Читать книгу Shattered Lullaby - Laura Scott - Страница 13

Four

Her heart in her throat, Lacy clutched Rory close to her chest and silently prayed for God to keep them all safe. The gut-level instinct surprised her—she hadn’t really thought much about God in the years after her parents had died.

But right here, right now, with the wind whistling through the small round bullet hole in the passenger-side window, proof that David Williams hadn’t stopped searching for them, she wanted to believe that God was up there, watching over them.

That she, Matt and Rory weren’t completely alone in this.

“Are you all right?” Matt asked in a hoarse voice.

“Y-yes.” She and Rory weren’t hurt. Scared senseless, but not physically injured.

“We need a new plan.” Matt’s tone was grim. “Williams is always one step ahead of us, and I don’t like it. I can’t figure out how he knew where to find us. Regardless, I’m not going to risk taking you anywhere near the police station.”

The news should have been reassuring. She hadn’t wanted to go to the authorities, afraid that even with Matt’s support, his boss would lean toward believing David’s version of events over hers. At the same time, being here alone with Matt didn’t make her feel that much better. Oh, she trusted Matt, at least as far as his ability to keep her and Rory safe. But for how long?

Duchess woofed softly behind her. Okay, they weren’t completely alone, but still. Eventually, they’d need help of the two-legged variety. Someone to provide backup. It wasn’t as if traveling with a three-month-old and a K-9 was inconspicuous.

They were bound to attract attention.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what? Almost getting you killed?” His harsh tone didn’t make her flinch because she knew he was upset with himself rather than with her.

“You saved us,” she corrected him. “And I can’t deny I’m glad we’re not going to the police station.”

He was silent for several long moments. “We need a place to go where we can hide off-grid for a while. I want to dig into Williams’s background a bit.”

The idea of hiding somewhere off-grid was appealing, but the thought of his investigating David made her blood run cold. “He’s a sociopath,” she said in a flat tone. “His entire world revolves around him. I’m not sure you’ll ever figure out the logic behind all this.”

His gaze met hers in the rearview mirror. “Try not to worry about it, okay? Duchess and I will protect you and Rory.”

She attempted to smile. “I know. But can we please stop at a store to pick up a few things? Rory needs clothes, baby wipes and extra bottles. Not to mention a proper car seat.”

He sighed. “Yeah, okay. But I’m going to drive to a store located on the opposite side of town, just in case. And once we have what you and Rory need, I’m going to call my brother Miles.”

The news made her tense up all over again. “Are you sure it’s safe? You said your brothers work in law enforcement. I highly doubt he’ll be thrilled with the idea of us going into hiding rather than to the authorities.”

Matt grinned. “You’d be surprised. Miles has done his share of breaking the rules. He’ll be supportive of our plan, don’t worry. Besides, I need a different vehicle and more cash.”

Duchess pressed her nose against the back of Lacy’s neck, making her smile. Between the K-9 officer and Matt’s ever-present confidence, she was feeling better already. “All right. I’ll trust your judgment.”

Matt nodded and fell silent as they headed across town. The traffic wasn’t too bad, and they reached a shopping area within thirty minutes. Lacy was relieved it was far away from the scene of her sister’s murder.

She tightened her grip on Rory and blinked away the tears. Jill would want her to be strong for the baby, so she needed to stay focused on being a good mother. Once they were safe, there would be plenty of time to make sure Jill had a proper burial.

And hopefully by then David would be behind bars, paying for his crime.

“Ready?” Matt asked. He’d backed into a parking spot, and she belatedly realized he’d done that just in case they had to make a quick getaway.

“Yes.” She unlatched the seat belt and curled her arm protectively around Rory as she pushed open the car door. Matt was there, offering his assistance. She put her hand in his, instantly aware of the warmth of his fingers curling over hers. As soon as she had her feet under her, she let go, uncomfortable about her odd awareness of him.

