Find My Baby (10 page)

“What’s this about?”

“Kayla Hunter,” he said.

“I talked to one of your men yesterday.”

“Just a couple more questions.”

“They didn’t tell me. Has she had her baby?”

So the cops hadn’t told Mrs. White anything. “A boy,” Luke said. “Unknown persons kidnapped both her and the baby. Kayla is fine, but her baby is missing. Do you have any idea who would want to hurt her? Or who would want her baby?”

Mrs. White slumped against the wall, her face pale. “That can’t be. Kayla’s such a sweet girl. She loved that baby. And she worked so hard. The children were crazy about her. We hated to see her leave.”

“Why did she?”

“It was close to her time. I think the doctor wanted her to take it easy. She’s supposed to take over the fourth grade next semester.” She paused. “Are you sure she’s all right?”

“She’s fine. But we don’t know where to look for the baby. Do you have any idea who could be behind this?”

“None at all. Everyone liked Kayla.”

“Was she close to anyone? Another teacher maybe?”

Mrs. White shook her head. “Kayla concentrated on her work and her studies. She didn’t have time to mix with the other teachers.”

“Did she have a boyfriend?” Kayla had told him she didn’t. But the cop in him had to ask, the man wanted to know.

“When would she have time? She’s such a pretty girl that I wouldn’t be a bit surprised, but I know she didn’t.”

“Were you close?”

“Not close,” she admitted. “But we talked. And one day I point blank asked about a boyfriend. She laughed and told me she didn’t have one. Kayla didn’t lie.”

The children’s voices grew louder.

“They won’t settle down today.” She smiled, turning her head when a burst of laughter came from the room.

“Have a nice holiday,” he said to her retreating back.

She gave him a backward wave and he turned to leave, almost knocking the security guy down. “Forgot you were there,” he said by way of apology.

Her church wasn’t far. When he pulled into the drive, a priest was coming out the church door. Luke met him on the steps, flashed his badge.

“My name is Father Dan. How can I help you?” he asked

“Sorry to intrude. I’m Detective McKinney. I don’t know if you’ve talked to anyone from HPD or not, but I’d like to ask a couple of questions about a parishioner of yours, Kayla Hunter.”

The priest’s brow wrinkled even more, making his face a mask of creases that clearly showed his age. “I saw her picture on TV. Believe me, my curiosity almost made me call the police, but I held back. If Kayla was in trouble, I hoped she’d come here.”

“So you could help her?”

“Of course.” He paused. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“No thanks. I’ll only take a couple minutes of your time.”

“Then let’s sit on that bench. My legs don’t like to stand very long.”

“Sorry, I didn’t think.”

“That’s okay, Son. When you get my age, you’ll understand.”

Both chuckled as they sat down.

“What can you tell me about Kayla?”

“What is HPD’s interest? She’s an expectant mother. What kind of trouble can she possibly be in?”

Luke avoided the question to ask one of his own. “How well did you know her?”

The priest sighed, leaned back and crossed his arms. It was a sure sign he wasn’t going to cooperate unless Luke gave him a reason to do so. “Okay. Here’s the story.” Luke gave him the condensed version. “She’s in a lot of trouble and we don’t know why she was targeted. If there’s any way you can help in that direction, I’d appreciate it.”

“Dear God!” Father Dan exclaimed. “That poor child.” He paused. “I wish I could tell you something, but I can’t. Kayla came to church every Sunday. We talked a few times. She told me a little about herself. I can’t believe this happened to her.”

Tears hovered in the priest’s eyes. He was clearly moved. Luke wondered if he felt for all his flock and bet he did. “Can you tell me what she told you?”

“No,” he said bluntly.

“Confessional privilege?”

“No. Just plain old confidentiality.”

“I see. Maybe you can tell me this: Did anyone, male or female, talk to her on a regular basis? Did anyone seem interested in her? Ask questions about her?”

Father Dan shook his head. “She was always in a hurry. Always had a smile and a quick hello, but she never took the time to stay for coffee after Mass or attend any of the church functions. I asked her about it once and she said she had two jobs and was going to school. That explained everything.”

Luke stood, shook the priest’s hand. “Thanks for talking to me.”

“Anytime. And, Detective, would you keep me informed about Kayla? I really do care.”

