Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
The waiting was killing him.
Noah pressed the redial button for the fifth time in ten minutes, watching Delaney’s name flash on the screen as his call went straight to voicemail. He ended the call before the beep, his jaw clenched so tight his head pounded.
Detective Norton wasn’t answering either. Three calls, three trips to voicemail. Noah stared at the glowing dot on his phone’s map app. Delaney’s location hadn’t changed in more than an hour. No movement. No communication. She was just a couple of miles away. Why wasn’t she answering?
His luxury car’s leather interior felt like a cage, the air thick and suffocating despite the cool November night pressing against the windows.
Every second that ticked by on the dashboard clock was another second Charlotte remained in the hands of a woman who’d already proved she couldn’t care for her.
And now Delaney was gone too.
Noah scrubbed his face with his palms, the stubble rough against his skin.
He’d promised Norton he’d stay put and let the professionals handle it.
But what professionals? Where were they?
His niece and the woman he loved were somewhere in those dark woods, and he was sitting here like a coward while—
A sharp rap on the passenger window made him jump, his heart slamming against his ribs. He whipped around to see Jasper’s haggard face peering through the glass, his brother’s eyes wild and desperate.
Noah fumbled for the unlock button. The door swung open, and Jasper slid into the passenger seat, bringing with him the scents of pine and fear.
“What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Same way you’re tracking Delaney.” Jasper held up his phone, the location app glowing on the screen.
“How do you have my location?”
Jasper slipped his phone into his jacket pocket. “You gave it to me a long time ago.”
Noah had, once upon a time, when he’d still had hope he and Jasper could rebuild their relationship.
Hair disheveled and jaw set tight, Jasper looked every bit the concerned father he should have been all along.
“Any news?”
Noah glanced at his phone screen again. “Delaney was following them, but I lost her an hour ago. She’s not answering.
No service, I assume.” He hoped. Prayed.
The other option was that Violet had discovered she was being followed and had done something to her.
He couldn’t bear the thought. “The last time I talked to Norton, he told me he was working on it and would call when they had Charlotte. I’ve called a couple times since then, but he just ignores me.
” Noah stared into the darkness beyond his windshield.
He’d grown accustomed to the roar of planes passing overhead.
“They’re out there somewhere, and I’m just sitting here like an idiot. I have to do something.”
“So let’s go. What are we waiting for?” Jasper’s question felt like a gauntlet, a dare.
Or maybe an assignment.
His brother blew out a breath. “It’s been almost two hours since Delaney first spotted them. If the police had this under control, we’d know by now.”
Reckless determination sparked in Noah’s heart. No, not reckless, just…
“I’m not saying we go in guns blazing.” Jasper seemed intent on convincing him. “I’m saying we get close, see what we see.”
Noah was barely listening to his brother, his focus elsewhere. Should we, Lord? Is this a good idea?
He’d been praying for the go-ahead to do just what Jasper suggested, and so far, God had only told him to wait.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
It was making him crazy, but God knew more than he did.
Now, he heard a different answer.
Together.
“And anyway,” Jasper said, “if she’s not there, the cops need to know. They’ve got all their eggs in this basket. I’m going, so—”
“You’re right.”
Jasper’s eyes popped wide. “Seriously? I’m not even halfway through my speech.”
“I don’t want to waste another second.” Noah opened his door, climbed out of the car, and waited for Jasper’s brain to catch up.
Jasper followed suit, slamming his door. “What happened to my never-break-the-rules brother?”
Noah knew exactly what had happened to that guy. He’d fallen in love. First with his niece, and then with her nanny.
“Try to keep up.” He jogged toward the dot on his screen.
Hang on, girls. We’re coming.