
“Then let’s break down this door.”
“You don’t have to.” Rachel pulled out a lock pick from her back pocket. In a short time she had Susan’s door unlocked.
“Interesting.” J.T. pushed into the apartment and stopped a few feet inside.
Any personal touches that had been on Susan’s tables were gone. He walked to the coat closet and saw that it was empty. Without a word he strode into the only bedroom and checked its closet and drawers. Nothing.
“She’s gone,” J.T. said to Rachel, who had come into the room with him.
“J.T.,” Madison called. “You need to see this in the kitchen.”
When he entered the small room with a table for two in front of the window, he found Madison staring down at an open magazine on the counter. A pair of scissors lay next to it.
“She used this to make the note she left with Ashley.” Madison pointed down at the paper before her.
J.T. came to her side and noticed a few red letters cut out and sprawled across the printed page. “She wanted me to know.”
“Yeah.”
“Another taunt.”
“Her last one. We’ve got her, J.T. You’ve got an APB out on her. We’ll find her.”
“She’s been gone for hours. She could be in the next state by now.”
Madison took his hand. “Do you have a photo of her?”
“She never liked her picture being taken, but I think Neil got one at the end of the summer picnic we have every year. If so, it’s back at the house.”
“Good. Let’s get it and, Rachel, get it out to everyone, especially the media.”
Rachel shook her head. “I can’t believe Susan is capable of this. She always seemed so sweet and caring.”
“Yeah, right before she went in for the kill,” J.T. muttered as he headed for the door. “I have to make it to Neil’s graduation. Rachel, will you see if the state crime scene techs can come in and process this apartment?”
“Will do, boss. I’ll follow you home and get Susan’s photo, then go back to the station and get everything moving. I agree with Madison. We’ll catch her. She isn’t as clever as she thinks. After all, we found out who she really is.”
J.T. hoped Madison and Rachel were right because it was his family that was in danger if they didn’t find Susan. He didn’t want to live wondering when she would reappear to make his life a living nightmare. This had to end.
Day eleven, 7:00 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and thirty-one hours ago
J.T. sat in the high school auditorium with his two daughters and Madison next to him. He was surrounded by friends. His deputies were positioned in the crowd. Most of the fifty graduating seniors were seated in front of the stage, except a few who were participating in the program. His son was behind the stage waiting for commencement to begin.
J.T. peered at the podium. He had done everything he could in regards to Susan’s apprehension. Now all he could do was wait.
Lord, it’s in Your hands.
J.T. slipped his hand over Madison’s and offered her a smile. Along with God, she’d been his anchor through this ordeal. When he’d needed help the most, the Lord had sent her.
“I don’t think I’ve been to a graduation since I graduated. Was Neil excited when you spoke to him backstage?” Madison curled her fingers around his.
“Yep. It’s not everyday you’re the valedictorian and giving the welcoming address.”
“I would be scared.”
“You? I didn’t think you were scared of much.”
“Getting up in front of hundreds would frighten me.”
“Me, too. I’d rather face down a bad guy with a gun. Well, maybe not that. But it isn’t one of my favorite things.”
Madison chuckled. “It’s scary how similar we are.”
He locked gazes with her. “Yes, it is.” As though she was the other half of him, he thought. That realization should terrify him. It didn’t. It comforted him that after his failed marriage, his heart wasn’t dead.
On stage the high school principal approached the podium to begin the commencement ceremony.
Ashley tugged on his arm. “Daddy, when’s Neil coming out?”
J.T. looked down at his program. “Soon. He’s next.”
When the principal made Neil’s introduction, J.T. squeezed Madison’s hand which he still held. His son’s speech was uplifting and full of wisdom for an eighteen-year-old. He must have done something right to have raised a son like Neil.
Thank You, Lord.
After a long minute someone rushed out onto the stage and whispered something to the principal. Anxiety gripped J.T., and he bolted to his feet. His gut twisted into a huge knot.
The principal stepped to the mike. “Please, everyone remain seated. J.T., we need to see you behind the stage.”
J.T. hastened toward the center aisle with Madison following. He paused in front of Colin. “Please keep Kim and Ashley safe.”
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happened to them.”
J.T. hit the aisle and jogged toward the stage, his heart pounding so hard in his chest that each breath he took hurt.
When he reached the stage, he slipped behind the curtain and found the principal, worry in his eyes.
“We can’t find Neil. We’ve looked all around. He isn’t here. He was right here—” the principal pointed to the spot in front of him “—before I went on stage.”
