Absentminded Angel(Divine Creek Ranch 20)(96)
Presley Ann shook her head. “They could try but he won’t take it. We learned that the hard way at Maria’s. He’s going to be so hungry.”
Hank made note of everything he said and then spoke into his radio, saying something about the area grocery stores that might’ve sold formula tonight.”
His phone beeped and then he dialed a number and put the phone to his ear as he hurried from the room. “What do you have, Vincent?”
She dropped to her knees. Please, God. Bring him back to me.
The minutes trickled like molasses, passing with torturous leisure into hours. The darkness outside seemed to only increase. She knew each passing second decreased the likelihood of finding Whit, and she prayed for dawn to not come.
Hank blocked the light from the hallway with his body. “They have Dorothy and they caught Willie sneaking out the back door. She had your dad’s house key in her pocket. You need to come with me.”
Kendry and Jared were suddenly beside her and they helped her to stand. “Let’s go, angel.”
She spotted Whit’s hooded blanket sleeper lying on the dining room table. She’d bought it for him for warmth on car trips, and her dad must’ve left it there. She barely felt the cold as she hurried with Jared and Kendry out the door, clutching it to her. “What happened?”
“We don’t know. Hank just said to ride with Ace and Kemp.”
Presley Ann was overwhelmed with relief. “That’s a good thing right? Ace and Kemp can find anyone.”
“That’s what I’m hearing,” Kendry said as they hurried over to Ace and Kemp’s SUV. Ace waved at them, his phone to his ear. Kemp opened the rear passenger door of the SUV for them as Ace said, “If it looks like they’re about to bolt, block them in with the van, Duke, but be careful. No idea if they’re armed.”
He hung up and put the vehicle in gear as Kemp climbed in front and they all buckled up. “We’re getting your baby back for you, Presley Ann.”
She sniffled and said, “That’s what everyone keeps saying, and I think I’m starting to believe it.” She pressed Whit’s hooded blanket sleeper to her nose and breathed in his sweet baby scent and tried to calm her breathing.
As he drove, Ace said, “They caught Willie typing a text message. A warning, but she wasn’t able to send it. We traced the number and pinpointed the phone’s location. Dorothy denies any knowledge of the abduction.”
Kemp turned to gaze at her, a reassuring smile on his face. “When we arrive, we need you three to stay in the vehicle. Do you understand?”
Presley Ann nodded, hoping she could obey them. Jared and Kendry squeezed her hands and nodded at her. Kendry said, “We’ll be with you, kitten.”
Ace glanced in his rearview mirror at her and smiled. “Judging by what I heard when we arrived, we’ve got another kitten who has claws in Divine.”
Heat seared Presley Ann’s cheeks and she hid her face in her hands. “Noble and Paul must think I’m insane. And True, too. Those poor men.”
Jared chuckled. “They’ll get over it.”
“I owe them apologies.”
Kendry shook his head. “I was the one who planted the seed in your mind. I’m the one who owes the apology. All I could think was how hostile they were to you and…how much I didn’t want them interfering in our lives. I’m sorry.”
Presley Ann wrapped her arm around his biceps and hugged it hard. “You’re protective. I like that about you both. You’ll have to hold me back. You know that, right?” she whispered.
He grinned down at her and squeezed her arms to him with his strong biceps. “I got you, wild cat.”
The smile felt so preemptive that she wiped it from her face. Whit wasn’t in her arms yet.
* * * *
Jared’s phone rang in his pocket and he answered immediately once he saw caller ID. “Hank, what’s up?” He looked out the window at the faint, pearly dawn as the landscape flew by.
“Willie confessed that the couple, Jules and Marvelle Berke, contacted her after Dorothy told them she couldn’t help them. They offered her the money they’d planned to pay to Presley Ann for the baby, and she swears that her mother did have knowledge of what was happening. Turns out there’s a bit of discord between those two women. James and Vincent are keeping them separated and taking them to the station. They’ll get the truth from both of them. We’re nearly there so I’m gonna let you go.”
Jared slipped the phone in his pocket and prayed that the couple who had Whit were oblivious and could be taken by surprise. He also prayed for Whit’s safety as Ace slowed the vehicle. He had no idea how truly desperate the couple was.