All right, thats near here. Lets go, he said.
Less than two miles from the truck stop, Mason and Remy turned into the parking lot of a strip mall. Sandwiched between Aunt Marvas Donuts and On-the-Spot Payday Loans was Flos Fabulous Hair Emporium. Remy stayed in the truck with the baby while Mason entered the hair shop.
Bells chimed on the transom.
Scores of blank faces of mannequin heads crowned with every style and color of hair you could think of stared at Mason from displays and shelves.
It was creepy.
The store wasnt busy. A woman was behind the counter replacing paper in a small credit card terminal. She had long straight black hair, a dark tan and revealed bright white teeth when she smiled.
How can I help you today, sir?
Well, Id like to get a couple of wigs for my wife.
Youve come to the right place. Is she going to be joining you?
No. She told me what to get.
Well, what color and style is she looking for? Short, long, curly, straight?
She said she wanted a blond, sorta long and wavy and an auburn one about the same and curly, sorta.
Hmm. The woman left the counter and led Mason to a side display. Mason detected a hint of citrus-scented perfume. Do you know if she prefers synthetic or human hair?
Whats the difference?
Theyre both nice, but with top-of-the-line synthetic the curls keep, even in the rain, while human hair is more natural.
I guess it doesnt matter then.
The woman reached for a head with a blond wig.
How about this one? Its got layered spiral curls, about fourteen inches, thats shoulder length, and its got a stretch skin cap. Its synthetic fiber.
Looks good. Ill take it.
That was easy. She then moved down the row and picked up a head wearing a dark-colored wig, which was shorter but fuller.
This one is auburn, synthetic, styled in a layered bob with sweeping bangs and- she turned the head -soft curls in the back.
I like it. Ill take that one, too.
Youre sure you dont want to see some others?
No, these two are good.
All right, let me package this all up for you.
The woman took the two heads bearing the wigs, set them on the front counter then glanced through her storefront to the parking lot at the pickup truck parked out front.
Is that your wife in the truck with the baby?
Mason turned to follow her attention then saw Remy and the baby. Oh, yes.
She hesitated as if stopping to address a sudden concern.
Is there a problem? Mason asked.
Um, no. The woman smiled, shifting her concentration back to the counter. Most women want to be custom fitted. Are you sure your wife doesnt want to come in for a custom fit and style? It comes with the wigs at no charge.
No, I think were good that way.
Mason watched her closely as she shifted her focus back to the sale.
Okay. Ill just get some foam heads and box these up for you. Theyre one-fifty each, plus tax. But if youre military or hit by the tornado, well give you twenty percent off.
Im not military-my dad was. But we did get caught in the storm.
Is everybody okay?
Were still a bit shaky, but I need to get going.
Of course. And how would you like to pay, sir?
Is cash all right?
It certainly is.
Mason left with the woman watching him through the window. For an instant, as he reached for the trucks door, they exchanged a glance.
As the customer got into the cab of his truck, the clerk bit her lip.
That was very weird, she thought.
Then she reached for her phone and searched for the news story about the baby kidnapped in the storm.
She found the number for the police tip line.
Maybe she should call.
No. She put her phone down. But that was definitely odd.
Mason returned to the truck, gave the boxes to Remy, who was fussing over the baby in his car seat. Before turning the ignition, Mason checked his phone and cursed it. No messages from Lamont. Mason took a moment to think where they could go then started the truck and pulled away from the strip mall.
Remy opened the boxes with the wigs.
Oh, these are nice. Theyre gonna work fine, babe.
But Mason wasnt listening.
He was a little worried about the strange look from the saleswoman at the wig store but shook it off. He had bigger problems, chiefly the fact that Lamont still hadnt contacted him. Mason speculated on the reason. Did Lamont rip him off? Did he turn him in? Mason ran the back of his hand across his mouth. They had gone about six blocks and turned from a quiet street onto a busy thoroughfare.
Thats when they heard the wail of a siren behind them.
42
Garland, Texas
Red-and-blue police lights blazed in Masons rearview mirror.
Oh God, whatre we going to do? Remy looked over her shoulder.
Mason tightened his grip on the wheel and he kept an eye on the mirror, on the grill of a marked police unit coming up behind him fast.
Quit gawking at him, Mason told Remy. This cant be for us. Hell go around.
But the patrol car didnt go around them. It stayed right behind their pickup truck until the cop got close enough to read a plate.
If thats what hes doing.
The siren was blaring, shredding Masons nerves. His reflex was to take the next turn while his gut was screaming at him to flee. Punch the gas and run because there was no way he was going back inside.
