SAFEGUARDING THE BABY

Overhearing the murder of her sister, Lacy Germaine grabs her baby nephew and flees for their lives. But not before she’s seen by the killer—who she’s certain is her lawman brother-in-law. Now an instant mom on the run, Lacy will protect the baby at all costs, and she trusts nobody. Not even her rescuer, K-9 cop Matt Callahan. Despite the police alert issued for the missing little boy, Matt believes that Lacy is innocent of kidnapping. Keeping them safe soon becomes his top priority. But no matter how deep they hide, danger finds them...until Matt is all that stands between the beautiful woman, the vulnerable baby and a desperate killer.

Duchess abruptly leaped to her feet and ran over to the door. She began to growl low in her throat.

Matt didn’t waste a second. He grabbed his weapon. “Stay in the bedroom and don’t open the door to anyone except for me or one of my brothers.”

“Be careful,” Lacy whispered.

Pressing himself against the wall, Matt carefully opened the door.

Duchess was in full alert mode, her nose practically twitching with the need to track the intruder. He exhaled and then darted outside, Duchess hot on his heels. As they’d practiced earlier, he went left and Duchess went right. He heard Duchess moving through the brush.

The dog let out a sharp bark, and he instinctively lunged toward the sound, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He moved from tree to tree. Suddenly a sharp crack echoed through the night, followed by a burning sensation along the outer edge of his left biceps.

He’d been shot!

Ignoring the pain, he continued his zigzagging path toward the area where Duchess had barked, alerting him to the presence of the gunman, as he silently prayed that he and Duchess could hold the guy off long enough for his brother Mike to arrive.

And to keep Lacy and Rory safe.

LAURA SCOTT is a nurse by day and an author by night. She has always loved romance and read faith-based books by Grace Livingston Hill in her teenage years. She’s thrilled to have published over twelve books for Love Inspired Suspense. She has two adult children and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband of thirty years. Please visit Laura at laurascottbooks.com, as she loves to hear from her readers.

Shattered Lullaby

Laura Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

—Matthew 5:4

This book is dedicated to my cousin Joanne O’Connell. Thanks for all the awesome Tomahawk summer memories, especially teaching me how to water-ski!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

One

Lacy Germaine woke to the sound of heated arguing. For a moment, she buried her head into the pillow in an effort to drown out her parents’ fighting.

And then she remembered—her parents were long gone, both killed in a car crash several years ago. Abruptly, she sat bolt upright on the futon, her heart thundering in her chest.

One of the voices belonged to her sister, Jill, but who was she talking to?

Lacy leaped out of bed and went over to check on her three-month-old nephew, Rory, who was still sleeping, but not for long, considering the harsh tones coming from the next room.

At first the voices were low and angry but still incomprehensible. It didn’t take long for the deeper male voice to rise. “Tell me the truth! Now! Or I’ll kill you and the brat, too!”

Lacy sucked in a harsh breath, understanding with sick certainty that her sister’s worst fears had become reality. Jill’s husband, David Williams, had returned home.

And he was ambushing her sister after midnight.

Reacting instinctively, Lacy lifted her nephew from the crib and grabbed the long shawl-type wrap, winding it around and around, swaddling the baby snugly against her body. Then she fumbled for her cell phone and dialed 911.

“What’s your emergency?”

“Domestic violence at 1671 Elmwood Lane,” she whispered into the phone. “Hurry!”

“Please stay on the line,” the woman responded calmly.

Lacy wanted to yell that this was her sister’s life at stake! But of course she didn’t.

“I can’t. He’ll hear me.” Lacy disconnected from the call. She needed both of her hands free in order to manage the baby.

Her brother-in-law obviously didn’t know Lacy was there, staying with Jill to help out over spring break. If he found out Jill wasn’t alone...

She couldn’t finish the thought.

“No, please...”

Lacy hated the idea of Jill begging for mercy. Her sister had confided that she was filing for divorce from her husband because his anger and verbal attacks scared her.

Clearly, Jill had been right. Lacy was getting a firsthand idea of how frightening her brother-in-law could be.

“Please don’t do this...” Her sister’s voice was full of tears.

Bang! Bang!

No! Lacy gasped, her heart lodging in her throat. Dear God, what had David done?

There was nothing but silence after the gun went off, forcing Lacy to assume the worst.

Jill was dead. Shot by her own husband.

And if his threat was to be believed, Rory was next.

Lacy jammed her cell phone into her purse, slung the strap over her shoulder and shoved her feet into her running shoes. Where was the diaper bag?

In the kitchen.

Knowing she couldn’t dare pass her sister’s room to get the bag, she eased out from Rory’s bedroom and darted around the corner in the opposite direction to go into the living room. She needed to get Rory out of the house, far away from his armed and dangerous father.

Thankfully, the patio doors slid open without a sound. She eased through into the mild April spring air. Relieved it wasn’t too cold, she crossed the concrete patio until she reached the damp grass.

Grateful for the lack of snow, Lacy didn’t hesitate, running around the house and toward the road. Her car was parked less than a block from her sister’s home, on the opposite side of the street, and she hoped she’d make it to the vehicle before David realized the baby was gone.

Mud squished beneath her running shoes. The warm spring weather had melted what was left of the snow, leaving mush behind. She slipped, then steadied herself.

Twenty yards, fifteen, ten. A loud thud from inside the house caused her to misstep, and this time she fell, one knee hitting the ground. Clutching the baby to her chest, she braced herself with one hand on the ground, surprised to feel a hard ridge beneath her fingertips. Some sort of key. Instinctively she picked it up and shoved it into the pocket of her hoodie as she leaped up to her feet.

Still holding the baby close with one hand, she fished in her purse for her car keys.

Five yards. Three. She was going to make it! Using her thumb, she pressed the key fob to unlock the driver’s-side door. The car made an extraordinarily loud beeping noise, front and rear lights flashing. She winced, hoping David wouldn’t hear. As if the car wasn’t loud enough to broadcast her escape, Rory began to cry.

“Hey! Stop! Get back here!”

David’s irate shout had her hunching her shoulders, half expecting to be hit with a bullet squarely in the back. Somehow, she managed to yank the driver’s-side door open and to slide in behind the wheel. There was just enough room to maneuver with Rory bundled against her. She shut the door, jammed the key in the ignition and hit the accelerator, speeding away from her sister’s house.

Lacy took a quick right and then a left, leaving the normally quiet neighborhood, expecting to hear the wail of sirens at any moment.

But there was nothing.

She’d called 911 for help, hadn’t she? So where were the Milwaukee Police? How long would it take for them to show up?

What should she do? Even if the police would be there at any moment, Lacy didn’t want to stop. What if David followed her? Every instinct she possessed told her to keep going, to put as much distance between herself and Rory’s father as possible.

Think, Lacy, think! Where was the closest on-ramp? There! She found the sign and quickly took the ramp heading northwest, deeply afraid that David wasn’t far behind.

No way would she allow him to lay one finger on Rory.

She would protect the baby with her own life if necessary. And she really, really hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Driving through the night, she kept her eyes peeled on the rearview mirror. She wished she could remember what kind of vehicle David drove, but she’d been focused only on escape, nothing more. She couldn’t actually remember seeing any type of car, but David had to have driven to Jill’s house in something. Her sister’s house wasn’t near a bus route.

Rory was still crying, signifying he was either hungry or needed his diaper changed, or both.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” she whispered in a soothing voice. Logically, she knew she should head to a police station, but nothing about this night made any rational sense.

And her sister’s warnings echoed in her mind.

David’s fellow police officers always cover for him; they believe whatever lies he’s told them about me. Not one of them can be trusted.

At the time she’d thought Jill was being paranoid, but after this, she believed her sister had been right all along.

In fact, Jill had died because of it.

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. Lacy swiped them away, knowing she needed to be careful. In an effort to relax, she turned on the radio, searching for a soft jazz station, hoping the music would help calm Rory.

His crying had subsided to soft hiccupping sobs, the sound tearing at her heart. Keeping one hand on the wheel, she stroked his back as she drove, feeling guilty over not having him in a proper car seat. Driving with him in front of her was dangerous, but not as bad as staying behind where his father might try to kill him. Once again, her desperate need to flee wavered.

Should she turn around, go back to the police? But what if they were David’s buddies? What if they didn’t believe her?

