there for the girls kept her sane.
The drive home was short, and Sarah soon pulled into her driveway. She picked up her phone and turned it back on. Troy had called her three times and left a message. But Cristan had also called.
Taking her keys from the ignition, she tapped Cristan’s name on her screen.
“Sarah,” he answered. “I’m going to be late picking up Lucia. Is that all right?”
His tone was strained. In the background, she heard voices, phones, and movement.
“Of course,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
He sighed. “The Quickie-Mart was robbed tonight.”
“While you were in it?” Concern tightened her grip on her keys.
Why else would he be detained? “I’m afraid so.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m at the police station. There’s paperwork. I’m not sure when I’ll be done.”
“It’s not a problem. Lucia can stay as long as necessary.”
“Thank you.”
“What do you want me to tell her?” Sarah asked.
“She should hear this from me. I’ll call her now and tell her what happened.”
“Keep me updated.” Sarah ended the call. Pressing the voicemail button, she held the phone to her ear while she got out of the car. Better to listen to Troy’s message before she went into the house with the children.
“You shouldn’t hang up on me.” The false calm in Troy’s voice lifted goose bumps on her arms. “I just want to talk. How will we manage our differences if you won’t even have a conversation with me?”
The chill spread through Sarah’s limbs. She had no record of his earlier, threatening call, and he was sure to keep his recorded message civil.
“We have children together, Sarah. The divorce won’t change the fact that I’ll be in your life forever.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
A breaking news report played on the flat-screen television. She uncurled her legs and planted her feet flat on the floor as the newswoman stood in front of a convenience store. Police vehicles crowded the parking area.
“Two men who robbed a convenience store today were surprised when a customer fought back.” The newswoman went on to describe an event, which was nothing like it should have been.
Disgust and fury tumbled through her. “Find out where they are.”
“Of course.” Her lieutenant whipped out his cell phone and pressed a button. He held the phone to his ear. “No answer.”
“Cowards.” She turned off the television and stood. “I don’t like to be ignored. We need to find them.” She lifted another remote from the coffee table and turned off the gas fireplace.
“Of course.” He swiped a finger across his phone screen. “It appears they are headed to the warehouse where we had our first meeting.”
“They’ll try to run.”
“Yes,” he said.
“We have to get there before they leave. I don’t want to have to chase them down.” Her boots echoed on the glossy wood floor as she crossed the great room. The rental house was set up to accommodate families who enjoyed outdoor activities. A large utility room held coat hooks and cubbies. She’d used the convenient space to house some weapons, spare ammunition, and surveillance equipment. She grabbed her coat.
Outside, they climbed into the ugly minivan and drove fifteen minutes toward Westbury. Before they reached the actual town, he turned into the dark dirt lot of an abandoned warehouse. The sun was just dipping below the trees. A blue van was parked in the long shadows that stretched across the cold ground. The rear door of the vehicle was open. Two men stood behind the vehicle. Bags and boxes were piled around their feet.
The minivan came to a stop, and they got out. She rounded the front fender, hands loose and relaxed at her sides. “Rodney, you aren’t answering your phone.”
Rodney’s nose was swollen. His shirt was stained dark red. “We’re in a rush. We were going to call you back.”
Sure they were . She gave their pile of belongings a pointed glance. “Going
The drive home was short, and Sarah soon pulled into her driveway. She picked up her phone and turned it back on. Troy had called her three times and left a message. But Cristan had also called.
Taking her keys from the ignition, she tapped Cristan’s name on her screen.
“Sarah,” he answered. “I’m going to be late picking up Lucia. Is that all right?”
His tone was strained. In the background, she heard voices, phones, and movement.
“Of course,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
He sighed. “The Quickie-Mart was robbed tonight.”
“While you were in it?” Concern tightened her grip on her keys.
Why else would he be detained? “I’m afraid so.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m at the police station. There’s paperwork. I’m not sure when I’ll be done.”
“It’s not a problem. Lucia can stay as long as necessary.”
“Thank you.”
“What do you want me to tell her?” Sarah asked.
“She should hear this from me. I’ll call her now and tell her what happened.”
“Keep me updated.” Sarah ended the call. Pressing the voicemail button, she held the phone to her ear while she got out of the car. Better to listen to Troy’s message before she went into the house with the children.
“You shouldn’t hang up on me.” The false calm in Troy’s voice lifted goose bumps on her arms. “I just want to talk. How will we manage our differences if you won’t even have a conversation with me?”
The chill spread through Sarah’s limbs. She had no record of his earlier, threatening call, and he was sure to keep his recorded message civil.
“We have children together, Sarah. The divorce won’t change the fact that I’ll be in your life forever.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
A breaking news report played on the flat-screen television. She uncurled her legs and planted her feet flat on the floor as the newswoman stood in front of a convenience store. Police vehicles crowded the parking area.
“Two men who robbed a convenience store today were surprised when a customer fought back.” The newswoman went on to describe an event, which was nothing like it should have been.
Disgust and fury tumbled through her. “Find out where they are.”
“Of course.” Her lieutenant whipped out his cell phone and pressed a button. He held the phone to his ear. “No answer.”
“Cowards.” She turned off the television and stood. “I don’t like to be ignored. We need to find them.” She lifted another remote from the coffee table and turned off the gas fireplace.
“Of course.” He swiped a finger across his phone screen. “It appears they are headed to the warehouse where we had our first meeting.”
“They’ll try to run.”
“Yes,” he said.
“We have to get there before they leave. I don’t want to have to chase them down.” Her boots echoed on the glossy wood floor as she crossed the great room. The rental house was set up to accommodate families who enjoyed outdoor activities. A large utility room held coat hooks and cubbies. She’d used the convenient space to house some weapons, spare ammunition, and surveillance equipment. She grabbed her coat.
Outside, they climbed into the ugly minivan and drove fifteen minutes toward Westbury. Before they reached the actual town, he turned into the dark dirt lot of an abandoned warehouse. The sun was just dipping below the trees. A blue van was parked in the long shadows that stretched across the cold ground. The rear door of the vehicle was open. Two men stood behind the vehicle. Bags and boxes were piled around their feet.
The minivan came to a stop, and they got out. She rounded the front fender, hands loose and relaxed at her sides. “Rodney, you aren’t answering your phone.”
Rodney’s nose was swollen. His shirt was stained dark red. “We’re in a rush. We were going to call you back.”
Sure they were . She gave their pile of belongings a pointed glance. “Going
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