Trumped Up Charges - By Joanna Wayne Page 0,48
kids she’d never have anything to do with him.
So...
The owner’s daughter came around again, this time with extra salsa. The girl was working her tip. Her mother probably didn’t pay her near enough.
And all of a sudden the truth hit Quinton. He knew exactly who’d kidnapped those girls. All he had to do was find the hideaway and he was in the game with four aces and a wild card up his sleeve.
Chapter Eleven
“I don’t understand why you insist on staying on some hot, isolated ranch in the middle of nowhere that smells of manure. With Adam Dalton and his father no less.”
“I’ve explained that, Mother.”
“And it made sense when you were all alone, but I’m getting out of the hospital today. We can lean on each other as we’ve always done. We can see this through together.”
“I’m not just here with Adam and his father. I told you that Adam has hired a professional negotiator to help us deal with the kidnapper.”
“If Adam can afford this negotiator, then I’m sure I can.”
“But you don’t have access to a helicopter or corporate jets that might help in Lacy and Lila’s rescue.”
“And Adam and his father do?”
“The Lamberts of Lambert Oil are friends and neighbors of Adam’s father. They’ve offered whatever we need.”
“You’ve told Adam the truth, haven’t you? After the way he treated you, you’ve come crawling back to him. That’s why he and his father are taking over.”
“I’m not crawling, Mother, but I would if it could get Lacy and Lila home safely. And, yes, Adam knows he’s their father. I couldn’t very well keep it from him when the girls are in danger. We haven’t told his father as yet, but I’m considering it.”
Janice started to cry. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. So sorry you had to make that choice. And I don’t mean to fuss. It’s just that I’m so upset. I just want them home again.”
“I know, Mother. I know. It’s going to happen. We’re going to make it happen.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me to come out to the ranch?”
“I’m positive. You go home with your friend Karen and take care of yourself. I promise I’ll keep you posted. When we get the girls back, you’ll be the first person I’ll call.”
Janice sobbed into the phone. Hadley fought not to dissolve into tears with her and make this even harder on both of them.
“I know I shouldn’t hate Adam, but he broke your heart and he never gave it a second thought. Now he’ll never be out of your life.”
And in spite of all he’d put her through, having Adam in her life would be perfectly fine with Hadley.
But before she could let herself dream of that, they had to find Lacy and Lila and save them from a madman.
Without warning, the terror took over. Hadley began to shake as terrifying images of her daughters locked in a room with Quinton infected her mind.
* * *
ADAM WALKED INTO the kitchen and found Hadley leaning against the counter, her body racked with sobs. His heart plunged to the depths of his soul as the worst possible scenario stormed his mind.
He tugged her around to face him and then took her in his arms. “Did you hear from Detective Lane?”
“No, just Mother. She cried and then I started thinking about Quinton and crying and now I can’t stop.” Her words were broken by the sobs, but relief washed over Adam. There was no news which meant as far as they knew the girls were still alive.
“I’m going crazy,” Hadley said when she could finally talk without breaking down. “Whoever the kidnapper is, why won’t he call? Why is he tormenting us like this?”
Adam picked up a napkin and began wiping her tears away. He hurt for her as well as for himself, but he knew meaningless platitudes wouldn’t help. He stuck to the facts.
“We’ve heard from him every day the girls have been missing. Surely we’ll hear from him soon.”
“In the meantime, all I can do is wait and go out of my mind.”
“You need to get out of this house. I was thinking about taking a quick horseback ride. How about joining me? R.J. has plenty of mounts to choose from.”
“Thanks for the offer, but no. I don’t want to leave the house in case the kidnapper does call. Besides, if I tagged along, I’d be such a downer it would defeat your purpose in going.”
“Knowing you were here crying would ruin my ride far more. We