The phone rang again and Lissa checked the screen.Tabby. She hit the speaker button. “What is it?”
“The odds of a guy like Spearman staying completely off the grid for eight years are slim and none. I checked Interpol. Ray Spearman was arrested in Mexico in 2012 for drug smuggling. He spent five years in a Mexican prison. Got out two years ago.”
Lissa’s glance shot to Colt. “You were right about prison.”
“No sign of him in the States until now,” Tabby said. “I’ve got feelers out. I’ll have more for you soon.”
Colt’s gaze went back to the map on his phone. “Mexico,” he said, grimly. “The son of a bitch is taking the boy back to Mexico.”
CHAPTER FIVE
COLTLOOKEDDOWNat Julie, who sat next to him on the sofa, fighting to hold back tears. He cupped her face in his palms, forcing her to look at him. “I’m going after Tim. I’ll bring him home. I won’t come back without him. I promise you, Julie.”
He let her go, and she took a shaky breath. “What about the police?”
“I’ll call them,” Lissa said, bringing Colt’s attention back to her. “I’ve got friends in the department. They’ll get things rolling, put out a BOLO and an Amber Alert. They’ll stop him at the border if he gets that far.”
“My stuff is still in the car,” Colt said. “I’m ready to leave right now. I’ll stay in touch, let you know what’s happening.” He kept his gaze on Julie. “You can count on me to take care of this.”
Julie managed a shaky nod.
Colt turned to Lissa. “Stay on your friend Tabby. Anything she gives you, I need to know.”
A hard smile curved those pretty pink lips. “That shouldn’t be tough to do—since we’ll both be in the same car. The only question is—are we taking yours or mine?”
Colt shook his head. “You’ll just be in the way.”
Lissa actually laughed. “That’s not true, and unless you’re a fool—which I don’t believe you are—you know it. I’m armed. My car’s parked out front. I keep a go bag in the trunk. My passport’s in it. I’m ready whenever you are.”
Amusement filtered through him. She was a trained police officer, and clearly intelligent. She’d be an asset not a liability. And she knew it.
“If you’re sure that’s the way you want it,” he said. “I’m driving.”
“Fine.” Lissa gave Julie a hug. “The police will want to talk to you. They’ll need Timmy’s picture.” Lissa and Colt both carried photos Julie had given them. “I’ll call and keep you posted on what’s going on.”
Colt leaned down, and Julie’s arms went around his neck. “Thank you, Colt. Thank you so much.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll find your boy. Stay strong until we get back.” Colt turned and strode out the front door. Lissa was already outside, unloading her gear from the trunk of her black Camaro, parked in front of his souped-up black Mustang. The sexy visual brought a fresh jolt of heat, reminding him of how she’d stirred his blood the moment she’d drawn down on him in the living room.
He popped the trunk. They tossed their bags inside and he closed the lid, then both of them slid into the car and clicked on their seat belts. The interior was firecracker hot, but she was a Texan so she didn’t complain.
“Nice ride,” she said.
Colt looked at the Camaro parked in front of them. “Same goes.” As he fired up the powerful engine, turned the AC up full blast, and pulled away from the curb, Lissa ran a slim finger over the dash.
“I’m guessing this car isn’t exactly factory standard.”
He just shrugged. “My dad was a mechanic. I learned a few things, made a few modifications after I bought it.”
She flashed a smile that sent the blood straight to his groin. “I like it.”
As he drove off down the street, she started making calls. First to a detective at the Dallas PD named Mack Handley, reporting a parental abduction and asking Handley to take the case personally and to use kid gloves on her friend. Next she phoned Julie and told her Handley would be getting in touch.
When the call ended, she leaned back in the seat. “I assume we’re taking the same route Spearman’s driving.”
“For now,” he said. “It’s damn near a straight shot to the border crossing in Laredo, about four-hundred fifty miles.”
“If that’s where he’s going. Piedras Negras is a few miles closer. He could be headed either place.”
