Find My Baby (26 page)

“FBI agent Clint Richards is on his way and will take over the investigation. Until then, I suggest we wait.”

A little later, the Sinclair’s attorney arrived, and secluded himself with his clients in another part of the house. Evidently, the maid had made the call.

****

Holding Sam close, Kayla left the room. She couldn’t stand to be in their presence another second. All she wanted was to take her baby and go home. From the hubbub in the room she’d just left, it wouldn’t be any time soon. She tried to feel sorry for David’s parents. They’d lost their son. Twice. Now they were losing their grandson. But try as she might, she couldn’t.

She still didn’t understand. Just because David didn’t want to go into the family business shouldn’t have brought on such horror.

She looked around at the opulence. The chandeliers, the Persian carpets, furniture from Europe and from the best stores, unlike her own that came from Goodwill and garage sales. She wondered how David could have been happy with their paltry salaries and the meager furnishings in their small apartment. He’d had it all and walked away. But he’d gained something better, she thought, the intangible something that made a person more.

Until his parents had pressured him about the baby, David had been happy. Kayla was as sure of that as she was that Sam was finally in her arms. He simply couldn’t handle the pressure.

It eased her heartache a little to know that David most likely wanted their son. And though she didn’t understand, realized he knew that with the birth of their child, his parents would thrust themselves into the middle of their lives. David didn’t want that. Why, she didn’t know. Tucking Sam closer, she dropped a kiss on his soft cheek. “We’re going to be fine now, Sam. Just fine.”

“There you are,” Luke said, joining Kayla on the large sofa. “Quite a place, isn’t it?”

“It is. But I can’t wait to get out of here.”

He peeked at Sam. “He’s beautiful, Kayla.”

“I know.”

“Look.” Luke stood up, went to a table in the far corner of the room. When he came back he handed Kayla a framed photograph. “Is this David?”

“He was younger, probably in his teens. Yes, it’s David.”

“He was a nice looking young man.”

Tears formed in Kayla’s eyes. “He was. But now that I think about it, I think I fell in love with him for his drive. We both had it. He wanted to prove something to his parents. I wanted to make more of myself than my mother had. Both of us were driven by demons in our past. One of the many things we never discussed.”

Luke played with Sam’s tiny hand. “It’s over now. You can get on with your life and, in time, forget this ever happened.”

“Can I forget?” she asked. “Sam’s grandparents stole my son and tried to kill me. How can I forget that? And how will I ever explain it to Sam?”

A woman of indeterminate age in a neat skirt and blouse entered the room. She came directly to Kayla. “I’m Ms. Johnson with Child Protective Services,” she said introducing herself.

Instinctively, Kayla held Sam closer. “Yes.”

“We’ll have to take the baby.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“The infant. Until a DNA test proves conclusively he is your son, the baby will have to come with me.”

Holding Sam tight, Kayla was off the sofa in a flash. “I don’t think so.”

“I don’t either,” Luke said standing beside her, a protective arm around her shoulder.

“It’s the law,” Ms. Johnson said in an authoritative voice that probably evoked an immediate response from most people.

“You’re not taking him. No one will take him from me again,” Kayla said.

“I’m sorry,” the woman said reaching for the baby.

Kayla held Sam closer. “Let me tell you something, Ms. Johnson. I was kidnapped before Sam was born and held prisoner for four weeks. Then he was taken from me. There were two attempts on my life. Houston’s police department, the FBI, and a dozen other people couldn’t find him. Most of them thought we never would. Against all odds we did. If you think you’re taking Sam away now, you’re very much mistaken.”

Ms. Johnson hesitated. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know the circumstances. But it’s still the law.”

Luke flashed his credentials. “I uphold the law just as you do. And I guarantee we’ll stay in town until you and your department are satisfied this is Kayla’s son. Until then, leave her alone. She’s been through enough.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can,” FBI agent Clint Richards said from the doorway.

It was amazing to see the change in Ms. Johnson’s attitude once the FBI asserted their power. It wasn’t long until she disappeared.

