Texas Baby Pursuit. Margaret Daley

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       THREE

      As Dallas neared Lenora’s porch, he clutched his cell phone. “That was the Texas Ranger office in San Antonio on the phone. There’s been a series of baby snatchings north of Dallas.”

      “How many have there been?” Rachel asked as she moved into the house.

      “Three babies were kidnapped by strangers, but that’s not all. They checked throughout Texas, and one other area has reported the same crime pattern in the past year. There was a cluster of kidnappings in El Paso. I don’t think this is just a couple looking for a baby.”

      “Which means we’ll have two more before they move on, if they hold to the pattern.”

      He grasped her arm and stopped her before she entered the kitchen. “Sounds like a systematic organization kidnapping babies to sell. They only stay a few weeks in one area, then they move on. I’ll be checking to see if this is happening in other states.”

      Rachel frowned. “We have to stop them.”

      “I’ve already asked headquarters to expand to the surrounding states. To see if there are cases like this there. In the meantime, I’ll get what information I can about the other abductions. Maybe there’s a pattern forming where others were taken from their homes. If not, we need to establish if there’s one—or if the kidnappings are random with nothing in common between them.”

      “This is going to send this area into a panic, but it might help. People will be more vigilant. That might be a good thing.”

      “So long as they don’t overreact.” He paused in the kitchen. “When will you hold a press conference?”

      “I’m releasing information tomorrow morning at eight. I want to see if your sister and brother-in-law would like to address the reporters. Right now, there are only a few outside, but by tomorrow that number will grow.”

      “Do you want me to be there?”

      “Yes. I want whoever took Brady to know who’s coming after them.”

      “They picked the wrong family to mess with.” His words were quiet but lethal sounding.

      Rachel was glad to have his assistance. The county sheriff election had been contentious and even ugly, especially toward the end when it appeared she would win. She became sheriff because of her father’s good reputation and the many years he’d been in office, but the only way she would remain in the position was to do a good job, like he’d done. She couldn’t let her dad down.

      Rachel continued toward the living room with Dallas right behind her. Lenora sat on the couch, her head down, her hands clutching a blue knitted blanket that had been on a chair in the living room when she’d first walked through the house. All Rachel wanted to do was hug Lenora. The pain she was going through wove its way through Rachel. Katie was the most important person in her life.

      Paul entered from the foyer, a scowl etching deep lines in his face. “I took the phone off the hook. It’s been ringing for the past few hours, and I can’t deal with it anymore.” His voice rough with emotion, he took a place next to his wife and slipped his arm along her shoulders.

      Rachel sank into the wingback chair across from Lenora while Dallas eased down next to his sister on her other side. “I’m so sorry for what happened. I promise I won’t rest until we track down these kidnappers and find Brady. Have you noticed anything unusual lately—like a person you didn’t know following or watching you more than once?”

      Never looking up, Lenora shook her head.

      “Has someone called and hung up when you picked up the phone?”

      “No.”

      “Did the woman who was supposed to pick something up ever come?” Rachel pulled the evidence bag from her pocket.

      Lenora’s glistening eyes lifted to Rachel’s face. “No, but she called me to let me know she wasn’t while I was in the meeting. I should have told Michelle, but I didn’t get a chance.”

      “Who is the friend?” Rachel would need to check out the woman.

      “Mary Jane Martin. I’ve known her for years.” One tear ran down Lenora’s face, then another. “If I had let Michelle know she wasn’t coming right away, this might not have happened. It’s all my fault.”

      Dallas covered his sister’s hands. “You aren’t to blame. The kidnappers are. It’s very likely you and Brady were targeted.”

      “How? Why?” Paul СКАЧАТЬ