Kristen felt a cold tingle crawl up her spine. She didnt want to have children at all?
He flashed a bleak smile. No. But she knew how much I did. So she agreed to marry me and have the baby, give the whole wedded bliss thing a shot. He nudged a folded dishrag across the counter with one long finger. Didnt work out.
How long did it last?
Nine months, until Maddy was three months old.
Not very long to give marriage and motherhood a chance, she thought. And she gave you full custody?
Since our divorce was all about getting out of playing mommy and wife, yeah. She did.
Kristen wasnt sure how to respond. There had been a time in her life when she couldnt imagine how a woman could turn her back on her child. But that was a long time ago, before shed seen firsthand what a mother was capable of doing to her children. She cleared her throat. Some women just arent meant to be mothers.
When she dared to look at him again, she was shocked to find his expression sympathetic. Shed expected disgust.
She hardened herself against the compassion in his warm blue eyes. I looked into your ex anyway. Shes just become engaged. Did you know that?
He looked surprised. More background checks, Detective?
So he didnt know about the engagement. Interesting.
Whos she marrying? he asked, almost as an afterthought. She wasnt sure if he was indifferent or just pretending to be.
Graham Stilson, she answered.
One dark eyebrow notched upward. Junior or Senior?
Junior. Do you know him?
Sam turned to face her fully, resting his elbows on the narrow breakfast bar behind him. Stilson Junior was a trial lawyer in the D.C. area before he was elected to the state senate. We crossed paths now and then. I know his father better, though. Stilson Senior is a judge.
Clearly, he didnt care much for Stilson Junior. Kristen wondered how much of his dislike was wrapped up in unresolved feelings for his ex, annoyed with herself for her curiosity. What had she expected, that hed have lost all interest in a woman hed once loved enough to marry?
Not that Sam Coopers feelings were of any importance, she reminded herself. It was his ex-wife who was currently on Kristens suspect list, not Sam.
I asked her assistant to track her down and have her call me. Nothing yet, she said aloud.
Norah doesnt get motivated to return calls unless she thinks you can do something for her, Sam said with a shrug. I left a message for her, too.
I thought you said you didnt think she was a suspect.
I thought you said you didnt think she was a suspect.
I dont, he said firmly. But shes Maddys mom. She should know whats going on.
Would Norah Cabot even care? She hadnt given much thought to her daughters life so far-why would she start now?
Sam might not be indifferent to his ex-wife, but he clearly resented her abandonment of their child, and on a surface level, Kristen knew she should find Norah Cabots actions selfish, as well. But her own mother had had no business raising children. Kristen had seen the horrible consequences. As far as she was concerned, Maddy was lucky. She had a daddy to love and protect her, and she didnt have to deal with her indifferent mother at all.
How much different would Kristens own life have been if shed had a father around to make sure she and her brothers and sisters were safe and cared for?
Sam interrupted her dark thoughts. I had my office e-mail me the felony cases Ive worked on since I took the job a few months ago. There are only five-they gave me a light load until I could get my bearings. Ive printed them out, if you want to take a look tonight. We can see if theres anything in those files that might have set someone off.
Following him back to the sitting area, she kicked herself for not having asked him about his current case files sooner. She was letting her kid phobia take over this whole case.
Time to cowboy up. If she couldnt handle one four-year-old poppet-and her sexy grouch of a father-her career was in serious trouble.
SAM SAT BACK AN HOUR LATER, rubbing his eyes. Hed read through all five cases and saw nothing he could imagine enraging someone enough to come after his child. What if this isnt about me? he asked Kristen.
She looked up from the case file she was reading. Just some random kidnapper stalking Maddy? For what purpose?
His stomach recoiled at the only answer that made sense. A pedophile?
She shook her head. This doesnt fit a pedophiles M.O. Theyre cowards. They like targets of opportunity.
That guy in Utah broke into his targets house and took her out of her bedroom, he reminded her.
Thats rare.
But not impossible.
She wrinkled her brow at him. Do you want it to be a pedophile? she asked pointedly.
God, no! The thought was horrifying.
Her expression gentled. Whatever pushed this guys buttons, its not your fault.
How could she know that? What if hed done something, said something or forgotten something that had set the kidnapper off? What if this whole thing was about payback?
What if hed been the one whod put his daughter at risk?
Kristens hand stole across the sofa and curled around his, her grip tight. The touch felt like a jolt of electricity, setting his whole body abuzz, and he was caught off guard by a flood of pure male attraction.
