Chapter Two
Vinnie dug her fingernails into her palms using the slight pain to ground her.
It was either that or burst into tears. The relief was overwhelming.
She was no longer in this alone. The room began to spin, the exhaustion that had been chasing her all week threatening to overtake her.
She heard someone say her name as if from a distance.
She jolted when a heavy hand dropped on her shoulder. Cyrus towered over her, a dark scowl on his face. “When was the last time you slept?”
“I caught a couple of hours last night.” Sleep was elusive. When she did manage it, her dreams were haunted by the cries of her son. He was out there somewhere alone. He needed her and she wasn’t there.
“You need to rest.”
She shook her head. “I’ll rest when we find him.”
“You’re no damn good to me if you can’t keep up.”
Shoving up from the table, she drilled her forefinger into his chest. “I’ll keep up if I have to crawl.” The corners of his mouth twitched. If he laughed at her, she’d slug him.
“I have no doubt you will, but it’s going to take a while to gather information. You should take advantage of it and have a nap.”
Vinnie shook her head. “You might need me to answer questions. And honestly, I’m too wound up to sleep.”
“Suit yourself.” Cyrus headed down a nearby hallway. “I’ll be back.”
His brother stood there watching her. Tired of not knowing what to call him, she asked, “What’s your name? Or should I just say, hey you?”
“Josiah.” It was offered grudgingly, but since he’d given it, she decided to at least be polite.
“Nice to meet you, Josiah.”
He grunted. “You want coffee?”
It was a peace offering of sorts. “Please.” She was running on coffee, fast food, and candy bars. Not particularly healthy, but she couldn’t stomach much in the way of food.
By the time he’d poured three cups, Cyrus was back with a laptop. He grunted when Josiah set the coffee beside him but was already lost in his task. She scooted her chair closer so she could watch what he was doing. He shot her a quick glance but kept typing.
“Zach usually handles deep research, but with you here to give details, I can manage.”
“Zach?”
“Another brother.”
“How many of you are there?” Details had been scant about the family. For better or worse, these men were related to her son. That mattered. She was also more curious about Cyrus than she should be.
“Seven.” A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.”
That surprised a small laugh. “Really?”
“Really.”
It boggled the brain to think about five more like the two here running around the world.
“I need the police reports.”
“What? Why? I can tell you anything you need to know.”
Cyrus steepled his fingers together, his expression verging on pity. Her hackles immediately rose.
“I can guarantee your boss considers you a suspect in the disappearance of your son. He wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t.”
As a cop, she understood procedure. In any disappearance of a minor the parents were immediately suspect, even with people you knew.
Because, at the end of the day, no one knew what went on behind closed doors.
Not once had she stopped to consider her fellow officers would view her in such a light, and it should have.
But all her focus had been on finding Adam.
Sheriff Kingman—the town was named after one of his ancestors—had been understanding when she’d asked for a leave of absence. But thinking back on it, there’d been an edge of suspicion. He’d also wanted to know where she was going and when she’d be back. He was keeping tabs on her.
Her stomach heaved and she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Bathroom?”
Cyrus jumped up, grabbed her hand, and towed her down the hallway, through a bedroom, and into the attached bath.
Falling to her knees in front of the toilet, she lost the breakfast sandwich she’d gotten from a drive-thru hours before.
Exhausted to the marrow of her bones, embarrassed, and thoroughly humiliated, she flushed the toilet and rested her head against the rim.
“Here.” A damp washcloth was pressed against her forehead. She took it and wiped her mouth.
“Sorry about that.” He was certainly seeing her at her worst. If he’d harbored any fantasies about her over the years, she’d surely destroyed them by now.
“Don’t worry about it. You’ve had a rough time of it.
” Lifting her under the arms, he pulled her to her feet.
She resisted the urge to lean on him and grabbed the edge of the vanity for support instead.
Releasing her, he dug through a drawer in the vanity and pulled out a brand-new toothbrush still in the packaging.
“You can use this. Come on back to the kitchen when you’re ready.
” He ran his hand over the top of her head and trailed the backs of his fingers down her cheek.
