Joanna Wayne - Trumped Up Charges

His phone vibrated. This time he took the call. “Hello, Mom. What’s the matter? Can’t wait to hear about R.J.’s latest tricks?”

“Did you hear the AMBER Alert the Houston police issued a couple of hours ago?” Her voice was shaking so hard he could barely understand her.

“I haven’t.”

“Twin girls were kidnapped from their grandmother’s home in a Dallas subdivision during the night.”

“Is this someone you know?”

“The grandmother is Janice O’Sullivan, Adam. It was Hadley’s children who were kidnapped.”

His heart bucked and knocked against his chest wall. He fumbled for words while he tried to get his mind around the news. “How did that happen?”

“I have no idea. The only details released were a description of the girls and the area where they were kidnapped.”

“Then how do you know the missing girls are Hadley’s daughters?”

“My friend Crystal just called. Her daughter’s husband is on the Dallas police force and was one of the first responders to the 911 call. He talked to Hadley. She’s frantic.”

“I’m sure.”

“I know you two had a bitter breakup, son, but her daughters are missing. I think you should go over there and see if you can help.”

“She has the Dallas police and maybe even the FBI. I’m sure they don’t need me.”

“But you’re a decorated marine.”

“We didn’t handle child abductions in Afghanistan, Mom. Besides there’s no reason to think Hadley or her husband would appreciate my interference.”

“There was no husband around when Crystal’s son-in-law talked to her. She was by herself.”

“Where was her mother?”

“Janice is in the hospital. She’s having surgery this morning. That’s why Hadley and the girls are in town. And now her girls have been kidnapped. Hadley can’t face this all alone.”

“She has a husband.”

“But he’s not with her now and who knows how long it will take him to get to Dallas. I don’t even know where they live. But you’re here, Adam. At least talk to her. You’ve always helped anyone in trouble.”

But this wasn’t anyone. This was the woman whose image he’d held on to through hell and back only to learn she’d married someone else and borne his children.

The woman he’d spent the past few years trying to erase from his heart and mind.

But Hadley was alone and no doubt terrified, her children in the hands of an abductor. His heart pounded as adrenaline exploded inside him.

She might kick him out when he got there, but not going to her wasn’t even an option. Eight million or eighty million dollars on the line, it made no difference.

He was out of here.

Chapter Two

“When did you first realize your daughters were missing?”

“When I woke up and went into their room.” Hadley stared at Detective Shelton Lane, trying her best to concentrate and cooperate. But his questions were redundant and tearing at her slivered control.

“I’ve explained this at least three times this morning to three different police officers. Don’t you talk to each other?”

“I’m sorry to put you through this, but I was just assigned to the case, Ms. O’Sullivan. I like to get my answers firsthand.”

“So you just sit here and ask me the same questions over and over instead of looking for my girls?”

“We’ve issued an AMBER Alert. Every officer on the street has your daughters’ picture. I have officers going house to house in this neighborhood talking to everyone who might have seen something.”

“I just want my girls back.” Tears welled in her eyes. She dabbed at them with the shredded tissue clutched in her hand.

Detective Lane granted her a few seconds to gain control before he hit her with the next question. “Were you home all evening?”

“The girls went with me when I drove Mother to the hospital. We stayed until she was settled in her room. It was just after five when we got home. We didn’t leave again after that.”

“And no one else was here with you?”

“No one. I made the girls dinner and then we went outside so they could get a little exercise before baths and bedtime.”

Hadley stood and walked to the window, looking out over the front walk where Lacy and Lila had ridden their trikes last night. They’d been so cute. So happy. So innocent.

Had someone been watching even then and planning the abduction? The front door had been unlocked while they were outside, but she’d been right there. She’d surely have seen if anyone had entered the house.

She turned away from the window. “This is supposed to be a safe neighborhood. There are guards at the gate. I don’t see how this could have happened.”

“I’m having trouble figuring that out myself.” The detective shifted in his seat. “You say you didn’t hear anything during the night.”

“Nothing. And it’s not as if I slept that well. I was worried.”

“About the girls?”

“About my mother. I told you, she’s in surgery right now, having a malignant stomach tumor removed. I was supposed to be with her. Now...” Now she was in a nightmare.

“Did you check on them during the night?”

“Once.”

“What time was that?”

“It was a few minutes after one. Eleven after, to be exact. I remember looking at the clock when I woke up. They were both sleeping soundly. I picked up the almost full glass of water Lila had asked for when I was reading them a bedtime story last night and carried the glass to the kitchen.”

“What did you do with the glass?”

“It’s probably still on the counter. What difference does it make?”

“I’m just trying to get a complete picture in my mind. So you put Lila’s glass on the table, went back to bed and then you didn’t go back to their bedroom until this morning?”

“Right.”

“Did you go to check on them as soon as you woke?”

“I went to the bathroom first, but then I went to get them up.”

“When you didn’t find them there, what did you do?”

“I called for them and searched the house.” Hadley dropped to a chair and tried to get a handle on the sickening fear that was churning inside her.

“How long did you look for them before you called 911?”

“I’m not sure. I think it was only fifteen minutes or so. By that time I was shaking so hard that I couldn’t punch in the numbers. Matilda took the phone and did it for me.”

“I thought you said you were alone.”

“I was. Matilda arrived while I was searching for the girls. She helped and even searched the garage and the yard.”

“And Matilda is your mother’s housekeeper?”

So he had talked to the other officers. “Yes. Matilda Bastion. She’s worked for Mother for years. She’s practically part of the family.”

“Where is Matilda now?”

“At the hospital. When I couldn’t leave, she went to be with Mother.”

Thoughts of her mother attacked anew Hadley’s fragile hold on control. Janice was still in surgery, but unless they found the girls quickly, she’d have to be told about the abduction. As if cancer wasn’t enough to deal with.

“Who was going to watch your daughters while you were at the hospital this morning?”

“Matilda. They were excited about staying with her. She’s so good with them.”

“Does Matilda have a key to the house?”

Hadley nodded, but even in her fractured emotional state she could see where this was going. “Matilda had nothing to do with the abduction.”

“I’m just making sure we have the facts straight.”

Hadley checked her watch for the hundredth time that morning. It was five before twelve. Lunchtime for the girls. Were they hungry? Were they crying for her? Were they safe?