Damn it, why isnt that guy going around us?
Options blurred through Masons mind. He eyed the mirror for any telltale signs the cop had read his plate and called it in. The cop hadnt reached for his microphone. He was not on a cell phone. His mouth wasnt moving like he was talking to a dispatcher on a hands-free unit.
Nothing like that.
So whys he coming up hard on my ass?
MASON, LOOK OUT!!!
Standing on the road directly in front of them was another police officer, his arm extended and finger pointed at Mason. His free hand hovered over his holstered sidearm. Eyes fixed on Mason as he braked hard, the cop pointed for him to pull over to the right, up close behind another parked vehicle, a white Toyota, and shut the truck off.
The siren behind him made a last loud yelp before it went silent as the patrol car parked tight behind the pickup truck so that Mason could not drive out. The emergency lights lit up the cab with pulsating intensity.
Goddamn it, Mason growled under his breath. GOD-DAMN-IT!
It had all gone down so fast.
This isnt good. Remy pulled the baby from his car seat and held him as she craned her neck in both directions. What the hells going on?
Watching the cop on the road and the cop in the car behind him, Mason dragged the back of his hand across his mouth, assessing what had befallen them. Suddenly he reached under his seat for his gun and tucked it under his left leg.
Mason, no! Oh Christ, whatre you doing?
Im not going back inside.
Mason, dont! Im begging you!
The drivers door of the car behind them opened and the officer got out quickly. Please stay in your vehicle! he said, keeping his hand on the grip of his holstered weapon as he trotted past them while talking into his shoulder microphone.
Surveying the situation Mason saw people in the Toyota in front of them waiting in their vehicle, then realized more people were doing the same in the line of cars and trucks that had been stopped up ahead.
Other police vehicles were blocking the intersection.
This is a choke point. Somethings going on, Mason thought.
The running officer joined the other officer in the street. Then two more cops came from behind, ran alongside Masons pickup truck. Their portable radios were turned up loud and crackling with transmissions as they jogged down the line of cars.
Several long moments passed. In all, about fifteen heart-pounding minutes went by before Mason and Remy saw one of the marked police units in the street drive off, its tires squealing.
One officer on the road began directing the line of cars to flow back into traffic, while other officers walked in a relaxed manner by the pickup truck.
I think its over, Mason, Remy said.
Excuse me, Officer? the woman in the Toyota asked one of them.
A cop stopped at the Toyota, close enough for Mason to hear.
Whats going on? the Toyota woman asked. What happened?
A bank was robbed, the young officer said. The suspect was in the area. They grabbed him about seven blocks from here.
Wow, glad to hear it. Good work, thanks. The woman started her car.
Wait. The cop stepped forward and pointed at Mason and his heart skipped.
You folks should put your baby in the car seat before you drive off, the officer said.
Yes, sir. Remy smiled and secured Caleb Cooper.
43
Lancaster, Texas
I was so close to Caleb at that motel.
Jenna could almost feel her baby boy, almost smell him and taste the sweetness of his cheek. How she ached to hold him in her arms again. Shed been awake most of the night in their room at the Embassy Suites, watching over Cassie and Blake and staring out the window into the night.
Calebs out there. Please keep him safe. I need him back. Please.
Yesterday, theyd come so close to catching that sick, scheming red-haired woman and her boyfriend at the motel. Now, in the hour before dawn, Jenna prayed with each passing minute for her phone to ring with news from the FBI, Kate or Frank. From anybody.
Shed lost her mind at the motel to fear, to anger and panic before FBI Agents Grogan and Quinn took her and Blake inside and told them all that they could.
Grogan said that the motel manager had called 911 because he was certain a man and woman with a baby, fitting the descriptions reported in the press, were guests. The Dallas SWAT team took action, but the people remained at large. The FBIs crime-scene experts were processing the room, which would take time. It was challenging because a motel staffer had cleaned it thoroughly. The FBI was continuing its investigation.
We know this is difficult for you, but I give you my word well keep you updated, Grogan said. But our primary focus is taking immediate action on valid leads in order to find Caleb and return him home safe to you.
Not long after the sun rose, Jenna was oblivious to the sounds of Holly and Garrett rising in the next room. She barely noticed Blake and Cassie getting up and dressing, then the smell of coffee and scrambled eggs.
Jen, we got you some breakfast from downstairs, Holly said.
Youre not sleeping and youre not eating, Blake said. Come on, hon. Have something.