“He didn’t go to the restroom?” J.T. asked even though he knew that Susan had somehow managed to slip through the security and nab Neil.
“No. We checked.”
J.T. did his own search of the area behind the stage while Madison interviewed everyone participating in the program. Ten minutes later he had to acknowledge his son wasn’t in the building. As he started back toward Madison, his cell phone rang. He answered it.
“I’ve got him and I’ll make a trade. You for your son.”
The hatred in Susan’s voice blasted him. “How do I know you really have Neil.”
“Let him tell you.”
A few seconds passed, then, “Dad, I’m okay. I love—”
“I’m at Ted’s house. Come alone or Neil won’t walk away alive. You’ve got five minutes to get here or—”
The connection went dead.
Ted’s? Why there? Those questions ran through his mind as he ran toward the exit, realizing the only way he could make it to Ted’s in time was to speed. As he threw himself behind the wheel of his Jeep, he dialed Madison’s cell. She picked up as he flew away from the high school.
“Susan has Neil at Ted’s. I’m going there to make a trade. Keep everyone at a distance.”
“But—”
“Don’t come near. Do you hear me? She’ll kill him.” He flipped his cell closed and ignored its ringing.
Day eleven, 7:30 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and thirty-one and a half hours ago
Madison pocketed her phone, frustrated but mostly more scared than she’d ever been in her life. Susan was going to kill J.T. and possibly Neil if she didn’t do something fast. She hurried to find one of the deputies to get Ted’s address. She thought she remembered from the year before where it was, but she couldn’t afford to get it wrong. J.T.’s and Neil’s lives depended on her.
Day eleven, 7:30 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and thirty-one and a half hours ago
J.T. leaped from his Jeep and raced up to Ted’s house. The front door stood open as though welcoming him inside. As he entered, Susan stood in the entrance to the living room with a gun to his son’s head, her hatred of him now clearly visible in her expression.
“Put your gun on the table. Slow and easy.”
Sweat broke out on J.T.’s forehead. “Will you let Neil go?”
“When I’m ready.”
Using his thumb and forefinger, J.T. carefully laid his revolver on the entry hall table near him.
“Now the other one around your ankle.”
He bent over and unsnapped the gun and placed it next to the first one. “Let Neil go. This is between you and me. He had nothing to do with your son going to prison.”
“But you did.” She shoved Neil away. “Go outside and tell the deputies that I’ll kill J.T. if they come near here.”
When his son hesitated, J.T. clenched his jaw. “Go! Do as she says.” He never took his gaze off Susan and didn’t breathe until he heard the front screen bang close.
“Bolt that door. The rest of the house is locked up. I don’t want anyone disturbing us. I’ve waited a long time for this.”
After he followed her instructions, she motioned for him to go into the living room. The drapes were pulled, shutting out the world. Two lamps blazed, but there were shadows in the corners where the light didn’t quite reach.
As he moved, he kept his attention trained on her, waiting for his chance to overpower her. He hadn’t come this far to let her murder him. He had a family. He loved Madison. He had too much to live for without going down fighting. If need be, he would rush her and take his chances that she wasn’t a good shot.
“Why are you doing this, Susan, or should I call you Ann or Cora?”
“I don’t care what you call me. You took my son away from me. He was all I really had. I thought after I married Ralph things would be better, but he beat me. Then Chris died in prison in a fight. My world shattered all because of you.”
Keep her talking. “Was Max Dillard your accomplice?”
She laughed, a hideous sound. “No way. He deserved to die. He was the one who introduced me to Ralph. Max didn’t know what was really going on. He didn’t even recognize me after I tracked him down. A friend I kept in touch with told me he moved to Central City. He just wanted the money I offered, no questions asked. He was dumber than dirt, but he knew how to drive a speedboat and Ross’s was one fast boat.”
“What do you think you’re going to accomplish here? You’ll never get away. By now the house is surrounded.” He had to buy some time and come up with a way to disarm her.
Her face slashed into a ferocious expression as though she were a wild animal. She waved the gun and yelled, “Revenge. Your life for my son’s.”
Strangely as she declared her intentions, a calm descended over J.T. as if God stood in front of him shielding him from any danger. Madison’s words came to mind: You aren’t alone. God is with you. I’m with you.
Day eleven, 7:45 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and thirty-one and three fourths hours ago
“Rachel, get me into Ted’s kitchen and I’ll do the rest.” Madison held the penlight directed at the back door lock while the deputy worked on picking it. “Promise to teach me how to do this when we get out of this.”
