“What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Same way you’re tracking Delaney.” Jasper held up his phone, the location app glowing on the screen.
“How do you have my location?”
Jasper slipped his phone into his jacket pocket. “You gave it to me a long time ago.”
Noah had, once upon a time, when he’d still had hope he and Jasper could rebuild their relationship.
Hair disheveled and jaw set tight, Jasper looked every bit the concerned father he should have been all along.
“Any news?”
Noah glanced at his phone screen again. “Delaney was following them, but I lost her an hour ago. She’s not answering. No service, I assume.” He hoped. Prayed. The other option was that Violet had discovered she was being followed and had done something to her. He couldn’t bear the thought. “The last time I talked to Norton, he told me he was working on it and would call when they had Charlotte. I’ve called a couple times since then, but he just ignores me.” Noah stared into the darkness beyond his windshield. He’d grown accustomed to the roar of planes passing overhead. “They’re out there somewhere, and I’m just sitting here like an idiot. I have to do something.”
“So let’s go. What are we waiting for?” Jasper’s question felt like a gauntlet, a dare.
Or maybe an assignment.
His brother blew out a breath. “It’s been almost two hours since Delaney first spotted them. If the police had this under control, we’d know by now.”
Reckless determination sparked in Noah’s heart. No, not reckless, just…
“I’m not saying we go in guns blazing.” Jasper seemed intent on convincing him. “I’m saying we get close, see what we see.”
Noah was barely listening to his brother, his focus elsewhere.Should we, Lord? Is this a good idea?
He’d been praying for the go-ahead to do just what Jasper suggested, and so far, God had only told him to wait.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
It was making him crazy, but God knew more than he did.
Now, he heard a different answer.
Together.
“And anyway,” Jasper said, “if she’s not there, the cops need to know. They’ve got all their eggs in this basket. I’m going, so?—”
“You’re right.”
Jasper’s eyes popped wide. “Seriously? I’m not even halfway through my speech.”
“I don’t want to waste another second.” Noah opened his door, climbed out of the car, and waited for Jasper’s brain to catch up.
Jasper followed suit, slamming his door. “What happened to my never-break-the-rules brother?”
Noah knew exactly what had happened to that guy. He’d fallen in love. First with his niece, and then with her nanny.
“Try to keep up.” He jogged toward the dot on his screen.
Hang on, girls. We’re coming.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Every shadow in the forest moved, swaying in the breeze. Delaney crept toward the Honda, careful of her steps so she wouldn’t alert Violet. She hoped and prayed the trees and bushes and shadows would hide her. She tried to control her breathing, to stay silent, to remain invisible.
When she came parallel to the car, she peered inside, desperate for a glimpse of Charlotte. It took a moment to make out what she was seeing. The seats, and…nothing else.