****

Luke ushered Richards into a quiet room. “There’s something going on I can’t put a finger on. Sinclair isn’t coming clean. At this point, I’m not sure what we can believe and what we can’t. All of the information so far came from the wife and she doesn’t know much. Her son left home right out of high school, she doesn’t know why. The old man does, and it’s not the reason he’s telling us.”

Richards’s lips thinned into a disappointed slash. “I agree there has to be more here than meets the eye. Parrish called in Sinclair’s cell phone numbers. We’ll know more when we check them out.”

“Kayla can’t be stuck here. She needs to take her baby and go home to her aunt’s. She’s been through enough.”

“No problem on that score. As soon as the DNA checks out, both of you are free to go.”

A little while later, Kayla wrapped Sam in a warm blanket and prepared to leave. One of the agents gave them the address of the lab. With an arm around her waist, Luke led her to the van.

At the end of the drive, they looked back at the Sinclair mansion for the last time.

After Kayla and the infant left blood samples, Luke drove back to the hotel.

“I’ll take the smaller bedroom,” he said, putting her duffel in the larger one.

Dropping a kiss on her head, one on Sam’s soft cheek, he said, “I’ll be back soon.”

“Where are you going?” Kayla asked.

For the first time since picking Sam up at the Sinclair’s, she laid the sleeping infant on the queen size bed. Covering him with one of the extra blankets in the room, she turned to Luke. “How long will we be here?”

“That’s what I’m going to find out. After I take the van back, I’m meeting Richards at their office. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

He reached across the bed and rubbed his hand over downy softness. “Thank God you have him back.”

“Thank you, Luke. I would never have confronted the Sinclairs on my own.” Her hands shook as she reached to take his. “I believed David. I thought his parents were dead. It didn’t make sense that he would lie. It still doesn’t.”

“They weren’t just alive,” he interrupted, “but alive and plotting how to get your baby to raise as their own.”

Kayla shivered. Luke drew her into his arms. “It’s over. You can relax now.”

“I’m trying to understand, but I’m failing,” she said into his shoulder.

“No one could,” Luke assured her. “But to be honest, I don’t think Mrs. Sinclair knew what her husband was up to. If she did, she’s a damn good actress.”

“At least there’s that,” Kayla admitted as he turned to go. “I need things for the baby. Diapers, clothes, other things.”

“The concierge has offered the hotel van to take you anywhere you need to go.”

With that, Luke left. Not because he wanted to. He wanted to stay with Kayla and watch her face transform every time she looked at Sam.

He wasn’t accustomed to being around an infant. Instead of making him nervous as he expected, he imagined what could be.

They were his family. And he wanted desperately to be Sam’s father. Even more, he wanted to be Kayla’s husband.

Love for the two of them washed through him in a wave of emotional need. They’d found Sam. After that miracle, anything was possible. Maybe now that Kayla had her baby, she would be able to find it in her heart to love him. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him. It felt good. It felt right. The baby felt right.

When Luke reached the FBI office, Mr. Sinclair was being interrogated in one room, his wife in another. Both were flanked by a couple of lawyers.

“Are they talking?” Luke asked Richards.

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“What is he hiding?” Luke asked.

“We’ll find out. Listen, Garrett, the way you took off on your own to Connecticut to face the Sinclairs was stupid. What were you thinking? And why didn’t you contact us so we could do our job?”

“Started to,” Luke replied, “then decided against it. I figured if people like the Sinclairs found out the FBI were asking questions, they’d skip town and take the baby. We’d never see them again. I couldn’t risk it.”

“You were that certain they had him?”

Luke would be lying if he said yes, because the truth was, he’d been far from certain. “There were too many coincidences. The name, the son and daughter-in-law killed, the grandson they were going to raise. Kayla couldn’t come here by herself. I came along to make sure she was safe, and if she found Sam, that she got him back.”

They watched through a two-way mirror. One of the FBI’s best interrogators pounded questions at Sinclair. On the advice of his attorney, he said nothing. In disgust, the agent slammed a hand on the table. “Fine, we’re charging you with four murders, kidnapping and the attempted murder of Kayla Hunter. You won’t get off lightly.” He turned toward the door. “You’ve had your chance to make it easier on yourself.”