“I will.”

The clinic was the last name on the list Kayla gave him. There were at least six cars in the lot. He sighed. He could be in for a wait.

Entering through doors that could use a coat of paint, he scanned the room. Two women waited. One had a baby, the other a toddler. The toddler ran around and around the chipped vinyl chairs, his mother oblivious to his behavior.

Luke headed for the empty reception desk. Seeing a bell, he rang it and waited.

It was five minutes before a harried, middle-aged woman with gray hair tied in a knot at her neck, headed his way. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for the doctor who took care of Kayla Hunter.”

“Why?”

Luke figured he’d have trouble getting information, but had to try. He pulled out his badge, flashed it quickly before putting it back in his pocket. “Just a few questions.” He smiled with a confidence he didn’t feel.

“We told your office all we could yesterday. There’s nothing we can add.”

So they’d found her doctor? Wonder who called in that information? “Just a few things we forgot.” He struggled to remain professional, but the dead-ends were piling up.

Exasperated, the woman turned to leave. “I’ll ask the doctor.”

Another five minutes passed. When a woman herded three youngsters through the doors, the doctor, wearing a bright red, white and blue tie, waved him in. The vibrant hues of the tie belied the weary look on the man’s face. Gray hair, lines around his eyes and mouth, all of which Luke could understand. This was an indigent neighborhood with people too poor for insurance. Their health literally lay in the hands of men like the one facing him now.

“I don’t have long. We’re busy.”

“I understand,” Luke said, following him into a cubbyhole of an office barely big enough for a small desk and a couple of folding chairs. “I have a few questions about a patient of yours, Kayla Hunter.”

The doctor leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “There’s nothing I can add to what I told HPD yesterday. I explained then that there is doctor-patient confidentiality. I will tell you this; Kayla never missed an appointment. She didn’t want to go on Medicaid, which she was entitled to, so we set up a payment plan. She never missed one.”

Luke cleared his throat. “Was she happy with her pregnancy?”

“Like I told you,” the doctor said. “We don’t give out information on patients, not with the HIPPA rulings. But I wish all my patients were as excited over their pregnancy as Kayla was.”

“Did you know of anyone she was close to? Family? Friends?”

The doctor rose from his chair. “I’ve told you more than I should have already. If you weren’t from the police, I wouldn’t tell you that much.”

“Just one more,” Luke pressed. “Were you surprised when she didn’t keep her last appointment and her due date passed?”

“Not as surprised as I was at seeing her picture on the news.”

“Were you surprised to learn that Kayla was kidnapped, her child taken from her?”

Obviously, the question jolted him. He dropped back into his chair, became very still. “HPD didn’t tell me why they were asking about her. But yes, to answer your question; I’m more than surprised; I’m shocked. Kayla was my prize patient. She didn’t deserve that kind of grief.”

Luke agreed with the doctor. As he passed the frowning nurse on his way out, he made a bet with himself that she was the one who had called HPD.

More convinced than ever of Kayla’s innocence; he started the motor. He’d stop by Nester’s for a minute. It had been too long since he’d seen Kayla.

****

But Kayla wasn’t safely tucked away at her Aunt Nester’s as Luke thought. She was waiting tables across town.

The noon rush was over. Kayla made a hurried trip to the restroom. Finding the time to tend her overflowing breasts didn’t prove easy. When she finished, her cell phone rang. The number that flashed on the screen was unfamiliar.

“Kayla?” a man’s voice asked.

“Yes.”

“This is Brent Douglas from the station. We received a couple of calls. Do you want the numbers?”

Her heart drummed so hard in her chest, Kayla thought it might leap out. With trembling fingers, she wrote down the numbers, then sitting on the toilet seat, clasped the phone tightly. She could do this. Taking a deep breath, she made the calls. Both callers identified a former nurse who lived in an apartment complex off Chimney Rock. Trembling with excitement, she raced to the front. Jackie leaned against the bar, a glass of water in her hand.

“I found her!” Kayla said, her voice low and breathless. “I know where she lives. I’m going there and force her to tell me where they took Sam.” The words fell over each other.

“Slow down, Kayla. Take a deep breath and start over.”

It took a minute, but she was finally able to explain the call to Jackie.

