Betrayal of Trust Page 8

  Hope burned in his heart.

  Maybe.

  Keeping at least two cars between them, he nevertheless remained close enough to watch the Strong car swing off the interstate and onto the exit ramp. He took a long drag of his cigarette and held his breath as smoke fill his lungs. With a calm sense of satisfaction he released the smoke and flipped on his blinker. These two were starting to annoy him. What was next—an engagement?

  Now, he couldn’t allow that to happen, could he? The senator and the reporter. An unlikely couple, but when he factored in the kid in the back seat, everything took on a whole new dynamic. They were more than just a couple on a date. The kid, the amusement park…One happy little family.

  He watched as they found a parking place and swung into a spot close by. They got out and Matthew Strong took the little girl by the hand. As they walked toward the gate, Strong looked over the kid’s head and smiled at Raven Mahoney. Not that he blamed the guy. Raven was a looker. Better-looking than any girl he’d ever seen.

  Pulling in another drag of smoke, he seethed inwardly and kept his gaze riveted on his target. The three of them looked for all the world like a family. A family. A family.

  No. He couldn’t allow that.

  Chapter Nine

  High-pitched squeals permeated the sky one-hundred and ten feet above St. Louis as the Screeching Hawk rose to its maximum height, then dropped at a rate of sixty miles an hour.

  Raven raised her arms, closed her eyes, and relished the danger, excitement, the feeling of being totally out of control. She fought the urge to stand up. To see if she could maintain her balance while the world sped by. Mentally, she knew it was an ignorant thought. Still she couldn’t keep from picturing it…Raven Mahoney, the king of the world—or queen as the case may be.

  She hadn’t been on a roller coaster in at least fifteen years, not since the last time she and Matthew had gone to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. They’d been dating only a few weeks back then. Old memories. Bittersweet.

  Was that the reason Matt had chosen to drive four hours to Adventure Park rather than take his daughter to the more local amusement park?

  Don’t analyze this, Raven. But the thought had already started to needle at her, pricking her thought processes, the part of her that needed to probe, dig, get to the bottom of every issue, every story. That part of her had driven her to be an ace reporter. And she couldn’t deny the part of her that had brought her success.

  She could still picture her first day as a rookie reporter. Shaking in her boots, standing in front of an enormous metal desk. Jonesy’s cluttered office—the tough-guy station manager, a hulking bear of a man, three hundred pounds of pure attitude, with a voice to match. She’d always joked to herself that he led a secret life as a mob heavy. Pay attention to the little details. The things no one else considers very important. File everything away in the back of your mind and hang onto it, ’cause you never know when a little tidbit of information will make the difference between reporting the same garbage as every other reporter or standing out in a crowd. I can already tell you’re gonna be the kind to make a few waves. Women are gonna hate you and men are gonna be scared to death of you. Then he’d winked. Now, go find some news to report, and don’t you dare let me down.

  And she never had. That little bit of advice had proven to be the reason she moved up so quickly. She noticed everything. Like the blue car that had followed them all the way from Kansas City. The same type of car she’d seen three times during the past week. She figured it was probably another reporter, trying to scoop her. A smile touched her lips. But, as many had discovered before, she didn’t scoop easily.

  Too bad Jonesy had turned over his job to that little weasel, Frank Cruise—Kellie’s dad. If Jonesy were still boss, Raven wouldn’t be scrambling to take advantage of her former relationship with Matt just to land an anchor job that was rightfully hers in the first place. But Jonesy’s size and eating habits had caught up with him five years ago and he’d suffered a heart attack. After bypass surgery and a wife-enforced retirement, he’d dropped seventy-five pounds, and the last Raven heard, had finished a marathon in just over four hours. She was happy for him, even if it did make things harder for her.

  The Screeching Hawk ride had lasted a little over two minutes and in that time Raven’s emotions had dipped and spun just as much as the roller coaster. Now, melancholy swept over her. She didn’t like change. Didn’t like that Jonesy was gone, that Ken was flirting around with Kellie Cruise—whether his intention was simply to goad Raven into going after the story or not. She didn’t like that Mac was getting so close to marrying the floozy from Texas or that both of her sisters were now married.

  The ride came to a full stop and she glanced over at Matt. Affection surged through her at his white-knuckled grip on the bar.

  “You can let go now,” she said. “The ride’s over.”

  “Can we go again?” Jamie asked.

  Matthew cleared his throat. “Umm—let me just catch my breath before we make that decision.”

  Her expression crashed. “May I have some cotton candy?”

  “Later.” Matt’s legs seemed about to fail him and Raven slipped her hand into the crook of his arm to steady him. “You okay?”

  He nodded and gave her a sheepish grin. “I will be. But I have to tell you, I don’t know how I’m going to survive the rest of today without becoming a complete disappointment to my daughter.”

  Raven laughed. “You can hold on to me. I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Will you?” He stopped short, grabbed her hand and gave her a look of such intensity that Raven drew a sharp breath.

  “Are you guys coming?” Jamie’s impatient voice preempted anything he might have said. “There’s the cotton-candy machine.”

