Page 32 of Complicated Past

“She said you were deployed to Europe.”

This wasn’t his fault. Why did he always feel less than around this woman? “I was. She called, indicating she was in trouble. When I couldn’t reach her, I took leave.”

“You’ve got to get her back. Please.” Tears shimmered in the woman’s eyes, and her jaw trembled as her gaze shifted between Clara and Linc.

“We’re working on that. If you think of anything that might be useful, call me.” Clara set a business card on the hospital tray. “Get some rest.”

“Lincoln, can I speak to you for a minute?” Regina looked him in the eyes rather than through him.

“I’ll see about getting an update from the nurse.” Clara stepped out of the room.

“Thank you for coming to help her. When your mother and Clifton died, I—I was wrong to split you and Bri up. She needed you. I didn’t see it then. If I could go back in time, I’d have you live with me too. No one wants to be labeled a racist, and I could blame my upbringing, but I thought you’d be a bad influence. It’s past time to apologize for being wrong about that too. I’m trying to do better, and I hope, with time, you can forgive me.”

Linc swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat at the confession he never thought he’d hear from this woman. He let out a breath along with most of the resentment he’d harbored for over a decade. His life might have taken a different path if it weren’t for her. But would it have been better? Was it all part of a cosmic plan meant to put him here today with the skills to rescue Bri?

“I’ve resented you for that,” he admitted. “But I’m willing to put the past behind us and start again.”

Regina sniffed, and fat tears rolled down her wrinkled cheeks. “I should have had the courage to say all that years ago.” She gave a weak smile. “It feels like a weight’s been lifted.”

He nodded in agreement. Even if she didn’t have information to help with his mission, they were family because they both loved Bri and Jalen.

“Bri’s so proud of you. Says you’re in one of those special units that can’t talk about what you do in the Army.” She studied his face when he didn’t confirm or deny her statement. “I hope it’s true and you get her back because if she doesn’t do what they want, I think they’ll do something horrible to her.”

“I’m going to do everything I can. I need to go now.”

“Be careful.”

He started to respond withI always am, like he would say to Bri, but, coming from her, the warning made him hesitate. As personal as this mission was, he was on his own and needed to be cautious.

In the hallway, he spotted Clara waiting near the nurses’ station. “What’d you find out?”

“He’s still in surgery. It doesn’t sound like we’ll be talking to him for a while—if at all. I’m going back to the precinct to see what we can get from the phones we found at the house—if we can access them.”

“Bring the phones here. If he used biometrics, we use his prints, facial recognition, or scan his iris to access it. Since you have proof of the kidnapping, I’m sure you can get a warrant.”

“Good idea. A patrol officer is coming to provide security outside Mrs. Feldman’s room. I’ll have him bring the phones over so we can try unlocking them.” Clara was already placing the call.

“Was she able to tell you anything useful?” Kendra asked when they rejoined her in the waiting room.

“Not really,” Clara said. “Other than being a bit traumatized, she wasn’t injured.”

“I’m sorry she didn’t know where Bri is,” Kendra said to him.

“I figured her knowing the location was a longshot.” With Malloy in surgery, his phone could be their only shot at getting that information.

In less than twenty minutes, a uniformed officer arrived and handed the phones to Clara. For the next half hour, Kendra kept a list while he and Clara tried passcodes before getting locked out.

“Let’s take a break and get some coffee while we wait for the lockout to end or for him to get out of surgery,” Clara suggested.

Despite years of experience waiting days and even weeks to execute a mission, this was excruciating. If he couldn’t get onone of today’s afternoon flights to Acapulco, the morning flight wouldn’t get him there until nearly five tomorrow afternoon. He hadn’t realized it’d take nearly twelve hours to travel on commercial flights to Acapulco from here. That left him fifteen hours at best to find Bri and get her away from Tawnya and anyone else who could be holding her.

A surgeon in scrubs and skull cap entered the waiting room. “Detective Lowe?”

Clara stepped over to speak with him.

Linc edged close enough to hear that Malloy survived the surgery. Then Clara launched into her explanation of why she needed to see his patient now.

“Come with me.” The surgeon didn’t even hesitate.

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