“If not for Delaney, the police wouldn’t even know where Charlotte is.” Stand down? While his niece was in the hands of a kidnapper? “Just hurry.”
He ended the call and focused on the road, familiar landmarks blurring past his windows, along with miles and miles of forest.
His phone buzzed—Delaney. He answered.
“They left.” She sounded breathless, as if she’d sprinted a mile.
His stomach plummeted. “They’re gone? Did you see which way?—?”
“I’m following. We’re headed?—”
“Delaney, that’s too dangerous. What if she sees you?”
“I’m keeping my distance. I can’t lose her, Noah. I can’t lose Charlotte.”
The desperation in her voice mirrored his own terror. She should back off, let the police handle it, but what if Violet changed plates or got into a different car? She could drive away and never be seen again.
Charlotte was in danger, and now Delaney was too. He hated it. But everything was out of his control now.
“Just…be careful.” He swallowed hard. “Stay far enough back that she won’t notice you.”
“I don’t think she’s spotted me. We’re on Ocean View Drive headed…I don’t know which way. The water’s on my left.”
Noah slowed enough to bring up the location app on his phone so he could see where Delaney was. They were hugging the shoreline, headed east.
He forced himself to lower the phone and focus. “I’m getting closer. Just entered Norfolk city limits.”
“Okay. The road is turning…” Delaney’s voice was more controlled. “I just saw a sign. It’s now Shore Road.”
“I have your location.”
“Oh, right. Did you call the police?”
“Yeah. They’re on their way, but you should call them and tell them what’s going on.”
“You need to send me the number.”
Much as he hated to stop, better him than her. He didn’t want Delaney to risk losing sight of Violet. He pulled over, tapped Norton’s number into a message, and sent it to Delaney.
“Got it,” she said. “I’ll call him now and then call you back.”
“Delaney?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you. I can’t…I’ll never be able to…” He had no idea how to finish. There were no words.
“I know,” she said. “I’ll call you back.”
When she was gone and only silence filled the car, Noah started praying, out loud and constant, begging God to protect the girl and the woman he loved so much.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Delaney nearly fumbled the phone with her slick palms as she ended the call with Detective Norton and dialed Noah back.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“The police are setting up a roadblock.” She kept her eyes locked on Violet’s gray Honda a few car lengths ahead. The sun was setting, the night growing darker by the second. “Norton thinks she’s going to Highway 13.”
