Page 6 of Edge of Danger

“What do you two know about babies?”

Weston shrugged. “Nothing, but you didn’t have to do this on your own.”

“Here we go.” Chance leaned in closer to his screen, eyes moving back and forth. “Big surprise. The last time he used his credit card was in Eagle Pass.”

“Gambling,” Weston muttered.

“Most of the activity on these cards the past few months has come from either there or Vegas,” Chance confirmed. “He seems to be bouncing back and forth.”

“Damn it.” Brax rubbed his temples against an approaching headache. “I figured this was all about him owing somebody money, not the other way around. I doubt there’s a friend involved. He has to run around trying to scratch together what he can now.”

“Yeah, and getting out of town means avoiding whoever it is he owes.” Weston shook his head. “Typical.”

“Here’s something interesting.” Chance pointed to a couple of lines, which Brax read over his shoulder.

“We’re not the only ones looking for him.” Somebody else had put out feelers on Robert’s card activity over the past few days. There was no way of knowing who without the digging getting much more complicated. The confirmation that someone else was after Robert was enough for the time being.

“What are you going to do about Walker?” Weston scratched his chin. “I think you should take him to Mom and Dad. You know how thrilled Mom would be to hold a baby, no matter whose it was.”

It wasn’t a bad idea. Not at all. Still... “I’d rather have him with me when Robert comes back. The fewer opportunities for Robert to slip away, the better.”

Weston’s scowl and Chance’s sudden silence spoke to their disagreement. They were smart enough to stay quiet, at least. As tired as he was, he might’ve said something he’d end up regretting.

The crying grew louder when Maci left Brax’s office. He turned in time to find her going through the diaper bag with one hand while holding Walker in the other arm. “What’s up?” he asked.

“I was looking for a pacifier. His diaper’s dry. When’s the last time he was fed?”

“Right before I left the house with him. Burped him too,” he added in case she was wondering. “I had to change my shirt thanks to his spit up.”

“Daddy didn’t pack any burping cloths?” Maci sighed, shaking her head. “Unprepared.”

Brax wasn’t about to ask what she was talking about, not with the kid wailing like he was. They nearly shouted just to be heard over the noise.

Maci handed Walker over and practically stuck her head in the bag to look through. “What’s this?” She nudged aside a few more diapers and undershirts, pulling a tag attached to the bag’s lining.

There was a phone number written on it. “That’s not Robert’s number.”

Maci looked at him. “Whose do you think it could be?”

“I don’t know but I’m going to give it a try.” He handed Walker back to Maci and pulled out his phone, dialing the number while she took Walker back to his office and closed the door.

“Hello?”

A woman’s voice. She sounded troubled, concerned. Then again, he was calling from a random number. And how was he supposed to explain this?

“Uh, hi. This is going to sound strange. My name is Brax Patterson. Do you know a baby named Walker?”

She went quiet long enough to make Brax nervous. “Why are you calling me?” she finally asked.

He heard the suspicion in her voice and was about to try to ease it when Walker let loose with an ear-splitting scream. Even through the closed door, it rang out loud and clear.

“What’s wrong with him?” She sounded as frantic as Brax felt.

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m calling. I found your number in his diaper bag and figured it was worth a shot. I’m his uncle. His father is my half brother. He left him with me for a few days, but I can’t get him to stop crying.”

“Have you tried swaddling him?”

“What’s that?”

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