“And that’s why your dad changed professions and became a cop and then a sheriff.”
“It was a way,” Rafe agreed, “to be on top of my brother’s case and also to help others the way we had been helped. All three towns—Scorpion Ridge, Gesippi, and Adobe Hills—rallied together to search for my big brother.”
“And then your mom had you.”
“At age forty-four.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine losing a child. I was heartbroken when I lost my sister just for a year, and I knew where she was.”
“The good news is we’ve always believed he’s still alive. Most people who kidnap children do it because they want a baby. Someday I’ll meet him. I’ve always had faith.”
Janie wished she’d had more faith during that year she’d tried to get away from Aunt Betsy. Katie had always fought for her. Until today, this minute, she hadn’t realized how much harder she, Janie, had made the whole process by continually running away. How much grief she’d caused Katie.
“Oh, speaking of babies, I should call Katie.”
A moment later, Janie found out she still wasn’t an aunt. “They’ve sent Katie home. Seems she was having something called Braxton Hicks contractions. She’s supposed to rest and drink lots of water.”
“Well, at least you didn’t miss the important event.”
Janie nodded and asked, “Is it a lot harder to kidnap a baby today?”
“Near impossible thanks to special security bands that set off an alarm if anyone tries to remove the baby from the floor. So, what are your plans today?”
“I’ll work at the zoo. With Katie on bed rest, they’ll need me.”
“Luke will be there,” Rafe seemed to say to himself. “And, I’ll tell Candy to do some drive-bys. You’ll be okay.”
“You said yourself that this Chris person is probably convinced of his safety. Let’s hope that’s true.”
Rafe pulled into the front drive of Katie and Luke’s house and then walked Janie inside. She changed into a pair of khaki pants and a BAA shirt. Together they walked back outside and stood awkwardly next to their cars. Janie almost felt bereft at the idea of heading to her car alone.
“You’ll be fine,” Rafe said, as if reading her mind.
“What are you going to do?”
“I have a jail visit and need to work on the budget.”
“Exciting.”
“I’ll tell you what’s exciting...”
Before Janie had a clue of his intentions, he’d drawn her close and dipped his head for a kiss. It wasn’t demanding, it wasn’t chaste. It was in the middle, making promises about forever.
When he let her go, she wished she had something to lean against. Instead, he simply touched her cheek, and then watched as she got into her car.
She liked knowing he watched over her.
But what she pondered was that he hadn’t said, I’ll come by later.