Page 20 of Lethal Weakness

“I’m sorry, ma’am. They left about twenty minutes ago.”

Linden’s face pales, and anger licks at my spine.

“What? They took my daughter?”

“I don’t know… I think there was a little girl with them. I didn’t ask questions.”

“Did they or didn’t they?” I ask a lot more firmly, making the host stiffen.

“Uh, yes. I believe so.”

“Let’s go.” She grips the sleeve of my t-shirt, and I let her pull me out of the restaurant.

It’s been a long time since anyone has man-handled me in any way.

“Where did you go? You were supposed to call me!” Her head dips as she talks to whoever it is on the phone. “I know, I was late. I had car troubles. She is supposed to be in a car seat.”

Linden’s silence grows. “You have a car seat? When did you plan to run that by me?… I don’t care. I’m her mother.”

She blows a deep breath out and squeezes her eyes shut. “Let me talk to her. Now!”

I’m impressed with the display of backbone from a woman I’ve viewed as gentle up until now. Her rage is practically radiating off of her.

“Hi, baby.” Her fire turns to sunshine instantaneously. “Yeah, Mommy’s car wouldn’t start, but I’ll be there in ten minutes to get you… Make sure you have your shoes on… Okay, I love you, too.”

Shit. Somehow this mission has turned into me driving straight onto the Scott property, fully exposed. No concealment.

I’m inviting a blown cover and failed op.

“I need to go get her from her grandparents’ house. I’m so sorry, Jack. I can call a car service if you want. You’ve already done enough.” She presses her eyes as if to prevent tears from falling.

“You’re not putting your daughter in some stranger’s car.” I start my engine, ignoring the fact that I am a stranger to them, too.

She sits silently in the passenger seat, other than to guide me to the mansion that I already know very well. I keep my hat tucked low on my head as we head through the security gates, but it doesn’t matter. They’ll run my truck and get my identity that way.

The identity that I want them to have.

“You should stay in the truck. I don’t think they’ll be happy that I’m with a man they’ve never met.”

Perfect, no reason for me to expose myself further. Except, I find myself scoffing. “None of their business.”

She looks torn as she slides out of her seat. “I wish it weren’t. But they’ve made sure that all of my business is their business, and as you can tell…” She motions to the giant house. “They have a lot more resources than I do.”

She runs into the house without knocking, and in less than thirty seconds is carrying her daughter out on her hip.

Two figures appear in the doorway, and I know it’s Edmund and Merrill Scott. I keep my head down, avoiding their obvious stares, and let Linden get Avery settled in the back.

Just before Linden gets in the front seat, they call to her. Her eyes are filled with such heavy sadness as she glances at me; I almost tell her to ignore them.

But it’s not my place.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be right back.”

I can’t take my eyes off of her as she approaches the people that are worse than she probably even imagines.

Their finely tailored clothing looks morbid compared to Linden’s cut-off jean shorts and yellow cropped t-shirt. Like good and evil staring back and forth at each other.

“Hi, Mr. Jack.”