Little Girl Gone (34 page)

I
T
took Wisconsin's Department of Transportation two hours to finally get through. In the dying light of the afternoon, the bright yellow glow of a snowplow's high beams heralded the procession. Following right behind the enormous plow were two Wisconsin State Patrol cruisers, an ambulance, and Max driving the Navigator.

When Afton heard the roar of the dozer and the whoop of the police sirens, she stepped outside and met them all on the front porch. The pink cashmere blanket was draped around her shoulders.

The two State Patrol guys were the first of the first responders to flounder through the snow to reach her.

“You okay?” one of them asked. He had kind eyes, a droopy walrus mustache, and his name tag said W
ENDORF
.

Afton nodded. “I'm okay. We're all okay.” Then she reconsidered her words. “Well, there is a dead woman hanging in the kitchen. And the man I shot is lying in there, too.” Ronnie had managed to pull himself back inside the house, where he collapsed. Afton had secured his wrists, wrapped a tourniquet around his leg, and covered him with a blanket. She'd also located the fuse box and restored the lights.

Two EMTs followed as the troopers rushed in. Carrying black medical
bags and tugging a collapsible gurney over the snow as if it were a bobsled, they scrambled up the unshoveled steps to the porch.

“You've got casualties?” one of the EMTs asked. She was a young woman bundled in a navy blue parka and looked nervous.

“One casualty and one gunshot victim,” Afton said. “Plus we've got a newborn and her mom and another three-month-old baby.” Her words felt dry and rough in the back of her throat. “It's the Minneapolis baby who was kidnapped.”

*   *   *

I
had to shoot the boy,” Afton told Max as they stood in the overheated living room. “He was trying to slap on a pair of snowshoes and take off over the fields.”

“The pizza guy,” Max said. “He drew on you?”

“He shot at me a couple of times, then tried to shish-kabob me with a ski pole.” She hugged herself tightly as if she'd just endured some great natural disaster and had come out the other side, banged up but still alive. “Ronnie Sorenson. He's probably the one who murdered Muriel Pink.”

“Even if he got away, he wouldn't have gone far,” Max said. “Thacker didn't just give us the go-ahead; he also notified the governor of Wisconsin, who hit the panic button and put the entire state on high alert. They were gathering an army of law enforcement, from sheriff's departments to state troopers to Fish and Wildlife guys.”

“The black helicopter with the guys sliding down the ropes,” Afton said with a half smile.

“Something like that, yeah.” Then, “How's the baby?”

“Elizabeth Ann,” Afton said. “She seems fine. No ill effects that I could see. But I'm glad the EMTs are checking her out.”

“How are you?” Max asked.

“I'm hanging in there,” Afton said. “Obviously a little shell-shocked.”

“Yeah, you've got that thousand-yard stare.”

“I'm sorry, I probably could have handled things differently.”

“You didn't shoot the old lady?” Max asked. “Marjorie?”

Afton shook her head. “She was the one firing at me. The only reason she missed was because I smacked her with my ice ax.”

“And then she came at you again?”

Afton looked nervous. “That's when I hit her in the head and she tumbled down the stairs.”

“So you never used the gun on her? That's all you used to defend yourself with? That stupid ice ax?”

Afton started to nod, then shook her head. “Not so stupid. Saved my life.” Tears seeped into the corners of her eyes. “But the boy. He just kept coming at me.”

“You did just fine,” Max said. He put his arms around her gently. “No, better than fine. You did exactly what was called for in the line of duty.”

E
LIZABETH
Ann Darden was suddenly not one bit sleepy as she snuggled in Afton's arms. Her eyes were wide open as she focused on Afton's face with a good deal of curiosity.

“Hello there,” Afton said, speaking softly to her. “A lot of very worried people have been looking for you for a long time. Your mommy and daddy miss you very much. Are you ready to go home?” Afton smiled faintly at Max. There was only one thing left to do.

“You want me to make the call?” Max asked. “Get Susan Darden on the line?” He held up his cell phone. “It's working okay now.”

“I think I'd like to talk to her myself.”

Elizabeth Ann waved her little arms with enthusiasm. She'd been fussy earlier, but one of the EMTs had warmed a bottle for her and the feeding had settled her down. Now she seemed as content as any baby could be.

“But you dial the number,” Afton said.

Max heaved himself down onto the couch and dialed the number. When someone answered, he said, “Yeah. This is Montgomery. Everything turned out real good. That's right, we recovered the kid.” He listened for another couple of moments, and then said, “Okay, I'll hang on.” He gazed
at Afton. “Officer Drury went to get her. Said she was upstairs, taking a nap.” He handed the phone to Afton.

Susan Darden came on the line a few seconds later. “Detective Tangler,” she cried. “You found Elizabeth Ann? You've really got her?”

“She's right here in my arms,” Afton said.

“And you're sure she's okay?” Susan asked. “What if there's something wrong with her?”

“The EMTs already checked her out and pronounced her as healthy as can be,” Afton said. “Now she's wiggling around and gurgling like a happy baby. But you know what? I should probably let Elizabeth Ann tell you herself.” She held the phone down to the baby's face. “Talk to your mama, sweetheart.”

“Elizabeth Ann!” Susan Darden's excited cry burst across the phone lines.

Elizabeth Ann, whether flattered by all the attention, amused that Max had just tickled her tummy, or alerted by the sound of her mother's voice, suddenly let out a hearty giggle.

“That's her!” Susan cried. “I can hear her. That's my baby. Oh, thank you, thank you!”

Afton jiggled her knee. “Go ahead, Elizabeth Ann. Talk to your mama all you want.”

Elizabeth Ann opened her mouth, promptly blew a bubble, and said,
“Fweee!”

“My baby,” Susan crooned as Max took the phone from Afton's hand so he could give Susan a timeline on when they'd be bringing her back.

“That's a good girl,” Afton whispered to the little baby who snuggled in her arms. “You're safe now. I promise you with all my heart that you're forever safe.”

Afton lifted her eyes and stared out the side window. The headlights from five different vehicles cast bright beams that pierced the darkness. She saw a black body bag lying in the snow. Marjorie. She saw a figure lying in the back of the ambulance. Ronnie.

Afton smiled a thin, cool smile and cut her gaze away. She had more important things to worry about. Like her own kids.

She had to call Poppy and Tess the minute Max was off the phone. Had to tell them she was on her way home. Had to promise them that, as long as she was watching over them, they'd be forever safe and
loved.

Watch for the next

AFTON TANGLER THRILLER

by Gerry Schmitt.

Coming soon from Berkley Books!

Looking for more?
Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.
Discover your next great read!