Guarding His Secret Son, page 12
The bound man hunched his shoulders. “Abernathy didn’t ask me to kill the kid. He wanted the kid brought to him.”
That was interesting news. “Then why keep shooting at us when the baby was nearby?” she asked. “You could have killed him.”
“I didn’t try to kill the baby,” the guy repeated. “And I’m not saying anything more until I talk to my lawyer.”
“That’s your right,” Garrett said. “Just keep in mind we want the man behind these attempts. And try to remember that some rich people believe they’re above the law. A guy like Joel only looks out for himself in these situations.”
She was impressed with how Garrett seemed to know just what to say. The bound man remained silent, but she could tell he was considering Garrett’s words. She felt certain this guy would eventually tell them what he knew once he’d lawyered up and could arrange to exchange information for a lighter sentence.
A text came through on her phone. “Wyatt is asking that we meet in Oshkosh.”
“That works.” Garrett met her eyes in the rearview mirror. “How is Micah?”
“He’s sleeping.” She texted Wyatt back, then glanced at her watch. Even though how they’d been on the run from one location to the next, Micah seemed to be on a regular schedule. Unusual for newborns, but something she was grateful for in this case. He’d likely wake up soon, needing to be fed. Thank goodness they’d purchased more canned formula for him.
When Garrett nodded and lapsed into a brooding silence, she wondered what was going through his mind. The news of Rebecca’s engagement had seemed to rattle him. Not that she blamed him for being stunned.
Both Wisconsin and Illinois state laws deemed any baby born to a married couple provides parental rights to both spouses, regardless of who might be the real biological father. Was Joel’s intent to get his hands on the baby so he could have access to the Woodward fortune? Wasn’t it too late for that? He and Rebecca weren’t married. And while he might claim the baby was his, a simple DNA test would prove otherwise.
If they had gotten married, pictures would be plastered all over social media and picked up by newspapers.
Right?
She texted Wyatt. Did Joel and Rebecca get married?
It took several long moments before she received an answer. Abby says no record of a marriage between them has been found on file.
Thanks.
“Let Wyatt know we’re fifteen minutes from Oshkosh. I need to know exactly where he wants to meet.”
She relayed the information. Wyatt responded, asking to meet at a popular restaurant located just off the interstate. The thought of food made her stomach growl, but they would hardly be able to enjoy a meal having the bound guy along as their passenger.
Micah began to squirm five minutes later. She wanted to take him out of his car seat, but she hesitated since they were still on the interstate. She quickly made a bottle, then gave it to him while he was still in the car seat. She cuddled as close as she could to provide skin-to-skin contact by pressing the top of his head into the curve of her neck. She worried he was spending too much time in the baby carrier and not enough being held and loved.
If only they could find a safe location to stay for a while. Not that she wasn’t grateful for the protection they’d had so far. She firmly believed God was watching over them during this difficult time.
“Is he okay?” Garrett asked.
“Great.” She forced a smile. “Babies are resilient.”
Garrett’s gaze clung to hers for a moment before his eyes shifted to examine the road ahead. She wanted to ask him what he was thinking but knew he didn’t want to talk in front of their prisoner.
They arrived at their destination just as Micah finished his bottle. She quickly removed him from the car seat, then held him up to her shoulder so he could burp. She nuzzled the downy, dark hair on his head.
She prayed Joel Abernathy wouldn’t get anywhere near this little baby. Not when she suspected he only wanted the infant for his own personal gain.
Unless he really did believe the baby was his. The thought brought her gaze to Garrett, but he was already pushing out of the car and going around to open their prisoner’s door.
The more the idea circled around in her mind, the more she believed Joel may not be as much of a bad guy as they’d originally thought.
She opened her car door to hear better, but she stayed where she was, holding Micah close while Wyatt and Abby joined Garrett and the prisoner.
“I instructed him on his rights, and he says he wants a lawyer,” Garrett explained. “He mentioned being hired by Joel Abernathy. I’d like to follow you back to Green Lake so we can arrange a meeting with Abernathy. Liam was going to text me his contact info but hasn’t. I’d like to talk to him one-on-one if possible.”
“If Liam agrees, that’s fine with me.” Wyatt held the prisoner’s arm in a firm grip. “This perp should ride in our vehicle in case you need to take a different route.”
“Agreed. What happened with the black SUV?”
Wyatt shook his head, glancing at the prisoner as if he didn’t want to say too much. “He escaped, but I sent the license plate to Dispatch. We haven’t heard back yet. Things have been busy back there, between a series of robberies and a boating incident on Green Lake.”
“That’s understandable. By the way, there’s a dead man in the woods near Liz’s clinic.” Garrett gestured to the prisoner. “His backup started shooting, so I was forced to return fire. I would suggest we let the local police know, but it’s possible that the dead guy has been picked up by now, the way the others were.”
“You’ve been busy, too,” Abby said with a frown. “We’ll reach out, mention a report of gunfire in the area. Can’t hurt to have someone go check the place out.”
