Page 64 of Two Favors Repaid

Inside the car, a child cried out in pain. The sound was painful to Emma’s ears, a travesty of what should have been. Fear could not stop her from helping a child in need.

“How old is he?” Emma asked, already moving in the direction of the car.

“He’s only eight,” the woman whispered.

Emma reached the car door. Sitting on the passenger seat was a phone. Emma looked towards the backseat, even down by the footwell, but there was no child. Just as Emma was trying to rationalize it further to herself, the phone rang out again with the same keening wail.

Emma turned around, fists raised to fight, just as she felt a prickle on the side of her neck.

So stupid. So stupid.

She didn’t feel anything else after that.

Chapter 20

Rob

Rob picked up the phone on the second ring.

“Are you and Emma on your way back to the station?” he asked.

The slight pause before Susan replied was the first sign that something was wrong. For a moment, he blamed the connection, which could be spotty on the roads outside town sometimes. Then Susan’s voice came back loud and clear.

“I’m still at the hospital,” the officer said. She drew a harsh breath before speaking again. “We have a problem,” she continued.

“A problem?” Rob clutched his phone tighter. The hairs on the back of his head stood on end. “Is Emma alright?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” Suddenly words were pouring out of his junior colleague. “She was in her room, getting dressed. I went to move the car closer to the entrance. I thought it was the safest thing to do. I was only gone for a few minutes. She checked out with the nurse, everything was fine, and then she … disappeared.”

“Disappeared?” Rob barked. He felt Natalie, Hunter, and the FBI agents’ eyes on him. “What the hell are you talking about? When did this happen?”

“Ten minutes ago. Rob, I’ve searched everywhere.”

“Stay where you are. We’re on our way.”

He hung up the phone. His hands were shaking so badly he had to put them in his jeans pockets. “Emma’s missing. She disappeared from the hospital before Susan could pick her up. Ford has her,” he said, stating the obvious.

Natalie’s face had gone white as chalk. She leaned on Hunter as if for support.

“That’s ballsy,” James Ramsay stated. “Even for Ford.”

Rob glared at him. He badly wanted to punch something and the government agent was starting to look like a good candidate for a beating.

But that wouldn’t help Emma.

“Alma, we need you to stay here, please,” Rob said, grabbing his jacket. “The rest of you, come with me.”

“I’m not staying behind, Hunter,” Natalie hissed.

Hunter raised his hands in surrender. “I understand. Just let me come with you, please, that’s all I ask.”

Behind them, Lorraine was already on the phone. “Jones, I need a favor. Find any and all cameras leaving the hospital in Sharp’s Cove. I’m looking for cars leaving in the last hour. Yes, that’s right, it’s the only hospital. No, I don’t know which direction, send me everything you find, please.” She hung up the phone. “My colleague will help us. We’ll follow you to the hospital,” she said. Her expression was grim.

Standing beside his car, Rob struggled with the key fob.

Hunter took the keys from him gently. “I’ll drive.”

Rob nodded gratefully. He was having trouble thinking. Even breathing seemed a chore.