Page 100 of Tangled Trust

"Thank you. Excuse me for a moment, please," he says, getting up from his chair.

I’m left alone in the small room to contemplate my fate. I feel sick.

* * *

I can’t believe what I’m seeing and hearing while I’m behind the one-way glass. Amanda is not the person I thought she was. How she could do such a despicable thing to Ella, I’ll never understand.

My blood is boiling, and I have to restrain myself from opening the door and rushing into the interview room. I think I’ll grab her by the neck and wring her neck if given half the chance.

I have a child with this woman! How can she be so callous? Who is she? Did she truly imagine that getting rid of Ella would somehow magically repair the broken relationship between her and me? Incredible!

Detective Anderson enters the room where I’m seething and pacing.

"I can’t believe this!" I growl.

"Please, Mr. Moore. You have to stay calm. We don’t have time for this now. We have to find Ella."

I know the cop is right, but it’s incredibly difficult to let this go. Ella could be dead, and it’s all thanks to Amanda.

"Blood! How can I remain calm when I hear that Ella’s blood is all over my ex-wife’s beach house? Would you be calm if the woman carrying your child was missing and injured?"

"I understand your fears and frustration, Carter. I really do. But this is my job, and I’m good at it. Please calm down, and we’ll figure this out."

I take a deep breath and run my hands through my hair.

"Okay. What’s the next move?" I ask, as calmly as I can manage.

"I have Ella’s ex’s number. We’ll run a trace on it. I need you to stay here, Mr. Moore."

"Cut out the Mr. Moore crap, please, Anderson. Just call me Carter."

"Okay. Carter, I need you to stay here at the station. I can’t have you running around LA half-cocked. My officers and I will take care of this. We’ll find Ella."

"Forget about it, Anderson. That’s not going to happen. You’ll have to arrest me and throw me into a cell if you want to keep me here. And, believe me, you don’t want to do that. I’m coming with you."

Anderson doesn’t look happy, but I don’t give a damn. Ella is out there, and she needs me. There’s no way I’m not going to be there when the cops find her.

"I’m serious, Detective. I can make your life very difficult."

"I’m going to forget you said that, Carter, because I know you’re under a great deal of stress."

"Okay, I apologize. Please, I have to be there when you find Ella. Please, Detective. I’ll stay in the car until it’s safe. I swear."

I can tell that the cop is contemplating my request. I know he is well aware that I’m wealthy enough to make his life hell if I wanted to. Not that I’m that asshole, but the threat was worth a shot. I’m desperate enough to do whatever it takes.

"Fine. Scott, get Mr. Moore a vest."

Officer Scott takes me to a room down the hall and gives me a bulletproof vest.

"Please put this on, Mr. Moore. Just in case."

I wait in the office while Anderson tracks Sebastian Drake’s cell phone. I’m a ball of nerves and rage. I’m glad that Anderson kept me from speaking with Amanda. I don’t know what I would have done to her had I been given a chance.

I have to remember that she is Jagger’s mother, and I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to hurt my son.

Time seems to be standing still. How long does it take to trace a bloody cell phone? I keep checking my watch and wondering how long it will be before I have Ella safely in my arms again. I worry about our baby. If Ella is injured, it means that the baby could be in distress. I don’t want to lose either one of them. My lovers or my child!

"Let’s go," Anderson says as he opens the door to the office. "We’ve got him."

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