Chapter 9 - THE WRONG CHILDREN TO TAKE
Damon became terrifyingly calm.
That frightened Mara more than rage.
Every Cross Freight truck, security team, driver, warehouse supervisor, and private investigator received Lily and the boys’ descriptions within minutes.
Mara paced the study.
“My daughter is in that car.”
“I know.”
“You said this house was safe.”
“I was wrong.”
She slapped him.
Damon took it.
No anger.
Nothing.
“I trusted you.”
“I know.”
Mara broke.
Only for a moment.
Then Micah’s voice echoed in her memory.
Everyone leaves.
She wiped her face.
“No.”
Damon looked at her.
“No what?”
“We don’t fall apart.”
They reviewed security footage.
The kidnapper wore a maintenance uniform.
Ruth recognized him.
“Calvin Price.”
A former Cross Freight mechanic.
Fired three years earlier.
Damon looked at her.
“Victor?”
Ruth nodded.
They traced Calvin’s old family property to a hunting camp west of the Atchafalaya Basin.
Damon reached for a gun.
Mara stepped in front of him.
“You call police.”
“They’ll be gone before police organize.”
“You go in shooting and my daughter could die.”
Damon stared at her.
Then slowly put the gun down.
They went with two off-duty officers Ruth trusted.
At the camp, Mara heard children crying inside.
Damon wanted to circle the building.
Mara saw something else.
A back window.
Too narrow for an adult.
Perfect for a child.
She whispered, “Micah.”
She approached quietly.
Tapped twice.
Paused.
Tapped once.
Their bedtime code.
The curtain moved.
Micah appeared.
Mara put a finger to her lips.
He nodded.
Then disappeared.
One minute later, the back door unlocked.
The children ran out.
Lily hit Mara so hard they both fell into the mud.
“Mommy!”
Mara held her.
“I’ve got you.”
Gunfire exploded from inside.
Damon pulled the children behind the truck.
Calvin fired through the doorway.
Police returned fire.
Then Calvin ran toward the woods.
Damon chased him.
Mara screamed, “Damon!”
Calvin turned.
Raised his gun.
Micah saw it.
“DAD!”
May you like
The shot fired.
Damon fell.