If David succeeded in getting custody of Rory, what would prevent him from killing his son, the way he’d killed his wife?

No, she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t go back there. She had to wait until morning. There’d be plenty of time to find officers in another district far away from the one where David worked, who would listen to her side of the story. Surely they would believe her.

A weird beeping sound came from the radio, but before she could reach over to change the station, she heard the announcement of an Amber Alert.

“Missing three-month-old boy, Rory Williams, believed to be in a blue sedan belonging to his aunt, Lacy Germaine. The woman who took the child is in her late twenties and has long blond hair. Please call the Milwaukee Police Department if you see anyone matching this description.”

Lacy tightened her grip on the steering wheel, feeling sick to her stomach. How was it possible that there was an Amber Alert so soon? Why would the police be looking for her and Rory? What had happened at her sister’s house when the police had arrived? Had David played the role of grieving husband and father? Had he found a way to place the blame for what had happened to Jill on someone else?

On her?

She hadn’t prayed in a long time, since before her parents had died. But desperate times called for extreme measures so she sent up a quick request, hoping God would care about an innocent baby.

Help me keep this child safe.

A sense of calm settled over her, slowing her breathing, but she still needed a plan. She took the next exit on the freeway and began searching for a convenience store. Rory began crying again and she knew she couldn’t wait a moment longer. She needed diapers and formula, both essentials in caring for an infant. Good thing she still had one of Rory’s bottles in her purse from their earlier outing to the park.

Once she found a safe place to stay and had the baby changed and fed, she would think about what she would do next. There must be a police department she could go to in order to turn herself in. A district that wouldn’t believe David’s lies.

Catching a glimpse of bright lights up ahead, she gratefully headed toward the store attached to a gas station. She pulled up to a pump and quickly filled her tank. She didn’t have a lot of cash, however, forcing her to use a credit card, but having enough fuel was worth the risk. She knew the police would track her this far, but hopefully she’d be long gone before they could send a squad car to come pick her up.

She walked into the store and began searching the shelves for what she would need. There was a short, rotund man with a long scraggly beard behind the counter. He watched her like a hawk through thick, dark-rimmed glasses. Was he expecting her to steal something?

Or worse, had he heard the Amber Alert?

Praying it wasn’t the latter, she tried to act natural, idly perusing the shelves, searching for the items she needed. She could feel the round bearded guy’s gaze piercing her back, like tiny laser beams.

She tucked a package of diapers beneath her arm, then shifted a few steps to the right, looking over the various types of formula on display. Recognizing the yellow canister her sister used, she picked that one up.

Bright lights flashed through the window, startling her so much that she jumped a little. She cast a fugitive glance over her shoulder. Had the police found her already? She hesitated, wondering if she should just leave and go somewhere else.

The front door of the shop opened, and it took every ounce of strength she possessed not to turn and stare at whoever had come inside. She slid around the row of shelving, putting distance between herself and the newcomer.

A glimpse of black hair beneath a dark hat caught her eye and she ducked farther down, her pulse skipping several beats.

David had black hair. But he couldn’t possibly have found her so quickly. Right?

She didn’t want to believe it. Couldn’t imagine how. Her sister’s husband might have been a Special Ops soldier at one point, but he wasn’t Superman.

Just her worst nightmare.

She tucked the canister of formula into the folds of the baby wrap and slipped a twenty-dollar bill from her purse, leaving it on the shelf to pay for the items she’d taken. Then she eased around another row of supplies, slowly making her way toward the main doorway.

After painstakingly slow maneuvering, she finally had a clear pathway to the door. Praying for safety, she took a deep breath, tucked her head and made a run for it.

* * *

Heading home after a long double shift, Officer Matthew Callahan and his K-9 partner, a tall German shepherd named Duchess, came upon a convenience store located six blocks from the church the Callahan family had attended ever since he could remember. His stomach rumbled with hunger, and since he knew there wasn’t much food at home, he decided to stop for a bite to eat.

As he pulled into the parking lot, his headlights shined on a tall woman with long blond hair holding something bulky beneath her arm, running in a full-out sprint for the navy blue sedan sitting next to a gas pump.

What in the world?

Matt threw the gearshift into Park, hit the button to lift the tailgate so Duchess could jump down and then bolted from the vehicle.

Before he could yell at the woman to stop, he saw another tall man, a black cap covering his head, coming out of the convenience store, obviously following her. At first, Matt thought he was another cop, especially when he saw the gun in the guy’s hand.

But then he lifted his weapon and aimed it directly toward the fleeing woman without warning.

“Stop! Police! Drop your weapon!” Matt shouted, turning his attention to the armed man. “Duchess, Attack!”

The man wearing the cap glanced over in alarm, lowered his gun and quickly took off behind the store with Duchess in hot pursuit. With the gunman covered, he went after the woman.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” he said, grabbing a hold of her before she could get into her navy blue four-door. “What’s going on here? What happened inside the store?”

“Let me go! Didn’t you see that man back there?” she demanded. “He’s trying to kill me and the baby!”

Since he’d seen that much for himself, Matt couldn’t deny her statement held merit. Still, something about this entire scenario seemed off. “Who is he? What’s his name?”

Before she could respond, his K-9 partner let out a yelp of pain.

Instantly he spun on his heel, alarm skittering through him. “Duchess!”

The dog came running toward him, her coat glistening with something wet and shiny. Then he noticed the blood trail behind her.

“Oh, no, he hurt your dog!” The woman said in alarm.

Duchess came up to rest against his leg. He reached down and saw there was a long laceration in her side, most likely from a knife. Thankfully, it didn’t look too deep.

“Please don’t arrest me,” she said in a low voice. “My name is Lacy and I’m a schoolteacher on spring break. You need to understand that man is my brother-in-law, and he shot and killed my sister. Rory is my nephew and I heard him threaten to kill his son, the same way he murdered my sister. Please, you have to believe me!”

Oddly enough, Matt was leaning toward believing her. Not just because he’d watched that man point a gun at the woman, but also because he had lashed out at his partner. He glanced down at Duchess, who was still bleeding, and made a split-second decision. “Fine, but you’re coming with me.”

“No, wait...”

“Now!” Matt wasn’t in the mood to quibble. He needed to get his partner’s injury taken care of, and since this woman and the baby were also clearly in danger, he decided it was better to take them along.

He would figure out what to do with them later.

“Okay, but we need to hurry,” she said.

Lacy surprised him by gathering up her items—baby things, he belatedly realized, such as diapers and formula—then heading over to his SUV without waiting for him.

Once she made up her mind about something, clearly, she acted on it. It was a trait he couldn’t help but admire.

“Come on, Duchess.” He led his partner back to the SUV and lifted her inside. Opening the first-aid kit he kept on hand for just these types of emergencies, Matt quickly pressed several gauze pads over the gash in her coat to stop the bleeding, then wrapped gauze around her abdomen as an added precaution. Duchess was trained well enough to leave the field dressing alone.

Satisfied he’d done what he could for the moment, he leaned over and rested his face against the animal’s neck. “You’re going to be okay, hear me? I’ll get this taken care of right away.”

Duchess licked his face, making him smile. He stepped back and closed the tailgate.

Gunfire erupted from the far east corner of the store, the same place where the gunman had disappeared. A bullet shattered the plastic sign hanging just over his head.

Matt didn’t waste another moment. He jumped in behind the wheel and started the engine with a roar.

His tires screeched loudly as he drove away from the gas station. Once the lights from the store faded to nothing, he glanced in the rearview mirror at his passengers. He hated leaving the scene of the crime, but at the same time, Duchess’s needs came first.

While he thought it was odd Lacy had chosen to sit in the back seat, he’d barely gotten onto the interstate when he saw the electric sign over the freeway blinking with the news of an Amber Alert.

The description on the sign matched the woman and baby sitting behind him.

He ground his teeth together, knowing this case was getting more complicated by the minute.

Somehow, some way, he needed to keep this woman and baby safe while he figured out what in the world was going on.

He couldn’t bear the thought of losing another innocent child...

Two

Lacy took a deep breath, desperately hoping she hadn’t made a mistake going along with this cop. The fact that he was a K-9 officer irrationally soothed her fears.

Which was crazy and completely illogical. Anyone could have bad blood running through their veins. Her brother-in-law, Officer David Williams, was proof of that. He’d been so nice, so charming in the beginning.

