Page 31 of Fractured Memories

“Ma’am, you’ve been attacked and ice will make that knot on your forehead better, but it’s best to have a medical professional check you out.” He leaned forward. “Mrs. Flanagan, I need you to think back on the moments before the attack. Did you notice anyone in the hallway? Or did the person who attacked you say anything?”

Fresh tears swelled in her eyes. “No. I already told Officer Colburn everything I know.”

“I understand. It’s difficult to answer these questions repeatedly, but any detail can help.” Urgency crimped his insides, but Noah kept his tone calm. “Do me a favor. Close your eyes, ma’am.”

Her brow wrinkled slightly, but then she did as he asked. Noah leaned forward. “We’re going to walk through it one step at a time. You left the classroom with Harper. Were you holding her hand?”

“Yes. She was singingMary Had A Little Lamb. Her smile was so infectious—” She pressed tissues to her mouth.

Noah took her other hand. “It’s okay. As you walked down the hall toward the bathroom, did you notice anything out of the ordinary?”

Barbara sucked in a breath. “No. I pushed the door open to the ladies' room and…” Her eyes snapped open. “There was something. A flash of color inside the classroom across from the restrooms. Someone was there. A woman. I just got the barest glimpse of her before she disappeared around the doorjamb.”

A woman? It would make sense. No one remembered seeing either Daniel or his criminal friend Gene hanging around the church. Did they rope someone else into doing their dirty work? That could explain how someone slipped into and out of the daycare area without a problem. A strange man would’ve been noticed. A woman, on the other hand, wouldn’t have been seen as a potential threat.

Grady joined them. He had a pad and pen in his hand. “Can you describe the woman you saw?”

“No.” Her gaze drifted away as if she was reviewing the incident in her mind. “I just remember seeing the flash of a blue skirt. I never saw her face.” Barbara’s attention jumped back to Noah. “Does that help?”

Something was better than nothing. “It helps a lot.”

Paramedics appeared in the doorway. Grady waved them forward. They immediately got to work examining Barbara, and Noah cleared out of the way so they had more room. He hugged his aunt. “Stay with her. I’ll contact you the minute we know something more.”

Without a word, he and Grady slipped from the room. Noah headed for the electronics room at the end of the hall. Surveillance footage could help. “We’ve been looking for Daniel or Gene, but based on Mrs. Flanagan’s statement, the kidnapper was in the daycare before the camera feed was interrupted.” His stride lengthened. “Maybe Felicity has found something?—”

The door to the electronics room was open and thechair in front of the computer screen was empty. Noah slid to a stop, his stomach dropping to his feet when he noticed Felicity’s badge and cell phone sitting on the table. A note in her scrawled handwriting rested on the keyboard. “I’m sorry. Harper’s life depended on it. Look at the footage.”

Grady snatched the note from Noah’s hand. “What does this mean?”

“The kidnapper contacted her.” He slammed a fist down on the table. “Taking Harper was a way to force Felicity into a trap.”

“No. Felicity wouldn’t submit to a kidnapper’s demand or go somewhere without backup. She’s smarter than that.”

Noah unlocked Felicity’s cell with her PIN code and an image popped on the screen. The last text message she’d received was a photo. His daughter—his precious little girl—lying on a carpet in a nondescript room with a knife to her throat. His heart stopped even as his knuckles turned white. Noah showed Grady the image. “Trust me, she did whatever the kidnapper told her to.”

An uncharacteristic swear flew from Grady’s mouth. Noah shared the sentiment. He thought nothing could be worse than having his child kidnapped, but seeing this image and knowing the woman he loved was now also in danger…

Please God. Please. Protect them. I can’t lose them both.

“Felicity said to look at the footage. What footage?” Grady moved the mouse for the computer. The monitorpopped on, displaying an image from earlier in the day according to the time stamp. “What are we supposed to be looking for?”

“The cameras are still running. Let’s see how Felicity leaves.”

Grady quickly accessed the correct time frame. Felicity hurried out a side door and crossed the parking lot on determined strides to a rusted-out truck near the alley. She hopped inside. A moment later, she drove off.

Noah leaned on the desk. “Can you make out the license plate on that vehicle?”

“No, but I’d like to know how it got here.” Grady used the controls to work backward to earlier in the day. The footage rolled on at an increased speed.

“There.” Noah’s heart pumped overtime when he spotted the vehicle drive into the parking lot. Grady slowed the footage down. Both of them kept their gazes locked on the truck. A woman exited. She wore a blue skirt and blouse, her dark hair flowing around her shoulders. “Barbara said the woman in the classroom opposite the ladies' room wore a blue skirt. That has to be her. But she doesn’t look familiar… Wait a minute.”

Something about herwasfamiliar. He ignored her hair color and body shape, focusing on her gait, which was harder to disguise. Noah blinked. “It’s Melanie Ferguson.”

Grady’s head whipped toward him. “What? Are you sure?”

“Roll it back.” He studied the woman as she exited the vehicle and walked toward the church. It wasdefinitely Melanie. She was in disguise, but it was her. Noah’s hands balled into fists. “I’m sure. It’s her.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Why would Melanie kidnap your daughter?”

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