Witness Betrayed by Linda Ladd

Author:Linda Ladd [Ladd, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781516107391
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-10-02T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

As tough as Lori had shown herself to be under pressure, she was every bit as soft and gentle with Susie and Sammi. She kept the children close to her, murmuring reassurances and doling out Reese’s Pieces and M&M’s that she’d found in Frank’s pantry. The children were playing quietly with a Chutes and Ladders game and an old baby doll that Lori had dragged out of Lucy’s closet. The three adults sat around the kitchen table, watching them.

Lori broke the silence. “Okay, we know Judith was at the mansion the last time the girls saw her. Doesn’t mean she’s still there, though. She could be anywhere by now.”

“There’s a good shot she’s in there. It sounds to me like he’s controlling her through threats against her daughters. I say we go in and find out, the sooner the better.” That was Frank, a lot more hopeful now that he’d learned Lucy had been seen alive and well. “They had Lucy there, and she fought back. She still might be there. So I’m with Novak. We go in. We get lucky and maybe we’ll find them both.”

Novak felt better about Frank. He had really settled down and was thinking clearly. He appeared calm and focused and ready to roll. Novak needed him that way. “We’ve got to all be on the same page, because it’s going to take teamwork to pull this off. I want these kids in a safe place before we do anything. I don’t want to worry about them, and it might take the three of us to get inside. No way can they stay out here alone. So I’m for handing them over to Leslie for protection. After that, we go in for Judith. I think Lucy’s somewhere in Houston, too. Or if we’re lucky, Judith can tell us where they’re holding her.”

Frank’s gaze was intense. “Then let’s do it. Waiting isn’t going to help anybody. If we don’t move, we’ll miss our window.”

Lori was in agreement. Novak wanted to move in, too. He pushed back his chair and stood up. “Hang tight while I make the call.”

Outside in the yard, the grass was still soggy from rain and the dirt road had turned to mud. He walked out under a gnarled oak tree and punched in Leslie’s private number.

She picked up on the first ring. “Yeah, Novak? You got Judith Locke?”

“There’s a problem.”

Her sigh was exaggerated and tinged with annoyance. “Oh, Lord, of course there is. Please don’t tell me Judith’s dead or has changed her mind and all my prep work is for nothing.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. I don’t have her yet, but I will soon. I’m talking about her kids, Susie and Sammi. I grabbed them last night.”

“Grabbed them? What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

“I took them out of Judge Locke’s beach house, so don’t be surprised if he’s turning over every rock in south Texas to find them.”

“You did what? Never mind, I heard you. Where are you? Are those kids with you now?”

“For the moment.

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