Trumped Up Charges - By Joanna Wayne Page 0,61
to do, she knew she had to act fast. Quinton had left with Sam last night, but he’d said he’d be back this morning as soon as he took care of a little business.
Once he was back, he’d relieve Mary Nell of her babysitting duties so that she could do whatever she needed to do on her last day in the U.S.A.
Only she didn’t trust Quinton. She figured he was only trying to get rid of her. She wouldn’t be surprised if he found a way to get rid of Sam, too. He didn’t want half the ransom money or even seventy percent. He wanted it all.
And once he got the money, he couldn’t care less if the girls lived or died. The money she and Sam were supposed to build their new life with. Money that would let her escape her stepfather who couldn’t keep his hands to himself and her mother who was too hooked on drugs to care.
She threw the few items of clothing she’d bought for the girls into a plastic grocery bag. She put the rest of the box of Cheerios and the half carton of milk into another bag. That only left the small duffel with her clothes and the few toiletries she’d brought with her when she and the girls had moved into this shabby motel.
She grabbed Lacy as the adorable toddler skipped by her. “Be still a minute and let me tie your bonnet, sweetie.”
“Don’t like it.”
“I know but you have to wear it when we go for a ride.”
“Go see Mommy.”
“Right. You’ll see your mommy soon.”
She tied Lila’s bonnet on next, pushing the escaping red curls back under the fabric of the hat. Mary Nell didn’t want one strand of their red hair to show, not with everyone in the city on the lookout for two red-haired toddlers.
The TV morning news had talked of an imminent arrest of the kidnapper. Mary Nell was sick with worry that it was Sam who was about to be arrested. Then she and the girls would be left at the mercy of Quinton. She had to make sure that didn’t happen.
She slung the duffel over her shoulders, hung the bags from her wrist and took both girls by the hand.
Lila balked at the door. “Need Amanda.” Lila pulled free and ran back and found her beloved doll beneath the edge of her pallet.
“We’re going for a ride,” Mary Nell said, when Lila rejoined them. “Stay very quiet as we walk to the car. People might be sleeping.”
“Get up, sleepyheads,” Lacy called, ignoring the warning.
“Shhh.”
Lacy looked at her sheepishly but was quiet as they walked to the back of the motel where her car was parked.
Mary Nell put the duffel and the bags in the trunk of her mother’s old Chevy and then opened the back door. She hated that she didn’t have their booster seats, but the risk of staying here was much greater than that of driving without the protection.
“I want you to sit very, very still while I’m driving. Keep your face away from the window and don’t wave at anyone. Can you do that for me?”
“Go see Mommy,” Lacy said again.
“If you do what I say.”
“Pomise,” Lila said.
“Good, and you have to promise, too, Lacy.”
“Okay.”
Mary Nell wished she could just drive them to Janice O’Sullivan’s house and drop them off, but if Sam wasn’t arrested, he’d be furious with her. All their plans, all their dreams of being rich and living like royalty would be gone forever.
She couldn’t give up yet. But she would if it meant trusting Quinton Larson. They had to do this without him or not do it at all.
She buckled the girls into their seat belts. The fit was poor, but it was the best she could do. Then she got behind the wheel and slipped the key into the ignition. The battery groaned and died twice before it caught and the engine clattered to life.
As she drove off, she wondered if her mother had even noticed that she hadn’t been home in a few nights. Hopefully, she hadn’t missed her or the car.
“We’re going on an adventure,” she said as she turned toward the I-45 Freeway. What shall we sing?”
“Beary over the mountain.”
“‘The Bear Went Over the Mountain.’ Great choice, Lila. You’ll have to make the motions without me because I have to steer the car.”
They sang and laughed and Mary Nell told them stories—just like a normal, happy family on vacation. Not that she had ever