Lullabies and Lies - By Mallory Kane Page 0,69
them.”
Sparks nodded, reaching for his radio mic. He directed the backup officers to turn on Edgar Street, parallel to Bergen, and park out of sight of Bess Raymond’s house.
Griff pulled out his gun and checked it, working to keep his emotions under control. He couldn’t stop picturing Sunny, her eyes wide and trusting.
Please let me keep my promise this time, he prayed.
As soon as Sparks stopped the car, Griff was out.
Sparks stopped him in front of the car. “Wait for backup,” he said.
Griff shook his head. “There’s no time.”
“Son, I’m ordering you—”
Griff leveled his gaze at the police captain. “Sorry, sir, you don’t have the authority.”
Sparks frowned, but said nothing more.
Griff picked his way through the trees and undergrowth until he could see Bess’s house.
Was Sunny in there? Was she still alive?
SUNNY WATCHED the darkened archway that connected the living room with the dining room in horrified fascination. The light, cautious footsteps came closer and closer.
Jane had flattened her back against the shadows by the door. She shifted and a glimmer of late-afternoon sunlight flashed off the barrel of her gun.
Sunny held her breath. She wanted to cry out—to warn whoever was about to walk into Jane’s trap.
Jane glanced at her then back at the door. To Sunny’s surprise, she slipped the gun into the big patch pocket of her volunteer jacket.
A muffled sound reached Sunny’s ears. It was a baby’s cry. It was Emily!
All the blood drained from her head and she felt faint. Her throat clogged with tears, her heart swelled with relief and joy even as fear stole her breath.
Was this what Jane had meant when she’d tantalized Sunny with the possibility of seeing Emily again? Was this part of Jane’s plan?
At that instant a teenage girl holding an infant carrier stepped through the doorway, her eyes wide with terror.
“Hello, Mia,” Jane said.
The girl started and whirled. Her knuckles went white as bones where she gripped the carrier’s handles.
“Emily,” Sunny croaked, trying to see the baby in the carrier.
The girl’s head jerked toward her, then back to Jane. “Aunt Janie? What’s going on?”
“It’s all right, Mia.”
“My mother’s in the hospital. Someone shot her. She told me—”
Mia wasn’t in on it. Relief flowed through Sunny. She had to see Emily. She rose and started toward her.
“Stop!” Jane’s hand went to her pocket. “Don’t move another inch.”
“Who—” Mia started.
“I’m Emily’s mother.”
“Watch it, Loveless.” Jane’s eyes never left Sunny as she spoke to Mia. “Mia, honey, set the baby down.”
“What are you doing, Aunt Janie?” Mia didn’t move.
Sunny couldn’t tear her eyes away from the carrier. She could see Emily’s little arms waving, hear her familiar whimper.
Sunny knew that cry. Her daughter was hungry. Anguish and longing tore at her.
“Please,” she begged.
Mia’s big dark eyes met hers and although the room was too dark to see much more than a silhouette, Sunny had an odd sense of déjà vu.
Jane looked at her watch. “Well, time’s up and I don’t have the book.”
“Mia,” Sunny said brokenly, “take Emily outside.”
“No!” Jane moved her hand in her pocket, and Sunny knew the gun was pointed directly at her.
She swallowed her tears and straightened. “Yes,” she said, slowly sliding the leather journal from her slacks.
Jane’s eyes glittered.
“I’ve got your book, Jane.”
“That’s my mother’s book.” Mia started forward. “She told me to come and get it.”
“Mia, don’t,” Sunny cried.
Jane moved so quickly that Sunny barely realized what she was doing. She snaked her arm around Mia’s neck and pulled the gun from her pocket.
“Aunt—”
Jane tightened her hold.
Sunny froze. “Don’t hurt them. It’s me you want.” She held out the book. “Let Mia take Emily and leave. Then you and I can…settle up.”
“I don’t have time for this. I have a town meeting tonight,” Jane snarled. “I’ll have to drive like hell to get back in time. Give me the damn book.”
Sunny wondered if there was any reason to stall. If Mia could get Emily away without either of them being harmed, that should be enough. But somehow it wasn’t.
Emily deserved a mother who was brave enough to fight for her. And God help her, Sunny didn’t want to die without holding her daughter one more time, or seeing Griff.
Something tickled at the edge of her mind. Something that might have been important had she not been facing a loaded gun.
“Jane, you can have the book, as soon as you let them go.” She held the journal up so it caught the sun’s rays shining through the window.
Jane coughed. “Go wait for me in the other