But it soon became apparent that his niceness had been nothing but a facade hiding his cold black heart.

“Dispatch, this is Unit Twenty-one reporting gunfire at the Gas and Go store located on Bradley and Markwell. Send units out to that location. The perp who was last seen there injured my K-9 partner. He’s roughly six feet tall wearing all black, including a dark cap over his head.”

“Ten-four, Unit Twenty-one. Will send units to respond. What’s your partner’s status? Aren’t you off duty?”

“I was off duty, but interrupted a crime in progress. I’m taking my partner in to be seen at the emergency vet. The perp tried to run, which is when my K-9 partner was injured.” He glanced at her in the rearview mirror, then continued, “I’ll write up my report as soon as my partner has been cared for.”

“Ten-four.”

Lacy let out her breath in a silent sigh. She’d wondered if the cop would mention her and Rory since David had clearly been after her, not the dog. And what about the Amber Alert? She knew this cop must have known about it. Or was it possible he’d missed the news since he was off duty?

The minute the thought entered her mind, she saw the Amber Alert flashing on the electric sign over the interstate.

Busted.

Rory was still crying, so she focused on caring for the baby. Since she was already breaking rules by not having him in a car seat, she decided to go ahead and get him changed. It was part of the reason she’d chosen the back seat. If she’d had water she would have made a bottle of formula for him, too. She should have thought of picking some up at the store.

So far, she was doing a lousy job of taking care of her young nephew. Not that she had much experience with babies. She taught fifth grade, not preschool.

“Shh, it’s okay, Rory. Auntie Lacy is here. You’re going to be fine. It’s okay,” she continued talking to the baby, who continued to wail. She glanced up at the officer, hoping he wasn’t the type to lose his temper over a crying infant.

What did she really know about him? Other than he cared about his dog?

She deftly changed Rory, then bundled him back up in the sling, hoping he would calm down enough to fall back asleep.

Not hardly.

“Maybe the kid is hungry?” the officer suggested.

She stifled a sigh. “I’m well aware of that fact. I have a can of powdered formula from the store, but it’s useless without water.”

“I have bottled water.” He rummaged beneath the passenger seat and pulled out a fresh bottle of water, handing it to her over his shoulder. “I always keep a case in the SUV for my dog, Duchess.”

“Thank you.” The water wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t cold, either. Hopefully, he’d take it without a problem.

She made Rory’s bottle, shaking the thing with enough force to make her teeth rattle in an effort to be sure the powder was completely dissolved. Then she shifted the baby in her arms so that she could feed him.

Rory latched onto the nipple with the strength of a linebacker. Apparently he was too hungry to care if the water bottle was warm or not.

With a sigh of relief, she gazed into Rory’s wide eyes. This poor baby was in danger for no reason other than his father was an abusive, controlling lunatic.

She squeezed her eyes shut and lowered her mouth to press a kiss against the top of his downy head. He smelled like baby shampoo, and she had to fight against another wave of tears.

No child should have to grow up without his mother. Or with the knowledge that his father had killed his mother.

A sense of hopelessness hit hard, and she forced herself to shove it aside. Self-pity wasn’t going to help.

She needed to remain strong, for Rory’s sake.

Rory released his viselike grip on the bottle, so she lifted him up to her shoulder and lightly rubbed his back in slow circular motions. Duchess stuck her nose through the crate, pressing it along the back of Lacy’s neck, making her smile.

Rory let out a wet belch and she instantly praised him. “Good boy! Yes, you’re such a good boy!”

He lifted his head from her shoulder and smiled up at her with a toothless grin. She kissed him again, then turned him so that his head rested in the crook of her arm. As he finished the rest of the bottle, she glanced up and caught the officer staring at her through the rearview mirror.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To a twenty-four hour veterinary service,” he answered. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what took place tonight?”

“Look, Officer,” she began, but he quickly interrupted.

“Matt. My name is Matthew Callahan.”

Matt was a nice name, one that carried an inner strength. She shook her head quickly. She was acting irrational again. As if a name mattered. Wasn’t David the one in the Bible who took down Goliath with a slingshot? It didn’t mean her sister’s husband was a good man.

Quite the opposite.

She gave herself a mental shake. “Okay, Matt. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that I’m Lacy Germaine, and this baby is Rory Williams. There’s an Amber Alert out on the baby and I understand we’re in your custody.”

“Is that why you chose to sit in the back seat?” he asked.

“No.” Not only had she wanted to change Rory, but she secretly preferred being closer to the dog than to him. She forced herself to stay on track. “I’ve been staying at my sister’s house for a few days to help her with Rory. I woke up to the sound of arguing and heard my sister begging not to be hurt. Before this happened, she had told me she was afraid of her husband, David Williams, because of his temper. In fact, she recently filed for divorce. He was clearly angry about that—I overheard him threaten to kill her and Rory, too, right before I heard two gunshots. And the biggest problem of all is that David Williams is a police officer working in the third district.”

“He’s a cop?” Matt demanded, his expression turning grim.

“Yes.” She could already tell that he didn’t want to believe her. “When I heard them arguing, I called 911 and gave the dispatcher my sister’s address. Then I took off with Rory.”

“So why the Amber Alert?”

Rory had fallen asleep, the bottle just about empty, so she pulled it away and set it aside. “I don’t know. I can only assume that David somehow convinced his cop buddies that I’m the one who killed Jill and took Rory. Which doesn’t make any sense.”

He snorted in derision. “I’ll say. Even a rookie would have a hard time buying that story. There has to be something else going on.”

She clenched her jaw. “I don’t know what else is going on. You saw that David had a gun, didn’t you? And he took a slice out of Duchess. What more do you want from me? I can’t tell you what I don’t know!”

Rory shifted restlessly in her arms, and she mentally berated herself for raising her voice. Rory shouldn’t have to listen to her arguing with a cop. He’d had enough exposure to violence in his short life.

She let out a sigh and stroked the tip of her finger over his plump cheek. Now that Jill was gone, it would be up to her to take care of Rory. To raise him as her own.

To love him.

She swallowed a sense of panic. Okay, she didn’t know much about babies, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t take a crash course to learn.

Lacy silently promised to give Rory the stable life he deserved.

* * *

Matt didn’t understand why he was so captivated by Lacy taking care of Rory. He came from a large family, sure, but he wasn’t like his two eldest brothers, Marc and Miles, who’d both married women with children.

Truthfully, he’d gone down that path with devastating results. He’d begun dating a divorced woman named Debra who had a four-year-old daughter, Carly. He’d been about to propose when Carly had gotten sick and had been diagnosed with a rare form of lethal cancer. During the next few months, he’d been forced to watch the child he’d come to love die a horrible death. On top of that, the crisis had caused Debra and her ex-husband, Kyle, to grow close again. After Carly’s death, Debra had broken up with Matt, claiming she and Kyle were going to reunite.

Logically, he knew he should have been happy for them, but he’d felt Carly’s loss as keenly as they had. Losing a child, even one who wasn’t his by blood, had been the most painful thing he’d ever experienced. Debra’s rejection afterward hadn’t helped.

When Debra walked away, he’d decided it was easier to avoid romantic entanglements and to focus on his career. Dogs were better than people any day of the week. He’d loved K-9 training, and Duchess made the best partner he could have imagined. He still had the closeness he shared with his twin, Maddy, and was truly happy she’d found love with his former partner, Noah Sinclair.

Using the rearview mirror, he kept a close eye on his partner. If his gaze strayed on occasion to Lacy and the baby, he quickly caught himself and looked away. He didn’t need to keep an eye on his passengers, as Duchess seemed to be enthralled by the woman and the baby in the back seat.

Or maybe his partner instinctively knew to offer her protection.

He grappled with Lacy’s allegation that the dark-haired guy was a police officer. He could easily find out for sure, but he was loath to use his radio. He’d bought them a little time, but he couldn’t postpone the inevitable forever. Now that he knew about the Amber Alert, he would have to take Lacy and Rory into custody so she could provide her side of the story.

In his gut, he believed she was telling the truth. But he also knew that David’s being a cop would make things a lot more difficult.

Her word against that of a police officer.

He didn’t like it.

Even worse, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to continue investigating the case. In theory, once he handed her over, his role in this mess would be finished. The case would be given to one of the homicide detectives, not a K-9 officer.