“Don’t say a word,” his attorney warned again.

But Sinclair didn’t need his attorney’s advice. With arms crossed, that arrogant look on his face, he wasn’t about to open his mouth.

Luke turned to Richards. “You’ve got one helluva job on your hands. The man isn’t going to talk. Not in this lifetime.”

Just then, an agent brought in a sheaf of papers. “For you,” he said, taking them to Richards. “They’re important.”

“What is it?” Luke asked.

“Phone records.” Richards gaze swept through the papers, then back again.

He raced out of the room, Luke behind him.

“Is the search of Sinclair’s home and office complete?” he asked the agent in the first office they came to.

“Not yet.”

“Tell them I want every scrap of paper from his office and his house even if we have to rent a warehouse to have room for it.”

“What’s going on?” Luke asked.

Excitement danced in Richards’ dark eyes. “Maybe the biggest bust of my career. And yours.”

“Gonna fill me in?”

“Not until I have more info.”

“Fine. I’m out of here. Just keep me informed.”

A big grin slashed across the agent’s face. “That’s a promise.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Luke stood at the hotel room door listening. Silence. Had Kayla gone out for supplies? Opening the door, he went inside. The room looked totally different. A small crib stood beside the sofa. Kayla sat beside it, a smile on her face. A baby’s car seat, plus bags of all description were stacked on the small table in the corner.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi yourself,” he responded, walking over to stand next to the crib. “He’s a good-looking guy.”

“Yes he is. And how about this crib? The manager sent it up, said Sam would be more comfortable.”

Luke glanced at the bags. “Been shopping?”

“The staff has been so nice. I called and told them I needed a few things from the store. Instead of taking me they asked for a list and brought all this stuff back. Then they wouldn’t take my money.”

“It’s all over the news about the kidnapping and how the Sinclairs were involved. Sam is famous now.”

Kayla chuckled. “I gave them the blanket and clothes Sam had on. I know it sounds childish, but I couldn’t bear the thought of anything those people bought being near him. I told the manager to send them to the Sinclair estate. Is that all right?”

Luke sat beside her, pulled her close. “Better than.”

“Is it really over?” she asked.

“It’s over. You’ll have to testify at the trial, but your life is your own now.” And he wanted to be part of it.

“Thanks to you,” she said, reaching over to kiss him.

“I hope you don’t thank Kane Odell like that. If it weren’t for him we might never have found Sam.”

“I’ll find another way to thank him. And all the people who helped us.” She looked deep into his eyes. “I love you, Luke.”

Her eyes glowed bright as she searched his face. His heart turned over. He loved her so much. Taking her hand, he asked, “Did I hear you right? Did you say you loved me?”

“You don’t know how much. Not just because without you I would be dead, and not because you brought me here and we found Sam, but because you’re the kind of man I want in my life. You’re the man I want to be Sam’s father.”

“Then you’ll marry me?”

He watched her face. Her eyes went wide with surprise, then she smiled. He started breathing again. Pulling her close they kissed and his heart turned over. Would he ever not want this woman in his arms? In his life? He wouldn’t and couldn’t wait to make her his wife.

“How long will Sam sleep?” Luke asked.

“Long enough, I hope,” Kayla laughed. Taking his hand she tugged until he stood, then led him to the bedroom where they sealed their promise. One that began with each other, extended to Sam, and reached out to their yet unborn children.

****

They spent two nights in the motel waiting for the preliminary DNA results. Kayla spent most of her time getting acquainted with her son, and hours talking on the phone with Jackie and her aunt. Luke didn’t mind in the least. They were a family now. He had plans to make; plans that included a wedding, plus his plan to get his mom and Nester out of that neighborhood.

When word came through from the FBI that the DNA results proved Sam was Kayla’s baby, they started to pack.

When the plane descended into Dallas, Kayla looked at him with questions in her eyes. He chuckled. It was the first she knew they weren’t flying straight into Houston. He was going to do something he should have done a long time ago. And he wanted Kayla and Sam with him.

He unhooked Sam’s carrier. “C’mon, Kayla. Let’s go.”

“Why are we getting off here?”