Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Shadows stretched across Norfolk’s streets as Delaney squinted at yet another license plate, her eyes burning from intense focus. The November sun hung low on the horizon, painting the world in deceptive gold while stealing away the clarity she desperately needed.
“Come on,” she whispered, drumming her fingers against the steering wheel as she crawled past a row of parked cars.
Gray Honda, but wrong plate. Silver sedan, not even close.
She’d been at this for hours, circling through neighborhoods near the beach, checking every parking lot, every side street, every hint of a vehicle that might belong to Violet.
Her phone rang, Michael’s name lighting up the screen. Her heart leapt as she pressed the button to answer.
“I’ve got it,” Michael said without preamble. “Seaglass Towers, unit 317. It’s a condo complex off Shore Drive.”
Delaney’s pulse quickened. “Are you sure?”
“Call it an educated guess. Iris Benson has lived there just under three months.”
Delaney pulled over and typed the address into her GPS.
She’d passed this place multiple times, but she hadn’t been able to get into the parking garage beneath it.
From where the apartment building sat, the third-floor apartments would have a view of the bay.
She scanned out and saw the golf course a handful of blocks away. “I’m heading there now.”
“Wait.” Michael’s voice sharpened. “You need to call the police.”
“I will,” she said, already pulling back onto the road. “I’ll do it now.”
“But I want you to stay away from that building, just in case.”
“A little girl’s been kidnapped, Michael. Would you stay away?”
“I’m a trained agent. It’s my job—”
“I’m not going to charge in there. I promise. I’ll call you when we’ve got her.”
“Laney.” His voice was low and filled with emotions she’d never heard from her no-nonsense cousin. That and his use of her nickname had her pausing. “Be careful. Promise?”
“I promise. Thanks.”
She ended the call as she parked on the street adjacent to the apartments. She couldn’t drive into the garage without entering a code on the keypad, but the ramp wasn’t manned. She could duck under the gate.
She climbed out of her rental, surprised at how the temperature had dipped now that the sun was down. She grabbed her keys and phone and jogged into the parking garage.
Her phone vibrated in her hand before she could dial 911. She glanced at the screen.
Noah?
Heart pounding, she answered. “Did you find her? Is she all right?”
“No news, but you’re supposed to be in Maine.” By the background noise, she guessed he was in his car. “Why do I see your location in Virginia?”
She’d forgotten she’d shared her location with him back when she’d first started working with him. But… “Why did you check it?”
“I don’t know. I just…”
His voice trailed, and she understood what he hadn’t said. That he missed her. She missed him too.
“What are you doing in Norfolk?”
“I was just about to call you. Well, the police, then you.”
“What’s going on?” His volume hiked up, more fear than anger.
Delaney scanned cars and plates as she walked through the small garage. “I couldn’t get on that plane. Not when Charlotte’s out there somewhere. And I think…” She didn’t want to get his hopes up, but he was probably with the police right now. “I think I’ve got a lead.”
“What are you talking about? What lead? How?”
Delaney climbed the ramp to the second level of the garage, the scents of gasoline and oil pungent. “My cousin helped me track down a possible address for Violet.”
“How would your cousin—?”
“He’s CIA. If he hadn’t answered, I’d have called Dad. Michael said a woman named Iris Benson rented an apartment at Seaglass Towers, unit 317.”
“That’s not…I don’t understand.”
She quickly explained Michael’s theory about the alias.
“Smart. But… Wait. Are you there?” His voice rose sharply. “What if she sees you?”
“I’m in the parking garage, looking for her car.” She kept her voice low as she moved between the rows of vehicles, checking license plates. “If I find it, I’ll know for sure she’s here.”
“Delaney, it’s too dangerous. You need to…”
She gasped, eyeing the car that’d pulled her up short.
“What?” Noah said. “Are you okay?”
There it was, Violet’s car. “I found it, Noah. She’s here. I’m hanging up to call the police.”
“No.” The command in his voice surprised her. “Stay out of sight. I’ll call Detective Norton. They need to handle this properly.”
The elevator dinged, catching Delaney’s attention. The doors slid open, and a woman stepped out.
Her heart stuttered.
She recognized the slight figure holding the hand of a small child with blond curls.
Delaney ducked behind a concrete pillar. “Noah.” She kept her volume at a whisper. “They’re here. They’re heading for her car.”
“What?” His voice rose. “Are you sure?”
“Call the police.” She ended the call and shoved the phone in her pocket.
Heart thumping, mind racing, she ducked low and, using the line of parked cars for cover, hurried to a staircase. She slipped through the door as quietly as she could, then barreled down, hanging onto the railing to keep from tumbling and knocking herself out. She had to get to her car.
Right now, she was Charlotte’s best hope. She couldn’t let them disappear.