Weep In The Night (24 page)

Bowen unzipped his briefcase and pulled out his Bible. A hint of printers ink still clung to the new golden-edged pages.

She'd made him buy it, although Sadie didn't know it. After their discussion on forgiveness in the laundromat, Bowen had purchased the Bible. He used the concordance to locate the scriptures she'd read to him, and as he devoured them late at night, he found other gems he remembered from his youth.

There was a small church close to the safe house. Bowen wanted to ask Sadie if she'd like to attend. As her bodyguard, he'd offer to accompany her. He wasn't ready yet to discuss his interest in redemption.

Bowen opened the Bible and suddenly remembered the small one his parents gave him on his tenth birthday. Where was it? The last time he'd seen that Bible was the night his father held it to his chest and pleaded with Bowen to change his ways. At seventeen he had been so sure of himself and had replied, “I don't want your God in my life.”

“Even when you reject God, He still wants you.” His father fought back tears.

A tsunami of guilt flooded him. His father had died six years ago without mentioning Bowen's wayward lifestyle again. What would he have said to the resurgence of Bowen's interest in God now?

A picture of Sadie cradling the old Bible in the laundromat drifted through his mind. He attributed his awakened interest in his soul to her. If she could overcome her doubts and return to her faith, why couldn't he? Getting a handle on God forgiving him was one thing. But could he convince Sadie to forgive him, too?

Even reading his favorite passages from Acts couldn't banish Sadie from his mind. Bowen returned the Bible to his briefcase and paced to the window. What was his problem? Why did the idea of Smitty spending time with Sadie feel like a dagger plunged in his chest?

 

 

 

 

29

 

“How much farther?” Hope effervesced inside Sadie.

They were on their way to Santa Clarita. Smitty had received word that Evelyn Adams's car had been spotted near one of her rental houses.

“Ten miles. Plenty of time for you to tell me about your time with Boudine. Does he ever lighten up?”

“What do you mean?”

“We all know he's an uptight kinda guy. Serious, no fun. I wager he's spent more time on his computer than he has with you.”

Images of Bowen bringing her a rose on their first date, the warmth of his smile and gentleness of his touch floated through her mind. But then she remembered their hours together in the safe house. How many reports did he make, anyway?

“I knew it.” Smitty traced the emblem on the steering wheel. “The look on your face says it all. But you're with me now. Get ready for a wild time.”

Sadie studied his profile. Movie star gorgeous, he had a dangerous curve to his mouth that warned her to keep her distance. “The only wild time I'm planning on is celebrating with my daughter.”

“I understand. I'm not making fun of your situation.” The teasing tone left Smitty's voice. “Trying to lighten things up a bit.”

They traveled in silence through the city center and out to the suburbs.

He pulled to a stop and parked along the curb.

“Which house belongs to Ms. Adams?”

“Down a ways. Let's get out and take a peek.”

They stepped onto the cracked sidewalk.

“See those stone duplexes with red flowers in the window boxes? They belong to Evelyn.”

“I hope she's there.” Sadie's heart fluttered.

“She may have parked in back.”

They neared the duplexes but could see no cars on the property.

Smitty punched in a number on his cell phone.

The front door of the first unit opened.

“Who's that?”

He terminated the call and whispered, “I guess the tenant.” He squared his shoulders and cocked his head. “I have an idea.”

Sadie followed him up the sidewalk to the house.

A tiny silver-haired woman met them at the porch steps.

“Good day, ma'am.” Smitty's white teeth gleamed in his golden face. “We have a little problem and need your help.”

The woman adjusted a hearing aid with skeletal fingers. “What is it, deary? Speak up now.”

“We're looking for Evelyn Adams. We believe she owns these houses. Is that right? We have good news for her but don't know how to reach her.”

“She owns them, but she don't live here. Lives over yonder.” She raised a withered arm and pointed. “Evelyn's having her house fumigated. Came by and told me this morning. Said she's staying in a motel over on The O—” Her watery blue eyes widened as far as the droopy lids allowed.

