AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Adria’s heart twisted painfully.
“I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t resist. All I had to do was disappear with the girl.”
“But why? And who?” Zach demanded.
“I don’t know.”
Adria could hold her tongue no longer. “But someone paid you, met with you—”
“It was all arranged over the telephone. At first I thought it was a joke. Then I got a package. Ten thousand dollars. More money than I’d ever seen in my life, and I was called again, offered another forty thousand dollars. All I had to do was leave town. Five thousand dollars more was sent to a private post offfice, and the rest when I got to Denver. From there I was to head anywhere, to put as much distance between myself and Portland as I could. It was supposed to happen earlier, but London wouldn’t go to bed and we almost didn’t make it. I was so scared, but so desperate. Oh, God, what am I going to do now?”
“Well, you’re sure as hell not going to take care of my daughter any longer,” Mrs. Bassett said. “I’ll pay you severance pay, whatever it takes, but, believe you me, you’ll not be spending another night in this house!” So enraged she was shaking, she hurried out of the room and the soles of her prim red pumps clacked loudly on the steps as she hurried upstairs. “Chloe? Where are you?”
Ginny shoved a strand of hair from her face and her fingers quivered. “How did you find me?”
“It took some time,” Zach admitted.
Adria leaned closer. “But surely you know who paid you?”
She shook her head and turned guilt-riddled eyes on Adria. “I don’t have any idea.”
“Man? Woman?”
“Really. I don’t know. I never met with anyone and the money was all in cash—small bills.”
She looked so miserable—her cheeks hollow, her eyes vacant as she dabbed at them—that Adria believed her.
“Someone paid you off.”
“Yes.”
“Someone with a lot of money.”
She nodded, but Adria got the impression she wasn’t listening, that she was remembering the past and how she’d escaped with someone else’s daughter.
“You’ll have to talk to the police,” Zach said.
“I know.”
“It may not be easy.”
She turned haunted eyes up at Zach. “It never has been,” she admitted. “For twenty years I’ve looked over my shoulder, expecting this day to come. I knew you were back in Portland, you know,” she added, staring at Adria. “I heard it on the news. Saw your face, listened to your story, knew that you’d be reunited with your family.”
“You could have run,” Adria said.
Ginny gave a self-deprecating little snort. “Where to? I really didn’t think you’d find me.” She pushed herself upright. “You look just like her, you know. It’s…well, it’s scary.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Why didn’t you come forward for the reward?” Zach asked.
She just stared for a minute. “Because Witt Danvers would have killed me for taking his little girl.” She cleared her throat. “Would you give me a few minutes to get my things?” she asked with a weak smile. “Then I’ll go with you to talk to the police.”
“Fine,” Adria said.
“I don’t think we should let her out of our sight,” Zach cut in.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Danvers,” Ginny said, studying Zachary as if for the first time, trying to picture him as the man who’d grown up from the rebellious son of the richest man in Portland—the hellion who had given his father fits. “It’s time for this to end.”