“Good. Better that way. I can’t afford to turn over my weapon again. Not until this is over.” Garrett glanced back at Liz, then gestured to the restaurant. “We haven’t eaten in a while. I’d like to grab something here before heading back.”
“Fine with us,” Abby said. “But we should talk about the proposed interview with Abernathy. We want to be sure to have plenty of backup if you end up arranging a meeting.”
“Okay, we can discuss that more later.” Garrett smiled wearily. “Thanks for everything. We’ll be in touch when we hit city limits.”
“Be careful.” Wyatt nodded at Liz before leading the prisoner to their SUV. Abby walked along on the other side; then they took a moment to replace the zip ties with actual handcuffs.
Garrett came over to where Liz sat with Micah. He reached for the baby, and she quickly handed him over.
“I’m still in shock over Rebecca’s engagement,” he confided in a low tone. “But that explains why she didn’t tell me she was pregnant.”
Her heart ached for him. “It could be that Joel believes the baby is his.”
Garrett frowned. “Maybe, but sending gunmen after us to get him back is hardly the way to go.”
“True. But he may have assumed we were keeping the baby for other reasons. Especially since he reported Rebecca’s disappearance.” She shrugged. “Maybe he doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, but you’re right about the need to hear what he has to say.”
“I know.” Garrett kissed Micah’s head, melting her heart even more. “I guess going back to the clinic ended up working out. We know more information now than we did before.”
Those hours spent waiting for him had not been easy. Her mind had conjured up all sorts of scenarios, none of them good. It was only after she’d received his text saying he was okay and would be meeting her that she’d been able to relax.
The idea of something bad happening to Garrett filled her with dread. She cared about him, far more than she should.
And not just because he was protecting her and Micah, too.
He was an honorable guy, one who was finding his way back to his faith. She admired his strength, his courage and his compassion.
Leaving him and Micah behind once this was over would be the second-hardest thing she’d have to do in her entire life.
Losing her daughter was still the most difficult. But leaving Garrett and his son would leave a similar gaping hole in her heart.
* * *
Pushing away his own disappointment and shock, Garrett focused on their next steps. He wanted to set up a meeting with Joel as soon as possible, but his stomach was rumbling with hunger, and he was sure Liz’s was, too. They hadn’t eaten since their early lunch, and it was going on five thirty in the afternoon by now.
Nourishment was important if they were going to get to the bottom of this. No matter what the prisoner claimed, there had been so much gunfire since this started that it was nothing short of amazing that Micah hadn’t been hit.
No, he wasn’t about to give Abernathy the benefit of the doubt. Not yet.
He caught Liz’s gaze. “Are you hungry? We should grab a bite while we’re here.”
“Yes, that would be great. That way I can change Micah, too.”
“I can do it. Would you unbuckle the car seat? And grab the diaper bag?” He couldn’t explain his reluctance to set the baby down. Or hand him over to Liz. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her—he did. He liked holding his son, feeling his small weight curled on his chest. It wasn’t fair that they hadn’t had much time to bond.
Hopefully soon, though. Once the danger was over, he would ask for Liz’s advice on what he needed to buy, then formally submit the paperwork for his leave of absence from work. Liam had already approved some time off, but he wanted the full paternity leave.
He was looking forward to the days when he could concentrate solely on his son.
“Here you go.” Liz handed him the diaper bag, hauling the empty carrier into the restaurant herself. He followed her inside and waited until they were seated in a booth before taking Micah to the restroom to change him.
The way his son gazed up at him filled him with love. How anyone could hire a gunman to take out a baby was beyond belief. And, in his opinion, anyone that heartless should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
When he returned to the table with Micah, Liz was studying the menu. They had fresh water, which he gladly gulped after he’d slid in across from her.
He kept Micah in the crook of his arm while he looked at the restaurant’s offerings. He decided on a French dip sandwich, then pushed the plastic menu aside.
Liz set her menu aside, too, smiling at the sleeping baby. Then her expression turned serious. “It might be better to wait until tomorrow before meeting with Joel.”
Before he could respond, their server came to take their order. Once they were alone, he shook his head. “It’s time to put an end to this nightmare. It will still be light out by the time we get to Green Lake.”
“But not for long,” she protested. “You don’t want to risk being ambushed in the dark.”
He would take whatever risk was necessary to get Joel Abernathy in police custody. “We’ll see what Liam thinks. Wyatt and Abby are working a second shift. It would be nice to have them as backup.”
She grimaced and sighed. “You’re right. I trust Abby and Wyatt to have our back.”
When their food arrived, he reluctantly placed Micah back in his carrier. The sleeping baby didn’t seem to mind, but his arms felt empty without his warm presence.
Liz reached out to take his hand. “Dear Lord, we are grateful for this food You’ve provided for us. Please continue to keep us all safe in Your care, especially Garrett, as he may face more danger tonight. Amen.”
“Amen.” He gently squeezed her hand. “I’ll be fine. The good news is that this will all be over soon.”
“I know.” She dug into her roasted chicken while he enjoyed his roast beef. The simple meal helped rejuvenate his flagging energy. He was anxious to get back on the road to Green Lake.
