Finding Her Son (20 page)

Emily took a shuddering breath. “Right. Options.”

Her eyes tracked to an SUV coming toward them. The vehicle pulled into the driveway and Mitch checked the license plate against his list.

“Jim and Judy Greenley.”

Emily started to open the door.

“Not yet. No ambush. Let’s take it slow. I don’t want to scare them into calling the local cops. We still don’t know who the mole at the Denver PD is.”

Emily bit her lip. She nodded when Mitch’s phone blared in the quiet car.

“That can’t be Noah.” He glanced at the caller ID. “Tanner. Damn.” Mitch shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Not a distraction I need right now, since he doesn’t know we left Colorado.”

Emily’s phone rang. She jumped, then scanned the screen. “Tanner must really want to talk to us.”

“If it were news, Dad would’ve let me or Noah in on it. I’d rather return Tanner’s call after we find Joshua and are back in Colorado.”

Mitch studied the scene from where they’d parked. A man opened the front door and reached into the back, pulling a squirming baby out of a car seat. The flash of light brown hair looked promising; the blue shirt and denim overalls screamed
boy
.

Emily gripped the age-enhanced photo in her fingers. “He could be Joshua,” she said. “His hair is the color of Eric’s.”

“And yours,” Mitch said, letting the silky strands slip through his fingertips.

A woman exited the passenger side, and the small child reached for her. She laughed and took the boy, cuddling him to her.

“They look happy,” Emily said, her voice solemn. “They look like a family.”

“Yes, they do.”

She gripped Mitch’s hand. “What do I say?”

He stared into her eyes. “You tell them the truth.”

“It’s been so long. Joshua won’t know me. What if he cries? I don’t know if I can handle his tears.”

“He might not know you at first.” Emily’s eyes glistened with tears, and Mitch kissed her. “But he’ll recognize your love, Emily.” Mitch held out his hand, and Emily placed her small one in his. “You can do this.”

The walk across the street seemed like miles. Step after step. Emily hesitated. He didn’t blame her. If the Greenleys didn’t have Joshua, they were back to hoping Marie called again. The woman was another
ghost
.

They walked up the driveway toward the couple, who stopped, their faces curious.

Jim Greenley stepped forward, his stance curious but protective. “May I help you?”

Mitch pulled out his badge. “Mitch Bradford, Denver Police Department. Could we ask you a couple of questions, Mr. Greenley?”

Emily didn’t move. She simply stared at the small boy toying with his mother’s blond hair.

All Mitch could make out was the color of the boy’s hair. He seemed healthy. He let out a joyful giggle as his mother tickled him. “Your son seems happy,” Mitch said quietly.

The man preened with pride. “A chip off the old block. Now, Officer. What can I do for you.”

At the sound of his father’s voice, the boy turned and reached out his arms. “Da!”

His upper lip had a scar. A very identifiable scar. This child had had a cleft lip repaired.

He couldn’t be Joshua.

Chapter Eleven

Emily sagged against Mitch as she stared at the baby’s mouth.

“Do you have a problem?” Jim Greenley snapped. He folded his arms across his chest.

The man’s combative stance made Emily realize she was staring at the boy. She forced herself to face the increasingly hostile parents. “I’m sorry. Your son is about the same age as mine.”

Judy Greenley relaxed, then smiled. “Oh, is he with you?”

The words sliced through Emily as the truth took hold. She bit her lip to stop it from trembling. She couldn’t get the words out.

Mitch stepped forward, tucking her closer. She needed him. So much.

“Emily’s son was stolen when he was a month old. We have reason to believe that he was adopted here in Florida.”

“You can’t think…” Judy’s hold on her son tightened.

Emily recognized the fear on her face.

“No, ma’am. Emily’s son didn’t have a cleft lip.

Judy let out a deep sigh.

Emily wanted nothing more than to get out of there. She stepped backward, but Mitch held her fast next to him.

“Your son is adopted, isn’t he?”

Jim Greenley’s expression grew suspicious.

“Please,” Emily said. “We’re just trying to find my son, and we’re not familiar with this area. It would save so much time.”

The man’s face softened. “He’s ours. Everything aboveboard. We went through a well-known agency.”

“I understand,” Mitch said. “Would you mind giving us the name?”

“Sommerfield Adoption Agency. They’re based here in Orlando.” Jim Greenley pulled his wife into his protective embrace. “They have a good reputation,” he reiterated, as if he were trying to convince himself.

“I’m sure they do,” Mitch said. “Thank you for your help.”

Sommerfield? That wasn’t the name on Perry’s notes. Was this all a wild-goose chase? Renewed fear shook her, but Mitch propped her up, standing strong next to her.

“I hope you find your son,” Judy Greenley said softly, cradling her boy.

“Thank you. Enjoy your boy. He’s a gift.”

Emily’s eyes burned with unshed tears. Their last lead was gone.

Mitch turned her away and whispered in her ear, “All we have to do is make it to the car.”

She nodded and stumbled beside him to the street. She couldn’t think, couldn’t feel. Her entire body had gone numb with disbelief. No matter what she’d said as each disappointment had occurred over the last several hours, she’d never believed they’d fail.

She stared up at him, his face blurry through her tears. “I don’t know where my son is. I don’t even know where to look.”

“Let’s get you in the car,” he said.

A black-and-white tore down the street at them. Mitch shoved her toward the SUV. “I shouldn’t have used my credit card at the rental company. Get inside.”

The police car skidded to a stop right next to him as the stunned Greenleys looked on. Jim pushed his family inside their house just as a young cop slammed his door, his hand on his weapon. “Officer Bradford?”

Emily eased toward the SUV. “Please don’t move, ma’am. Keep your hands visible.”

“No sudden movements, Emily,” Mitch said softly.

