She massaged her temples. Protecting her daughter had consumed her life for the past six years, and in a single moment,the security net she’d had in place since she moved to Pinewood Shores disintegrated with a simple reversal of a couple of numbers.
Had the safe haven of Aunt Emily’s cottage disappeared? She took in the personal touches she’d added to her home. The picture above the small fireplace she and Zoey had picked out their first year in town. The couch and easy chair she’d bought with her first paycheck as a nurse. Tears welled as the truth hit her. A mistaken text and a creep after her daughter had violated her sanctuary.
She flopped onto the sofa and buried her face in her hands.
Would the detectives pry into her life and discover her mistakes?
She’d worked hard to overcome those lapses in judgment. All that effort only to have her past unravel before her eyes. So much for the positive reputation that she’d built in this lakeside community. If anyone found out…Tears pricked and threatened to fall.
Her hand touched her bruised cheekbone. The same one Kenny had shattered and the doctors had reconstructed.
Zoey deserved more than a life of fear—and so did Jennie.
Chapter 4
Friday 9:00 a.m.
Curtains drawn in his one-bedroom apartment, he logged onto his preferred websites. A little something to enjoy after a long day’s work. The stark living space needed a woman’s touch, and he planned to find the one woman who’d make those changes—Jennie Nielson. She’d eluded him for years, but he’d find her. Until then, he’d enjoy his favorite pastime.
Image after image flashed across his computer screen. Each young girl as pretty as the next. He jolted to a stop from scanning the photos.
Zoey?
He leaned forward and studied the photo. He’d never mistake those blue eyes. He smiled at his discovery. Zoey had grown into a beautiful young lady. Just like her momma.
“Well, well, what do you know. Not as smart as you think, are you, Jennie? I knew you couldn’t hide forever.” His multiyear search had ended, thanks to hishobby. He’d found a link tohiswoman.
After her release from the hospital, she’d vanished. He’d had eyes on her until he didn’t. The nurse had helped Jennie into a white sedan, and then poof, she’d disappeared along with Zoey. His jaw clenched. The ungrateful wench. This time he’d make sure she understood who she belonged to.
He worked on tracing the origin of the picture and hit wall after wall. Unsavory words spewed from his mouth. He had the skill set, but these jerks had covered their tracks. He would find Jennie and make her life miserable for running from him.
Three hours later, he sat back, a grin spread across his face. “Gotcha.”
Plans took shape in his head. He’d torment her until fear got the best of her. Then he’d make his move and take back what was his.
He envisioned the terror on Jennie’s pretty face when she realized he’d come for her. He laughed and grabbed his keys. “No one else can have you, Jennie. You’re mine.”
***
Friday 1:00 p.m.
Cup of coffee in hand, David slouched in a conference room office chair, reminding himself why he’d joined the ICAC task force. The grim reality of the work tore at his heart most days. That’s why he and Brandon had decorated the two-person cubicle at the Landon County Sheriff’s Department office with stupid comic strips and ridiculous signs to combat the weight of the job. Some days he wished he could scrub out his brain anderase all the horrors he’d witnessed. But saving children from predators gave him purpose. And relieved a smidge of guilt from his fiancée’s death.
He closed his eyes and inhaled the rising steam, allowing the bold aroma to penetrate his sleep-deprived brain. An IV infusion of caffeine might give him the jolt he needed, but he doubted it.
Wednesday night, while David and Brandon had dealt with the suspect, the lab techs had recovered evidence from the search warrant. The physical items twisted his stomach in knots, but the cyber data made him want to vomit. A link to a website on Jimmy Roberts’s computer screamed child predator and caught the attention of their resident tech guru Megan. Yesterday David had signed over the evidence into her capable hands. He prayed it led them to more arrests and shut down the scumbags’ operation.
After dropping Zoey’s cell phone off at the station at eight o’clock last night, he’d headed home. Sleep had eluded him during the brief couple hours he laid in bed. His mind lingered on the creep who’d attempted to lure in the sweet girl he’d met at the elementary school. The thought of her not calling or deciding to continue the conversation with the man added to his soured stomach.
When a call came at midnight requesting a team meeting, he’d stumbled out of bed and dragged himself to the office. The one a.m. start time had his head pounding.
Twelve hours later, papers and laptops covered the conference table. The Internet Crimes Against Children task force had worked non-stop, and fatigue had taken its toll.
Rick leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes twenty minutes ago. His soft snores filled the room.
David’s gaze landed on Sandy, who sat opposite him. Her head lay in the crook of her elbow on top of her closed laptop. Her hair stuck out in multiple directions from her usual smooth ponytail.
The team was early in the investigation and already running on fumes.
