Page 101 of The Girl in the River

“We are still searching for a missing woman, Mia Norman,” Ellie began. “Tonight, Mia’s four-year-old daughter Pixie was abducted during a shooting at the park in Crooked Creek. Pixie has blond hair and brown eyes.” She paused, collecting herself. Angelica would run Pixie’s photo for the story and the Amber Alert was going nationwide. They would find her. They had to.

A second later, she continued, “Mark Wade, Mia’s fiance, was injured during the abduction. We have issued an Amber Alert for Pixie. If anyone has information about the kidnapping and shooting, or Mia’s whereabouts, please contact the Crooked Creek Police Department.”

She flashed a photo of Kevin from her phone. “We are also looking for this man, Kevin Moon, for questioning in both incidents. Please be advised he is armed and dangerous.”

ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX

SOMEWHERE ON THE RIVER

Kevin drove like a mad man to the riverboat where Mia was being held, Pixie’s cries rattling his nerves. He’d turned on the radio to drown out the sound but that reporter and detective had plastered his name on the damn news.

Sweat exploded on his neck and he beat at the steering wheel. Dammit to hell – now every cop in the state would be looking for him.

His phone trilled with his father’s ringtone and he cursed. But he picked it up. He had to. He might need his father’s help.

“For God’s sake, son, don’t tell me you went and shot a man in public and kidnapped that child?”

“She’s my daughter!” he shouted into the phone. “Mine. And that man cannot have her.”

Pixie’s sobs grew louder.

“I’ll fix this,” he said, although pure terror at getting caught seized him. “No one saw me. Now get me and Pixie a fake passport. I’ll lay low at the river for a few days until the commotion dies down, then we’ll go out of the country.”

“You little selfish asshole,” his father barked. “You’re going to ruin our lives and land us all in prison. I told you to let me handle it.”

“Just get the fake passports,” Kevin said, so furious he was beginning to lose feeling in his fingers. He hung up and sped around a curve.

He knew what his father wanted him to do with Jesse.

He’d have to do it quickly. Get it over with. Or have someone do it for him. That would be easier.

He wanted to draw out her agony. Make her suffer the way he had.

As he sped toward the river, thunder rumbled and rain began to fall.

Pixie’s cries grew more shrill. “I want Mommy!”

He adjusted the wipers to high speed as the downpour intensified, the fog thick and blurring the lanes on the curvy road. A pair of headlights flickered at him and the truck crossed the center line. He swung the wheel to the right, his tires churning as he swerved onto the shoulder. Losing control, he slammed into a boulder, metal crunching.

Pixie screamed so loud he thought his eardrums would burst. So angry he could feel his heart roaring out of his chest, he whirled in his seat to silence her.

ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN

BLUFF COUNTY HOSPITAL

“I’m going to find out what other properties Kevin and his father owns,” Derrick said. “If Kevin abducted Pixie, he may be carrying her to one of them.”

“Mia could be there, too,” Ellie said. “Get a list of properties Kevin has for sale, too. We’ll divide up and have Deputy Landrum and Eastwood check them out.”

He nodded and went to the car to retrieve his laptop. A tall thin woman in a doctor’s white coat appeared before them. “Wade family?”

Mark’s parents leapt up and hurried over. Ellie eased up behind them but out of respect allowed them a private moment.

“Your son is in recovery and will need time to heal. The good news is that the bullet missed his spinal cord so there shouldn’t be any permanent damage.”

Mrs. Wade burst into tears. “Thank God.”

“And thank you, Doctor,” Mark’s father said.

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