When he pulled out some cash to pay their bill, he realized he’d forgotten to ask Abby and Wyatt to replenish his funds. They weren’t going back to their previous motel room and would need to find another place to stay.
As if reading his thoughts, Liz asked, “Do you have enough?”
“Yes, we’ll be fine.” He could either get more from an ATM or maybe stop at his place. He wouldn’t mind a change of clothes. The warm temps were nice in some respects, but he was sweaty after his long trek through the woods to Liz’s clinic and back.
Remembering how he’d attached the envelope to his chest, he reached up to remove it, wincing at the amount of hair he pulled off with the tape.
“I wondered where you’d put that.” Liz smiled ruefully as she took the envelope from him. “I’m glad you found the documents, but it appears we won’t need them, after all.”
He shrugged. “It was worth it to get one of the gunmen in custody. I have a feeling Abernathy’s operation will come crumbling down once he realizes it’s in his best interest to tell us what he knows.”
“I agree.” She tucked the envelope into the diaper bag. “I’m ready to go when you are.”
He took a moment to make sure Micah was strapped in, then stood. He felt certain they hadn’t been followed, but he swept his gaze over the area, anyway.
It was a little troublesome that they hadn’t learned who the black SUV with tinted windows was registered to. Maybe the vehicle had been stolen or the license plates switched out—two common tactics used by criminals.
Once they were settled in their vehicle, he headed back to the interstate. The black SUV bothered him. There had been no sign of the car used by either the dead man or the guy he’d captured outside Liz’s clinic. How many hired gunmen were still out there? At least one: the driver of the black SUV.
Likely more.
“Let me know when you’d like me to text Wyatt and Abby.” Liz’s voice broke into his thoughts. “You said we’d let them know when we reached city limits.”
“Right.” He’d almost forgotten that. “I might swing by my place first. I desperately need a change of clothes.”
She frowned. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
He couldn’t be sure of anything, but the way the gunmen had been following him and staking out her clinic indicated they may have someone at his place, too. He considered his options, then said, “We’ll use the same approach as the clinic. I’ll have you drop me off, then head to our headquarters. I know my property better than anyone else. I’m sure I can get in and out without being seen.”
“Okay.” She looked troubled by his decision, but his main concern was her safety—and Micah’s, too.
When they were only five miles from Green Lake, he nodded at her. “Let Wyatt and Abby know we’re close.”
She used her phone to text them, then added, “I don’t see why they can’t meet us at your place.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. “You can ask, but they are working, and it’s busy with tourists. Don’t be upset if they can’t take the time.”
“I understand.” She continued working on the phone, then grinned. “They’re on their way to your house.”
“Good.” Maybe it was for the best. They could use the time to come up with a plan to run past Liam. If the three of them could agree, their boss likely would, too.
The sun was dipping low on the horizon by the time he pulled into his long driveway. He could see a pair of headlights near his log home and knew Wyatt and Abby had already arrived. Confident they’d have scouted the place for danger, he pulled up alongside them and quickly slid out from behind the wheel.
“The yard is clear,” Wyatt informed him.
“Thanks. Why don’t you all come inside?” He opened the back passenger door to remove Micah’s infant seat. “We can talk after I change my clothes.”
Abby shrugged. “Why not?”
Liz joined him as he lifted Micah’s carrier and led the way up to his front door. He hesitated, realizing the door wasn’t locked, but then remembered that they’d left in a hurry.
“Liz, take the baby. Abby, stand guard. Wyatt and I will clear the house, just to be safe.”
Wyatt pulled his weapon. “Let’s do it.”
He pushed the door open, then stayed to one side, listening intently. A bad smell coming from inside made him wrinkle his nose. What in the world? Had an animal died in there?
Ignoring the stench, he went first, with Wyatt close behind. The moment they passed over the threshold, they spread out in different directions. He took the hallway leading to the bedrooms, where the putrid scent grew worse.
He pushed open the door to his master suite, freezing in place when he spied the source of the awful smell.
Rebecca’s missing dead body had been found. She’d been left on his bed, likely in an attempt to implicate him in her murder.
TWELVE
“Get back.” Abby’s tone was sharp.
“What’s wrong?” The abrupt change in the female deputy’s demeanor indicated something was amiss.
“I need you and Micah to return to the SUV.” Abby gripped her arm and tugged her toward the vehicle.
“Wait.” She dug in her heels. Abby hadn’t pulled her weapon, so she didn’t think there was a gunman nearby. “I want to know what happened.”
Abby didn’t answer, speaking instead into her radio as she continued pulling her toward the SUV. Reluctantly, Liz complied, for Micah’s sake.
“Ten-four.” Abby let go of her radio. “Liam will be here soon.”
“Why? What did they find inside Garrett’s house?” After having been shot at on several occasions, she was irritated they didn’t deem it important enough to keep her in the loop.
Abby hesitated, then nodded. “I guess you deserve to know. Rebecca Woodward’s body was in Garrett’s master suite.”
“What?” That was not one of the scenarios that had flitted through her mind.
