Chapter Twenty
“She came into the shop yesterday.” Sister shook her head, peering over Sandra’s shoulder, keeping an eye on the happenings up the street. “We saw her get into that little sports car. Usually it’s the men in the flashy sports cars, so we thought it interesting.”
Paxton listened carefully to every word the shopkeeper had to say, all the time keeping his attention on the cell phone and messages going back and forth. “Oh for the love of…”
“What?”
Heaving a heavy sigh, Paxton looked up at Sandra. “According to Declan, Ned saw Sissy running up the street past his shop and now he’s in on the chase too.”
“Chase?”
“When Sister catches her breath, could you please take her to the police station? I’m going to go see for myself what the heck is going on.”
“Nonsense.” Sister frowned. “You two go. I can find my own way back. I’m sure by now they’ve caught up with him and everyone is back where they belong.”
He smiled sweetly at the older woman, already knowing that was not the plan. Declan had suspected something like this would happen. He’d had too much experience with similar situations when he worked in Dallas. What his plan didn’t need was every member of the community getting in on the action.
Her gaze darting from Paxton to Sister, Sandra seemed torn.
“It’s up to you,” he told her softly.
With a single dip of her chin, she straightened her shoulders. “I’m coming with you. And when we reach David, I’m giving him the biggest hug any child or adult ever had.”
“Atta girl.” Sister grinned up at her. “Go.”
Taking hold of her hand, he hurried back to where their car was parked. Based on the texts bouncing back and forth, he opted to head to the end of town. Sure enough, Adam was in his truck, pulling the door shut moments before taking off. Brooks was doing the same thing from across the street.
Another minute and Connor’s voice could be heard over a walkie-talkie that Declan held. “I can see his tail lights. Idiot has no idea.”
Sandra frowned. “No idea of what?”
“Ten four.” Declan spoke into the mic. “Adam and Brooks are heading that way. I’m pulling Morgan and Finn off their positions and sending them to cover any possible alternate routes.”
“What’s he talking about?” Sandra asked.
“We’ve had folks stationed at both egresses out of town. We didn’t know where he was going to try and go with David.”
“You knew he was going to take him?”
Paxton shrugged. “Didn’t know, but suspected.”
She bobbed her head and still frowning, turned to face Declan.
“Looks like Oklahoma is the winner.” Declan looked at his watch. “Reed is already positioned about five miles ahead of Morton.
Another voice cut in. Esther, the police dispatcher was back on the job. “I’ve alerted the Oklahoma State Police. King was waiting for your call. He’s ready to be wherever we tell him.”
Staring intently at Declan and Jamison standing over the hood of a car with a map open, Sandra’s grip on his hand tightened. “I don’t understand. If they know where Ed is, why aren’t they stopping him?”
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Ian’s voice came over the walkie-talkie. “In position. GPS is still tracking.”
Sandra’s eyes rounded. “How many people are in on this?”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Paxton couldn’t help but find her reaction a tiny bit humorous. “A lot.”
“Your brothers are in on this too, aren’t they?”
He nodded. “They’re on alternate routes. Just in case Ed veers off the highway.”
“All right. Back to my original question. Why aren’t they stopping him now?”
This entire situation was insane. Sandra had no idea who the woman with Ed was, but she suspected, if the gal drove a fancy sports car, she had to have money because the Ed she’d been married to couldn’t afford a tricycle. And why the heck was half the town and pretty much every Farraday chasing after her ex?
“Kidnapping is a serious offense. Kidnapping and crossing the state line is a federal offense.”
Understanding dawned. “They’re setting him up for a bigger fall.”
Paxton bobbed his head.
“And there will be plenty of witnesses.”
Again, the man she’d grown to care about, whether she wanted to or not, nodded.
“You two going to stand there gabbing all day or are you going to be in on the bus?”
Turning his wrist to see the time, Paxton shook his head. “He’s gotten over an hour head start on us—”
“One hour and twelve minutes to be precise.” Declan cut his brother off.
“We’ll never make it.”
For the first time since they’d arrived, Declan actually smiled. “Ethan’s in the helo. He’s been casually tracking their position and keeping us one step ahead of them. He should be landing any minute.”
As if summoned, the sound of a helicopter whirling above sounded loud and clear. What Sandra had no idea about, was where the heck was the guy going to land? Another few minutes and her question was answered as the helicopter descended several houses away.
Again, Declan smiled. “Old man Navarette has the biggest yard in the neighborhood. When we asked permission to land, the guy lit up as if I’d told him he’d won the lottery.”
Without another word, Paxton took hold of her hand and hurried them up the block.
“Is this how they’ve been tracking him? With Ethan? Isn’t it risky to pull him away from the chase?”
“Ethan is insurance. While everyone was in the café, Declan had his deputy, Reed, place a tracking device under the sports car’s front fender. The thing Ed forgot is that in a small town, it’s one thing to pop into town for a few days and spy on your ex, but if you return in a new flashy car, it will only take the town a few minutes to know.”
“You two ready for the show?” Unlike everyone else’s serious expressions, Ethan had a knowing grin on his face. Had to be the military background.
How did all these people stay so calm? Had the situation not been so dire, Sandra would have found the helicopter ride fascinating. As it was, she just wished they could go faster.
“You okay?” Paxton squeezed her hand.
“Ask me an easier question.” She tried to put on a brave smile, but she had a lot to learn about the Farraday confidence.
“It’s going to be okay.”
That’s what she kept telling herself. Every few minutes another memory of her summers at the ranch, when Adam shot the head off a rattle snake that was seriously too close to where they’d been horsing around, the time she slipped in the creek and Neil and Owen had strung a rope across the area and Paxton had dangled from his knees to catch her as she floated by, and so many others. There wasn’t anyone she would trust more with her son than Paxton and his family.
“And let the show begin.” Paxton pointed to the road below them.
Sirens were blaring, lights were flashing, and Ed was flying so fast Sandra bit down on her lower lip, worrying about her son at the hands of his lunatic father. Just ahead, Ed couldn’t see what she and Paxton could—a line of cars across the border, police cars waiting to nab him. Relief washed over her. She didn’t want that man having anything to do with her sweet boy.
“Guy is driving right into the waiting arms of police officials in two states. Lucky guy.” Ethan’s sarcasm was almost amusing… almost.
Just as Ed crossed the state line, and spotted his reception committee, he gunned it, racing even faster, clearly determined to plow through the barricade. Sandra’s heart skipped a beat, her grip on Paxton tightened, and before she could swallow and say a prayer, one by one Ed’s tires blew out and his car fishtailed but stopped right in the hands of the Oklahoma police, and most likely if Ian was there, the Texas Rangers.
The helo landed slightly back from the action. No point in blowing everyone about. Or giving Ed an opportunity to run on foot. Out of the helicopter, still holding on to Paxton’s hand, Sandra ran as fast as she could toward the commotion. Seeing Ed with his hands handcuffed behind him gave Sandra pause. Was that what she wanted?
The shrill sound of “Mommy” snapped her out of her moment of guilt. Ed Morton had made his own bed. Nothing that happened to him now was Sandra’s fault. Before she could squat to her son’s level, David flung himself at her. If not for Paxton holding her steady, her son would have easily knocked her over.
“I love you, Sweetie.” Sandra’s arms had never wrapped tighter around her son. Practically rocking him as she swayed from side to side, looking over his little shoulder, she faced Paxton and mouthed, Thank you.