The thought was depressing. Matt didn’t want to become attached to the little guy, but at the same time, he worried about what would happen to him. The kid was the real innocent victim here. Would he end up in foster care?

Maybe, but it was likely a whole lot better than ending up with his father.

The lights from the emergency veterinary clinic loomed up ahead, so he turned in that direction.

He and Duchess had only been there once before, and that was related to another on-the-job injury. Some perp had kicked Duchess in the head and he’d panicked, fearing she had suffered some sort of brain injury. She’d been fine, and he was determined she would get through this latest injury without complications as well.

After parking the SUV, he jumped out and went around to the back to get Duchess. She lifted her head, her tail thumping in greeting, but he could tell by the way she was acting that the wound along her side hurt.

“It’s okay, girl. I have you.” He scooped the animal into his arms—no small feat since she was a solid German shepherd weighing in at eighty pounds, hefty for a female.

She licked his face again and he used his elbow to close the back hatch. As he rounded the corner of the SUV, he realized that Lacy had gotten out of the vehicle with Rory swaddled against her. She held the door to the clinic open for him.

“Thanks,” he said, carrying Duchess inside.

“You’re welcome.” She surprised him again by following him into the building.

He supposed it was better for her to be inside the building since her brother-in-law was looking for her.It bothered him to think about her need to escape with Rory in the middle of the night.

He focused on Duchess. Blood was seeping through the dressings he’d applied, so he looked around for someone to talk to. “I need some help here,” he said in a loud tone.

The veterinary assistant came out of the back, then hurried over. “What happened?”

“This is my K-9 partner. She was cut by a sharp object,” he said. “The laceration is roughly six inches long.”

“This way.” The assistant led the way through a door into a small exam room.

He eased the dog down on the stainless steel table, disconcerted to realize that Lacy had followed him again. Why her actions distracted him, he had no idea. Maybe on some level, he expected her to take off with the baby. In fact, he couldn’t even say he would blame her if she did.

But she didn’t.

The vet, a tall man who appeared to be in his early fifties, entered the room. After washing his hands in the corner sink, he approached Duchess. “I’m Dr. Hogan. Do you have any idea what was used to cause the laceration?”

“No, it was dark. I assume a knife, but couldn’t say for sure.” Matt stayed near Duchess, holding her in place, stroking the soft fur between her ears reassuringly. “Her name is Duchess and she’s a K-9 officer.”

“Hi, Duchess.” The vet spoke in a soothing voice. He glanced at Matt. “I assume her shots are up to date?”

“Yes.” Matt watched as the vet cut through the gauze he’d wrapped around the dog’s torso.

“Well, I’m glad to see the cut isn’t too deep,” Dr. Hogan said. “I think we can close it up with glue. Hopefully, it won’t bother her too much.”

The huge wave of guilt rolled off his back. Duchess really would be okay.

“She’ll need some antibiotics, since we don’t know what cut her, along with some pain meds.” Dr. Hogan lifted his gaze to Matt’s. “First, we’ll get this cleaned up, okay?”

He nodded again, grateful that his partner wouldn’t need surgery. He sent up a silent prayer of thanks to God for watching over them.

Praying came natural to him. Growing up in the Callahan family meant they went to church every Sunday, followed by brunch at his mother’s home. His father, Max Callahan, the former Chief of Police, had died in the line of duty over two years ago, but in some ways it felt as if the event that had so dramatically changed their lives had happened yesterday.

The perp who’d shot his father had never been caught, a fact that nagged at him incessantly. And he knew it bothered the rest of his brothers and his twin sister, too. He’d spent some time trying to investigate the case but had gotten sidetracked when he’d been selected for K-9 training.

His father had instilled a sense of serving the community in all six of his children. Most of them had gone into some type of law enforcement work; Marc was an FBI agent, Miles a homicide detective, Mitch an arson investigator, and Matt’s twin, Maddy, a lawyer, working in the DA’s office. Only his middle brother, Mike, had defied his father’s wishes by becoming a private investigator.

“Matt?” Lacy’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts. “I’m glad Duchess is going to be okay.”

“Thanks.” He forced a smile. “Me, too.”

She took the baby bottle she’d used to feed Rory and washed it out in the sink. He couldn’t help but admire how she managed to take care of an infant in less than optimal conditions.

The veterinary assistant came in with a razor and a bowl of soapy water. For the next five minutes, he held Duchess in place while the assistant first trimmed the dog’s fur from the area around the laceration, then used the soapy water to clean it. By the time they were finished, Matt’s uniform was almost as wet as Duchess’s coat.

“Dr. Hogan will be back shortly,” the assistant said, emptying the bowl of soapy water into the sink, then rinsing it out.

An hour later, Duchess was ready to go. She took her antibiotics and pain pills in a ball of peanut butter like a pro. Since the leash was out in the car and he didn’t want Duchess to pull on the glue the vet had used to close her incision, he once again scooped her into his arms.

Lacy went ahead to open the doors for him as they made their way back outside. The moon was high in the sky, and even though he was certain they hadn’t been followed, the tiny hairs along the back of his neck lifted and pricked in warning.

“Take the baby and get inside,” he said, once she’d opened the back hatch.

Lacy quickly scooted into the back seat. He closed the door behind Duchess, then hurried behind the wheel.

Twin headlights pierced the night, and he quickly started the engine and backed out of the parking spot. The headlights grew closer, and he couldn’t ignore a sliver of apprehension.

Should he call for backup? Or was he being paranoid? Probably the latter, so he headed away from the lights, in the opposite direction. At two in the morning, he didn’t expect there to be much traffic on the road.

The twin headlights followed.

He glanced in his rearview mirror at Lacy holding the baby and Duchess stretched out in the back. No way was he going to risk becoming involved in some sort of high-speed car chase.

Grabbing the radio, he quickly called it in. “Dispatch, this is Unit Twenty-one, requesting backup at my current location, about five miles away from the emergency veterinary clinic, heading westbound on interstate ninety-four.”

“Ten-four, what’s the problem?”

He wasn’t exactly sure how to phrase his concerns. “I appear to have picked up a tail, and my partner is temporarily out of commission.”

“Unit Five is only a few miles away. He should catch up with you shortly.”

“Thanks.” He disconnected from the radio, needing both hands on the wheel. The headlights grew brighter as the vehicle behind him began to close the gap.

Was it possible the guy dressed in black, David Williams, had come to finish what he’d started? Matt gave himself a mental kick. He shouldn’t have announced over the radio that he was taking Duchess to the emergency vet. As a cop, Williams likely had a radio in his vehicle. Process of elimination would have made finding him and Lacy way too easy. There were only two emergency veterinary hospitals offering services around the clock in the area.

Swallowing hard, Matt pushed the speed as high as he dared, considering his precious cargo. Even though Lacy was wearing her seat belt, she didn’t have the proper infant car seat for Rory, and he knew if they were hit hard enough, there was a chance she could lose her grip on the baby.

And Duchess wasn’t up to par, either, considering she’d been given antibiotics and pain meds.

The headlights grew impossibly brighter. Was Williams gaining ground?

Where was his backup?

The headlights abruptly shifted, going into the left lane, coming up on his driver’s side. Matt did his best not to panic. He decided to wait until the guy was almost upon him before he would abruptly slow down, hoping the guy would shoot past them.

“This is a good time to pray,” he told Lacy. She looked surprised by his comment. “I’m serious. I know God will watch over us, and we need all the help we can get.”

She gave a terse nod, then began reciting the “Our Father” prayer, which made him wonder if she wasn’t used to praying on the fly.

“Dear Lord, give me the strength to keep us all safe,” he murmured as the lights grew brighter and brighter.

Soon they were almost parallel to his rear bumper.

Now!

He took his foot off the gas and pressed gently on the brake. The vehicle flew past him, and he didn’t waste another moment. Wrenching the wheel to the left, he drove his SUV across the median, crossed the three lanes that were thankfully absent of traffic, and took the next exit he could find.

It was several miles before he could relax enough to breathe normally. But the close call bothered him.

At the moment, he didn’t feel confident enough to take Lacy and Rory to the police station. They would be far too vulnerable there. He didn’t want them anywhere near a place where the ex-husband who happened to be a cop could find them.

Nope. What he needed was a new plan.

There had to be some way to keep Lacy and Rory safe from harm while he tracked down the guy intent on killing them.

