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Eric’s comment somewhat diminished Curt’s happiness. When the director said they’d found her, he’d thought Eric meant the team physically had her. That Reese was safely away from her bitch of a mother and the deadbeat with Eliza.
“How long until she’s home?” Curt asked.
“Matter of hours. When I hear back from Connor, I’ll contact you again. Sit tight. This will be over soon,” Eric assured him with confidence.
Easier said than done. The little girl meant a hell of a lot to him.
Taylor and Curt ended their calls about the same time.
“Agent Morris says your security firm found Reese and Eliza.” Taylor referred to another FBI agent assigned to the case. “They’re holed up in an apartment in Dorchester.”
The boyfriend’s demand that Taylor meet Eliza in Boston made more sense now. Dorchester was Boston’s largest neighborhood. Getting from there to Faneuil Hall wouldn’t take long, and it’d be easy even with a child in tow.
Taylor went over and shook her mom awake. Neither ringing cell phone had disturbed her. “Mom.” Taylor waited for Priscilla to open her eyes. Judging by the older woman’s expression, it took a moment for the previous day’s events to come back. “The authorities found Eliza and Reese.”
Priscilla made the sign of the cross. “Thank God. Where is she? Can we go get her?”
Taylor fixed her ponytail and yanked her sneakers back on. “The police don’t have her yet.”
“But you said they found them,” Priscilla said.
“They did. Eliza and her boyfriend brought Reese to Dorchester. But the authorities can’t burst in. They’re putting a plan together.” She walked away as she spoke.
“Why not? If they know where your sister and Reese are, can’t they knock on the door? Demand she open it, and take Reese out?”
He knew what Taylor didn’t want to share. The authorities didn’t know what might be waiting for them inside. People who kidnapped a child only considered themselves. If cornered, Eliza and her boyfriend might use weapons to escape. The police, FBI agents, and HRT members didn’t want any bullets finding their way into Reese or themselves.
With Taylor out of the room, Curt answered Priscilla. “The authorities need to make sure the situation remains safe for everyone, especially Reese.”
He knew the moment she comprehended what he told her. “I wasn’t—I should’ve thought of that. My husband was a police officer. But Eliza has never been a violent person. I don’t think she would be now, either.”
Curt disagreed. A person as desperate as Eliza might do anything, and her boyfriend was a wild card in the situation. “Then this should all be over soon, and Reese will be upstairs tucked in bed asleep.”
Taylor rushed down the hall toward the front door. She held keys in one hand and Peanut, Reese’s stuffed tiger, in the other. “Mom, I’ll bring Reese home. Don’t worry.”
She’d spent enough time sitting around and doing nothing. She had a general location—Agent Morris hadn’t given her a specific address—and intended to help. Go in with the team, bring Reese out, and then hand over Peanut. That wasn’t the only thing motivating her, though. She wanted to be the one to slap the handcuffs on her sister and walk her to a waiting police cruiser. The Dorchester section of the city consisted of about six square miles. With a call to a friend at the Boston Police Department and some luck, she’d have the exact location soon.
Taylor never made it outside.
“Where are you going?” Curt pulled her back and slammed the front door closed at the same time.
“To get my niece. And make sure Eliza lands inside a jail cell.” She yanked her arm back, but Curt kept his fingers locked around her wrist. “Please stay with Mom. Keep her company until I come back.”
“Did Agent Morris share the team’s location?”
She almost lied and said yes. “No. It doesn’t matter. I used to work for the Boston PD and I still have friends there. I’ll get the location on the way.”
He stepped into her personal space. The front of his T-shirt rubbed against hers. Both understanding and compassion swam in his eyes. “Do you really think that’s the best idea? Would you want someone so emotionally involved on your team when you do an arrest?”
No. This was different. She could put aside her emotions and do the job.
“It’ll be better for everyone if you stay here and wait.” He plucked her keys away and shoved them in a pocket before she realized his intention. Then he released her wrist and cupped her face with both hands. “When Reese is safe, they’ll call us. As soon as they do, I’ll bring both you and Priscilla to Reese and back home again.”
“Curt, the waiting is killing me.”
Curt moved closer, and she felt his heart beat against her chest. “I know. It’s killing me, too.” He spoke with almost as much anguish as she felt. “But let the FBI and the police and everyone else handle this. It’s almost over. Reese will be safe soon.”
Since Mom’s first call, she’d struggled to keep everything inside, not let her fear or anger show. She needed to be strong for both Mom and Reese. Besides, crying solved nothing. It would only upset Mom more. The poor woman didn’t need that. Standing near Curt, with his misery apparent, pushed her over the edge. Without warning, all the emotions she’d held back for hours broke over her and forced their way out. Tears streamed down her face, and her shoulders shook.
