To Love Twice (26 page)

“Why Georgie?”  Barbara asked.

Georgie turned and faced Barbara.  Pointing at Kate,
Georgie snarled her answer.  “She would have taken Mary and we’d never see
her again.  I barely get to see her now.  Can you imagine if they’d
moved to London?” she asked bitterly.

“Mary isn’t yours, Georgie,” Barbara said sadly.

“Where is she, Georgina?” Kate asked as calmly as she
could.  She was seething inside and wanted nothing more than to smash
Georgie’s smug face into the table.

Glaring at her sister, Georgie sighed.  “The reporter
has her in his van.  He’s waiting for me to call him and tell him where to
take her for the night.”

Kate barely spared her sister a glance.  “Get her away
from me,” Kate said to the nearest cop as she pulled out her phone and dialed
Edward.

He answered on the second ring.  “Kate?”

“Georgie and the reporter took Mary.  He’s got her in
his van,” Kate said.  “I’m so sorry, Edward.”

“Jason and I will bring her home,” Edward said.

“Thank you, Edward,” Kate choked out, emotions making it
difficult for her to speak.

“I love you, Kate.  That hasn’t changed.  I’ll
call you when we’re on our way home.”

“Be safe.”  Kate hung up and paced her living room
floor, stopping occasionally to glance out the window.

“Georgie, I’ll call your father.  He has connections,
he’ll find you a good attorney.” Barbara said as the cops took Georgie out of
the kitchen in cuffs.

“Katie…” Georgie pleaded.

Kate turned and stared at the shell that was her sister.

“I’m sorry,” Georgie said.

Nodding, Kate sighed.  “I know you are, but it doesn’t
change anything.  You can’t substitute Mary for your own child and I’m not
going to sacrifice our happiness because you can’t have children.  I
forgive you, but I won’t forget and I don’t want to ever see you again.”

Turning her back on her sister and the mother who was so
entirely on Georgie’s side as usual, Kate put them out of her mind and started
praying.

She prayed for Mary’s safe return, for Edward and Jason to
find Mary, for their safety and for Edward’s forgiveness.

Kate shuddered to think what life would be like if Edward
couldn’t forgive her.  She’d blamed him and pushed him away at the first
sign of trouble.  It wasn’t a good indication of her ever-lasting love.

Kate heard the door close behind her signaling the departure
of the cops, her sister and mother. 
Good riddance
, she thought to
herself.  Not expecting anyone else in the apartment, she was startled to
feel a hand on her shoulder.  Turning, she was shocked to see her mother
standing behind her.  “Mom?”

Barbara pulled Kate into her arms.  “Edward will find
her, Kate.”

Unused to this kind of attention or affection from her
mother, Kate just nodded against Barbara’s shoulder.

“You thought I left,” Barbara stated.

“Yes,” Kate whispered.

“I’m sorry, Katie.”

Kate looked questioningly at her mother.

“I’m sorry for allowing you to think she means more to me
than you do.  I love you both, equally, but I guess I’ve allowed you to
keep me at arms length.  You never seemed to need me as much as Georgie
did.  You were always so independent and sure of your path.  She’ll
need help and we’ll give it to her.  But I can’t do anything for her right
now.  You need me more than she does,” Barbara explained.

Fighting back tears at this rare show of affection from her
mother, Kate hugged Barbara tightly.  “Thank you, Mom.”

Barbara led Kate over to the couch as Captain Driscoll
strolled out of the kitchen.  He snapped his phone shut and directed a
glare in Kate’s direction.

“Kate, where’s Edward?” he asked sternly.

“He’s finding Mary, why?”

“He gave Wyatt the slip.”  He sighed and crossed his
arms.  “How did you figure out it was your sister?”

“It wasn’t any one thing,” Kate explained.  “Thoughts
and memories and things were just rolling through my mind.  Her love of
all things Hollywood, her obsession with television programs and
magazines.  It made me finally question how she could not have known
him.  He so famous, Europe’s most eligible bachelor.  She had to
know.  And then some of the things she said to me lately.  How she’ll
miss us and how she had hoped to watch Mary grow up,” Kate sighed.  “I
don’t know, I just knew it was her.”

He nodded as he wrote notes down in his notebook.  “I
have cars out looking for the van.”

Kate shook her head.  “Edward will find her.”

