Her Stolen Son (10 page)

Colt slipped his hand over Serena's, and she ached to hold on to him. But how could she trust any man when it appeared her husband might have deceived her as well as Rice?

“We're going to find Petey,” Colt said gruffly. “You have to keep telling yourself that. You can't lose faith.”

“I don't know what I believe anymore,” she said on a pained sigh. “It seems like everyone I've ever known has lied to me.”

“I promise never to lie to you,” he said in a husky voice.

Serena sensed he meant it, but what if he already had lied? What if they didn't find her son?

Their earlier kiss teased her mind, and she pulled her hand free from his. That kiss had felt too good, too tempting. Too selfish.

She couldn't rely on Colt or anyone else, or put her own needs before Petey's.

Hadn't the streets taught her about survival? Sure, she'd softened after she'd married Parker. She'd allowed him to take care of her and Petey, but then he had been murdered, and they were alone, on their own.

If she'd stayed on her own instead of allowing Lyle Rice into her life, she and Petey would be safe at home now.

Colt steered the vehicle into a small neighborhood of older homes. Although night had set in, the moon glimmered, revealing a mixture of small brick ranches mingled with clapboard houses, some with peeling paint and sagging awnings. Even so, most of the yards were well tended and signs of children sprang up in the toys and outdoor play equipment in the yards.

Serena twisted her hands in her lap. “Geoff knows we're coming?”

Colt nodded. “I phoned on my way to your house. Do you two keep in touch?”

“No.” Serena noted the handicap ramp on the side entrance and remembered that Geoff's son had cerebral palsy. “The last time I saw Geoff was at Parker's funeral. I guess he's been too busy to check on me and Petey.” Besides, he had his own family and problems and hadn't needed hers dumped on his shoulders.

She almost hated to bother him now.

Colt parked, and Serena noticed the withered flower beds and parched grass as they made their way up to the front door. Colt rang the doorbell, and a ding sounded, then the sound of a dog barking followed. A second later, a golden retriever bounded up to the glass window closest to the door and pressed his nose against the glass.

Footsteps followed, and the door swung open. Geoff stood in the doorway wearing an ill-fitting T-shirt and baggy pants, his face craggy and weathered.

The dog barked, and Geoff patted her back. “Go to Billy, girl, go on.” The dog turned and trotted away.

Serena frowned. Geoff looked as if he'd aged ten years since she'd seen him at the funeral. Dark pockets were carved beneath his gray eyes, his hair had grayed and looked shaggy, and he'd lost weight.

He glanced at Colt, then a weary sadness flickered in his eyes at the sight of Serena. “Hello, Serena.”

“Geoff, it's been a long time.”

He nodded and cast his face downward as if ashamed. “I know, I'm sorry.” His voice caught, then he cleared his throat. “I heard about Petey. That's awful.”

Serena nodded, biting her lip to stem tears.

Geoff, shifted, obviously uncomfortable, then angled his head toward Colt. “You must be Mason, the detective who called me.”

Colt extended his hand and Geoff accepted it. “Yes, sir. Colt Mason, GAI. Thank you for seeing us.”

Geoff rubbed an age-spotted hand across his chin. “Come on in. I'll get us some coffee.”

The whir of a wheelchair echoed, and Serena spotted a dark-haired boy with a big smile, probably about ten although he looked small for his age, hunched in the wheelchair. “Pop, the ninja is about to attack.”

Geoff forced a tight smile. “Okay, son. But Pop has company now.” Geoff gestured toward the room to the right. “Go back in the den and finish the movie. I'm going to chat with these people for a few minutes.”

The boy's face fell slightly. “I can pause the movie till you're finished.”

Geoff glanced at his watch. “If you do, you won't have time to see the end before bedtime.”

Serena almost laughed at the torn expression on the child's face. “Okay, but I'll watch it again with you this weekend.”

Geoff nodded. “Deal.” The boy spun the wheelchair back around, and zoomed into the den, and Serena and Colt followed Geoff to the adjoining kitchen. Geoff handed them coffee in chipped mugs, and Serena toyed with the handle as he lumbered into a seat across from them.