She closed her eyes, soaking in the care and concern, and nodded. “I won’t be long.” When the door closed behind him, she stared in the mirror. Pale with dark circles under bloodshot eyes, she looked like she’d been on a week-long bender. “Pull it together. Adam needs you.”
Her hands shook, but she managed to get the toothbrush open.
After she’d cleaned her teeth, she splashed cold water on her face.
Done, she left the bathroom. It opened into a bedroom dominated by a large bed with a gray comforter.
One wall was floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with books along with several pictures.
A chest of drawers and nightstand rounded out the space. It was likely Cyrus’s space, his bed.
Ignoring the jolt of heat that spread throughout her, she hurried back to the kitchen area. Josiah was noticeably absent.
“If I access the police reports, Sheriff Kingman will know. He’ll be suspicious.” Not wanting to discuss what had just happened, she retook her chair and dove back into the task at hand.
Cyrus pushed a bottle of water toward her. “Drink. You’re probably dehydrated. And the problem is being handled.”
“How? The sheriff isn’t going to hand over files simply because you ask.” Didn’t matter how good his reputation as a tracker was. Some things were confidential.
“I contacted Zach. He’s hacking into the system.”
The mouthful of water she’d just taken spewed across the table. “What? He can’t do that. It’s illegal.” She wiped her hand over her mouth.
Unfazed by the outburst, Cyrus used several napkins to mop up the mess. “It’s only illegal if they catch him, which they won’t. They’ll never know he was there.”
She was appalled. She was also more than a little impressed at the resources at his fingertips. But still. “I’m an officer of the law.”
“And your son is missing.” Like a fist to the gut, the truth robbed her of breath. “My son is missing.” A palpable menace poured off him and filled the room. “If you don’t think I’ll use any and every resource to find him, you’re mistaken.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Yes.” She gripped the water bottle between her two hands. She’d been a deputy her entire adult life, was the daughter of a deputy. Law enforcement was in her blood. It was humbling to realize none of that mattered. “The only thing I care about is finding Adam. Whatever that takes.”
Cyrus studied her a long moment before nodding in understanding. He glanced at the computer screen. “He’s got it.”
“Already? Is security that lax in the sheriff’s department?” They weren’t a big department, but they constantly upgraded their system.
“No, Zach’s that good.” He opened the document and began to scan. “They searched your house.”
“I told them they could. They wanted to see Adam’s room. It’s procedure.” It had eaten up valuable search time, but she’d understood it was necessary.
“They went back while you were out with search and rescue.”
“What? Let me see that.” She leaned close to Cyrus and began to read. “That rat bastard.”
“I take it you’re not fond of this Deputy Wilkes?”
“He keeps asking me out. I keep saying no. He’s also vocal in his belief women don’t belong in law enforcement, except in supportive administrative roles.
Thankfully, he’s in the minority. Suspicious bloodstains on a towel in the main hamper, my ass.
There might have been a couple of drops at best. I nicked my finger with a kitchen knife.
All he’s doing is taking resources away from finding Adam.
If something happens to my son because he was wasting time with this bullshit, I’ll kill him. ”
She sat back in her chair, the truth sinking in.
“They really believe I’d hurt Adam.” It was another blow on top of the one she was already dealing with.
“How can I ever go back to work there? How can I ever trust them again? It doesn’t matter.
Finding Adam is what’s important.” She rubbed her forehead, ignoring the dull ache of an oncoming headache.
Cyrus continued to skim the reports. “They don’t have any leads. According to the update, there’s been no activity on either his or your bank account.”
“They’re tracking me?” She jumped to her feet and began to pace. “Of course, they are. I told them where I was going. What did they expect me to do, flee the country?”
“Possibly. From their perspective, the fact you left town is suspicious. If they’d had enough evidence, I suspect they’d have blocked you from leaving.”
“I left because they stopped looking for my son.” Her voice rose on every word until she was yelling the last. Chest heaving, she took a deep breath.
It didn’t help. Anger bubbled up inside her.
Throwing back her head, she screamed, releasing the pain and torment that had been her constant companion for the past week.
A low howl filtered in through the open window. Strong arms wrapped around her, and she found herself sheltered against a broad chest. Needing something—someone—to anchor her, she clung to Cyrus. “What am I going to do?”
“We’re going to find our son.”
****