“Makes sense.” Noah sounded calmer than when she’d talked to him a few minutes before, almost at peace. “From there, she could go north across the bay to Maryland or south to hook up with other highways. Down to North Carolina or…anywhere, really.”
Norton had said close to the same thing. He’d made it sound so simple. Local police would stop cars quietly, making it look like there was an accident ahead. Then a couple would approach Violet’s vehicle from behind.
“This will work,” he’d assured her. He’d sounded so confident.
But the ache in the pit of Delaney’s stomach didn’t agree. From where she sat, watching Violet’s taillights cut through thenight, the situation felt fragile. One wrong move, one moment of panic, and Charlotte could be hurt. Or disappear forever.
“God is watching over them.” Noah’s confidence rang despite the undercurrent of worry in his voice. “I’ve been praying constantly, and I know… I know He’s with us, whatever happens. He’s got Charlotte in His hands.”
There should be peace in that. But what if God didn’t see fit to rescue her? What if He let her be lost with Violet? Delaney couldn’t imagine the pain of losing her, and she was just the child’s nanny. How would Noah handle it? How would Jasper?
“I hope you’re—wait!”
Violet’s brake lights flared ahead. The Honda slowed, then turned sharply onto a narrow road. No street sign marked the intersection, just darkness swallowing the small car. “She turned. I didn’t see a sign.”
Delaney slowed to put more distance between her rental and Violet’s Honda, then took the turn herself. The road stretched into darkness, no streetlights, no other vehicles. One side was forest. The other side was flat and, in the distance beyond a chain-link fence, well-lit. “I need to call Norton back. Or can you loop him in?”
“I think so. Hold on.” The line went quiet, then she heard the ringing of an outgoing call.
“Norton.”
“Detective, this is Delaney. Violet turned. We’re on a side road.”
Noah cut in. “I’m looking at your location. You’re on Miller Shore Road. It circles the airport.”
Even as he said the words, a jet sped down the runway just a couple hundred yards away.
“Maybe she’s going to try to catch a flight,” Delaney said.
“If she does that, she’ll be even easier to catch.” Norton sounded far too confident for her liking. “Norfolk Airport PD is on the lookout for her. They’re ready to move in.”
She prayed his confidence was warranted. Prayed this would all be over soon.
But as the thought came, Violet’s taillights swung left again, away from the airport and into the thick forest.
Delaney’s stomach dropped. “She turned!”Breathe, Delaney. They didn’t need her panic. “She turned left. It looks completely deserted.”
“Do not follow her.” Norton shouted the command.
“He’s right, Delaney,” Noah added. “Just pull over. I’ll be there in five.”
“Are there other outlets?” she asked. “Could she?—?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Norton said. “We know where she is. We’ll find her.”
Delaney approached the road slowly, her heart aching at the thought of losing sight of Violet’s car. What if she disappeared? What if she got away and was never seen again?
She flicked her headlights off and took the turn.
“Delaney?” Noah said. “Stop driving.”
“I will. I just want to see which way she goes.”
Ahead, the headlights continued straight on the narrow road.
Delaney stopped and watched, the darkness pressing against her windows like a living thing. No houses, no businesses, just empty fields.
“Stay where you are,” Norton said. “I’m redirecting the police to that area.”