“I don't know how I can help you,” Geoff said as he dumped sugar in his coffee. “I retired a year and a half ago and spend my days taking care of Billy now.”

“Where's your wife?” Serena asked gently.

Geoff's mouth drew into a frown. “Lost her to a heart attack two years ago. It's been rough since. Billy needs constant care, physical therapy. I couldn't keep on the job and take care of him, too.”

Serena covered his hand with hers. “I'm sorry, Geoff. That must be hard.”

His gaze met hers and moisture filled his eyes. A moment later, he pressed his lips together and straightened, blinking away the tears. “You have any idea who took your little boy?” Geoff asked.

Serena shook her head.

Colt explained the chain of events and his most recent suspicions. “Rouse suggested that Parker Stover was investigating something bigger than drugs, and that investigation got him killed. You and he were partners. Did he confide in you what he was working on?”

Geoff stared into his coffee for so long that Serena thought he wasn't going to answer. Finally he cleared his throat. “Yeah, we were partners, but my life was complicated back then…and Parker. He didn't like to talk about his undercover work.”

“Geoff, please think,” Serena pleaded. “We think Lyle Rice was connected to Parker's death, and that Rice or his partner framed me and kidnapped Petey.”

“I don't know anything about Rice,” Geoff said. “Parker was working a narcotics ring, but said he stumbled on something else that he suspected might be big. But he never confided the details. In fact, he became real secretive toward the end. I pushed him to tell me what was wrong, but he wouldn't talk to me.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Then again, he was undercover and Parker was good at playing a role.”

“Just like Rice,” Colt muttered.

Serena felt a stab of pain in her chest. She wanted to defend Parker, but he had been a skilled liar. He'd had to be or he never could have worked undercover.

Colt cleared his throat. “Did he mention any suspects' names?”

Geoff shook his head. “Just said that he was using the cash from one of his busts to front another deal. One for a shipment of some cargo that he wanted to stop.”

“Cargo?” Colt asked. “What could be bigger than drugs?”

“Diamonds was my guess,” Geoff said. “Maybe from Africa.”

Blood diamonds, Serena thought. “Then why didn't he bring you into the investigation?”

Geoff shrugged. “He said he needed more before he could make an arrest. He didn't just want the little guy. He wanted the master behind the plan, and he was close to getting him.”

“But he was killed before he made the arrest,” Colt said.

Geoff nodded and pushed his coffee away, his expression tormented. Serena wondered if he blamed himself for Parker's death. Maybe that was the reason he hadn't kept in touch.

She drew Parker's date book from her purse. “Geoff, I found this in Parker's things. The initials D.M. keep popping up. This woman named Dasha phoned a few times, as well. She always hung up when I answered.” She paused, her heart thumping off beat. Did she really want to know if Dasha was her husband's lover?

Yes, she had to know the truth. It might lead her to her son.

“Was Dasha the D.M. Parker kept meeting at these bars and hotels?”

Geoff glanced at the date book, anxiety tightening his craggy features. “Yes.”

Serena sucked in a sharp, pain-filled breath. “Were she and Parker having an affair?”

Geoff jerked his head up. Then slowly he shook his head. “No, Serena, it wasn't like that. Dasha wasn't Parker's lover. She was his confidential informant.”

 

C
OLT SAW THE RELIEF
on Serena's face, and realized she still loved her husband.

Another reminder that he could not fill the man's
shoes. Nor did he want to try. When Serena had Petey back, she wouldn't need him anymore.

And he'd suffered enough loss in his life. He wouldn't fall for a woman who couldn't return his feelings.

“Do you know Dasha's last name or how we can find her?” Colt asked.

Geoff shook his head. “You might check some of those places in his date book. They always met up in a bar or hotel late at night outside of Raleigh. Part of her cover and his.”

“You mean she dresses like a street girl?” Serena asked.

Geoff's eyebrows rose. “If that's what you call a prostitute, yeah.”

“Thanks,” Colt said. “You've been a big help.”

Geoff stood and tugged at his pants, then glanced at his son with an odd look on his face. “I wish I could have done more. Saved Parker.”