“Which motel, ma'am?”

The woman backed away, her slipper-clad feet shuffling as if performing an awkward dance step. “Not supposed to tell. Sorry. I've got to go.” She limped to the door and retreated into her house.

“So much for that.” Smitty took Sadie's arm and led her down the sidewalk. “At least we know Evelyn's in a motel, and the old girl gave us a good hint. The Old Road, I think she started to say. Let's get back to the car and check my GPS.”

The navigational system indicated four motels on The Old Road.

“All we have to do is cruise the parking lots and look for Evelyn's car. You hungry?”

As the robotic GPS voice guided them through the area, Sadie's stomach rumbled reminding her that she hadn't eaten since her early breakfast. Even so, right now she had no interest in food. “No. Let's find Hannah.”

They checked two motels without success. But at the third motel, they found a blue sedan with a rusty right rear fender angled into a parking spot near the vending machines.

Smitty maneuvered his car across the lot where they had a clear view of the rooms, reversed in, and then opened the windows. Tempting smells of burgers and fried chicken from the nearby restaurant floated in on the slight breeze.

Sadie swallowed and kept her eyes on the motel. Was Hannah in one of those rooms? Maybe the one with the yellow
Do Not Disturb
sign dangling in the breeze. Was she watching TV? Eating lunch?

A pickup entered the lot. Another vehicle roared out. The door with the sign opened.

“It's Evelyn Adams.” Sadie sat up straight

The woman scurried to her car. She dropped the keys, almost fell over when she bent to pick them up, and struggled to unlock the door. As she drove past them, she rubbed her temple as if massaging away a headache.

“She looks terrible. Is she ill?” Sadie rubbed her own brow in sympathy.

Smitty set his key in the ignition.

“What are you doing? Hannah might still be in the room.” Sadie opened her door. “You can chase that woman, but I'm going to check.” She rushed to the building and knocked on the door.

Smittty joined her as she knocked again. “Don't call her Hannah. Remember she goes by Penny.”

Heart racing, Sadie pounded on the door. “Penny. Penny Adams, are you in there?”

A man popped his head out of a doorway two down and scowled. He retreated after making a rude gesture.

“Maybe Evelyn told her to ignore anyone at the door.”

“Each room probably has a window around back. You stay here while I check it out.” Smitty crept around the corner.

Listening at the door a moment longer, Sadie closed her eyes. “Please, God. Let me find Hannah.”

Back in the car, she stared at the door of Evelyn's room.

Ten long minutes later, Smitty strolled around the building as if he had nothing better to do. He slid behind the wheel.

“What did you find?”

“I got in through the bathroom window. No Hannah, but there's plenty of evidence that she's been there—girls' clothing and toys, school books.”

“What now?”

Resting his muscled forearms on the steering wheel, Smitty glanced at her. “You may not be hungry, but I'm starved. Let's find a place to eat where I'll relay this information to the office. We'll return later and see if Evelyn's come back. I think it's time we confront her and take the child.”

Sadie had no intention of leaving the motel. “There's a restaurant across the way. I'm going there to eat where I can watch the parking lot.”

“But there's probably nothing healthy on their menu.”

“Suit yourself. That's where I'm going.”

They entered the Blue Hills Café and asked for a booth by a window. After a brief wait, they were seated and given menus.

Sadie scooted across the smooth turquoise vinyl until she could see the whole motel parking lot. “They have a bunch of salads, Smitty. Is that healthy enough for you?”

“I guess, as long as they don't fry them.”

While they waited for their order, Smitty texted a long message, his thumbs flying across the tiny keys. He slid his phone into his pocket. “I told them everything we've discovered. Another operative will keep watch if we don't see Evelyn again today.”

After their food arrived, Smitty griped about the poor quality of lettuce.

Sadie ignored his comments until she noticed the twinkle in his eyes and the twitching of his lips. How did she miss his teasing note? She kicked his foot under the table.

