Protective Custody Read online

  “And then she couldn’t get pregnant.”

  Nick shook his head. “No. She couldn’t.”

  “And that’s when she started to change?”

  “Yeah.” He tapped his lips thoughtfully. “Yeah.”

  “And then she died in the car accident.”

  At the word accident, Nick’s jaw tightened, and he scoffed. “Accident. I don’t think so, but I can’t prove it. And before you ask, yes, I’ve tried. Called in special favors and everything. Although, from what’s been said in the threats this time, I know I’m right.” He went quiet for a few moments, and Carly replaced the picture on the shelf.

  Clearing her throat, she asked, “What are you doing?”

  “Praying.”

  “It helps, doesn’t it?” She didn’t know why she asked. It was obvious it did. But she wanted to hear it again, hear him explain why he relied on God when it looked like God had totally pushed Nick to the spiritual back burner.

  Because when Nick said it helped, it gave her hope. Like maybe God was listening to her, too.

  He frowned down at the Bible, but she knew he didn’t see it, wasn’t frowning at the book. “Yes. It helps. Although, to be honest, right now it’s hard to be still and listen to whatever God wants to say to me.”

  “Why’s that?”

  The heels of his palms scrubbed his eyes. When he focused back on her, he gave a sad little grimace and said, “Because I’m too busy begging Him to spare Christopher’s life.”

  Her throat clogged. “I can understand that.”

  “Will you pray with me?”

  Strangely enough, she wasn’t repelled by the idea. Instead, she was honored that he’d asked. “Sure, Nick, I’ll pray with you.”

  He took her hand, and she bowed her head. Her heart thumped in her chest as he talked to God in a way that revealed he did this often. When he whispered “Amen,” Carly repeated the prayer’s closing and looked into Nick’s eyes. “I want to believe.”

  “Then just do it.”

  She took a deep breath. “Okay.”

  He blinked. “What?”

  “Okay. I’m choosing to believe God’s going to work this out. I’m choosing to put my faith in Him once more.”

  “And if things don’t work out like we want them to? What will you believe then?”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Then I’ll just have to believe that God knows best. I want to keep the faith even in the hard times, even in the times when I don’t understand why things happen the way they do. I want to believe He’s still in control anyway.”

  Nick leaned his forehead against hers and breathed, “He is.” Then he finally, gently placed his lips against hers, and Carly reveled in the feeling. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

  Then reality hit. She jerked away and stared up at him wide-eyed. “I can’t kiss you.”

  “I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes and ran a hand over his hair. “You must think I’m awful…with Christopher still missing and—”

  “No, no, no. I don’t think that at all. I think you’re hurting, scared, unsure of the future and looking for comfort. And I think that’s okay. But right now, we need our heads clear and focused.”

  Relief glistened in his eyes. “Thanks for that.” Nick squeezed her hand, and Carly marveled at the sweet sensations stirring within her.

  Pulling her hand from his, she cleared her throat, focused her thoughts and said, “I’ve got an idea, and I want to run it by you.”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you still have Christopher’s things that were brought back here from the safe house?”

  He flinched at the mention of Christopher, but it couldn’t be helped. He nodded. “They’re still in his little suitcase in his room. On his bed.”

  “Come on. Let’s take a look at them.”

  Confused, but willing to go with whatever Carly thought she knew, Nick followed her down the hall to Chris’s bedroom. Just entering the room sent chills down his spine and terror racing through his heart.

  What would he do if God chose to let Christopher die? What would he do if he never again saw the little boy’s impish grin and dancing gray eyes he’d inherited from his mother?

  The thought made him light-headed for a moment. Then he realized Carly was speaking to him.

  “Nick, are you all right?”

  “No. No, I’m not.” Deep breath. “But I will be. What do you need?”

  She unzipped the little suitcase decorated with dancing monkeys. “I want you to look in here and tell me if anything is missing.”

  His brows slammed together. “Missing?”

  “Yes.”