  Reluctance flickered in his eyes. Raven let out the breath she’d been holding as his attention rightfully switched to his little girl. “We’re coming, James. And anyway, it’s too early for cotton candy. We’ll have lunch in a little while, then cotton candy.”

  Jamie kicked at the ground with her gym shoe. Her knobby knees, centered in thin, deeply tanned legs had more marks than Mac’s old work table out at the cabin. “Hey, Jamie,” Raven called on a whim.

  “What?” The kid’s tone mirrored her freckled scowl. Raven raised her eyebrows. Apparently the camaraderie of the license-plate game had faded.

  Matthew flipped the bill of her baseball cap, knocking it off her head. “Watch your tone, young lady.”

  Jamie caught the cap before it could hit the ground. “Sorry,” she murmured.

  “It’s okay,” Raven replied graciously. “I was just wondering where you got all those scars on your legs.”

  “Lots of places.” Jamie slipped her hand into Matthew’s, turning her back and tugging her dad forward so that Raven was forced to walk behind.

  “Like where?”

  The little girl lifted her slim shoulders in a shrug. “Soccer, field hockey, baseball.”

  “I guess you like sports, huh?”

  The girl tossed back a “duh” look over her shoulder. Raven’s lips twitched, mostly because the look was lost on Matthew—exactly what the little girl had planned. Raven had a feeling she’d have to stay on her toes now that Jamie knew Matthew wouldn’t put up with her being sassy. All the digs from the kid would come on the sly and for the purpose of challenging Raven to tattle. Raven almost looked forward to the challenge.

  She fell into step beside the two. “What’s your favorite baseball team?”

  “What’s yours?”

  “Royals.”

  Jamie gave a disgusted snort and pointed to her ball cap. A telltale red bird was embroidered on the bill. “I’m a Cards fan. The Royals stink.”

  Indignation spread through Raven, but she held her cool. What did an eight-year-old know about a team making a comeback someday anyhow?

  Matthew laughed, obviously sensing her bristle. “Hey, even you have to admit the Cardinals have given Missouri a l
ittle more to brag about in the past few years than the Royals.”

  Raven sniffed and shrugged. “They’re building the team back up. Just wait. This season they’ll go all the way. Who knows, maybe we’ll watch the Cardinals and the Royals face off in the Series.”

  Jamie stopped, bringing Matthew to an abrupt halt as well. Raven took a step beyond then turned around. “What’s wrong?”

  “Dad and me always watch baseball together.” She emphasized her words with a pointed stare. “Alone.”

  Raven’s cheeks warmed as she realized that she’d implied she’d still be around in a few months. She glanced at Matthew, who met her gaze with guarded eyes. Drawing a deep breath, she turned back to Jamie and grinned. “Look, kid, what are the chances the Royals are really going to make it to the playoffs, let alone win the championship?”

  Suspicion clouded Jamie’s eyes, but she nodded. “Well, just so you know…we always watch baseball—just us.”

  “And I wouldn’t dream of interfering with your time alone with your dad.”

  Awkward silence surrounded the three as they made their way down the street trying to find a ride where the line wasn’t so long they’d have to wait an hour for a two-minute thrill. When they passed a rest-room building, Jamie shook free of Matt’s hand and headed toward the side marked Ladies. “I have to go.”

  Matt cut a quick glance to Raven.

  Raven nodded. “I’ll go with her.”

  She trailed the little girl. Jamie noticed her walking behind and her lips twisted. “I’m not a baby.”

  “I know that,” she said in her best matter-of-fact voice. “But you’re not the only one who drank too much this morning.”

  “Oh.”

  “Okay, Jamie. Let’s make a deal about the whole bathroom thing.”

  “Like what?”

  “When you get done, wait inside the stall until I say you can come out, okay?”

  “Why?”

  “Because, as you pointed out earlier, children shouldn’t run around the park alone and even bathrooms aren’t safe. Capisce?”

  The little girl hesitated, stubbornness oozing from every square inch of her.

  Raven gathered a steadying breath. “Look, do it for your dad. He’ll worry about you every time you go to the bathroom if you don’t promise.”

  She gave a sigh. “Okay.”

  Raven watched her walk into a stall. She was forced to wait a minute before another one became available.

  When she opened the door and walked out, she washed her hands and called, “All right, Jamie. You can come on out.” The little girl didn’t answer, so Raven stepped to the stall where Jamie had entered, and knocked.

  “Occupied,” came a woman’s voice on the other side of the door. Raven’s heart lurched. “Jamie?”

  No one answered. “Jamie!” The stall opened and a fifty-something woman stepped out, indignation lining her face.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. Did you see a little girl come out of there? She was supposed to wait for me.”

  The woman’s expression instantly took on a look of understanding and even a hint of concern. “No. It was empty when I came in.”

  Panic seized Raven and she raced outside, dread of telling Matthew she’d lost his daughter mingling with every image of terror her imagination could conjure up.

  She scanned the street. Matthew stood alone, hand stuffed in his pockets. “Matthew,” she called. “Have you seen Jamie?”

  He frowned and closed the distance between them. “I just got back out here. There was a line on the men’s side. What do you mean?”

