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Taylor doubted Eliza and her boyfriend, or whoever the scumbag was, would want anyth
ing but cash. A wire transfer to a bank required the receiving party to have an account. Drug addicts who kidnapped children didn’t seem likely to have an account at the local bank. And no one simply walked into a bank, cashed a million-dollar check, and walked back out with a briefcase full of hundred-dollar bills without calling attention their way.
“He didn’t say. All he gave was the dollar amount,” she answered.
“Mr. Sherbrooke, before you agree to meet the—” the agent who had listened to the entire phone conversation began.
“Agent Torre, I’ll do what I need to.” He reached across and squeezed Mom’s hand before he took hers. “Don’t worry. We’ll get her back.” Curt called whatever contact he pulled up and walked away.
I hope. Paying Eliza and her boyfriend didn’t guarantee they’d get Reese back. Everyone there, even Mom, knew it.
***
The backyard light let her see Curt standing on the patio while he talked to his cousin. Taylor didn’t blame him for taking a break and going outside. The tension inside had become a tangible thing, weighing on them all, making her anxious and worried one moment and angry as hell the next. She’d thought about escaping the house and tension off and on all day by getting in her car and searching for Reese and Eliza herself. The fact Eliza’s boyfriend hadn’t called back yet was all that kept her from putting her plan into action. He’d insisted on talking to her and not Mom the first time. When he called again, it made sense he’d do the same thing. She couldn’t afford to miss his call.
“You look exhausted. Maybe you should try to get some sleep,” Mom said, coming back into the kitchen alone.
“I think you need it more than me. Did Mr. McIntyre leave?”
“He’ll be right back. He needs to let Petey out. The poor dog has been inside all day. I’m making some tea. Do you want some?”
She didn’t remember the last time she’d had anything to drink. “Sure.” Outside, Curt started pacing; she wondered how much he was sharing with whatever cousin had called him.
“How do you think Eliza learned Curt was a Sherbrooke?” The car with the mismatched door that she saw pass Curt’s house the day Trent made his surprise visit had to be the same one that dropped Eliza off the last time she came over. Eliza and her boyfriend would’ve seen Trent’s expensive sports car parked in the driveway, but there was no way for them to link it back to a Sherbrooke.
Mom filled the teapot, the one Reese had picked out as a gift one Mother’s Day, and put it on the stove. “Maybe after Reese told Eliza about her trip to Newport she got curious. She could’ve gone to the town hall and asked who owned the house next door. Sonia Anne works in the town clerk’s office. She and Eliza were friends in high school. She might have helped her out. There’s also a database on the town website. If you put in any address in town, it’ll tell you who owns the property. Curt’s full legal name would’ve come up.”
“Yeah, but would she have thought to do any of that?” Her sister spent much of her time either high or looking to get high. Could she carry out a plan like Mom theorized?
The teapot whistled behind her. “Maybe.” Mom poured the hot water into two large mugs. “Or her boyfriend may have known to check with the town hall.” She added sugar to both mugs before bringing them over. “I think this whole thing was his idea. Eliza wouldn’t do this on her own. Not to her daughter. Her boyfriend put her up to it.”
Maybe at one time she would’ve agreed, but the woman who'd dropped in weeks ago wasn’t the person Taylor had grown up with.
“I have to believe that,” Mom said softly.
If thinking Eliza’s boyfriend forced her to kidnap Reese helped Mom get through this situation, she’d let her believe it. Convincing her otherwise didn’t change the facts or bring Reese home any sooner.
The door from the backyard slid open, and Curt walked inside. “Jake wanted me to tell you hello. He called to see how everything was and ask if he could help.”
Had Jake overheard her in the library? She’d tried to keep her voice as low as possible. And Curt had merely told Jake they had to leave because of an emergency.
“Does he know what’s going on?” Taylor asked. She’d rather Curt’s entire family not know all the details.
At the stove, Curt made himself a cup of tea. She hadn’t seen him eat or drink anything in hours either. “No. He knows you have a family emergency. He doesn’t know the specifics. I didn’t think it was any of his business.”
The cordless phone on the counter rang, and every set of eyes locked on it.
Like earlier, Agent Torre slipped on headphones and gave her a thumbs-up.
“Hello,” Taylor said, in a clear controlled voice.
“Do you have our money?” Eliza, not the scumbag from earlier, asked.
Her sister’s voice gave her pause. Could she reason with Eliza? Get her to bring Reese home tonight? Maybe when hell freezes over. Mom might put all the blame on Eliza’s boyfriend, but she didn’t buy it. Eliza had played a role in what happened today.
“Let me talk to Reese,” Taylor said. She needed to hear her niece’s voice more than she needed air. Eliza might at least give her that. “I need to know she’s okay, Eliza. You can understand that.”
Taylor heard what sounded like music in the background, then nothing. Did Eliza hang up?
