“Yes, Momma” He nodded.
She stood, grabbed his hand, and walked into the police station. Reid followed. A uniformed officer greeted them from behind the information desk.
“Hello. My name is Quinn Matthews, and someone just tried to kidnap my son and me from the Sunrise Café.”
The officer’s jovial face turned hard. “Of course. Just a moment, and I’ll have someone come take your statement.”
He picked up the receiver and pushed a few buttons. “Detective Jacobs. We have a witness to what happened at the diner. She claims it was an attempted kidnapping.” He listened and then hung the receiver up. “Detective Jacobs will be right out.”
She led JJ to a chair, sat, and pulled him onto her lap. Her eyelids were heavy, and her body was weak. The adrenaline was wearing off.
Joe Lockhart had been in the alley. Seven years without a word. He’d never met JJ, only financially supported him from afar. What had changed his mind after all these years? She nuzzled her son. They were safe. Peace washed over her. She turned her head toward Reid. “Thank you.” Her voice cracked.
Reid didn’t say anything, only gave a curt nod.
A door to the right of the information desk opened, and a man in his late forties appeared, wearing khaki pants and a blue polo with the department’s logo where a breast pocket would be.
His gaze zeroed in on her, and he walked toward them, extending his hand as he neared. “I’m Detective Jacobs.”
She shook his hand. “Quinn Matthews.”
The detective turned toward the man beside her and reached for his hand.
“I’m Reid Lucas.”
Detective Jacobs led them down a hall to the left of the information desk and to a room with a table and four chairs. “Come in and have a seat. I was just about to head out to the scene. Corporal Dale tells me you believe someone attempted to kidnap you.”
“It’s not a belief. It’s a fact. Just ask Joe Lockhart. He helped us get away.”
The detective looked from her to Reid Lucas. “I’m sorry, but Joe Lockhart didn’t make it. He was dead when officers arrived.”
The room started spinning, and bile forced its way into her throat. She got up, raced for the trash can, and emptied her stomach’s contents. After she composed herself, a female officer brought in a bottle of water for her and a small stuffed bear in a police uniform, a bracelet, and a snack for JJ.
“Would you like a tour of the police station?” the officer asked JJ.
While he vibrated with excitement, dread filled Quinn. She didn’t want him out of her sight.
“Can I, Momma?”
Probably sensing her hesitation, the officer smiled. “It will just be the areas where he can meet other officers, and it’ll give you some time with Detective Jacobs.”
Reid laid a hand on her forearm. “He’ll be okay.”
The warmth of his hand chased the chills of apprehension away. She nodded. “Okay.”
“Yes!” JJ squealed.
“Ms. Matthews, can you tell me what happened?” Detective Jacobs asked as soon as the door closed behind JJ and the officer.
She told him everything that had happened from the time she started her shift to their arrival at the police station.
Detective Jacobs had been attentive, jotting notes on his yellow legal pad. He never interrupted her, though he sliced a glance at Reid when she came to the part about him luring her away from the front door. “Did you recognize either of the men?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’ve never seen them before.”
“Can you describe them?” Detective Jacobs sat poised, ready to write down her description.
She thought a moment. “I remember the man from the alley but not much about the man from inside the diner.”