She stilled next to the rental, and he took a deep breath. “What’s this all about?”

“Detective Dane Tanner asked me to find you. He needs to talk to you. Immediately.”

“What the hell for? And how did you know where we were?”

“Rental car GPS. Um…the detective instructed me if you resisted, I should bring you in for questioning. In handcuffs.” The young officer pulled out his notebook. “You’re still conducting surveillance on a—Emily Wentworth?”

Oh, God. Surveillance. The word echoed around in Emily’s head. Her knees shook. No. It couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t. She had to steady herself on the hot metal of the SUV. Not Mitch. Please, not Mitch.

His head whipped around toward her, and she could tell by the guilty expression on his face. It was true. He’d used her. He hadn’t believed in her. Ever. He’d just been doing his job.

Everything that had happened between them.... She’d—oh, God. She’d given herself to him. She’d let him inside her heart. She’d thought she might even…love him.

What a fool. “You bastard,” she said.

The cop wiped his brow. “I screwed up, didn’t I?”

Mitch blew out a long hiss of air. “No, kid. I did.” He pulled out his phone, walked away from them and placed the call.

Emily watched him, the man she’d thought she knew. When he returned, she glared at him. “Are you planning to arrest me?”

“Of course not. I—”

“Save it, Mitch. Just get me out of here so I can catch a flight home.”

“Noah can fly—”

“I don’t need your help. Or your family’s.” She crossed her arms and planted herself solidly. “Don’t try to talk your way out of this,
Officer
Bradford. You had plenty of time to tell me. In bed and out.”

The young cop’s jaw had dropped, but he listened unabashedly, and she didn’t care.

“I know you’re upset, Emily,” Mitch said, his voice lowering to a whisper. “I don’t blame you, but I did what I had to do—”

“To put me in jail.”

Mitch thrust his hand through his hair. “Can you just listen for a minute? I did it all to protect you. It didn’t take long to understand you were in trouble. I knew if you found out—”

“Oh, so it was inconvenient to tell me the truth. I told you what Eric did, and still you said nothing.” She faced him, anger pouring from her, all the while disillusionment sucking the life from her soul. “You couldn’t have hurt me more. How can I trust you again? With the truth? With my fears? With my heart? With my son?”

He paled, but she wasn’t in the mood to sympathize. She hoped and prayed someday he would feel the pain that shot through her heart.

“I can only tell you that everything I did was for you. And for Joshua,” he said quietly.

“How can I believe that? Your job was to prove I killed Eric, wasn’t it? I’ve probably given you enough circumstantial evidence to tie a bow around a conviction. You can become the big hero. Get back your job with SWAT.” Her entire being froze from the inside, despite the hot, muggy weather. “I want you out of my life. I don’t want you or any other Denver police officer anywhere near me. Got it? I’ll find Joshua on my own.”

“You can’t do this alone. You’re still at risk. That’s why Tanner called. They found a woman’s body in the foothills of the Rockies. Not too far from your house.”

Emily’s heart skipped a beat. “Kayla?”

“No. An older woman.”

The words shattered the last fragment of hope in Emily’s chest. “Marie?”

He nodded. “Marie Dumond. She had a cell phone, and yours was the last number she dialed.”

A
FTER RECOGNIZING
SHE
couldn’t afford to get back to Denver any other way, Emily succumbed to Noah’s cajoling and agreed to fly home with the Bradford brothers. She couldn’t think as Noah escorted her onto his CJ4 jet. She’d fully expected to have Joshua on the way up these steps. Now her arms were empty, and so was her heart. The one lead she’d counted on—Marie—was silenced forever. Her gullibility and stupidity were clear for everyone to see.

She’d believed Mitch had her back when they’d arrived in Florida even though she’d wondered about him in the beginning. Just like she’d suspected Eric. Why had she refused to listen to her instincts instead of believing what her mind wanted to be true?

She ducked into the cabin and sat near the rear, as far away from the cockpit as possible.

Mitch followed. He’d handled the steps well. Not that she cared, of course. Not her problem anymore.

He hesitated beside her seat, as if wanting to say something.

“This seat’s taken.” She placed her purse down and gave him the best glare she could.

“Fine. I’ll sit up front with Noah.”

Mitch snaked into the copilot’s seat, and Emily let out a relieved sigh. Noah made the last checks around the plane and locked them in. He knelt beside Emily. “Mitch didn’t want to lie to you.”

“But he did. I can’t trust him.”

“And you won’t stop until you find your son, will you?”

“No.”

Noah patted her leg. “Let me have your cell.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I’m one of the good guys.” Noah gave her a cocky grin so like Mitch’s it made her belly ache.

Hesitantly she dug into her pocket and handed him the device. He snagged a small tool from his back pocket and with a couple of twists opened the phone to reveal its guts. After a few deft movements, he closed the phone and returned it to her.

“I took out the GPS and put a handy little gadget in that will block your number, no matter who you call. Just to be safe.”

“Who are you?”

“Just your standard, ordinary computer jockey,” he said, flashing a charming smile.

“Right. Just like Mitch really cared about me.”

Noah’s smile vanished. “No, Emily. Mitch cares. A lot.” Noah rubbed his beard. “You pulled a gun on me back at my house. You know how to use a .40 Glock?”

“My private investigator taught me how to shoot. He thought I might need the training.” Poor Perry. He’d been right more often than Mitch or the police department had ever believed.

Noah opened up a small compartment over her head and handed her a large pistol and a clip. “It has a big kick, but it’ll stop most anything or anyone. If you’re going to try to investigate on your own, you’re going to need it. Just don’t use it to kill my brother. Even if he’s an idiot, I’m fond of him. Dad would be disappointed if I provided the weapon that sent Mitch to the pearly gates.”