Page 66 of Rush

“Possible suspect entering alley, east bound.”

Nora held her breath, waiting for the next update, which seemed to take forever to come.

“Suspect exited alley with bag. Traveling westbound through parking lot on foot.”

Nora didn’t miss the upgraded status from possible suspect to suspect at that point.

Barely breathing, Nora listened as they tracked the man until he entered a room on the second floor of the motel across the street. Having the money drop so close to where they were staying was clearly an amateur move and more proof, to Nora’sway of thinking, it really was the Parkers. Not that knowing that made her feel much better, but at least that lowered the odds they were dealing with a psycho killer.

“Car fifty-seven and eighty-six, get into position.”

Hearing the front door slam and knowing it had to be Linc, Nora rushed from the room to meet him halfway.

“What’s going on?” he asked as soon as she got to him.

She filled him in on everything that had happened, ending with, “I think they’re about to go after them.”

Which they did.

The next several minutes felt like a state of suspended animation, complete with slowed heart rate and sporadic, shallow breaths, feeling like, ifshemade the wrong move, the whole operation would fall to pieces. Logical—no. But then her logical brain had flown out the window the second Sophie had been taken.

“Juvenile subject has been acquired safe and unharmed. Perpetrators in custody.”

The room erupted in applause when everyone heard Sophie was out of danger. Lightheaded with relief, Nora’s body literally sagged as she sank into the closest chair, her eyes darting around the room until they landed on Linc. He looked tired all of a sudden, as if worry had been the only thing keeping him going and now that it was gone he’d been drained. Still, he managed to smile. One that not only reached his eyes, but every facet of his expression as he was surrounded by congratulating officers, shaking his hand or slapping him on the shoulder.

So intent was her stare, she didn’t miss the instant his gaze found hers. They shared a moment, eyes locked, before his attention was pulled away, this time by Liz. Nora wished sheknew what he’d been thinking in that instant because then she’d know if the decision she’d struggled with over the long course of the even longer night was the right one.

Nora paced from the kitchen to the hall, keeping an eye on the open front door while waiting for the police to arrive with Sophie. Being told she was safe was one thing, but Nora needed to see with her own eyes Sophie was unharmed before the knot in her stomach would fully go away. Linc stood sentry, his body filling most of the doorway, his eyes never leaving the street.

The sound of small, slapping footsteps had her head whipping around and she rushed toward the door.

Linc’s tall frame bent and he landed on his knees, arms opened wide, as the tiny whirlwind ran full out, her little arms pumping as she shouted. “UncaLincUncaLinc.”

The words were smashed together but unmistakable, regardless. Nora's hand flew to her heart, eyes filling. The high-pitched, lyrical voice they'd waited so long to hear felt like witnessing a miracle and she decided that if this moment was a dream, she never wanted to wake up from it.

Linc was obviously feeling the same because his own voice was thick with emotion as he wrapped Sophie in his arms and choked out. “Yeah, Peanut, that's me... Uncle Linc. I've missed you and I'm so happy you're home.” He pulled back just enough for Nora to see the tracks of his tears as he kissed Sophie's little cheek and muttered. “You are never allowed out of my sight again.”

Nora felt each of his words pierce her heart like tiny knives. Sophie wasn't allowed out ofhissight. Not their sight,but his. And while the words were most likely rhetorical, the slight smacked her right in the face anyway.

“But Unca Linc, you hafta go to work and I’m gonna start school soon.”

Linc’s chuckle echoed through the hall as he situated Sophie on his knee, clearly unwilling to let her go. “You’re okay, yeah?”

Sophie nodded and the gesture was so much like the silent girl Nora had fallen in love with that she must've made some sound that caught Sophie’s attention. “Norwa!” She twisted from Linc’s arms and ran at her, wrapping herself around her legs so tightly that Nora had to brace herself. “You're okay too right?” she cried out. “He hurted you, I saw it!”

Wiping the wetness from hers and Sophie’s cheeks, Nora bent and returned the fierce hug with everything she had in her. “You were so brave and yes... absolutely, yes, I'm ok.” Kissing the top of her head, Nora squeezed a little tighter. She had no words for how she felt and was terrified that making a huge deal about Sophie speaking would send her back into her shell, so she rocked her gently back and forth, stealing a few precious moments to soothe them both.

One of the detectives approached as Linc scooped Sophie up into his arms, planting her on a hip. “We’ll get out of your hair. There we’ll be enough questions in the coming days, so you should take time with your family while you can.”

Linc held out a hand. “I can’t thank you enough for all your help.”

Going directly to the couch, Linc flopped down on it with Sophie on his lap. The night was finally catching up with all of them and Sophie was drifting off with her head on Linc’sshoulder as they watched the tech crew packing up the last of their stuff.

When Nora was certain Sophie was completely out for the count, she whispered. “I’m going to head upstairs and lie down for a bit.”

Linc raised his brows, seeming surprised, but covered it by saying, “You look tired. Try to get some rest. I’ll be doing the same soon. Just need to make a few phone calls, let the gang know Sophie is safe and talking up a storm.”

She trudged up the stairs, her feet feeling almost too heavy to lift but nowhere near as heavy as her heart as she made her way to her old room. Kicking off her shoes, she didn’t bother changing as she crawled between the sheets, hugging the spare pillow to her chest. With as physically and emotionally exhausted as she was, sleep should’ve been instantaneous, but it wasn’t. She lay there and listened to the sounds in the house—male voices, the opening and closing of the front door, the TV turning on. Then she lay there longer listening to the soundsofthe house—its settling creaks and groans, electrical hums, the muffled swoosh of water through pipes. And she was still awake as the first light of dawn made an appearance through the window.

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