  Wanting to drill her about why she needed that information, but knowing he probably needed to answer her first, he pulled the clothes out of the bag and set them on the bed. They’d been packed in a hurry, just shoved in the suitcase. He sorted through them, piece by piece.

  It didn’t take long.

  His hand paused above the empty suitcase. “His yellow muscle shirt and black shorts are missing. Along with a pair of underwear. He was wearing his flip-flops when he was in the safe area.” He looked up at her. “How did you know?” The sick look on her face caused his heart to thump. “Carly?”

  “I don’t know anything yet. It’s just a suspicion, and I might be completely wrong. I need to find out if the clothing was just overlooked or deliberately taken.”

  “Taken? By whom? The person who kidnapped him? But who would have time—or access?”

  She looked at him. “That’s what I’m going to find out. Are you absolutely sure that you left Christopher’s inhaler in the bathroom medicine cabinet?”

  “Yes.” He closed his eyes and did his best to remember his actions. “We got there, and I pulled it out of the bag because if Christopher had an attack I wanted to be able to go straight to it and grab it.” He opened his eyes and looked into hers. “I promise, Carly, that’s where I left it.”

  “Okay. Then it’s time for me to do a little more digging.”

  “Tell me who you suspect.” Jaw clenched, he stood firm. This was his nephew. He had a right to know.

  “No.” She pulled her hand from his and propped both hands on her hips to meet him stare for stare. “I could be wrong. Until I find out for sure…” She held up a hand even as she cut off her own words.

  “Carly…”

  “I mean it, Nick. I’ll tell you as soon as I find out if I’m right.”

  A muscle jumped in his jaw, and he tried to relax his gritted teeth. He managed just enough to mutter, “Fine.”

  “Thanks. Now—” she paced to the door “—I need to see Lindsey’s bag.”

  He didn’t bother asking why, she noticed, just walked out the door and down the hall. She followed. Lindsey sat on her bed reading a book. She lifted a brow as they entered. “What is it?”

  “I need to see your suitcase. Have you unpacked it?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Was there anything missing from it?”

  Her lips formed a disgusted frown. “Yes, one of my wigs. I must have left it somewhere.” Then she shrugged. “Guess it doesn’t really matter. The play is long over now. I don’t need them now.”

  Carly smiled in sympathy. “Anything else?”

  “A pink T-shirt. That’s all. I don’t care. I didn’t really like that shirt anyway.”

  “Thanks.”

  They left the room, and before Nick could jump on her with the questions raging in him, she asked him, “What are you going to do about tomorrow?”

  The very question he’d been agonizing over, begging God for clear direction.

  He stared her in the eye. “I don’t know. I may not know until I walk into the courthouse tomorrow.”

  She met his gaze without blinking. “All right. Then I’ll let you get back to your study. I’ve got some questions I’ve got to hunt down answers for.”

  He nodded. “I’m going to check on Lindsey one more time then try to rest.”


  He needed rest. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten more than two consecutive hours of good sleep. Not that he expected to do much better tonight.

  Not with Christopher and Debbie still missing.

  He watched Carly head back down the stairs and went back to say good night to Lindsey.

  He found her curled on her bed, staring at the wall. She wasn’t reading anymore. Instead, she looked heartbroken.

  Grief stole his breath and nearly brought him to his knees. Lindsey had never been an exuberant child even before her mother’s death. After his sister died, Lindsey had withdrawn into herself, protecting herself by keeping her distance from those she loved as though afraid she might be hurt by losing someone else.

  Over the past year, she’d made progress with the help of a good counselor, learning to deal with her mother’s death, learning to trust Nick, drawing closer to him even with the adolescent attitude.

  And she loved and protected Christopher in a way that showed she was intimately familiar with losing a loved one.

  Now her little brother had disappeared. It didn’t take a psychologist to know how she was feeling. “Hey, Linds.”

  “Hey.” She didn’t move, but at least she responded.

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “I should have protected him, Uncle Nick. I shouldn’t have left him alone.”

