Page 46 of Clara's Secure Hideaway

A lump formed in her throat as she watched Maggie pack up her things and the two medics leave the house. When she was alone with Heath, a stillness fell over the room. She reached for his hand and squeezed it like a lifeline. “I always pray for a little peace and quiet. For a moment to myself to think or God forbid watch a show without cartoon animals singing silly songs. But sitting here now without the sound of giggling or crying or even screaming, I’ll never take another loud and crazy moment for granted. Because I have to believe I’ll get them back. Have to believe the chaos will return and the giggling and crying and screaming will fill my ears again. It has to, Heath. I can’t live without them.”

Heath wrapped his arms around her once more and she cried.

17

Aknock at the door forced Heath away from Clara’s side. A quick glance out the picture window showed Laura and Mrs. Collins waiting on the front stoop. He let them in, grateful for their presence as they flocked to Clara and covered her with their love and support.

Laura wrapped her in a hug while Mrs. Collins sat on the couch on the other side.

Clara buried her face in Laura’s shoulder. “I should have done more. I should have stopped him. What am I going to do? What if he hurts them?”

Each word twisted his heart a little bit more.

“None of this is on you,” Laura said. “It never has been. And those kids are tough. We will find them soon and bring them home. This will all be a nightmare we can put behind us.”

“We’re here for you,” Mrs. Collins added. “We will go door to door looking for Davey and Avery. We won’t stop until we find them. And Elsie is with Mila at the hospital.” She glanced at Heath. “Your mom made it through surgery. They’ll stay there until she wakes, longer if needed.”

Some of the pressure squeezing the air from his lungs released.

Clara pulled out of Laura’s hug and wiped her eyes. “I didn’t even ask about your mom. I just—my mind is somewhere else. What happened?”

He worked his jaw back and forth, struggling to keep his temper in check. “Mitch ran them off the road to lure me away from you. He played me. Was one step ahead this whole time. I underestimated him, and I’m so sorry for that.”

His phone rang in his pocket, and he hurried to grab it. “It’s Owen,” he said right before he answered. “Hey. Any news?”

The women stared up at him with wide, expectant eyes.

“No. How’s Clara?”

“Hold on a second.” He covered the speaker with his hand and lowered the phone. “No news yet. I’m going to take this in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”

Walking out of the room, away from Clara, was harder than he’d thought possible. After what happened earlier, he never wanted to let her out of his sight again. But he also didn’t know what Owen called to tell him. He didn’t want to discuss anything in front of her that would only cause more distress.

“She’s holding on by a thread,” he said, as he lowered himself onto the kitchen chair and hung his head in his hand. “He beat her bad. Concussion, bruised ribs, her face is a mess. Not to mention emotionally. She’s going out of her mind worrying about her kids. Hell, I’m about to jump out of my skin. We have to find them. Fast.” His voice cracked on the last word as all the fear and guilt crashed against the backs of his eyes.

“She’s been through a lot,” Owen said. “And she needs you to be strong. So don’t go down a road you can’t come back from.”

Heath squeezed the bridge of his nose and pulled in a long, deep breath. “You’re right. It’s just…the thought of those kids scared and alone is killing me. Tell me you’ve got something, anything.”

“I wish I had more. We’ve already searched all the places we thought he could be last night and earlier today and found nothing. No one has seen him or knows where he could be staying.”

“Is there anyone who could have lied? It’s one thing to lie to cover for a man who hits his wife. It’s another to take a bullet for someone who’s kidnapped two innocent children.” He ran his fist over the thighs of his jeans, urging his brain to come up with any piece of information that could be useful.

“We’ll speak with the same people again today. Let them know how the situation has changed. I’ll talk with the FBI as well. They’ll be here soon to discuss how what we found on Mitch’s computer coincides with an ongoing investigation.”

Heath’s stomach dropped and bile sloshed up his throat to his palate. “You don’t think he’d do something like we saw in those videos with his own kids do you?”

Clara’s gasp snapped up his head.

She stood in the doorway, one hand on the frame with the other braced against Laura’s forearm. Fire replaced the fear in her eyes. “If even a hair is harmed on one of their heads, I will choke the life from Mitch’s worthless body with my bare hands. Now you or Owen or someone at that damn department better tell me how to help find them because there’s no way in hell I’m sitting here all day and waiting.”

Laura ushered Clara to the chair next to Heath. “I’ll get you guys some tea,” she whispered then busied herself looking through the cabinets.

“Did you hear that?” he asked Owen, then pressed the speaker button and placed the phone on the table.

“I heard,” Owen said. “Clara, I’m so sorry for everything. Let’s not go to worst case scenario just yet, okay? Chances are high Mitch took the kids somewhere local. He’s made it obvious his goal is to hurt you. He’ll want to stay close to either watch your pain or come after you next.”

“I hope he does,” she said, her voice heavy and tough as steel. “Then I’ll show him what a mistake he made.”

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