“Save J.T. and I’ll do anything you want. You remember the layout of the house that Ted gave you over the phone.”
Madison tapped her temple. “It’s engraved on my mind. Neil thinks they will be in the living room where she was holding him.”
“Got it.” Rachel slowly turned the knob and inched the door open.
Day eleven, 7:45 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and thirty-one and three fourths hours ago
“Sit down!” Susan’s voice rose as she brandished the gun as if it were a sword.
“What now?” J.T. kept his tone level. He took a seat on the couch.
“My picture is plastered all over every TV station.” Susan prowled behind the sofa across from him, her gaze darting to him every second or two. “By now Ralph knows what I look like and where I am. You know he once told me he would never let me go—at least not alive. My life is ruined thanks to you.”
“It’s not too late. You can turn yourself in, and Ralph won’t be able to get to you.”
“And go to jail for the rest of my life? No, sir. Besides, knowing Ralph, he’d find a way to get to me. No one leaves him.”
“Then why did you come to Crystal Springs? Why didn’t you just run away as far as you could get?”
She rounded on him, the gun leveled at his chest. “Because my son’s death couldn’t be for nothing. I had to make you pay. I planned my revenge for years, getting to know you and how to hurt you the most. I was going to kill Ashley and leave her body for you to find.” Disgust entered her expression. “But I couldn’t. Ralph always said I was weak and he’s right. I wanted to kill Neil. I couldn’t.” She cocked the gun. “But I can kill you.”
Day eleven, 7:50 p.m.: Ashley found one hundred and thirty-one and five sixths hours ago
Madison crept into the dining room from the kitchen. She heard Susan’s threat and the sound of a gun cocking. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she swung into the archway between the rooms and aimed her revolver at Susan, whose back was to her.
“FBI. Drop your gun.”
J.T. pitched forward and to the side as Susan spun on her heel, directing her aim toward Madison. Madison pulled her trigger as the older woman squeezed off her shot. Madison dived to the left, and the bullet whizzed by her head while Susan crumpled to the floor.
J.T. pinned the woman down, wrenching the gun from her hand. Blood oozed from a shoulder wound.
“Madison! Are you okay?” He glanced around.
She came around the couch as the back and front doors burst open. “The cavalry has arrived.”
“About time.” J.T. grinned, relief evident in his gaze.
Susan groaned, her eyelids fluttered closed.
Madison heard J.T. whisper over Susan. “Lord, forgive this woman.” Then he rose as Kirk and Derek hurried forward and took charge of the captive.
J.T. backed away and stood next to Madison observing Susan’s apprehension. “Why Ted’s house?”
“When I talked with Ted a while ago to find out the best way to get into his house undetected, he said she volunteered to water the plants and bring in the mail. He took her up on the offer and gave her a key.”
“She had us all fooled.” J.T. shook his head.
“And I think I know why she wanted this house.” Madison took his hand and pulled him toward the kitchen.
In the room she pointed toward a door that led to Ted’s basement. A doggy door was cut into the wood.
“That’s new. That wasn’t there before.” J.T. inspected Susan’s handiwork.
“I think she installed it right after Ted left on vacation.” Madison gestured toward it. “Look. She didn’t even bother to clean up all the sawdust. Obviously housecleaning isn’t one of her strong points.”
“No, planning kidnappings and murder are.” He put his hand at the small of her back. “I have a graduation to go to. I hope it’s not too late for Neil to get his diploma—and now he can give quite a speech.”
Day twelve, 11:00 a.m.
Madison rapped on J.T.’s office door. This is it. I can’t stay around any longer.
“Come in.”
She entered as he hung up the phone and turned a brilliant smile on her. Her car was packed and now all she had to do was tell him goodbye. It wasn’t going to be easy, she realized, basking under the power of his smile.
“That was Ross. Jill returned late last night. She stayed in a hotel in Chicago instead of going to her parents because she didn’t want them to drill her. They’ve been up all night talking and working out their problems.” J.T. relaxed back in his chair.
Since two days ago when they had apprehended Susan, Madison had seen a change in J.T. developing. He was more at ease. The stress, ever present since Ashley’s kidnapping, was fading. He really looked rested for the first time. “I’ve finished my paperwork.”
“Not one of the fun parts of our job.”
She sat in the seat in front of his desk, needing the width of the wooden top to keep from throwing herself into his arms. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind, a roller coaster of emotions surrounding this case. But now it was time to move on.
“Paul left a few hours ago. I need to be going, too.”
His smile faltered. J.T. leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “So soon.”