  “Jamie’s not in the bathroom. I told her to stay in the stall until I said she could come out.”

  Horror widened Matthew’s eyes. He gripped her arm, fingers of pain licking her soft flesh. “Are you sure?”

  Tears stung her eyes. “I looked everywhere. She’s gone.”

  Matthew released her arm and whipped around. “Jamie!”

  “Okay, where’s my dad?”

  He glanced down at the little girl. Her lips were pursed in disdain and her hands planted firmly on slim hips. Resentment welled inside him and he had to fight to keep from slapping her into the cotton-candy vendor. He hated kids. Especially smart-mouthed little girls who were too savvy for their own good. He looked down at her through mirrored sunglasses and forced a smile. “Remember, he said to buy you the cotton candy and wait for him here.”

  She gave him a suspicious sneer. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

  Mindful of the adults nearby, and the need to keep the kid’s voice down, he bent over, resting his palms on his knees until he was eye-level with the little brat. It took every bit of control to keep a conciliatory tone. “Look, I’m a guard at this park. Would they hire a guard who couldn’t be trusted? Besides, if your dad hadn’t told me to keep an eye on you, how would I know your name is Jamie?” Besides the fact that he’d heard Strong call after the kid. That had been a stroke of luck.

  She squinted, as though considering his words. He’d resorted to the “Your daddy said for you to come with me” line used by so many predators, not sure she’d go alone with him. As smart as this kid seemed to be, she’d bought the lie. That was a chilling thought. “Okay. I want purple cotton candy. That’s what Dad always gets me.”

  Glancing over his shoulder, he touched her back to move her forward toward the vendor. It wouldn’t take Strong more than a few minutes to remember the girl had asked for cotton candy earlier and locate the nearest one, looking for the precocious kid. Especially with a reporter helping him out.

  “Jamie!” His heart rate doubled as he heard the call.

  “That’s my dad! Over here!” She turned and craned her neck to see around the adults blocking her path.

  Ahh, goal accomplished.

  He smiled and slipped from the line. Melting into the crowd, he pulled off his hat and wig and tossed the disguise into the nearest garbage can.

  Now they would know he was serious.

  He was watching….

  Chapter Ten

  Matthew carried his sleeping daughter inside the house and up the stairs—thanking God that he still had her to hold close after today’s near-kidnapping. Images of what might have happened sent shards of fear into his heart.

  Jamie adjusted herself in his arms. Her soft sigh tickled his neck. Instinctively, Matt pulled her warm body closer. He couldn’t hold her tight enough. When he reached her room, he pulled back the covers and reluctantly lowered her to the bed. He didn’t want to let her go. Needed to feel her against his heart. With a sigh, he adjusted the comforter around her shoulders and stood back.

  Tears stung his eyes as he watched her beautiful, sleeping form. Such a tiny creature, full of fun and life. And more spunk than any two little girls had any business possessing, let alone one—especially at eight years old.

  How could she have been duped into walking away with a complete stranger? Hadn’t he drilled all the dangers into her head since she was a toddler? If only she had been able to give a detailed description of the guy, maybe they’d have some sort of chance to find him. But by the time the police had questioned Jamie, she was too shaken herself to be of much help and had merely described the man as having red hair and wearing shiny—which Matt had taken to mean mirrored—sunglasses. And he was dressed as a park guard. Otherwise there was no way Jamie would have gone with him. He’d drilled safety rules into her head too many times. All the police could do was take a statement. The park issued an alert, and P.D. manpower devoted some time to searching. But nothing had turned up. The man was most likely wearing a stolen uniform and a possibly a wig. They’d never find him now.

  Matt walked to the windows and checked the locks, pulled the shades, then with one more glance toward his daughter, he stepped into the hallway.

  “Matt, honey, I thought I heard you come in.”

  Matthew turned to find his mother gliding toward him, her steps a mix of the grace and confidence that encompassed her personality
and made her so popular with men and women alike. He bent and kissed her smooth cheek. “Jamie fell asleep on the way here. I just put her to bed.”

  She patted his shoulder. “You’re home earlier than I expected you would be. Have you eaten supper?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not hungry. Jamie may wake up hungry later, though. None of us ate much today.”

  “Anything wrong?”

  Hesitating only a moment, Matthew nodded. “Come into my office so we can talk.” There was no point in trying to spare her the details. As soon as Jamie woke up, everyone in the household would know about her ordeal—which had only become an “ordeal” for the little girl after she’d realized that Matthew hadn’t, nor would he ever, instruct anyone she didn’t know to take her to get cotton candy or anything else.

  His mother’s face drained of color as he relayed the details. “Oh, my.” She lifted a trembling hand to her throat. “We need tighter security. How could Raven have allowed that child out of her sight?”

  “Don’t blame Raven, Mother. She took every precaution. She doesn’t know our Jamie like we do.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “What would you have done?”

  His mother scowled, but nodded in concession. “I suppose you’re right. Honestly, something needs to be done about that girl’s disobedience.”

  “I’ve wrestled with whether or not to punish her for disobeying Raven, but I didn’t have the heart. Once she realized what might have happened, she was pretty subdued the rest of the day.”