He thrust his hand through his hair in frustration.  “I
just hope he doesn’t get them killed.”

Kate glared at Captain Driscoll.  Unable to sit any
longer, she walked over to the window.  Offering more prayers for their
safety and return, Kate closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the
cool glass of the window.

“I can’t believe that worked,” Edward said.

“Everyone has to use the loo at some point,” Jason chuckled.

Laughing, Edward nodded and watched Jason check his phone
when it chimed. 

“Jolly says the van is in the mall parking lot.  It’s a
few blocks from the convention center.”

“Make him wait for us.  Mary is scared enough.  I
want her to see a familiar face.”

Jason nodded and quickly texted Jolly back with the
instructions.  At the next intersection, Jason made a u-turn and put the
pedal down.  They flew down the streets racing toward the mall.

“Shit, a cop,” Jason said as he glanced in the rearview
mirror.

“Good, let him follow.  He can take care of the
reporter for us.”

“He’ll get in the way,” Jason grumped.

“Lose him then, but do it fast.  We need to get to
Mary.”

“I’ll just outrun him,” he said as he pushed the gas pedal
down even further.

“Bloody hell!” Edward swore as he was pushed back into his
seat.  “I’d rather not die today, Jason.”

Jason laughed, but continued to floor the car.

They arrived at the mall ten minutes later.  Jason
circled the mall and came in at the van from behind.

“What’s the plan here?” Edward asked.

“Jolly is going to go for the guy and we’re going for Mary.”

Jason and Edward exited the car and met Jolly around the
back of the van. 

“We need to be quick.  Cops followed us,” Jason said.

Jolly quickly checked the clip in his glock.  Satisfied
with what he saw, he snapped it closed and nodded.  “Ready.”

Edward watched Jolly crouch and walk to the drivers side,
staying out of the side mirror.  His gun at the ready, he popped up,
opened the door and pointed his gun at Brent.  “Hands where I can see
them!” Jolly said.  He nodded at Jason when Brent’s hands were secure.

Jason and Edward opened the back doors.  Jason held
back to allow Mary full sight of Edward.

Edward would never forget the sight in front of him as long
as he lived.  Mary was crouched up against the side of the van, panic
etched on her face.  Her hands were tied with rope and ducktape covered
her mouth.

Rage for the treatment she’d received at the hands of Brent
and Georgie coursed through him like wildfire.  He wanted to rip the
reporter to shreds with his bare hands.  Some of what he felt must have
shown on his face because he heard a small whimper come from Mary.  Edward
quickly smoothed out his features and knelt inside the van.

“Cops,” Jason said nodding across the parking lot.

“Deal with them,” Edward said.  He slowly reached out
toward Mary.  “Shh, princess.  It’s going to be okay.  I’m here
to take you home.  Let me free your hands.”  Edward quickly untied
her hands and moved to the ducktape on her face.  “I’m going to take the
tape off now, it’s going to hurt some.  I’m so sorry, Mary.”

Mary whimpered and tears coursed down her cheeks while
Edward removed the tape.  “I’m sorry, Mary,” Edward repeated.  When
the tape was finally removed, he gathered her into his arms and held her
close.  “It’s okay, Mary.  You’re safe now.”

He continued to hold her close as he stepped out of the
van.  Nodding to Jason, he walked over and slipped into the backseat of
Jason’s rental car.

Whispering words of encouragement, he rocked her back and
forth, rubbing her back in small circles.  Unwilling to let her go for
even a second, he did his best to calm her and give her comfort.

Jason poked his head in the car.  “They won’t let me go
until the Captain gets here.”

Edward growled.  “How long?”

“Says the Captain is on his way.”

“Fine.”

Edward watched as the cops cuffed Brent and put him in the
back of the cruiser.  He had a moment of regret that he wouldn’t get his
chance to pound the man into a pulp.  But when Mary’s head slipped off his
shoulder, he glanced down at her sleeping face and knew his place was right
here.  Adjusting her position for more comfort for the both of them, he
dropped a kiss on her temple and thanked God for keeping Mary safe.

Laying his head back against the seat, he hoped the Captain
showed up soon.

“Kate?  What’s going on?  Where is everyone? 
Where’s the Captain going?  Where’s Georgie?” Tim asked as he entered the
apartment.

