Page 90 of Gone Too Far

She might not be able to get to him, but there could be another way.

Was it possible this girl, this Alice Cortez, was Isabella? She had many of her facial features and her coloring. Sadie thought of the photos Devlin had shown her. It had taken every ounce of willpower shepossessed to maintain her composure after seeing those pics. She’d had to get out of there before she went over the edge.

But she couldn’t be sure. Her mind played tricks on her far too often for her to be sure of anything from that part of her past.

What Sadie needed was to see this girl up close. To hear her speak ... to see her move.

Then she would know for sure.

30

Noon

Cortez Residence

Eleventh Avenue South

From the passenger-side window of Jen’s car, Kerri stared at the Cortez home. She shouldn’t do this. It was bad enough to take the risk herself, but to ask someone else ...

But she was desperate.

“I know that look,” Jen announced. She twisted in the seat to look directly at Kerri.

Kerri blinked. This was wrong. Just wrong. “Jen, I shouldn’t have come to you with this. I’m sorry.”

Jen reached across the console and took Kerri’s hand in hers. “Your daughter calls me Aunt Jen.” Her lips trembled. “The same way Amelia did.” A lone tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. “You and Diana—you’re all family to me. I would do anything to help you.”

Kerri rode out the hurt that hurtled through her, took a breath. “This is wrong. What I’m asking you to do. To impersonate a state official. If I could do it myself, I would. But these people know who I am, so I can’t. And if I weren’t scared to death for Tori, I would never ask you anyway.”

Jen squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. “I want to do it, Kerri. Had I known what to do to help, I would have done it without you asking. Please, let me help.” She shook her head. “Not for you or for me, but for Tori. I can’t lose anyone else I love.”

Kerri nodded. “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “We’ve done the sound check. You have everything you need.” Now or never. “Let’s do it.”

Jen smiled. “On it, sister.”

Jen climbed out of her car, crossed the street, and stepped up to the sidewalk leading to the Cortez home. She looked sharp even in such a modest skirt and jacket. When she had called Jen, Kerri had suggested she wear a reserved, professional suit and keep the makeup light. To bring a notepad or portfolio and be ready to behave like a social worker.

Jen had nailed it.

Kerri smiled. She and Diana had always called Jen their other sister. She was a dear friend who would do anything for the people she loved.

Kerri desperately needed this to work. To know what was going on with Alice Cortez and her family.

“Here we go,” Jen whispered, the breathy sound soft in Kerri’s earpiece.

She heard the faint chime of the doorbell after Jen pushed the button. Three, four, five seconds elapsed before the door opened. From the car, it looked as if only a crack appeared.

“Mrs.Cortez?” Jen asked.

“Yes.”

“My name is Wanda James. I’m from the Child Services Division, and I just need to ask you a few questions. May I come in?”

“You have ... ID?”

The lady’s accent was thick. José Cortez was the one who had done most of the talking the first time Kerri dropped her daughter off to spend time with Alice. He’d spoken perfect English with only the slightest Mexican accent.

Kerri held her breath as Jen flashed the fake credentials. It wasn’t that Kerri had a stash of fake credentials, but she had a couple. Falco had taught her that sometimes it was necessary to skirt the perimeter between right and wrong to get where you needed to go. There had never been a more necessary time than now.

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