Matt was the complete opposite of the few men she’d tried dating in the past. One fellow teacher had expressed interest, but she hadn’t experienced even the slightest flicker of attraction toward him. Then there was the accountant who did her taxes, but that hadn’t been any better.

So why was she reacting to a man who was virtually a stranger?

No clue. And it needed to stop right now.

The stern lecture to herself helped. They entered the store and Matt grabbed a shopping cart. She wove through the aisles, quickly finding the baby items she needed. A glimpse of the prices on the car seats made her grimace.

“They’re so expensive.” She glanced at Matt. “I only have about fifty dollars on me.”

“It’s fine, I have enough to last until my brother brings more. Which one do you think is the best?”

She looked at the various styles, then pointed at the one Jill had purchased. “This one.”

“Okay.” He picked up the box and set it in the cart. “Pick out everything you need for the baby, then we’ll get you a light jacket.”

She wanted to protest, but spring in Wisconsin was unpredictable so she gave in. She picked out two outfits for Rory, a warm zip-up onesie with a hood to cover his head and then a packet of baby wipes. The smallest box of bottles contained six, so she tossed that in the cart, too. Silently counting up what they owed made her stomach clench with worry.

“Women’s clothes are over there,” Matt said, turning the cart in that direction.

“I’ll just get a heavy sweatshirt. No need to pay for a coat.”

“You should get both, just in case.” He apparently wasn’t about to take no for an answer. And he didn’t stop there. After she picked out a navy blue jacket, he pushed the cart over to the sundries and waved a hand. “Get what you need—hairbrush, shampoo, etcetera. I’ll pick up a few things, too.”

She hesitated. “If we’re going to another motel, they’ll provide some of this stuff. No reason to waste your money.”

“We’re not going to a motel,” he countered. “It’s too hard to find the ones that are dog-friendly, and they’re not all willing to take cash, either. Besides, I want you and Rory far away from the area.”

“So where are we going?”

“I have a friend who owns a cabin located about thirty minutes outside the city limits. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s warm, has two bedrooms and a kitchen. It’s the best place I know where we can hide out for a while.”

A cabin sounded nice, if maybe a little too cozy. And since the accommodations sounded better for Duchess, how could she argue? She began filling the cart with the bare essentials. Matt tossed a few items in, too.

The grand total was just as bad as she’d feared, even though many of the items they’d purchased were on sale. She wondered how on earth she’d manage to repay Matt for his kindness.

Matt didn’t seem concerned as he carried everything back out to the SUV. Right in the parking lot, he opened the box and quickly pulled out the infant car seat. Lacy bundled Rory into the new winter onesie and then fastened him into the car seat. Matt took over from there, securing the seat with ease.

“You look as if you’ve done that before,” she said as she slid into the front passenger seat.

He froze for a moment, then shrugged. “A couple of my brothers have kids.”

“A couple?” She fastened her seat belt then looked at him. “How many brothers do you have?”

“Four older brothers and a younger twin sister.” He started the engine and let it run for a moment.

She tried not to gape at him. “Six? There are six of you?”

He pulled out his phone. “Yeah, crazy, huh? Marc is the oldest, and works for the FBI. He and his wife, Kari, are due to have another baby early next month. Miles is the second oldest and works as a homicide detective. He and his wife, Paige, are also expecting in early May. My twin, Maddy, just married my former partner, Noah Sinclair. Mitch, an arson investigator, and Mike, a private investigator, are still single, like me, which is good because we can balance things out.”

All the information he was tossing out about his family made her head spin. And she hadn’t missed the fact that he’d emphasized he was single and not interested in changing his status. Fine with her. “And you’re sure they won’t force you to take me in?”

“I’m sure.” Matt reached over and lightly clasped her hand in his. “Trust me. In our family, Callahans always come first.”

Strangely enough, she did trust him. As she listened to him leaving a message for Miles, she found herself relaxing for the first time since she’d woken up to the sounds of her sister arguing with her husband.

She reached back to place a soothing hand on Rory in his car seat. If Matt was right, and Callahans always came first, then maybe, just maybe, they’d find a way out of this mess.

