The Missing Mccullen. Rita Herron

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      “I’m sure he’s doing everything he can to find him,” she said. “An Amber Alert has been issued and NCMEC, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, has been notified.”

      Cash still didn’t trust Jasper.

      An image of the precocious three-year-old teased his mind. Tyler liked to trail ride with him. He could feel the little boy’s arms locked around his waist, hear him giggling when the horse broke into a canter.

      He even had a Western shirt like one of Cash’s and wore it when they were together.

      Miss Alexander gathered the photos of Sondra and stuffed them in her briefcase. She stood, her posture rigid, her lips pressed into a thin line.

      “Don’t take Jasper’s word for it.” Cash touched her arm.

      She went stone still and stared at his fingers as if he’d burned her. He released her abruptly.

      Just like Elmore, she’d put him in his place with a condescending look.

      Hell, he’d never be good enough for a man like Elmore or a woman like her.

      It didn’t matter, though. All that mattered was making sure little Tyler was safe.

      “Please,” he said in a gruff voice. “Find Tyler. He needs your help more than I do.”

      Her gaze locked with his, and he swallowed hard. He could lose himself in those damn beautiful eyes.

      But those eyes were cold and serious, assessing.

      “Don’t worry. I’ll alert authorities to look for Tyler,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “We’re meeting with the judge in an hour for a bail hearing.”

      Hope and despair crawled through Cash. He badly wanted out of this jail. But he was broke. All he had was a little bit of savings for the ranch he’d been dreaming about.

      He was determined to have his own spread someday. Then he’d never have to bow down to bigwig ranchers like Elmore again.

      “I appreciate you coming,” he said, biting back his pride. “But I can’t make bail.”

      She angled her head to look at him, her mouth forming a thin line. “Your bail money and my fee have been taken care of.”

      Without another word, she left, and closed the door behind her.

      Cash’s heart hammered as the lock clicked into place. Who the hell had paid her? And who was posting his bail?

      His ranch hand buddies didn’t have money. And he didn’t have family to turn to.

      He refused to take charity, too.

      But what choice did he have? He needed to find out who’d set him up. He sure as hell couldn’t do that from the inside of a cell.

      And he trusted her a hell of a lot more than he would some court appointed attorney who might know Elmore or be in his pocket.

      * * *

      BJ LEFT CASH with unanswered questions. The sheriff frowned at her, but stepped into the room to escort Cash to the cell.

      She needed to speak to Maddox before she revealed Cash’s connection to the McCullens.

      The pain in his eyes ripped at her. She was still straddling the fence about his innocence or guilt, although she was leaning on the innocent side.

      One thing she knew for sure, though. He loved that little boy.

      And he was seriously worried about him.

      Which roused her own fear for Tyler.

      She rushed into the restroom, grabbed a paper towel and wetted it just as the first wave of dizziness assaulted her.

      Three-year-old Tyler Elmore was missing.

      She’d had no idea when she took the case. All she was told was that Cash Koker had been arrested for murder.

      Panic gnawed at her as she recalled Cash’s last words. He wanted her to look for the little boy. He’d chosen that over his own release.

      Even though he’d denied being the child’s father, he was frightened for him.

      Tears blurred her eyes, and she removed the rainbow drawing she kept with her. Her son had been obsessed with rainbows and had made this one for her for Mother’s Day.

      Time faded and she was back with her son.

      “Mommy, tuck me in.”

      She wiped her hands on the dish towel, then went to Aaron’s room. He was in his cartoon pj’s, snuggled with his stuffed lion, holding his favorite book. She crawled on the bed and he nuzzled up against her as she began to read.

      Seconds later, he fell asleep on her arm.

      Two days later—the call that had shattered her heart. A highway patrol officer.

      Her ex had taken Aaron on a camping trip, but they’d had a terrible accident.

      Neither one of them had survived.

      BJ wiped the tears from her eyes, folded the drawing and put it back in her pocket. It hurt too much to think about Aaron’s little innocent face looking up at her as if she’d protect him from the world, when she’d failed.

      If Tyler was in danger, she had to help.

      She left the bathroom, then walked up front to talk to Sheriff Jasper. “Has Mr. Elmore located his grandson?”

      A vein throbbed in the lawman’s neck. “No, all the more reason you tell us what that Koker guy did with Tyler.”

      BJ bit the inside of her cheek. The sheriff definitely had made up his mind about Cash. He’d probably lynch him if he didn’t think he’d get caught.

      “My conversation with my client is confidential, although I don’t believe he took the child or knows where he is. He seems genuinely concerned. If you haven’t followed up on the Amber Alert, do so immediately.”

      “I know how to do my job.” Jasper’s sarcastic tone implied she didn’t. “You just need to push Koker to talk.”

      Anger mushroomed inside BJ. “I told you he didn’t take the boy. Have you spoken with Mr. Elmore to see if he received a ransom call?”

      “He hasn’t.”

      BJ tensed. That wasn’t a good sign. “For a moment, let’s just say I’m right, Sheriff. The first forty-eight hours are critical for a missing child case.” She tapped her watch. “Every minute counts. So while you’re sitting here on your butt, whoever abducted Tyler is getting farther and farther away.”

      Which meant they might not get the little boy back alive.

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