Chapter 8
Cooper wished… Well, he wished a lot of things. Mostly, that his little girl wasn’t afraid of him. He got why. He was a man, and right now, men were scary monsters to her. Just because he understood didn’t mean it didn’t still hurt.
She’d fallen asleep with her head on her mother’s lap, and it was his first chance to really look at her.
He hadn’t before because scary man here, so he’d kept his distance.
Now, he was able to take her in, to search for characteristics she’d gotten from him.
Her hair was dark like her mother’s, but Kendall was right. Livie had his mouth and eyes.
A little progress had been made when she’d let him eat ice cream with them as long as he stayed at the end of the couch.
“You wish what, Cooper?”
That he could have a do-over the night they were together and tell her his name and how to find him. “That I could take away the last twenty-four hours for her.”
“Yeah, me, too.” She gently combed her fingers through Livie’s hair. “What did the note say?”
When her phone chimed, he said, “Let’s save that for later, after Livie sees the doctor.” He didn’t want to tell her what the note said. It was going to upset her, even scare her, but he was going to have to. He picked her phone up from the coffee table and handed it to her.
“Dr. Townsend, thanks for calling me back.” She explained the situation, then said, “Thank you. See you soon.” She set the phone on the couch next to her. “She said to come in now.”
“I’ll drive.” Livie woke up long enough to refuse to sit in her car seat. When she started sobbing, he said, “Sit in the back with her and hold her. I’ll drive carefully.”
Following Kendall’s instructions, twenty minutes later, they were at the doctor’s office.
Livie was taken right in. He went in the room with them for a few minutes because he wanted to meet his daughter’s doctor.
A crying Livie clung to Kendall, begging to go home.
He wished she wasn’t afraid of him so he could wrap his arms around her and Kendall, who also had tears in her eyes.
Once he’d spent a few minutes with Dr. Townsend and liked her and her gentleness with Livie, he left the room. While he waited, he walked outside and called Detective Rossi. The detective wasn’t happy that Cooper refused to bring Livie to the police station immediately.
“We’re not bringing her to the station at all. You can come by tomorrow and talk to her, but she’s traumatized and afraid of men now, so I don’t know what you’ll be able to get out of her. Not to mention that she’s a four-year-old and won’t even know some of the answers you want.”
He disconnected with the unhappy detective, but he wasn’t going to back down on his refusal to bring Livie to the police station.
Tomorrow, before Rossi showed up, he’d guide Kendall on questions to ask Livie.
Doing it that way would more likely give them some information over an interrogation by the police.
Kendall and Livie still weren’t out when he returned to the waiting room, and unable to sit, he paced until he realized his tension was getting the attention of those in the room. He went outside again and called Grayson.
“Talk to me,” Grayson said on answering.
“We have Livie back.”
“Great news. Is she okay?”
“No. She’s afraid the bad man’s going to come back for her.” He brought his friend and teammate up to date, including what the note said. “The man’s playing games with Kendall, and I’m taking him seriously.”
“Agreed. Why don’t you bring them here where you have backup, and we can make a plan to find the bastard.”
“I was thinking the same. It will be a few days before I can do that. We have to deal with the police here. Also, Livie needs a few days at home where she feels safe.” Although, she wasn’t safe there, especially if he returned home, leaving them unprotected.
That was not going to happen. He’d just have to convince Kendall that it was a good idea to go to Myrtle Beach for a while.
“Send me a copy of the note. I’ll have Sean give it to one of his profilers. Maybe they can get a read on the man.”
“Good idea. I’ll do that when we get back to Kendall’s house.” Sean had helped them on several of their cases, most recently when Liam’s fiancée had been kidnapped.
Kendall came out, carrying Livie. “Gotta go. I’ll let you know our plans.
” He walked ahead of them to the car and opened the back door.
He wanted to ask how it went, if Livie really was physically all right, but it wasn’t a question to ask in front of Livie.
It about killed him that his daughter’s cheeks were wet with tears.
“You need to make any stops on the way home?”
“Yes. Dr. Townsend called in a prescription for a mild children’s sedative in case she has trouble sleeping tonight.”
At the pharmacy, he had them stay in the car with the doors locked while he picked up the prescription. He didn’t like leaving them, but Livie had fallen asleep again, and Kendall didn’t want to wake her.
Back in the car, he leaned around the headrest so he could see them. Now that Livie was asleep, he could ask the question that was burning in his mind. “Did the doctor do a physical exam?”
“Yes, and there’s thankfully no sign of physical abuse…of any kind.”
Thank God.
Cooper sat on his end of the couch as Kendall read Livie a story.
She had given Livie a bath, and then they’d gotten her to eat a few chicken nuggets and apple sauce.
One thing was different from this afternoon.