  Her anguish broke his heart. Sitting beside her, he took her hand in his and kissed the knuckles. “That wasn’t your responsibility, Linds, even though you took on that role. I’ve never seen a sister who loved her brother more.”

  A sob suddenly shook her, and she sat up to wind her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry, Uncle Nick, I’m sorry.” Her tears soaked his shoulder in record time.

  “Lindsey, you don’t have anything to apologize for.”

  “But I didn’t see what happened. I didn’t even hear anything.”

  “You were in another part of the building, darling. That’s no surprise.”

  “He’s got to be so scared, and I can’t do anything about it.” More sobs shook her thin frame. A frame that he now noticed had lost a few pounds she couldn’t afford to lose.

  A lump formed in his throat, and it was a minute before he could speak. “I know, hon, I know.” A pause. “But I don’t think he’s that scared.” God forgive him for lying. “Debbie’s with him, remember? She’s probably holding him. Comforting him. I think he’s probably okay.”

  “But you don’t know that, do you?”

  “No, but it’s what I’m praying for. She loves Christopher, and I think the people that took Chris took Debbie to help with him. You see?”

  At first she didn’t say anything. Then she gave a slow nod. “Yes. I see. I hope that’s true.”

  “Wanna pray about it?”

  “Yeah. I do.”

  Carly watched the sun come up, her thoughts on little Christopher, Debbie and, of course, Nicholas. The night had passed without incident. What would Nick do today? Sit on the bench or recuse himself? She honestly didn’t know what he planned to do. She didn’t think he knew, either.

  The phone rang in the distance, and Carly heard the FBI agents scrambling to make sure they got a tape of whoever was calling. Nerves taught, she stood next to one of the agents, whose name she couldn’t remember. “Who is it?”

  The woman pulled off the earpiece. “Wayne Thomas.” Nick took it.

  Carly made her way to the kitchen and looked down at the list she’d made the night before. The idea she’d had last night came back in full force.

  “Mason,” she called.

  He came in from the den. “Yeah?”

  “Keep an eye on Nick. I have an idea I want to check out.”

  “Want to share it?”

  Did she? What if she was wrong?

  What if she was right?

  Still, she hesitated. “Just keep your phone on. I may be completely off base, but I need to make sure, okay?”

  “Where are you going?”

  She told him.

  “At least take someone with you.”

  A thought occurred to her. “I’ll give my sister-in-law, Gina, a call. She can give me Catelyn’s number.” Ian was married to Gina Santino. Gina’s sister, Catelyn, was a homicide detective with the Spartanburg County police department. “Good thinking.”

  Nick came down the stairs looking like he hadn’t slept. He probably hadn’t. “Good morning, Nick.” She walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm. “Have you decided what you’re going to do?”

  His warm hand reached up and squeezed her fingers. In spite of the situation, she shivered. She pulled her hand away. He sighed and said, “I’m not sure yet. I’m going to the courthouse. That was Wayne. He and I have something we need to discuss.”

  “All right, I’ll meet you there. I’ve got a little errand to run.”

  He frowned. “What kind of errand?”

  She frowned and bit her lip. He wanted to talk to Wayne. That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Would warning him away from the man do any good? “I’m investigating that hunch I was telling you about.” One that involved his friends.

  Nick glanced at his watch. “And you still won’t tell me?”

  She paused, thought about it, then sighed. “I won’t be long, I promise. I’ll just be about fifteen minutes behind you and Mason. Lindsey is going to be covered by one of the FBI agents, so everything is all set, okay?”

  He nodded, but and the look in his eyes said he didn’t like the fact that she wasn’t telling him everything. Still, if she was wrong, he didn’t need to know what she was thinking.

  If she was right… Well, he would find out eventually.

  But should she tell him now? After all, it was his nephew who was missing. And he was headed to the courthouse, to seek out the very man she suspected knew a lot more than he was telling.

  She hesitated, then decided she couldn’t walk out of the door and send him to the courthouse unarmed. “Do me a favor and stay away from Wayne Thomas, will you?”