* * *

Matt pulled out of the parking lot, hoping Miles would return his call soon. He didn’t like thinking about the fact that as a cop, David Williams had access to information like Matt’s cell number and his vehicle license plate number.

Five minutes later, his phone rang. He handed it to Lacy. “Place the call on speaker.” When she’d done that, he quickly answered. “Miles, I need a hand.”

“What’s going on?”

“I need new disposable phones, a laptop computer, a new K-9 vehicle and cash.”

“Anything else?” His brother’s tone was all business. “What about a place to stay?”

“We need to remain off-grid, so I’m planning to head up to Valerie’s father’s cabin. Maybe you could give her a heads-up that I’ll be staying there for a while, just in case she decides to take a trip.”

“We?” Trust his brother to pick up on that slip.

He glanced at Lacy. “I’m keeping a woman and baby safe. There’s already been three attempts to kill them. Honestly? The less you know, the better.”

“Haven’t I always supported you, Matt? I’m not about to turn you in, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Lacy relaxed in her seat, and he grinned. “I know that, and I trust you, bro. It’s Lacy who’s a bit skittish.”

“Lacy obviously doesn’t know us very well, does she?” Miles paused for a moment, then continued, “Okay, I’ll meet you at Val’s cabin in roughly forty-five minutes.”

“Thanks, Miles. I owe you one.”

“And don’t think I won’t collect. I think a night of babysitting should do the trick.”

Babysitting? He grimaced but reluctantly agreed. “Sure, Abby is a cutie. But let’s do that before the baby is born, okay? I’m not sure I can handle two of them at the same time.”

His brother let out a bark of laughter. “Done. Catch up with you later.”

“I guess the Callahans really do stick together,” Lacy said, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes. “I’m glad.”

He thought about the way she’d lost her sister and knew he’d never rest if someone had murdered one of his siblings. In fact, he’d been secretly trying to investigate his father’s unsolved murder. Max Callahan had been the Milwaukee Chief of Police for almost five years before his death. He’d been shot when he’d gone out to visit the scene of a crime. Matt continued to be angry and upset that the perp was still at large.

But right now, he had to remain focused on keeping Lacy and Rory safe. He headed toward his college friend’s cabin, using side streets and lesser known highways to avoid the interstate.

Because he’d taken the longer route, he reached the cabin a few minutes before Miles. Matt took a moment to make sure they could get inside, using the key that was hidden in the bottom of a bird feeder. The door creaked open. While it was a little dusty, the interior looked just the way he remembered. He returned to the SUV and let Duchess out before carrying Rory’s car seat inside, so the baby would have something to sit in. Lacy followed on his heels, bringing in the rest of their things. Duchess ran around for a bit, exploring the area before making her way back to the cabin. She barked, and he crossed over to let her in, taking a minute to check out her wound. Thankfully, it still looked good.

“Lacy, my brother Miles. Miles, this is Lacy and Rory.”

“Nice to meet you,” Miles said with a smile.

“You, too.” Lacy shivered. “It’s a bit chilly in here.”

“I’ll light the wood-burning stove. It will be warm in no time,” Matt assured her.

Between the two men, they stacked armloads of cut wood near the vast iron stove. It didn’t take long, and soon the logs were crackling and popping. He rose to his feet and turned toward his brother.

“Did you remember the computer?”

“Yep, it’s in the SUV.” Miles glanced at Lacy, who was busy unpacking their things. “Come outside for a moment.”

Matt followed his brother outside. “What’s up?”

“I’m sure you know about the Amber Alert. Lacy is wanted for kidnapping her nephew,” Miles said. When Matt opened his mouth to protest, his brother waved a hand. “I told you I’d support you and I will. But I need to know what’s going on.”

Matt filled in the details, scant as they were. Miles scowled when he mentioned David Williams was a cop. “He’s already tried to kill her three times. You’ll find a bullet hole in my SUV to prove it.”

