Laughing, she said, “Is that the only thing you heard?”
“Nah, I heard the rest, too, and I loved every word of it. We’re both lucky, and it’s about to get so much better with a new home and new baby. So much to look forward to.”
“You came in saying you were never having kids.”
“That was before I knew I was having one. Now, I guess I’ll have to find a way to cope with the fear. You’ll be there to keep me from turning them into anxiety-ridden little people, right?”
“I’ll do my best to keep you from succumbing to fear. That’s no way to live, my love.”
“No, it isn’t, and I know that.”
“Maybe you should talk to Dr. Trulo about this at some point. He raised his daughters while working for the department and hearing the worst of the worst.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll see if I can find some time with him.”
“Please do that. I want you to enjoy every second of this incredible adventure, so let’s do what it takes to get you ready for it.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good, now come to bed. Your wife is feeling lonely.”
“Is that code for…”
Her smile took his breath away. “Come to bed and find out.”
* * *
Jake Malone stood next to Michelle Ruiz, Jesse Best and Avery Hill, waiting for FBI and MPD SWAT officers to give the signal that they were ready to go into the home where Mayfield and his son were believed to be hiding out. They’d followed a tip from an informant to the house that Mayfield had apparently rented under his real name, which made it easy to confirm. Thermal-imaging devices had been used to determine two people were inside the home. They’d been hoping for three.
“My people are ready,” Hill said.
Jake asked for a status check from Captain Nickleson, the SWAT commander.
“Ready,” Nickleson said.
He listened as Nickleson coordinated with the FBI commander to go in together.
Within seconds, the sounds of windows smashing and doors being battered turned the quiet, residential neighborhood into an active crime scene. Jake noticed lights coming on at nearby houses. Patrol officers had been positioned to keep residents in their homes while the raid went down.
“We have Mayfield and his son,” Nickleson reported.
“What about the girl?” Malone asked.
“Nothing yet.”
Wearing sweats and T-shirts, the Mayfields were marched out in cuffs and loaded into separate MPD cruisers while the officers inside turned the house upside down in their search for Luna.
“Let’s get everyone out and redo the FLIR,” Hill said, referring to the thermal imaging that would detect body heat in the house.
Both teams recalled their people so the FLIR could be rerun.
After a couple of minutes, Hill shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Goddamn it,” Jake muttered. “Let’s get them back to HQ and into interrogation.”
He sent texts to the chief, deputy chief and Sam, letting them know they had the Mayfields in custody, but Luna had not been found at the house.
“We’ll continue the search,” Jessie Best said as they reached their vehicles. “We won’t give up until we find her.”