Livie was sneaking peeks at him, more out of curiosity than fear.
Progress. After she’d done that for a while, he started making funny faces at her.
The first time he did it, her eyes widened, but she didn’t shy away.
The second time, her lips twitched. The third time, she giggled.
The sound was so surprising that both he and Kendall glanced at each other in surprise. That little giggle was music to his ears. And that smile from Kendall was a beautiful thing to see. It was a simple, sweet moment, but it felt like a turning point for all of them.
Kendall hadn’t gotten halfway through the story when Livie fell asleep again. “Don’t think you’re going to need the sedatives,” he whispered.
“Good. I didn’t really want to give her one. Maybe she’ll sleep through the night. I need to put her to bed.”
While she was doing that, he went to the kitchen and took out the note from the drawer he’d put it in. With the rubber gloves on, he snapped a picture and sent it to Grayson. He put the note back in the baggie, then back into the drawer.
The note was disturbing. His sense was that the man had been stalking Kendall for a while. That he was playing a game where he was the hunter, and she was the prey. He had no doubt the man already had the opportunity to take her, but he wanted her scared.
What the man didn’t know was that the men of The Phoenix Three were experts at playing those kinds of games, and they played to win. He had a family now to protect, which made this game personal. He wasn’t going to be the loser.
“You want a drink?” Kendall asked when she returned.
“I’d love one, whatever you have on hand.”
“The cabinet above the fridge. My secret stash.”
He reached up and opened the door. “Ah, a minibar.” There was a bottle of vodka and a bottle of tequila and a Kahlúa. He grabbed the vodka. “What’s your poison?”
“A vodka and cranberry.”
“I’ll have the same.” He got the cranberry out of the refrigerator. “How strong do you want it?”
“Not very.”
He made their drinks, handed her the lightweight one, then followed her to the living room. As soon as they were seated, she asked the question he didn’t want to answer.
“What did the note say?”
Rather than respond, he found the photo he’d taken, then handed her his phone. As she read the note, color drained from her face. He leaned toward her and read the message again.
Dearest Kendall, your little girl is such a beautiful child.
I thought about keeping her, but she’s not the prize I want.
It was fun, though, being able to steal her away from you.
To let you worry. You, with all your sad podcast stories.
Now you understand how those families felt when their child went missing, so think of it as me doing you a favor. You’re welcome.
I’ll be seeing you, love. Soon.
A devoted fan.
“What does he mean, he’ll see me soon?”
“He’s playing games, Kendall. It’s all about having the power for him. He wants you scared and looking over your shoulder.”
“Well, he’s succeeded.”
“And he knows that. I’d like you to think about coming to Myrtle Beach for a little while.”
“What?” She handed him back his phone. “I have a job here that I can’t afford to just not show up for.”
“The Phoenix Three will cover your expenses, so that’s not a worry. I’m sure if you explain the situation to the school principal he’ll agree to a leave of absence.”
“She, and I’m not a charity case. My kids need me.”
“Livie needs you more.”
She frowned. “That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it? And what about Livie? Are you going to be able to send her off to preschool knowing this man is out there, probably watching both of you?
As for being a charity case, that’s not even close to true.
We have a fund that’s only used for situations like this.
” That was true, but he’d cover her bills and expenses.
That would be a drop in the bucket compared with the child support he should have been paying for the past almost five years.
Something they’d talk about once she and Livie were safe.
“Think about it. Are you going to be able to let Livie out of your sight while danger is still out there?”
She shuddered. “No,” she whispered. “I don’t even know who to watch out for.”
“Exactly.” He shifted closer and took her hand.
“I’m going to find this man, but until I do, you’re not safe.
Neither is Livie. I want to get you both away until it is safe for you to be home.
In Myrtle Beach, you’ll have the protection of not only me, but my Phoenix Three brothers.
We’re good at what we do, Kendall, and we will end this. ”
“Livie won’t be happy leaving her home.”
“Maybe not at first, but I think she’ll come around, especially once she meets Ruby.” He’d bet Ruby and Livie would become best friends.
“Who’s Ruby?”
“My dog. She’s gentle and loving and will be good for Livie. Come to Myrtle Beach. Let me keep you safe.”
“Why can’t you stay here?”
He’d considered it, and he would if she refused to come home with him.
But if they stayed here, he wouldn’t be able to let them out of his sight.
At home, he had a support system, a group of people who’d have their backs.
He’d be freer to investigate. An added bonus, Harlow and Quinn would adopt Kendall and Livie.
“I think it will be good for you both to get away from here for a while. Another reason, I’m going to find this man, but if we stay here, I won’t be free to do that because my support system isn’t here. In Myrtle Beach, I’ll have a team to help me protect you and Livie. Will you come home with me?”