They walked over to check out the damage, and Miles sighed heavily. “Okay, I trust you know what you’re doing. The computer bag, cash and phones are in the front seat of the replacement SUV.” His brother dangled the keys in front of him. Matt swapped with him. “Be careful, and let me know if you need backup.”

“I will.” Matt knew his brother probably didn’t want to be too far from Paige, considering she was eight months pregnant, but he might need someone inside the police department to get him information. For any physical backup, he’d lean on either Mitch or Mike. “Thanks again.”

“No problem.” Miles slapped him on the back. “Lacy is pretty and the kid is cute, too.”

Matt narrowed his gaze. “Just because you and Mark found the loves of your lives on a case doesn’t mean I’m going to do the same. I’m finished with relationships, remember?”

“Yeah, we’ll see.” Miles grinned and slid in behind the wheel.

“Miles?” Matt put out a hand to stop him from closing the door. “Be careful, okay? Avoid taking the main highways. This vehicle has been targeted twice already. I need to know you’ll be safe.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Matt stepped back and watched for a moment as his brother drove away. He murmured a silent prayer for God to keep Miles safe before heading over to get the items Miles had brought for them. As soon as he had the computer up and running he wanted to start digging into David Williams’s background.

When he entered the cabin, he heard high-pitched wails. Lacy was trying to get Rory to take his bottle, but the little guy wasn’t having it.

A shiver of unease danced down his spine. “Is he okay?”

“I’m not sure.” Lacy’s expression reflected her concern. “I don’t understand why he’s suddenly so fussy.”

He didn’t know a lot about babies, but he’d heard that sometimes they cried because of gas pains. Maybe this was nothing more than that. “Here, let me try.”

Lacy handed him the baby. He flipped the infant over his forearm so Rory was lying on his belly, and began rubbing his back in soothing circles.

The kid kept right on crying.

Matt tried walking around with him, putting an exaggerated bounce in his step. Duchess thought it was some sort of game and kept wrapping herself around his legs.

The kid continued to wail.

Was Rory missing his mother, instinctively knowing that he and Lacy were poor substitutes? Or was he just feeling colicky? He had no idea, but the incessant crying was making him feel a bit panicky.

“Here, I’ll take him.” Lacy extracted Rory from his arms, holding him protectively to her chest. There was a hint of fear in her eyes, and it took him a minute to figure out she was worried he was going to lose his temper over a crying baby.

“He’ll likely cry himself out eventually. In the meantime, try changing him, then see if he’ll eat,” he advised calmly. “If not, we can take him for a car ride, see if that settles him down.”

Lacy gave a tiny nod and hurried into the bedroom. The baby continued to cry, and when she returned five minutes later, she looked frazzled. “He still won’t take the bottle. Let’s try the car ride.”

He closed the computer screen and nodded. He grabbed his jacket and gave his K-9 partner a hand signal that instantly brought the dog to his side. “Okay, let’s go.”

Lacy buckled Rory into his car seat, and he carried it outside and secured it in the back seat. He opened the back hatch for Duchess, then slid in behind the wheel.

“I hope nothing is seriously wrong. I don’t even know the name of Rory’s pediatrician,” Lacy said in a low voice. “Maybe I should have purchased a thermometer. He feels a little warm, but maybe that’s just because he’s crying. I just don’t know...”

“I’m sure he’s fine.” Matt did his best to infuse confidence in his tone.

Achoo! Achoo!

Rory’s crying was interrupted by two consecutive sneezes. They would have been cute if they weren’t so concerning. Matt didn’t like thinking about how they’d been dragging this poor kid around the city, only just getting him something warm to wear a couple of hours ago.

He exchanged a worried glance with Lacy. What if the baby was indeed getting sick with some sort of flu virus?

No. Please, God, no. He couldn’t bear the thought of something bad happening to Rory. He couldn’t survive watching another innocent child struggle to breathe. To live.

Please, Lord, keep Rory safe in Your care!