“Oh, Tim,” Barbara sniffled.  “Sit down,” she gestured
toward the couch.

Kate turned from the window but didn’t join them on the
couch.  “She’s been arrested, Tim.  I’m so sorry.”

“Arrested?  Why?”  He asked as he looked from Kate
to Barbara.

“She was behind Mary’s kidnapping,” Kate said sadly.

Tim jumped to his feet.  “Are you crazy?  She
would never do something like that, Kate.  She loves you and Mary so
much.”

Kate raised her hands and nodded.  “I know she
does.  She was afraid that when Edward and I married, we’d take Mary to
London and she’d never see Mary again.”

“Oh my God,” Tim groaned.  He wiped his hand across his
face and sat down heavily on the couch.  “I can’t believe she’d do
something like this.  I know she’s had a hard time accepting that we
aren’t going to have kids, but I never in a million years thought she’d do
something like this.”

“I know, Tim.  I can’t think about her role in
this.  I’m keeping it together by a very thin thread,” Kate told him.

“William is at the police station with her, Tim.  He’s
working on finding her a good attorney.”

Tim turned a glacial stare on Kate.  “You’re going to
let them prosecute her?”

“It’s out of my hands, Tim.  You know that.  The
cops are involved.  It’s kidnapping, I have no say now.”  Kate
implored.

“Any good attorney will try to go with an insanity plea or
whatever they’re called now,” Barbara told him. 

Tim stood and headed for the door.  “I’m heading over
there to see what I can do for her,” Tim said.  Turning back to Kate, she
could sense his anger radiating from him.  “We did a lot for you,
Kate.  We took you both in and helped you get back on your feet. 
Don’t let her suffer for this.  She’s ill, and needs help.  Not
jail.”  Tim turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Kate let out a deep breath and turned back to the
window. 

“He’s right, you know,” Barbara murmured.

“Right, how?”

“She’s ill.  Not being able to have a baby has been so
tough on her.”

“That’s no excuse to kidnap her niece, Mom.  Can you
imagine how scared Mary must feel?  The terror she’s been put through and
how alone she is?”  Kate shuddered and turned to look at her mother. 
“I had sympathy for her.  Before she stole my child.  There were
other options.  Adoption or foster care.  They didn’t have to choose
being childless.”  Disgusted, Kate shook her head and turned back to the
window.

“You’ll turn your back on her forever?”  Barbara asked
gently.

“Probably not.  She’s my sister.  But I’m furious
and scared and I can’t think beyond getting Mary and Edward back.  I can’t
tell you what will happen,” Kate said.

“Kate, please,” Barbara pleaded.

“Don’t push me, Mom.  This wasn’t something small like
stealing my dessert.  She kidnapped my child – that’s a federal
offense.  It’s like I told Tim, it’s out of my hands.  And be glad
for it, Mom.  Because with the way I’m feeling right now, I’d shoot her if
I saw her.”

Kate was glad when Barbara finally stopped talking. 
She was frantically looking up and down the street for any sign of Edward and
Mary.  He said he’d call when they were on their way, but it had already
been so long.  Trying to keep herself calm, she said another prayer asking
for peace and their safe return.

“Captain is here,” Jason murmured fifteen minutes later.

Edward lifted his head and sighed in relief.  He
watched the Captain stalk over to the car, and knew this wasn’t going to be a
pleasant conversation based on the look on the Captain’s face.

“Mr. Kent, I thought we had an understanding?”  The
Captain said brusquely. 

“We did, sir.  But circumstances changed.”

“Not in my book.  Where is my officer?”

“I would assume still at the hotel, sir.”

“And how did you get away him?”

“He had to use the loo,” Jason offered, barely able to
contain his grin. 

The Captain glared at Jason.  “I wasn’t speaking to
you.”

Jason raised his hands in surrender and walked over to stand
with Jolly.

“Look Captain,” Edward said calmly, his patience almost at
it’s end.  “We found Mary.  She’s safe and you have the bad guys in
custody.  You know if it had been your daughter, you would have done the
same thing.”

Rolling his eyes, the Captain braced his hands on the top of
the car.  “You could have gotten yourselves hurt.  You could have
gotten her killed,” he growled.

Edward sighed.  “But we didn’t.  And all I want to
do right now is take Mary home and reunite her with Kate.”