Three

Lacy clutched Rory close, determined to hang on to him no matter what happened. She closed her eyes, the scenery flashing past the window making her dizzy. Duchess didn’t much like the rocky ride, either, whining a bit and scrambling to regain her balance.

“Sorry, Duchess,” Matt muttered.

Once again, she was oddly reassured by how much Matt cared about his dog. Not to mention that he’d told her now was a good time to pray. And most important, how he’d looked so concerned when he’d carried the animal in and out of the emergency vet clinic.

Surely, a guy who loved dogs couldn’t be all bad.

After what seemed like forever but was probably less than twenty minutes, Matt spoke up from the front seat. “Sorry about the bumpy ride. Are you and the baby okay?”

“F-fine.” Her breath hitched in her chest and she fought the urge to break down sobbing. When would this nightmare end? Why was David doing this?

Nothing made any sense.

“I’ve lost him for now,” Matt continued. “You’re safe.”

She shook her head, knowing she and Rory wouldn’t be safe until somehow the authorities found David and arrested him. “He won’t stop,” she said in a low voice. “Jill told me that David is a terrible control freak. Who knows what horrible things he’s capable of.”

“I’m getting a pretty good idea,” Matt said, his tone grim. “Apparently he doesn’t mind taking out a fellow officer in his quest to get at his son.”

“Not just his son, but me, too.” She tried to think of a way to make him understand. “Not just because I’m Jill’s sister, but he caught a glimpse of me taking off in my car. So he knows I’m a witness to her murder. My testimony could put him away for the rest of his life.”

“I know and I believe you. I totally get that the guy is a serious head case. I need to call my lieutenant, but can’t risk using the radio just yet.”

The thought of Matt calling his boss made her stomach clench. “Please don’t. Don’t turn me into the authorities.”

His gaze met hers in the rearview mirror. “I have to. When I explain what I know, my boss will call off the Amber Alert and put a BOLO—Be On the Lookout—on David Williams instead. Trust me, they’ll find him and arrest him. You and the baby will be safe.”

Having David locked up in jail was something she wanted more than anything, but she wouldn’t be able to rest until she knew he’d been apprehended.

“It’s so late. Can’t you give me a little time?” She tried not to sound as if she were begging, even though she would if necessary. “Rory needs some rest. He’s been through a lot over the past few hours.”

“I know.” Once again his gaze briefly met hers. “And so have you.”

She didn’t want to think about the fact that her sister was gone. Everything that had taken place seemed surreal. As if she might wake up in the morning to discover this was all nothing more than a bad dream.

“Yes,” she agreed. “Both of us could use some time to rest and regroup.”

There was a long silence before Matt spoke again. “Duchess could use a few hours off as well, so I’ll find someplace to rest for what’s left of the night. I’ll report in to my boss first thing tomorrow morning.”

Since it was already nearing 2:30 a.m., she didn’t find that too reassuring. How many hours of rest would he give her? Five or six at the most?

Not nearly enough, but at this point she told herself to take what she could get. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The vehicle slowed and made a right-hand turn. She noticed that he’d pulled up to a motel with a bright Vacancy sign. She sat up straighter, keeping one hand against Rory, wondering if they had a crib available.

“This place will take cash from cops and they’re pet-friendly,” he said as he threw the gearshift into Park. “Two of my brothers are cops and have used this place to keep people safe before.”

Brothers? Plural? A sense of unease niggled beneath her skin. What if one of them was friends with David Williams? What if they found a way to convince Matt that she was the guilty one, not David?

Why had she assumed she was safe with this particular cop? So what if he loved his dog? She still didn’t know anything about him.

Except for the fact that he’d told her it was a good time to pray.

She didn’t really know any men who actually prayed. Oh, sure, her father used to take them to church, but it was nothing more than an act. In private, he was anything but loving. Going to church had only been to make them look good in the community.

Sad to think that Jill had married a man who was exactly like their father.

Duchess pressed her nose against the back of Lacy’s neck again, as if sensing her distress. She liked the dog better than she liked the master. The adrenaline rush had faded, leaving a nagging headache in its wake. Maybe that’s why she was having trouble thinking clearly. Who could concentrate after witnessing a murder, being shot at and then followed?

“Stay inside for a moment,” Matt said. “I’ll see if I can get us adjoining rooms.”

“Ask for a crib,” she interjected before he could slam the door.

“Oh, yeah. Sure.”

She rested back against the seat cushion, shivering in the night. A blanket of exhaustion dropped over her, and she had almost drifted off to sleep when Matt returned.

“We’re all set.” Matt slid in behind the wheel. “We have two adjoining rooms, one with a crib. The crib should be set up by the time we get inside.”

“That’s great, thanks.” The fact that he’d gotten adjoining rooms was reassuring. Maybe his kindness wasn’t just an act.

Matt drove around the motel and pulled up in front of two rooms on the ground floor, which would make caring for Duchess much easier.

After parking, Matt jumped out and opened the door for her. He offered his hand to help her out, and she took it, all too aware of the warmth of his fingers against hers. She dropped his hand, feeling self-conscious.

He used the key to open the door to room ten, then flipped on the light switch and handed her the key. She took Rory inside, grateful to see that there was in fact a crib in the room, set up near the bathroom.

The door closed behind her. She crossed over and gently began unwrapping the swaddling cloth that she’d used as an infant carrier. Rory squirmed, sighed and then quieted down again as she set him on his back in the crib.

For a long moment she stared down at his sleeping face, trying to find solace in the fact that he was too young to remember any of this.

A blessing, except for the fact that he would never know his mother. Fresh tears burned behind her eyelids, and she swiped them away and turned back into the room.

Rory wouldn’t be alone. He’d always have her. She’d care for him the way she knew Jill would want her to. She wasn’t sure how she would manage, but she would find a way.

There was a light tapping on the connecting door. Flipping back the dead bolt, she opened it up to see Matt standing there holding her purse, the diapers and the formula, with Duchess at his side. “I brought in your things.”

“Thanks.” She stepped back, giving him room to enter. He set everything down on the small desk, and she stole a glance at him. He was handsome, his mink brown hair longer than what most cops sported, with brilliant green eyes. He wasn’t that much taller than her own five feet and eight inches, but he was broad across the shoulders in a way that made her feel smaller than she really was.

No question, Matt looked as if he could have his pick of women. If you liked a man in uniform.

Good thing she wasn’t a fan. In her experience, macho men like her father and brother-in-law were the ones to stay far away from.

Although if she were honest, she had to admit that Matt didn’t act like her father or brother-in-law. Still, she wasn’t going to take anything at face value. Not anymore.

She crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture. “Will you talk to me before you call your boss?”

He lifted a brow. “Sure, if that’s what you want.”

“I’d appreciate it.” Duchess moved over to sniff at the crib, then returned to stand beside Matt. The dog was more gold than black, the long laceration on her right side an aberration against her glossy coat.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Matt said, moving back toward the connecting door. “And leave your side unlocked in case anything happens, okay?”

She gave him a terse nod. “Good night.”

“Good night.”

When he and Duchess left the room, she made sure the connecting door remained ajar as he’d asked before dousing the light and crawling beneath the covers fully dressed.

Sleep should have come easily, but for some reason her mind decided to replay the events of the past few hours. She pressed the pillow over her ears, as if that would help silence her sister’s pleas. The subsequent gunshots.

Deafening silence.

She must have slept a little because Rory’s crying woke up her up at quarter to six in the morning. Bleary-eyed, she dragged herself out of bed, stumbling a bit as she went over to make him a bottle.

She should have made it the night before. That’s probably what Jill would have done. Using warm water from the tap, she made his bottle, then quickly changed his diaper.

It was messy, and of course she’d completely forgotten about picking up wet wipes. The washcloth from the bathroom seemed too rough against his skin, but it did the trick. Finally, she had him changed and settled in the crook of her arm with the bottle.

She eased down onto the bed and closed her eyes, feeling like a failure. Being a mother wasn’t as instinctive as she’d hoped. What else had she forgotten? The poor thing didn’t even have a change of clothes.

She kissed the top of his head. “It’s just you and me, kiddo. Just you and me.” Hopefully, she and Rory would be able to figure things out, together.

* * *

Matt groaned when he heard the baby crying, tempted to bury his head into the pillow to drown out the noise.

Although if Lacy was up, then he should be awake, too. He squinted at the clock, realizing it was barely six.