“What? I'm eating, aren't I?” His grin softened the tone of his words. Then he bumped Sadie's foot. “It is pretty good.” He tapped her foot again. “Any movement at the motel?”

Unnerved by his playing footsie, Sadie glanced outside. “Evelyn hasn't returned. How long are we going to stay here?” She shifted in the seat and moved her foot. Was she imagining his flirting or was he teasing again?

“We can stay another hour or two. I have to get you back to the safe house before dark. Are you ready?”

As they neared the lobby, he slid his arm across her shoulders. “We could rent a room and keep watch from there. Have fun while we wait.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Sadie decided to beat Smitty at his own game. She could tease, too. “Here? Are you kidding? I require a five star hotel.”

His jaw muscles clenched, and the gleam dissolved from his eyes.

Ha. Gotcha.

She flounced to the restroom, convinced Smitty wouldn't try another pass at her. A feast for the eyes for sure, but nothing in his character attracted her.

Returning to the lobby, Sadie took Smitty's arm. “Let's wait in your car.”

Once outside, he drew her under a tree. Frown lines formed a V between his eyes. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—”

“Don't worry about it.” Touched by his sincerity, Sadie squeezed his arm. “Let's get back to the motel.”

Walking to the car, Sadie spotted a man cross the parking lot. His gait and build tugged out a memory. She slowed. With her hand still on Smitty's arm, she pulled him to a stop and used his massive body as a shield.

“What's up?”

Words formed in her brain but lost connection with her mouth.

Kyle.

A sinkhole opened in Sadie's heart. What was he doing here?

Smitty tensed. “What is it?”

“There's a man going to the motel. It's Kyle. From Austin.”

“Kyle? Here?” He glanced over his shoulder. “Is that him in the navy warm-up suit?”

She nodded, clutching Smitty's T-shirt. “Call the cops.”

“We can't involve the authorities. What would we accuse Kyle of? All we can do is keep watch.”

Smitty guided Sadie to a cluster of trees. With the trunks as cover, he made a call to the office.

Sadie never let Kyle out of her sight. He sidled slowly past Evelyn's door but didn't stop. “He has to be here because of Evelyn and Hannah. If the local cops can't help us, I'm going to call WITSEC.”

“That's a good idea. Let me get a secure connection for you.” Smitty made another call using Bravo Tango words as Bowen had done. Sadie paid no attention until he handed her the phone. “Do you have the L.A. number?”

Flipping through a little notebook she pulled from her purse, she stopped at a dog-eared page. “Here it is.”

“We're far enough away from Kyle. Put the call on speaker.”

She dialed, identified herself by name and case number, and waited a few seconds before Elia Valdez spoke.

“Sadie Malone. We've been looking for you. What happened in Austin?”

“Do you know the details of my case?”

“I do, but let me hand this over to my partner. He has a special interest in your situation. His name's Jake Quillian.”

A click, elevator music, and then a deep voice. “Hi, Sadie. This sure is a pleasure. How can I help you?”

“You're familiar with my case?”

“Of course. Where are you? You need to come in.”

“I don't have time to discuss that. My daughter's alive, but I don't know exactly where she is right now. There's a man here from Austin. His name is Kyle Nelson, and he discovered my identity. He's found the place where my daughter's been living.”

“Is Kyle still there?”

“No. I think he drove away.”

“Sadie, you did the right thing calling. We'll handle everything.”

Grabbing her notepad, Smitty scribbled and pointed to the words.
Don't tell him too much.

“Mr. Quillian, what do you want me to do?”

Smitty covered the phone and whispered, “How can he handle everything when he doesn't know where you are?”

An iceberg slammed into Sadie's chest.

“Sit tight,” Jake said. “Don't go anywhere. I'll be in Santa Clarita before dark.”

The phone slid from Sadie's grasp. Smitty's warning blazed in her head. How did Jake Quillian know she was in Santa Clarita?

 

 

 

 

 

30

 

The satisfied expression on the attorney's face as she approached heralded good news for Bowen. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Boudine. Your testimony is not needed. You're free to go.”