“You can’t go alone, I’m going with you.”

“The customers...”

“Uncle John will understand.”

Jackie ran to her uncle’s office and was back in seconds, her uncle right behind her.

“Of course you have to check the woman out,” he told Kayla. “Promise me you’ll be careful. If she turns out to be who you hope she is, she’s dangerous.”

“We’ll be careful.”

He walked them to the door. “Call the cops, Jackie. If you don’t, I will.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle John,” she said.

“How long?” Kayla asked.

“With this traffic, thirty minutes.”

“Hurry!”

“Call Luke, Kayla. If this is the woman who kidnapped you, the cops need to be there.”

Her fingers still trembling, Kayla was already dialing.

****

Luke didn’t get two blocks from the clinic before his cell phone rang. It was Kayla. She thought she’d found the kidnapper. She and a friend were headed toward the woman’s apartment. The realization that Kayla hadn’t stayed at Nester’s as she’d promised made his heart plummet. Now she was putting herself in real danger. “I’ll handle it,” he said calmly as he turned his car toward the address she’d given him. “Go to your aunt’s and stay there.”

“I’m going to see the woman, Luke. If she’s the one, I want to know where they took Sam.”

His gut tightened. “Then wait for me. We’ll confront her together.”

Hanging up, he hit direct dial. Terry answered on the first ring. Luke told him that Kayla had a lead on the kidnappers, and she and her friend were on their way there now.

“Just what we need. Two crazy women playing cop,” Terry mumbled. “I’ll meet you at the complex.”

Traffic was miserable. Even with lights and siren, it took forty minutes. Terry pulled in beside him. Following the instructions Kayla gave him they rushed to the apartment.

Luke didn’t recognize the woman on the bench outside the apartment until he looked closer. “What happened to your hair?”

Absently, she raised a hand to her head, lifted her eyes to his. They were full of stark terror.

“What? What’s wrong?”

Kayla pointed at the door. “Inside...bodies.”

“You went in?”

Kayla nodded.

“My partner, Terry Maguire,” he said to Kayla. He turned to Terry. “Let’s check it out.”

They pulled their guns.

“No. Jackie’s in there.”

“Jackie?” Luke’s eyebrows arched. “Who is she?

“My friend.”

Terry scoffed. “If she’s contaminated the scene, I’ll...”

“You’ll what?” a blonde asked, stepping out the door.

Terry sputtered. “Do you watch television? No one, and I mean no one, goes onto a crime scene except the police.”

They glared at each other.

“Guess I don’t watch TV.”

Terry scoffed again. “Not likely.”

“Need any help?”

“No thanks,” Terry said, emphasizing the word no.

Luke nodded toward Jackie. “I presume you’re Jackie. I’m Luke Garrett. This is my partner, Terry Maguire.”

“You might want to check out a bowl on the kitchen cabinet.”

“Why?” Luke asked.

Jackie shrugged. “Interesting they’d have several matchbooks of my uncle’s bar and grill.”

“I’m working there now,” Kayla added.

Luke’s mouth flew open. What the hell was going on? He looked from one woman to the other. “You’re a teacher,” he said as calmly as he could. “Why would you want a job in a bar?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“You bet you will.”

Stepping around her, they slipped on latex gloves and went inside. Following procedure, they examined the bodies without touching anything. CSI would handle the forensics.

“This one’s a dead-ringer for the kidnapper,” Luke said. “Put a mask on the man and you’ve got her partner.”

“All that from a sketch Kayla drew?”

Luke nodded.

“So who killed them?”

“Maybe the person who’s behind this.”

“Does anything look familiar?” Terry asked.

“I was going to ask you the same thing. Call it in, Ter. We need more verification, but it looks as if they were killed in the same manner as Tanner.”

“Execution style,” Terry added.

“Yep. Could it be the same killer?”

“Be weird if it was. What could be the connection?”

“We’ll wait on the lab results.” Luke’s mind whirled with possibilities. None of which made sense. After verifying Jackie’s find in the kitchen, he was more puzzled than ever.

They went outside to wait for the forensic team.

“Are you okay?” Luke asked.

Kayla shook her head. “No. I feel sick. They were my only lead to Sam. Now they’re dead. How will I find him now?”