Manhunt. Lisa Phillips

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       FIVE

      Hailey sat in the car looking up and down the sidewalk for Kerry and her neon backpack. Eric’s disappointment in her refusing his offer of a partnership stung. Still, something kept Hailey on the ledge instead of jumping off and trusting Eric completely. She just didn’t want to admit to herself that it had everything to do with Charles.

      Eventually the team was going to see her for the asset she was. Eric was a decent partner, but he didn’t get what she was trying to do. He had no need to prove himself to anyone, but Hailey had to keep the doubts at bay. She couldn’t let herself be ruled by what the people in this town had thought of her for so long.

      Kerry needed to grow up knowing her mom fought for what she wanted. She needed to know what strength was and be able to call on it herself. Kids learned by example, and Hailey intended her life to show how far she could still go, in spite of the bad choices she’d made in her teen and college years. It was that or curl up and cry, and weakness was no good.

      She called Charles.

      “Yes?”

      Did he have to say it like that? “Kerry isn’t here. Beth-Ann didn’t get her after all, did she?”

      “I told you she has an appointment. Kerry isn’t in the cul-de-sac?”

      “What cul-de-sac? I’m at the bus stop.” She shifted in her seat and peered out the windshield. There was a street a ways up—was that what he was talking about? And why couldn’t he have told her that in the first place?

      He sighed. “Kerry waits to be picked up in the cul-de-sac.”

      And if she didn’t know Hailey was the one picking her up, Kerry was probably waiting there. “North of the bus stop?” She got out and started walking, squinting to read the road sign. “Almera?”

      “Yes.” He hung up.

      Hailey shoved her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. She rounded the corner and saw a dark-colored muscle car stopped in the middle of the street at an angle. The driver’s door was open, and the dome light was on.

      Farrell had a grip on Kerry’s arm, and was pulling her toward the car. Kerry was kicking at his legs, tugging on him and valiantly trying to dislodge his hold on her. That’s my girl.

      “Hey!” Hailey drew her weapon as she ran. “Let her go, Farrell.”

      Kerry’s whole body jerked and she looked over. “Mom!”

      Hailey aimed her weapon at the escapee, her pounding pace bringing her closer to them. “Hands on your head, Farrell.”

      His eyes narrowed when he saw how close she was. Had he been so focused on taking Hailey’s daughter he hadn’t registered her approach?

      He let Kerry go and ran for the car door. Kerry yelped and hit the ground, landing in a sprawl on top of her backpack, which was still on her back.

      Farrell pulled away, swinging the car around. The door slammed as he drove away.

      Hailey knelt by Kerry. “Are you okay?”

      “Yeah, Mom.” She smiled, but Hailey saw her lip quiver. “Thanks for not being late.”

      Hailey hauled her daughter to her feet and wrapped her arms around her. She gave Kerry a quick squeeze before she leaned back, pulling out her phone. “One second, okay?”

      Kerry saw the cell phone and nodded, burrowing into Hailey’s coat.

      Hailey looked down at her while the phone rang. “Where’s your jacket? You’re soaked.”

      Kerry shrugged. “I was too hot.”

      On the other end of the line, Jonah picked up. “Rivers.”

      “Farrell just tried to abduct Kerry.”

      It took ten minutes for them to reach the cul-de-sac, at which point Hailey and Kerry were both soaked, though she’d made Kerry get out the jacket from her backpack and actually put it on.

      Jonah’s gaze scanned Kerry as he walked over. “Both of you okay?”

      Hailey nodded under the umbrella СКАЧАТЬ