He needed to talk to his boss, his lieutenant, not his shift commander, but he wouldn’t be in until eight o’clock. A full two hours from now.

Beside him, Duchess thumped her tail and lifted her head as if asking if it was time to get up.

“Easy girl,” he soothed, lightly scratching her between the ears. “You need your rest.”

Duchess licked his wrist, then set her head back down on the mattress. Propping himself up on his elbow, he gently palpated the long laceration. The wound looked decent, considering what she’d been through. Still, she’d carry the scar with her always.

A fresh burst of anger hit hard. Not just because of Duchess’s injury, but on behalf of the woman and baby next door. That guy had killed his wife and had tried to kill a woman and her baby, not caring that he’d almost taken out two police officers.

Yeah, capturing David Williams and putting him behind bars was definitely at the top of his list of priorities. He’d have to find a way to convince his boss to let him assist in the investigation.

The crying next door subsided, but even in the silence, he couldn’t fall back asleep. Dragging himself upright, he walked over to the window next to the door and pushed the curtain aside to sweep his gaze over the area. Convinced that nothing seemed out of place, he gestured for Duchess to come.

His partner ambled up and lightly jumped from the bed. He didn’t carry her this time, needing to understand what she was able to do. Being the trooper she was, she moved as gracefully as ever, the pain from the incision apparently not bad enough to hold her back.

“Good girl,” he praised, giving her a treat from his pocket. Deciding to leave her off leash, he pulled on his jacket and took her outside.

He was making his way back across the parking lot when the door to Lacy’s room burst open. She had the baby wrapped against her with the cloth thingy, but the expression in her eyes was full of panic.

He immediately broke into a run, heading straight toward her, Duchess keeping pace at his side. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He looked for signs of an intruder.

“I— Nothing, sorry. I thought you were leaving me behind.” Her cheeks went pink and she averted her gaze.

“No, of course not.” He was relieved there was nothing seriously wrong. He took her arm and drew her back inside the room, closing the door behind them. “I told you I wouldn’t call my boss without talking to you first. He won’t be in until closer to eight o’clock.”

Her smile was weak as she dropped back down on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry to overreact like that. It’s just...” she shrugged. “Realizing that I’m all Rory has left in the world is a little overwhelming.”

The baby was wide-awake, lifting his head and looking around with large curious blue eyes. Matt hadn’t really understood until this moment just how big of a change this was for Lacy. The reality of her situation was clearly just sinking in.

“Looks like he’s going to be up for a while. Should we find something to eat?”

Her tenuous smile widened, but then she grimaced. “That sounds great. Except for the fact that I don’t have a car seat for Rory. I’m not sure I can manage a restaurant without one.”

“Okay, how about I pick something up and bring it back? There’s a family restaurant a few blocks from here. Tell me what you like.”

“Scrambled eggs, wheat toast and bacon,” she said. “Looks like the motel provides coffee in the room.”

She had ordered exactly what he’d planned to get, which made him smile. “Yeah, but the pot only makes one cup. I’ll get us both coffee to go, too.” He turned toward his room, then looked back at Duchess. “Stay, Duchess. Guard.”

Duchess instantly dropped to her haunches, sitting straight and tall. Lacy reached out to pet her, and he bit back a protest. It was clear Lacy was feeling emotionally fragile at the moment, and it wouldn’t hurt for Duchess to get a little extra attention.

The trip to and from the restaurant didn’t take long, but he didn’t like leaving them alone. Duchess would protect Lacy and Rory with her life, but she wasn’t bulletproof, either.

And he suspected that next time, David Williams wouldn’t bother using a knife. In fact, he was surprised but glad he hadn’t used his gun against Duchess.

Matt entered the motel through his room, then knocked on the connecting door that was still ajar. “Food’s here,” he called.

“Come on in.”

Duchess greeted him with her usual tail wag, and he had to admit he loved that she was always happy to see him. Lacy had cleaned off the small desk so he could set the insulated containers down. He smiled when he realized she’d brewed herself a cup of coffee.

He pulled the two chairs over as Lacy set Rory back in the crib. Duchess went over and stretched out on the carpet in front of the crib, as if knowing it was her job to protect the baby.

“Duchess is amazing,” Lacy said, dropping into the chair beside him. “Thanks for picking up breakfast.”

“Yes, my partner is awesome, and you’re welcome.” He bowed his head and began to pray. “Dear Lord, we thank You for this food we are about to eat and for Your continued guidance and protection as we seek safety. Amen.”

There was a brief pause before Lacy added, “Amen.”

“Dig in,” he teased, thinking about how they’d always said those words after their family prayer when growing up.

Lacy picked up her plastic fork and dug into her eggs. “Do you always pray like that?” she asked.

He bit into a crisp piece of bacon, glancing at her in surprise. “Yes, always. That’s the way I was brought up.”

“Hmm.” Her noncommittal response made him frown.

“I take it you didn’t grow up attending church?”

She let out a harsh laugh. “Oh, sure. We attended church every week, but it didn’t mean much. My parents only went to put on a show for everyone else. At home they argued and...” She didn’t finish, but he felt himself grow tense.

“Your father abused your mother?” He was horrified by the thought and hoped Lacy hadn’t been subjected to abuse, too.

She shrugged and avoided his gaze. “It wasn’t like she had to go to the emergency room or anything, but yeah, he liked to hit. I have no idea why she put up with him.”

He couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to put a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, Lacy. That should never happen.”

She abruptly dropped her fork and jumped to her feet. “It wasn’t as bad as what you’re thinking. He didn’t point a gun and shoot my mother in cold blood the way David murdered Jill.”

Before he could say anything she disappeared into the tiny bathroom, closing the door behind her.

He felt terrible for opening old wounds, and gave himself a mental kick in the pants. Losing Carly had gutted him. Debra had torn his heart out and stomped on it, but even those two things were a far cry from what Lacy had experienced. Just because he needed some emotional distance from her and Rory didn’t mean he couldn’t be more sympathetic and understanding.

After promising himself to do better, he finished his meal and then cleaned up his things, leaving Lacy’s meal alone. After about ten minutes she emerged from the bathroom, her red, puffy eyes evidence of her tears.

She didn’t say anything to him, but took her seat and continued eating her breakfast.

“I’m sorry,” he said gruffly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She nodded and finished her meal. “I know,” she said after she’d tossed out her garbage. “I’m fine. Now, tell me how we’re going to approach your boss. I’m not convinced going into the police station is the right move.”

He stared at her in amazement, wondering if she’d read his mind. “How did you know that’s exactly what my plan was?” he said. “Rather than call, I think we should show up and go straight in to talk to my lieutenant, Bill Gray.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know Lieutenant Gray, so who’s to say he’ll believe me?”

“I was there when David aimed a gun at you,” he reminded her. “And he cut Duchess, remember?”

“We assume he cut Duchess. We didn’t actually see it,” she corrected him. “Duchess could have cut herself on a fence trying to chase him.”

He didn’t like admitting she had a point. “My boss has faith in me. There’s no reason for him not to believe you.”

“Except for another police officer telling a completely different story,” she said. “And he’s had three years of lies about my sister to back him up.”

“Listen, the forensic evidence at the crime scene will speak for itself. The truth will prevail above the lies. You don’t have anything to worry about.” He hesitated, then added, “I need you to trust me on this, okay?”

Her expression was full of agony, and he felt so bad he almost gave in. But what other option was there? They couldn’t hide out here in a motel room indefinitely.

“Fine,” she reluctantly agreed. “I hope your boss is as good as you say.”

“He is.” Matt glanced at his watch. They still had almost twenty minutes before they needed to leave. He wanted to stop for warm clothes and maybe a car seat, but the stores wouldn’t open for a couple hours yet.

Lacy went over to pick up Rory and brought him to the bed. For a moment, the memory of Carly lying sick in a hospital bed flashed in his mind, and he pushed it away with an effort.

Nothing was going to happen to Rory. He wasn’t sick. And Matt would do everything in his power to keep the little guy safe from harm.

He left Lacy alone and checked his cell phone for messages. Then, since there was internet access in the motel, he decided to search for the closest big-box store, where they could get everything they needed for Rory.

The closest one opened at nine o’clock, so he figured they could stop there after talking to his lieutenant. It was tempting to call ahead to the department, to make sure Bill Gray would be there, but he restrained himself.

