“Hey, maybe I haven’t reciprocated those feelings,” Providence replied.
Her mom laughed. “I knew something was different about you. You don’t have to say a word, Providence. I can see how you feel. Well, that’s the best news. Thank you, Dakota, for sharing that with Gordon and me. We could use something uplifting. What is your daughter’s name?”
“Samantha, but she goes by Sammy.”
“We can’t wait to meet her.”
Dakota’s phone rang. “Excuse me. The nurse is here.” He walked down the hallway, opened the garage door, and waited while Baker Dean drove inside.
As Dakota escorted him down the hall, he brought him up to speed. Dakota introduced Nurse Baker, who set Heather up on an IV.
“We need to make sure you stay hydrated,” Baker said.
“I’ve scheduled a cook to swing by in the morning,” Dakota explained. “Which is just a few hours away.”
“Thank you so much,” Gordon said. “This is more than we would have ever expected. I’m happy to cook meals for us.”
“You’ve both been through a lot.” He slid his gaze to Providence. “Your daughter put me in the doghouse last week, so I’m doing my best to get in your good graces, if it’ll help my cause.”
That elicited another round of laughter from his grateful guests.
“We’ve got to go,” Dakota said. “There’s a rec room where you can watch movies. The kitchen is stocked if you don’t want to wait for the cook. My office is the only door that’s locked, but you’re welcome to wander around. Just don’t leave the facility. I’ll check in with Baker later this morning.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Gordon promised.
Providence hugged her mom and dad. “You’ll be safe here. If I don’t come by for a day or two, no worries, okay?”
“No worries,” her mom said. “Thank you both for taking such great care of us.”
When Dakota and Providence entered the spacious garage filled with his fleet of SUVs, she pulled him close and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“Did I score some points?”
She kissed him again. “Enough to bump you into next year.”
One more kiss before they jumped in the truck. “You ready to catch a criminal?” he asked.
“So damn ready,” she replied.
26
Executing the Emergency Plan
Once back at home, Dakota locked up and set the house alarm. It was after three in the morning, but despite the lack of sleep, he was on edge and full of energy. Randy was unpredictable, at best.
Before heading upstairs, Dakota sifted through the mail Miranda had left on the counter.
“Fuck, no,” he said. His chest tightened as he lifted the envelope from the stack.
Providence hurried over.
“He’s getting bold,” Dakota said as he opened the letter.
A photo dropped out, this one of Sammy and Miranda at the neighborhood playground.
Providence stared at the picture. “God, no.”
Like the others, the handmade note had been pieced together from magazine clippings and glued to white construction paper.
