Beneath the Stetson(50)

Adrenaline flooded her stomach with sickening force as the door of the other car swung open and a man exited the vehicle. He wore a ski mask. Walking rapidly, he closed the distance between them. Though his arm was not outstretched, he had a gun in his hand pointed at the ground. “Get out of the car,” he said loudly, standing several feet away, nothing but glass between them.

“What do you want? I have money.” She reached for her purse. “Credit cards. Cash. Take it and leave me alone.”

“Let me see both of your hands.”

Her brain raced. Did he know she was trained law enforcement? Was this Alex’s kidnapper? Slowly, wanting to draw his attention away from Cade, she held up her arms.

The man’s posture was rigid. “Get out.”

If she did as he asked, Cade would be completely helpless.

The man took two steps closer. “Now,” he shouted. “Or I shoot the kid.” He placed the muzzle of the weapon against the glass of the back window.

Bailey glanced desperately at the boy in her charge. “Cade,” she whispered. Knowing she couldn’t take a chance that the man was bluffing, she unlocked the door and stood up. The assailant charged her and struck the side of her head, and her world went black.

* * *

Gil flew down the street toward the sheriff’s office. He’d been in the chopper, still a long way out from the airport when Bailey’s text came through. His return call to her went straight to voice mail.

Parking his truck haphazardly, half on, half off the sidewalk, he jumped out and ran toward the building just as Nate pulled up in a squad car, sirens blazing. Gil stared at his friend, his heart pumping like a madman’s. Before Nate could speak, Gil grabbed his arm. “What in the hell is going on? I got a 9-1-1 text from Bailey.”

“Me, too.”

“Damn.” Fear like he had never known swept over Gil. It was a hell of a time to figure out that his love for Bailey was neither halfhearted nor theoretical.

The door to the building burst open and Nate’s second in command ran to meet them. “A 9-1-1 call came in about forty-five minutes ago. From Ms. Collins. She left the connection engaged so we could listen in. As crazy as it sounds, it appears that someone tried to carjack her. We sent personnel out immediately.”

Nate frowned. “Where?”

“We located her cell phone signal. She was about halfway between McDaniel’s Acres and Mr. Addison’s place.”

Fury choked Gil. “Where in the hell were you, Nate?”

“On a domestic disturbance call north of town. Woman took a butcher knife to her husband. I got back as soon as I could.”

The cell phone at the young man’s hip crackled. He answered it, and the blood drained from his face. “I understand. Thank you.”

Gil felt a great yawning void in his chest. “Tell me,” he said hoarsely. “Tell me.”

The twenty-something kid swallowed visibly. “They found the car. Ms. Collins was lying in the road...unconscious. Nasty blow to the head.”

“And my son?”

The younger man was pale as milk. “He’s gone, Mr. Addison. No sign of him.”

Gil reeled mentally, though he kept himself upright by sheer strength of will. Everything seemed very far away, the street sounds muffled.

Nate took his shoulders and got in his face. “Steady, man. We’re going to find him.”

“He’s only a baby.” Gil had spent the past five years making sure his son was happy and healthy. “How could this happen?”

The deputy spoke up, his voice shaky. “We have a team going over the crime scene. They’re very good.”

Nate still held Gil’s shoulders. “Why don’t you go to the hospital and check on Bailey? I’ll text or call you every half hour. We have a protocol, and we’re going to be all over this. Trust me, Gil. I’ll search for that boy as if he were my own son.”

Gil wanted to argue. He wanted to get in his car and comb the county. But without a lead, he was stonewalled. “You have to find him. I can’t lose my son. I can’t lose my son.”

Nate released him, but still frowned. “I’m not sure you should be driving.”

Gil glanced at his car. “I’m fine,” he said dully. “I’m fine. I want to go with you.” Everything inside him screamed in agony. The woman he loved was hurt...badly. But Cade needed him. The cruel impossibility of helping them both sliced him to shreds.

Nate hesitated, obviously weighing the pros and cons of letting Gil ride shotgun. “It’s boring work,” he said. “We’ll be there for a while.”

“Doesn’t matter. I might be able to help.”