“Yeah, I’ll need to report in tomorrow—I’m glad, with such good news.”
“Can you believe the lengths Susan went to for revenge?”
“You and I have both seen a lot as law enforcement officers.” They were dancing around the real issue. “The sad thing is that Max was pulled into her scheme and she killed him for it. She wanted no witnesses, not even Ross’s dog.”
“I can imagine her pleasure when we checked out every false lead—the vanilla scent, the footprints made using a weight belt so the person seemed heavier, Ted’s white car, Eric Carlton.”
“Where she’s going there won’t be much pleasure.”
“I talked with Ralph Baker earlier this morning. She stole twenty-five thousand from him before leaving.” J.T. pressed his fingertips together, his gaze fixed on her. “I have no sympathy for that man. Anyone who terrorizes a woman, even someone like Susan…” He shook his head.
“She learned from a master. He terrorized her, and she did it to you and your family.” She couldn’t stay any longer, talking as if this was just another day while her heart was breaking into hundreds of pieces. She rose. “I’d better be going. I stopped by earlier at your house and told your kids goodbye.” The memory of that scene clogged her throat. After hugging each one of his children, she had walked away. Her arms had immediately felt empty.
He pushed to his feet. “They’ll miss you.”
How about you? The question was on the tip of her tongue, but she wouldn’t ask it. Their time together had been unreal. Reality waited for her back in Chicago.
A one-bedroom apartment that really wasn’t a home. The thought intruded, sharpening the pain. She started for the door.
He rounded his desk. “Madison?”
She stopped. “Yes.” Only a foot from her, she wanted to wind her arms around him and never let go. But since Susan’s capture he had retreated behind a professional facade as though they had never shared any kisses.
He inched forward. “I know I’ve told you before, but I wanted to say it again. I couldn’t have done this without your help. You kept me focused. Thank you.”
She didn’t want his gratitude. She wanted his love. There, the thought was out. She loved him. But they had met under the wrong circumstances. “You’re welcome. I was only doing my job.” The hoarse thread to her voice spoke of her tightly reined emotions. She needed to get out of his office before she broke down in front of him.
“More than your job, and for that you’ll always have my appreciation.”
Appreciation. Tears crammed her throat. “Goodbye.” Madison hurried from the office.
J.T. started after her but halted in his doorway. For the past day and a half he’d wrestled with his growing love for Madison. What did he have to offer her? He wouldn’t move his family to Chicago. He couldn’t. He was a recovering alcoholic who had come close to floundering during the case. She’d been wonderful and supportive, but he’d heard the pain in her voice when she had told him about her father. No, she was better off without him. He turned back into his office.
Day twelve, 11:30 a.m.
Pulling over to the side of the road, Madison swiped away the tears running down her cheeks. She should have told him how she felt. She thought he cared, but what if gratitude was what prompted the mind shattering kisses? No, it was best if she kept heading toward Chicago. She should put some distance between them. Then she could think more rationally.
Madison steered her car back onto the highway and headed away from Crystal Springs. She was doing the right thing. Then why did it feel so wrong?
Suddenly in the rearview mirror she saw flashing red lights and a Jeep—J.T.’s—speeding toward her. Was something wrong? She parked on the side of the road and climbed from her car as he came to a stop behind her.
He jumped from his Jeep and strode toward her, determination on his face. “You can’t leave.”
“Why? Did something else happen?”
“Yes.” He halted in front of her, inches away. “You can’t leave before I tell you how I feel about you. I owe you that much. I love you, Madison Spencer, and I want to see if we can make this relationship work.”
The tears, lately so near the surface, flowed again from her eyes. “You love me?”
“Yes.”
She did what she wanted to do in his office. She threw her arms around him, pressing her cheek against his chest, listening to the thudding of his heartbeat. “I love you, too.”
He leaned back. “You do?”
She cradled his face. “Very much.”
“This won’t be easy. I can’t move to Chicago. It’s not a place I want to raise my family, too many memories best left in the past.”
“And I would never ask you to.”
“Then that means we’ll be two hours away from each other.”
“Yes, for the time being. But I can put in for a transfer to Central City’s FBI office. A lot of people in Crystal Springs work in Central City.”
“Are you sure? It’s a small office compared to Chicago. Probably not nearly as exciting.”
“I’m sure of one thing. I love you and I want to see if we can work it out. That won’t happen if we live two hours away from each other.”
He grinned and brought her closer. “I like your way of thinking. We make a good team.” He framed her face with his hands and kissed her.