  Pulling up short, Nick frowned at her. “Wayne? Why?”

  “He’s my hunch.”

  Nick laughed. “You’re way off there, Carly. Wayne’s my best friend and has been for years. He loves Christopher and Lindsey almost as much as I do. He just called, in fact, to see if there was any news.” Sobering, he added, “And remember, one of the people snatched was his daughter. You need to look elsewhere.”

  “That’s why I didn’t want to say anything. I’m not sure, and I want to check it out.”

  “You’re wasting your time, Carly,” he insisted. “Leave Wayne out of this.”

  “We’ve got to cover all the angles, remember?”

  Nick’s nostrils flared. “I’m telling you that’s one angle you need to leave alone.”

  Carly’s shoulders stiffened. “Are you telling me how to do my job?”

  “I’m telling you that you’re wrong, and I want you to leave it alone. You looked into Debbie and Wayne already, and they turned up clean except for Debbie’s former connection to a de Lugo relative. A mistake she corrected as soon as she figured out he wasn’t a straight-up guy. Now you want to continue to investigate the man who stood by me when my wife died, who encouraged me to move to Spartanburg to give the kids a new start? A man I trust with my life?”

  By the end of his outburst, his chest heaved, his anger crystal-clear.

  Hurt at his lack of trust in her skills and her intuition, her desire to do everything in her power to find Christopher, she simply sighed and said, “Yeah. And while you think it’s a mistake, I think I’m doing the right thing. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize. But this is my job, so let me do it.”

  Nick simply glared at her for a few seconds, then spun on his heel to exit the room.

  Heart aching at his obvious distress, she wondered if she should just drop it. But the intuition he’d shot down in his tirade raised its head and demanded action.

  She pulled out her cell phone and placed a call
to her boss, explaining the situation. He said he’d have backup headed her way, but gave her permission to carry out her plan. And to use Catelyn in it.

  Five minutes later, she’d acquired a vehicle via one of the agents and set off on her “errand.” Five minutes after that, she had Catelyn on the phone.

  “Can you meet me at this address?” Carly rattled it off.

  “Um. Yeah. I’m on the tail end of a report, but I can head that way in about three minutes.”

  “Great.” Excitement pounded through her at the thought of finding Christopher—and Debbie. “Oh, and can you call the alarm-system company and tell them whatever you have to to get it shut off? I want the element of surprise on my side. Also, bring backup with you. If I’m right, we’re going to need it.”

  “Okay, I can do that.”

  “And wait outside the gate until I tell you to come in.”

  “O-kay.” Catelyn drew the word out. A slight pause. “You are going to explain all this to me at some point, right?”

  “Yes, I promise. I just need you as backup in case I’m right—and I’m pretty sure I am.”

  Ten minutes later, her fingers clutched the steering wheel as she made her way to the property. Her one issue was the gate. She didn’t want to announce her presence until she was ready, so she had to figure how to get in without anyone spotting her. She had the right to enter, as she had probable cause to suspect someone was in danger.

  If she was wrong, she’d face the consequences like a big girl.

  The wrought-iron gate came into view, and Carly parked off the road to the side. She’d also have to be careful of any security cameras. If they were on a separate system than the alarm system, they would still be active.

  Five minutes later, Catelyn pulled up. Carly’s brother, Ian, sat in the passenger seat.

  Climbing out of the vehicle, Carly greeted her brother with a hug and a promise to catch up later, then said to Catelyn, “I need to hurry. Mason is at the courthouse with Nick, and I promised I’d be right behind them.”

  “What happens if you run into trouble? How will I know?”

  “She won’t run into any trouble,” Ian growled. “I’ll be right behind her.”

  Carly lasered her brother with a glare. “You will not.” Then she softened. “But I’m glad you’re part of my backup. You’ll have to tell me how that happened later. As for how you’ll know if I’m in trouble…” She thought about it. “Call me in fifteen minutes. I have my phone on vibrate. If I don’t answer, send in reinforcements.”