Hed always gone for high-octane women like Norah Cabot, with her expensive French perfume and her designer shoes. Hed worked with many beautiful, even glamorous women, and hed always found them exciting and sexy. Hed just figured that kind of woman was his type.
So why was this quiet, no-nonsense, small-town cop making his blood run hot in a way it hadnt in years?
She let go of his hand and looked down at the files spread across the coffee table. We should look at some of your case files from D.C. Can you get your hands on those?
His fingers still tingled from her touch. He closed his fist and cleared his throat. Probably more red tape than wed like. Ill help you set that into motion. However, I keep a detailed log of all my cases-the major figures involved, whether the outcome was a conviction, an acquittal or a plea bargain, that kind of thing. Its in one of the storage boxes at home. Ill stop by and get the log, and we can go through it, as well.
Could you get it tomorrow?
If youre okay with being here alone with Maddy, he said, watching her carefully for her reaction.
The line of her lips tightened a little, but she gave a nod. Of course. Its my job.
He wasnt sure if she was reassuring him or herself. He could tell she still had doubts. He dropped his gaze to the back of Kristens hand, where a white burn scar still marred the skin. Had she seen her mother kill her brothers and sister, or had she stumbled upon the aftermath?
Did it even matter which? Both would have been horrific.
Kristens eyes flickered up to meet his, as if the sudden silence between them made her nervous. He felt a rush of pity he couldnt quite hide, and her expression shifted from vulnerability to a hard, cool mask of indifference. She edged away from him, readying herself to stand. Its getting late, she began. I need to go home and pack for tomorrow.
His cell phone interrupted, the shrill sound jolting his spine like an electric shock. He fished it from his pocket. The display showed an area code he didnt recognize.
Cooper, he answered, slanting a quick look at Kristen, who sat very still, watching him.
A low, vibrant voice greeted him. Hi, Sam. Its me.
Norah. Hed left a message for her to call, but he hadnt expected to hear from her tonight. Thanks for calling back.
Kristen gave him a curious look, but before he could tell her who was on the other line, the bedroom door opened and Maddy stumbled out, her hair wild and her eyes damp with tears.
Daddy? she mewled.
Torn between dealing with Norah and comforting his daughter, Sam shot Kristen a pleading look. For a second, her eyes widened and she looked ready to bolt, but she regained control quickly and crossed to Maddys side.
Sam, are you there? Norahs voice drew his attention back to the phone.
Sam watched Kristen crouch by Maddy and begin talking to her in a soft tone. Yeah, Im here. Sorry. Maddy woke up.
Your message said you had something important to tell me. He heard a hint of impatience in Norahs voice, probably because hed mentioned Maddy. She didnt like to hear about Maddy. Must be easier to believe she did the right thing when she didnt have to think about a little girl growing up without her mommy.
Too bad. What he had to tell her had everything to do with Maddy. And this time, she was going to listen.
KRISTEN COAXED MADDY BACK into the bedroom, though she wished she could stay and listen to Sams end of the conversation. He hadnt said the caller was his ex-wife, but Kristen could tell from his defensive body language and the immediate tension in his voice that he was talking to someone with the power to hurt him. She assumed Norah Cabot was such a person.
Can you read me a story? Maddy asked.
Kristen looked at the sleepy little face staring up at her from the pillows and her heart shattered. She struggled to stay focused, to keep her mind in the present as it began to wander helplessly into the nightmarish past.
Read the little girl a book, Kristen. You can do that.
She picked up the book lying on the small bedside table. Dr. Seuss. Her heart squeezed.
Seuss had been Julies favorite. Kristen had read Green Eggs and Ham so often she had it memorized. Sometimes, usually late at night when she was tired and couldnt fight off the memories, the rhymes and rhythms of the childs book flitted through her mind, interspersed with the image of Julies limp body lying at the foot of her bloodstained bed.
Kristen closed her eyes and took a deep breath, clutching the book against her chest.
Kristen closed her eyes and took a deep breath, clutching the book against her chest.
Cant you read, Miss Kristen?
Her eyes snapped open. Maddy Cooper gazed up at her with wide green eyes full of sweet sympathy.
I can read it for you, Maddy added, patting the bed beside her in invitation.
Kristen stared at the tiny hand thumping lightly on the pale pink sheet. Another image of Julie fluttered through her mind, surprisingly sweet. Like Maddy, her little sister had also owned a favorite pair of pajamas-bright yellow with black stripes, inspiring Kristen to nickname her Julie Bee. Julie used to read to Kristen, too, flipping through the pages as she recited her favorite books by memory.