When it was time to go, he went back to Lacy’s room to help carry the baby’s things. He noticed she’d made a bottle for him, ready for whenever he became hungry. If she was intimidated by caring for her young nephew, she wasn’t showing it. He had to give her credit for thinking ahead.

When he had the baby stuff loaded in the car, along with Duchess’s food and water dishes, he went back inside. “Ready?”

Her expression was resigned, but she nodded. He opened the door and then escorted her to the SUV parked facing outward in the lot. Before she could get inside, the baby slipped down in the swaddling cloth. She’d bent over in an effort to hoist him back up when a loud gunshot rang through the air. He pushed Lacy down, horrified to see a round hole in the passenger-side window where Lacy’s head had been seconds earlier.

“Get in!” He shoved her inside and slammed the door. He jumped into the driver’s seat, determined to escape from the gunman.

More gunfire echoed, and Matt drove like a demolition derby driver, clenching his jaw, praying that the bullets wouldn’t find their mark. He headed toward the route that happened to be closer to the trees, hoping to use them as cover.

Thankfully, his ploy worked. They’d gotten away, for now. But he couldn’t rest or relax.

How on earth had Williams known where to find them?

Four

Her heart in her throat, Lacy clutched Rory close to her chest and silently prayed for God to keep them all safe. The gut-level instinct surprised her—she hadn’t really thought much about God in the years after her parents had died.

But right here, right now, with the wind whistling through the small round bullet hole in the passenger-side window, proof that David Williams hadn’t stopped searching for them, she wanted to believe that God was up there, watching over them.

That she, Matt and Rory weren’t completely alone in this.

“Are you all right?” Matt asked in a hoarse voice.

“Y-yes.” She and Rory weren’t hurt. Scared senseless, but not physically injured.

“We need a new plan.” Matt’s tone was grim. “Williams is always one step ahead of us, and I don’t like it. I can’t figure out how he knew where to find us. Regardless, I’m not going to risk taking you anywhere near the police station.”

The news should have been reassuring. She hadn’t wanted to go to the authorities, afraid that even with Matt’s support, his boss would lean toward believing David’s version of events over hers. At the same time, being here alone with Matt didn’t make her feel that much better. Oh, she trusted Matt, at least as far as his ability to keep her and Rory safe. But for how long?

Duchess woofed softly behind her. Okay, they weren’t completely alone, but still. Eventually, they’d need help of the two-legged variety. Someone to provide backup. It wasn’t as if traveling with a three-month-old and a K-9 was inconspicuous.

They were bound to attract attention.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what? Almost getting you killed?” His harsh tone didn’t make her flinch because she knew he was upset with himself rather than with her.

“You saved us,” she corrected him. “And I can’t deny I’m glad we’re not going to the police station.”

He was silent for several long moments. “We need a place to go where we can hide off-grid for a while. I want to dig into Williams’s background a bit.”

The idea of hiding somewhere off-grid was appealing, but the thought of his investigating David made her blood run cold. “He’s a sociopath,” she said in a flat tone. “His entire world revolves around him. I’m not sure you’ll ever figure out the logic behind all this.”

His gaze met hers in the rearview mirror. “Try not to worry about it, okay? Duchess and I will protect you and Rory.”

She attempted to smile. “I know. But can we please stop at a store to pick up a few things? Rory needs clothes, baby wipes and extra bottles. Not to mention a proper car seat.”

He sighed. “Yeah, okay. But I’m going to drive to a store located on the opposite side of town, just in case. And once we have what you and Rory need, I’m going to call my brother Miles.”

The news made her tense up all over again. “Are you sure it’s safe? You said your brothers work in law enforcement. I highly doubt he’ll be thrilled with the idea of us going into hiding rather than to the authorities.”

Matt grinned. “You’d be surprised. Miles has done his share of breaking the rules. He’ll be supportive of our plan, don’t worry. Besides, I need a different vehicle and more cash.”

Duchess pressed her nose against the back of Lacy’s neck, making her smile. Between the K-9 officer and Matt’s ever-present confidence, she was feeling better already. “All right. I’ll trust your judgment.”

Matt nodded and fell silent as they headed across town. The traffic wasn’t too bad, and they reached a shopping area within thirty minutes. Lacy was relieved it was far away from the scene of her sister’s murder.

She tightened her grip on Rory and blinked away the tears. Jill would want her to be strong for the baby, so she needed to stay focused on being a good mother. Once they were safe, there would be plenty of time to make sure Jill had a proper burial.

And hopefully by then David would be behind bars, paying for his crime.

“Ready?” Matt asked. He’d backed into a parking spot, and she belatedly realized he’d done that just in case they had to make a quick getaway.

“Yes.” She unlatched the seat belt and curled her arm protectively around Rory as she pushed open the car door. Matt was there, offering his assistance. She put her hand in his, instantly aware of the warmth of his fingers curling over hers. As soon as she had her feet under her, she let go, uncomfortable about her odd awareness of him.

Matt was the complete opposite of the few men she’d tried dating in the past. One fellow teacher had expressed interest, but she hadn’t experienced even the slightest flicker of attraction toward him. Then there was the accountant who did her taxes, but that hadn’t been any better.

So why was she reacting to a man who was virtually a stranger?

No clue. And it needed to stop right now.

The stern lecture to herself helped. They entered the store and Matt grabbed a shopping cart. She wove through the aisles, quickly finding the baby items she needed. A glimpse of the prices on the car seats made her grimace.

“They’re so expensive.” She glanced at Matt. “I only have about fifty dollars on me.”

“It’s fine, I have enough to last until my brother brings more. Which one do you think is the best?”

She looked at the various styles, then pointed at the one Jill had purchased. “This one.”

“Okay.” He picked up the box and set it in the cart. “Pick out everything you need for the baby, then we’ll get you a light jacket.”

She wanted to protest, but spring in Wisconsin was unpredictable so she gave in. She picked out two outfits for Rory, a warm zip-up onesie with a hood to cover his head and then a packet of baby wipes. The smallest box of bottles contained six, so she tossed that in the cart, too. Silently counting up what they owed made her stomach clench with worry.

“Women’s clothes are over there,” Matt said, turning the cart in that direction.

“I’ll just get a heavy sweatshirt. No need to pay for a coat.”

“You should get both, just in case.” He apparently wasn’t about to take no for an answer. And he didn’t stop there. After she picked out a navy blue jacket, he pushed the cart over to the sundries and waved a hand. “Get what you need—hairbrush, shampoo, etcetera. I’ll pick up a few things, too.”

She hesitated. “If we’re going to another motel, they’ll provide some of this stuff. No reason to waste your money.”

“We’re not going to a motel,” he countered. “It’s too hard to find the ones that are dog-friendly, and they’re not all willing to take cash, either. Besides, I want you and Rory far away from the area.”

“So where are we going?”

“I have a friend who owns a cabin located about thirty minutes outside the city limits. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s warm, has two bedrooms and a kitchen. It’s the best place I know where we can hide out for a while.”

A cabin sounded nice, if maybe a little too cozy. And since the accommodations sounded better for Duchess, how could she argue? She began filling the cart with the bare essentials. Matt tossed a few items in, too.

The grand total was just as bad as she’d feared, even though many of the items they’d purchased were on sale. She wondered how on earth she’d manage to repay Matt for his kindness.

Matt didn’t seem concerned as he carried everything back out to the SUV. Right in the parking lot, he opened the box and quickly pulled out the infant car seat. Lacy bundled Rory into the new winter onesie and then fastened him into the car seat. Matt took over from there, securing the seat with ease.

“You look as if you’ve done that before,” she said as she slid into the front passenger seat.

He froze for a moment, then shrugged. “A couple of my brothers have kids.”

“A couple?” She fastened her seat belt then looked at him. “How many brothers do you have?”

“Four older brothers and a younger twin sister.” He started the engine and let it run for a moment.

She tried not to gape at him. “Six? There are six of you?”

He pulled out his phone. “Yeah, crazy, huh? Marc is the oldest, and works for the FBI. He and his wife, Kari, are due to have another baby early next month. Miles is the second oldest and works as a homicide detective. He and his wife, Paige, are also expecting in early May. My twin, Maddy, just married my former partner, Noah Sinclair. Mitch, an arson investigator, and Mike, a private investigator, are still single, like me, which is good because we can balance things out.”

