She gave a slow nod, then turned to the phone. “I don’t want to go to the police,” she said softly. “They’ll just send me back to Buddy.” Her voice broke. “Mommy… I want to come home.”
“I’m coming, baby,” Anna said, breathless. “I love you, and once I have you in my arms, I’m never letting you out of my sight again. I’m grabbing my keys and leaving right now. I’m coming.”
“Anna,” her husband called out. “Wait. You can’t just go meet some random woman who calls claiming to have our daughter!”
“That’s Emily! I’m going!” she shouted. “With or without you!”
I looked over at Emily to see if she had anything else to say, but she shook her head.
“We’re leaving now, Anna,” I said into the phone. “I’ll be in touch soon.”
I ended the call and pulled Emily into a tight hug. “That was incredibly brave. I’m so proud of you.”
She hugged me back for several seconds, then she tipped her chin up and gave me a shy smile. “You owe me a hundred dollars.”
I grinned down at her. “After that? I’ll give you two hundred.”
Chapter 23
Once I knew she was okay, I told her I needed to make another call before we left.
She stared up, suddenly hesitant. “Are you really gonna take me to my mom?” She looked like she couldn’t believe it was true. Then again, this was a lot for her to take in.
“Yes,” I said earnestly. “I swear I am. But we’re not on the right highway to meet her, and I don’t have a smart phone to look it up. I’m going to ask my friend to give me directions.” When she didn’t look convinced, I said, “I swear to you, Emily. I’m taking you to your mom.”
Her face softened. “Okay.”
I hugged her again. “If you need to go to the bathroom, now would be a good time. As soon as I get off the phone, we’re going.”
Then I headed outside, called Carter, and filled him in on my latest development. “Can you figure out a good place to meet them?” I asked.
“Have them come to you,” he said, sounding irritated. “You found their daughter. The least they can do is drive three hours to get her.”
I heaved out a sigh. “If you’re worried about me being too far from Little Rock, then find a place closer. Because I am meeting them somewhere on I-40, and I’m currently on I-30. I can figure it out myself, but I still have the cheap burner, and I’d rather take the time asking her questions about Knox’s operation than spend it looking up directions.”
“All the more reason not to meet her parents anywhere until you get all the information you can,” he grumbled.
“Carter,” I said in frustration. “I have a traumatized thirteen-year-old girl who has been abused in countless ways, and all she wants right now is her mother.”
“Okay,” he conceded, sounding contrite. “You’re right. But this is an opportunity to get more information. You’re letting emotion rule your decision-making.”
Was I?
James said I was the heart of our team, but he’d pull me back if my heart ever got in the way. He wasn’t here, though, so was I letting emotion overrule good judgment?
It didn’t matter, I decided. I wasn’t going to delay Emily’s reunion with her mother over hopes she had useful information. She’d been through enough.
“No,” I said firmly. “I’ll get whatever I can from her on the drive. Go ahead and make the meeting location halfway, and that’ll give me more time. Emily was at the lowest level of the operation, and she’s only been there four months. She’s not going to know much.”
He didn’t respond and I was sure he was about to berate me or tell me to figure it out on my own, but instead he laughed. “I knew you were perfect for Skeeter.” Then he turned serious. “Fine. You’re right. She probably doesn’t know much. You should have plenty of time to talk it through in the car.”
“Thanks.” I paused, tense when I asked, “Have you heard from him?”
“Not yet.”
“Do you know whether his backup has arrived?”
“I can confirm that they have,” he said, sounding like an attorney and not a friend. His tone was ominous, but he’d tell me if James had run into trouble.