Serena circled the table and gave him a hug. “Don't blame yourself, Geoff. Parker died doing his job. He knew you had his back.”

Colt thought he saw a frisson of guilt enter Geoff's eyes, but being partners was like being brothers, and he understood that kind of guilt.

Serena released him and walked toward the door. “Come on, Colt. Let's see if Dasha knows what my husband was up to and why he was killed.”

Colt didn't want to take Serena to those seedy places. “Listen, Serena, let me drive you home. I'll hit those bars and hotels alone.”

Serena threw him a look of dogged determination as
she strode out the door. When he caught up with her, she stopped on the porch stoop and planted her hands on her hips. “Colt, I realize you want to protect me, but you're wrong about me. I grew up on the streets. Believe me, I know how to survive there.” A haunted look darkened her eyes. “Besides, it will take too long for you to drive back to Sanctuary and then here.”

She hurried to his Range Rover then, leaving him to wonder what she meant. Her comments about her juvenile record and growing up in foster care echoed in his head.

Serena was complicated, loving but tough—a lethal seduction.

His phone buzzed, and he yanked it from his belt and checked the number. Gage.

He quickly punched the connect button. “Yeah?”

“Colt, Caleb Walker just called. He may have some information.”

“Caleb? I thought he was on his honeymoon.”

“He just arrived home. Anyway, his wife's twins have some kind of psychic gifts that connect them.”

“Yeah, I remember. But what does that have to do with this case?”

“Cissy, one of the little girls who was missing, saw the news report about Petey and Lyle Rice.” Gage sighed. “She said she recognized Rice, that she saw him talking with Ray Pedderson.”

“Wait a minute. Pedderson was the one who kidnapped her, right?”

“Right. She also claimed that Pedderson put her in
a truck to haul her around, that in the truck she sensed other kids had been tied there before.”

“You mean Rice might have been connected to the illegal adoption ring Dr. Emery started?”

“I don't know.” Gage muttered a sound of frustration. “It may mean nothing, but that's one more question I'll ask Mansfield, the sleaze-bag lawyer. We still think he knows more about Emery's operation than he let on.”

Colt rubbed his chin. “Keep me posted.”

He hung up, his own mind racing with questions. Pedderson and Rice and Mansfield might have been working together.

Another piece of the puzzle to figure out. Had they gone from small abductions for local adoptions to an international kidnapping ring?

 

S
ERENA CHECKED
her phone for the hundredth time as Colt drove them toward the bars.

It would be the second night Petey had spent away from her. The second night since he'd been torn from her arms.

Her chest tightened. Her little boy could be miles and miles away by now, in another state even. And if Rice was alive and had a passport and new alias, he might even take him out of the country.

No…she couldn't let her mind go there.

Hopefully Dasha knew something that could lead them to her son.

Research Triangle Park was a mecca for technology, business and college life and between Raleigh,
Durham and Chapel Hill, boasted shopping centers, fine restaurants and dozens of bars.

“So where is the red-light district here?” Serena asked.

Colt gestured toward his left and turned down an alley. Serena spotted several empty warehouses that had fallen into disrepair and a couple of seedy bars.

“You've been here before?” Serena asked Colt.

He gave a clipped nod. “When I worked undercover, I ran down some gun deals here.”

Serena nodded, his comment a reminder that his job was too much like Parker's.

She forced her mind on to the task. It was early evening, but already a fake-boobed, dyed blonde with thigh high boots, fishnet stockings, and a tank top that dipped down to her navel stood on the corner scoping for johns.

Colt slid into a dusty parking lot, and Serena glanced up at the neon signs for the bar, old memories of her life before taunting her. She hadn't always been proud of what she'd done. She'd stolen money for food when she'd been desperate, had scrounged for day-old bread from bakeries who prided themselves on daily fresh baked goods, and had slept in abandoned houses and buildings just to survive. But she'd never sold herself for sex, and she felt sorry for the girls who resorted to that low.

But Colt didn't need to know any of that, so she adopted her game face. Tonight was not about her. It was about finding Petey and bringing him home safe.