All the information he was tossing out about his family made her head spin. And she hadn’t missed the fact that he’d emphasized he was single and not interested in changing his status. Fine with her. “And you’re sure they won’t force you to take me in?”

“I’m sure.” Matt reached over and lightly clasped her hand in his. “Trust me. In our family, Callahans always come first.”

Strangely enough, she did trust him. As she listened to him leaving a message for Miles, she found herself relaxing for the first time since she’d woken up to the sounds of her sister arguing with her husband.

She reached back to place a soothing hand on Rory in his car seat. If Matt was right, and Callahans always came first, then maybe, just maybe, they’d find a way out of this mess.

* * *

Matt pulled out of the parking lot, hoping Miles would return his call soon. He didn’t like thinking about the fact that as a cop, David Williams had access to information like Matt’s cell number and his vehicle license plate number.

Five minutes later, his phone rang. He handed it to Lacy. “Place the call on speaker.” When she’d done that, he quickly answered. “Miles, I need a hand.”

“What’s going on?”

“I need new disposable phones, a laptop computer, a new K-9 vehicle and cash.”

“Anything else?” His brother’s tone was all business. “What about a place to stay?”

“We need to remain off-grid, so I’m planning to head up to Valerie’s father’s cabin. Maybe you could give her a heads-up that I’ll be staying there for a while, just in case she decides to take a trip.”

“We?” Trust his brother to pick up on that slip.

He glanced at Lacy. “I’m keeping a woman and baby safe. There’s already been three attempts to kill them. Honestly? The less you know, the better.”

“Haven’t I always supported you, Matt? I’m not about to turn you in, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Lacy relaxed in her seat, and he grinned. “I know that, and I trust you, bro. It’s Lacy who’s a bit skittish.”

“Lacy obviously doesn’t know us very well, does she?” Miles paused for a moment, then continued, “Okay, I’ll meet you at Val’s cabin in roughly forty-five minutes.”

“Thanks, Miles. I owe you one.”

“And don’t think I won’t collect. I think a night of babysitting should do the trick.”

Babysitting? He grimaced but reluctantly agreed. “Sure, Abby is a cutie. But let’s do that before the baby is born, okay? I’m not sure I can handle two of them at the same time.”

His brother let out a bark of laughter. “Done. Catch up with you later.”

“I guess the Callahans really do stick together,” Lacy said, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes. “I’m glad.”

He thought about the way she’d lost her sister and knew he’d never rest if someone had murdered one of his siblings. In fact, he’d been secretly trying to investigate his father’s unsolved murder. Max Callahan had been the Milwaukee Chief of Police for almost five years before his death. He’d been shot when he’d gone out to visit the scene of a crime. Matt continued to be angry and upset that the perp was still at large.

But right now, he had to remain focused on keeping Lacy and Rory safe. He headed toward his college friend’s cabin, using side streets and lesser known highways to avoid the interstate.

Because he’d taken the longer route, he reached the cabin a few minutes before Miles. Matt took a moment to make sure they could get inside, using the key that was hidden in the bottom of a bird feeder. The door creaked open. While it was a little dusty, the interior looked just the way he remembered. He returned to the SUV and let Duchess out before carrying Rory’s car seat inside, so the baby would have something to sit in. Lacy followed on his heels, bringing in the rest of their things. Duchess ran around for a bit, exploring the area before making her way back to the cabin. She barked, and he crossed over to let her in, taking a minute to check out her wound. Thankfully, it still looked good.

“Lacy, my brother Miles. Miles, this is Lacy and Rory.”

“Nice to meet you,” Miles said with a smile.

“You, too.” Lacy shivered. “It’s a bit chilly in here.”

“I’ll light the wood-burning stove. It will be warm in no time,” Matt assured her.

Between the two men, they stacked armloads of cut wood near the vast iron stove. It didn’t take long, and soon the logs were crackling and popping. He rose to his feet and turned toward his brother.

“Did you remember the computer?”

“Yep, it’s in the SUV.” Miles glanced at Lacy, who was busy unpacking their things. “Come outside for a moment.”

Matt followed his brother outside. “What’s up?”

“I’m sure you know about the Amber Alert. Lacy is wanted for kidnapping her nephew,” Miles said. When Matt opened his mouth to protest, his brother waved a hand. “I told you I’d support you and I will. But I need to know what’s going on.”

Matt filled in the details, scant as they were. Miles scowled when he mentioned David Williams was a cop. “He’s already tried to kill her three times. You’ll find a bullet hole in my SUV to prove it.”

They walked over to check out the damage, and Miles sighed heavily. “Okay, I trust you know what you’re doing. The computer bag, cash and phones are in the front seat of the replacement SUV.” His brother dangled the keys in front of him. Matt swapped with him. “Be careful, and let me know if you need backup.”

“I will.” Matt knew his brother probably didn’t want to be too far from Paige, considering she was eight months pregnant, but he might need someone inside the police department to get him information. For any physical backup, he’d lean on either Mitch or Mike. “Thanks again.”

“No problem.” Miles slapped him on the back. “Lacy is pretty and the kid is cute, too.”

Matt narrowed his gaze. “Just because you and Mark found the loves of your lives on a case doesn’t mean I’m going to do the same. I’m finished with relationships, remember?”

“Yeah, we’ll see.” Miles grinned and slid in behind the wheel.

“Miles?” Matt put out a hand to stop him from closing the door. “Be careful, okay? Avoid taking the main highways. This vehicle has been targeted twice already. I need to know you’ll be safe.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Matt stepped back and watched for a moment as his brother drove away. He murmured a silent prayer for God to keep Miles safe before heading over to get the items Miles had brought for them. As soon as he had the computer up and running he wanted to start digging into David Williams’s background.

When he entered the cabin, he heard high-pitched wails. Lacy was trying to get Rory to take his bottle, but the little guy wasn’t having it.

A shiver of unease danced down his spine. “Is he okay?”

“I’m not sure.” Lacy’s expression reflected her concern. “I don’t understand why he’s suddenly so fussy.”

He didn’t know a lot about babies, but he’d heard that sometimes they cried because of gas pains. Maybe this was nothing more than that. “Here, let me try.”

Lacy handed him the baby. He flipped the infant over his forearm so Rory was lying on his belly, and began rubbing his back in soothing circles.

The kid kept right on crying.

Matt tried walking around with him, putting an exaggerated bounce in his step. Duchess thought it was some sort of game and kept wrapping herself around his legs.

The kid continued to wail.

Was Rory missing his mother, instinctively knowing that he and Lacy were poor substitutes? Or was he just feeling colicky? He had no idea, but the incessant crying was making him feel a bit panicky.

“Here, I’ll take him.” Lacy extracted Rory from his arms, holding him protectively to her chest. There was a hint of fear in her eyes, and it took him a minute to figure out she was worried he was going to lose his temper over a crying baby.

“He’ll likely cry himself out eventually. In the meantime, try changing him, then see if he’ll eat,” he advised calmly. “If not, we can take him for a car ride, see if that settles him down.”

Lacy gave a tiny nod and hurried into the bedroom. The baby continued to cry, and when she returned five minutes later, she looked frazzled. “He still won’t take the bottle. Let’s try the car ride.”

He closed the computer screen and nodded. He grabbed his jacket and gave his K-9 partner a hand signal that instantly brought the dog to his side. “Okay, let’s go.”

Lacy buckled Rory into his car seat, and he carried it outside and secured it in the back seat. He opened the back hatch for Duchess, then slid in behind the wheel.

“I hope nothing is seriously wrong. I don’t even know the name of Rory’s pediatrician,” Lacy said in a low voice. “Maybe I should have purchased a thermometer. He feels a little warm, but maybe that’s just because he’s crying. I just don’t know...”

“I’m sure he’s fine.” Matt did his best to infuse confidence in his tone.

Achoo! Achoo!

Rory’s crying was interrupted by two consecutive sneezes. They would have been cute if they weren’t so concerning. Matt didn’t like thinking about how they’d been dragging this poor kid around the city, only just getting him something warm to wear a couple of hours ago.

He exchanged a worried glance with Lacy. What if the baby was indeed getting sick with some sort of flu virus?

No. Please, God, no. He couldn’t bear the thought of something bad happening to Rory. He couldn’t survive watching another innocent child struggle to breathe. To live.

Please, Lord, keep Rory safe in Your care!

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