Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Sydney
“Relax, little bird,” Roland said, giving her left hand a squeeze.
“We’ve got you,” Levi said, her right hand receiving its own squeeze.
Sydney smiled up at the two of them. “I know, Daddies. I might not know why Master Derek wanted to see me, but I do know that whatever happens, I’ll be okay.”
Levi’s chin jerked, causing the other two to glance over to see where Sadie stood with her Daddy who was speaking to another man. “Considering the fact that Derek is talking to Detective Dan Forrester, I’m betting you’re about to get an update on Greg.”
“Don’t you mean the scumbag?” Roland said, his disdain for the man obvious in both his tone and his scowl.
Before Levi could respond, the trio had reached the others. After properly introducing Sydney to the detective, they entered the office and Sydney smiled when her Daddies led her to the couch and settled her between them. She realized she didn’t feel scared at all. She felt… well, she felt safe.
“Sydney, I’m going to let Detective Forrester tell you what he’s discovered,” Master Derek said after he and Sadie took one of the leather chairs in front of the massive mahogany desk, leaving the detective to settle into the other.
“Afterward, if you have any questions, we’ll do our best to answer them. Okay?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“First of all, I want to commend you for your courage, Ms. du Preez. Your trust in Derek, your Daddies, and our local sheriff’s office helped us a great deal in our investigation.
I know reliving your past wasn’t pleasant, but doing so led us in the right direction.
” He gave her a smile which relaxed her even more.
“And, I might add, you’re quite a fighter as well.
Those kicks you managed were impressive. ”
“I know fighting isn’t something to be proud of, but Greg deserved it,” she said.
“He deserves a hell of a lot more,” Roland practically growled which caused Levi to chuckle.
Detective Forrester grinned. “That’s another thing. Turns out your stalker’s name isn’t Greg.”
“It’s not?” Sydney asked. “That’s the name he used.”
“I’m sure it was,” Dan said. “That was one of the reasons we had such a hard time tracking him down. But once we had him in custody, we took his fingerprints and discovered he isn’t Gregory Thatcherson. His real name is George Thatcher.”
Levi rolled his eyes. “Not only a scumbag, but not even a very creative one.”
Master Derek chuckled. “I suppose he was worried that if he gave his real name, Sydney might have been able to put the puzzle pieces together.”
Sydney looked over at Master Derek. “How? I don’t know that name either.”
“No, I suppose not,” Detective Forrester said, “But he knew you.”
“I know. I mean, we met online…”
“He knew you before you ever when online,” Dan cut in to say. “He’s known who you were for years.”
“How? That doesn’t make sense?” Roland asked.
“Through her father,” the detective said.
Sydney felt her heart clench. “My-my… father?” For the first time since entering the office, she felt her pulse begin to race as her voice rose.
“Shhh, you’re okay,” Levi said, scooping her up and resettling her on his lap. Roland instantly slid over to take the spot where she’d been sitting, never once releasing her hand.
“Perhaps you can speed this up a bit?” Roland suggested.
Detective Forrester nodded. “I’ve got a Little girl of my own and I know this is scary, but remember, Greg, George, or whatever, that man will never be able to hurt you, little one.”
At the detective’s assurance, and the fact he’d let her know he was also a Daddy, Sydney managed to take a breath and gave a small nod.
Seemingly satisfied that she’d be okay, the detective quickly told the rest of the story,
“Your father’s criminal history began way before he ever stepped foot in South Africa.
George Thatcher was one of his partners in crime.
They were involved in everything from running guns to selling drugs.
As we’ve already ascertained, George isn’t the brightest bulb in the lamp.
When your father was captured and imprisoned for your mother’s murder, his student found himself unable to pull off the crimes to keep himself in a lifestyle to which he’d become accustomed.
He spent a lot of time in and out of jail and I suppose his ineptness led him to blame anyone but himself. ”
“Meaning he blamed the one person who is totally innocent in this whole sordid tale,” Levi said.
“Exactly,” Dan agreed. “Long story short, he discovered you online and saw a chance to make someone pay for the turn his life had taken. I know it had to be scary to land in Montana and discover you weren’t meeting the man you thought had brought you here, but…”
“If I had, I’d most likely be dead like my mother,” Sydney said, each word spoken a little more forcefully than the preceding one.
When Roland opened his mouth, she shook her head, “No, we all know it’s true.
Greg… I mean George, drew me here and used Rawhide Ranch as…
as bait I suppose. I don’t know why exactly, or how he got the photos or the details he had, but I do know one thing, if I’d wound up anywhere else in the entire world, I’d no longer be here.
It’s like Rawhide is… is magical or something. ”
Sadie jumped off her Daddy’s lap and ran over to Sydney. Placing her hands over Roland’s and Levi’s, she gave them a squeeze. “It is! I mean, everybody says the Ranch is magical and this is just more proof that it really is. I’m so, so happy that you found us, Sydney!”
Sydney pulled her hands free and the two Littles were soon hugging and dancing around in a circle. Levi and Roland stood and with a shrug, Derek and Dan both grinned and as the circle enlarged to include everyone in the room, Sydney looked up at all of them and said, “I’m so, so glad too!”