gave a low whistle. R.J. didn’t see who, but he could tell from the way they all sat up a little straighter in their chairs that he had their attention.
R.J. saw no reason to mention that most of the money had come from the one gamble in his life that had actually paid off for him—a one-dollar lottery ticket purchased from the truck stop in Oak Grove.
He winked and managed a smile. “I’m glad you all came and hopefully we might even discover we like or can at least tolerate each other. Now who wants a beer?”
* * *
THE OTHERS FOLLOWED R.J. to the kitchen. Adam stepped outside to clear his head.
So this is what it felt like to be bought. Was that what R.J. had done to his mother, insisted she dance to his tune or leave the party? Adam wondered how much it had been worth to the man to get rid of her and Adam.
He expected it was a sizable amount, enough to ease R.J.’s guilt if he’d had any. Even before Adam’s mother had remarried, they’d lived in a nice house in an exclusive neighborhood and as far as he knew, there had never been any money worries. His mother still lived in that house.
His phone vibrated. This time he took the call. “Hello, Mom. What’s the matter? Can’t wait to hear about R.J.’s latest tricks?”
“Did you hear the AMBER Alert the Houston police issued a couple of hours ago?” Her voice was shaking so hard he could barely understand her.
“I haven’t.”
“Twin girls were kidnapped from their grandmother’s home in a Dallas subdivision during the night.”
“Is this someone you know?”
“The grandmother is Janice O’Sullivan, Adam. It was Hadley’s children who were kidnapped.”
His heart bucked and knocked against his chest wall. He fumbled for words while he tried to get his mind around the news. “How did that happen?”
“I have no idea. The only details released were a description of the girls and the area where they were kidnapped.”
“Then how do you know the missing girls are Hadley’s daughters?”
“My friend Crystal just called. Her daughter’s husband is on the Dallas police force and was one of the first responders to the 911 call. He talked to Hadley. She’s frantic.”
“I’m sure.”
“I know you two had a bitter breakup, son, but her daughters are missing. I think you should go over there and see if you can help.”
“She has the Dallas police and maybe even the FBI. I’m sure they don’t need me.”
“But you’re a decorated marine.”
“We didn’t handle child abductions in Afghanistan, Mom. Besides there’s no reason to think Hadley or her husband would appreciate my interference.”
“There was no husband around when Crystal’s son-in-law talked to her. She was by herself.”
“Where was her mother?”
“Janice is in the hospital. She’s having surgery this morning. That’s why Hadley and the girls are in town. And now her girls have been kidnapped. Hadley can’t face this all alone.”
“She has a husband.”
“But he’s not with her now and who knows how long it will take him to get to Dallas. I don’t even know where they live. But you’re here, Adam. At least talk to her. You’ve always helped anyone in trouble.”
But this wasn’t anyone. This was the woman whose image he’d held on to through hell and back only to learn she’d married someone else and borne his children.
The woman he’d spent the past few years trying to erase from his heart and mind.
But Hadley was alone and no doubt terrified, her children in the hands of an abductor. His heart pounded as adrenaline exploded inside him.
She might kick him out when he got there, but not going to her wasn’t even an option. Eight million or eighty million dollars on the line, it made no difference.
He was out of here.
“When did you first realize your daughters were missing?”
“When I woke up and went into their room.” Hadley stared at Detective Shelton Lane, trying her best to concentrate and cooperate. But his questions were redundant and tearing at her slivered control.
“I’ve explained this at least three times this morning to three different police officers. Don’t you talk to each other?”
“I’m sorry to put you through this, but I was just assigned to the case, Ms. O’Sullivan. I like to get my answers firsthand.”
“So you just sit here and ask me the same questions over and over instead of looking for my girls?”
“We’ve issued an AMBER Alert. Every officer on the street has your daughters’ picture. I have officers going house to house in this neighborhood talking to everyone who might have seen something.”
“I just want my girls back.” Tears welled in her eyes. She dabbed at them with the shredded tissue clutched in her hand.
Detective Lane granted her a few seconds to gain control before he hit her with the next question. “Were you home all evening?”
“The girls went with me when I drove Mother to the hospital. We stayed until she was settled in her room. It was just after five when we got home. We didn’t leave again after that.”
“And no one else was here with you?”
“No one. I made the girls dinner and then we went outside so they could get a little exercise before baths and bedtime.”
Hadley stood and walked to the window, looking out over the front walk where Lacy and Lila had ridden their trikes last night. They’d been so cute. So happy. So innocent.
Had someone been watching even then and planning the abduction? The front door had been unlocked while they were outside, but she’d been right there. She’d surely have seen if anyone had entered the house.
She turned away from the window. “This is supposed to be a safe neighborhood. There are guards at the gate. I don’t see how this could have happened.”
“I’m having trouble figuring that out myself.” The detective shifted in his seat. “You say you didn’t hear anything during the night.”
“Nothing. And it’s not as if I slept that well. I was worried.”
“About the girls?”
“About my mother. I told you, she’s in surgery right now, having a
