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Chapter Fifty-seven
Before Sloan could text back, Alia rushed up to where he was, her face full of the same fear that had ridden him since he’d heard that Kean was missing.
“Did you find the boat?”
“According to the guard,Lia Minesunk a while back, andMy Lia IIreplaced her but it left the marina a week ago.”
“Oh no.” Her eyes filled.
Swollen and blotchy from previous tears, they broke his heart. This woman had suffered enough because of her bastard ex-husband. He needed to get back her son, needed to do it badly.
His priorities had shifted since they’d met. He’d fallen for her, no two ways about it. Now she was his everything—her and the boy.
He wrapped one arm around her to pull her close and give her comfort. She stiffened, as if by habit, but he didn’t let go and then she sagged gratefully, seeking his warmth. He held his phone in the other hand.
“Honey, Libby and Les are here looking for him, and I just got a text from Les that they found something.” While he talked his thumb flew over the screen and he hit send.
They waited, hardly breathing. The ding let them know that Les had answered.
Sloan read aloud the message. “Slip #4, Boat #6.”
He quickly asked the guard where that location would be and they followed his directions, arriving in time to see Libby and Les crouched behind another boat berthed around the corner.
Sloan squatted next to Les, with Alia bringing up the rear. He pointed to the craft they were watching. “What makes you think he’s there? How did you find the boat?”
Libby answered. “Pure bloody luck. The kid’s giving his dad a hell of a time. He was yelling his head off. We just happened past and heard the ruckus.”
Alia started forward. “Is Paul hurting him?”
Les held her back and spoke quickly. “No. Nothing like that. The kid’s madder’n a hornet for being taken away from you.”
Sloan and Alia stood up and headed for the boat that Les and Libby had indicated. No sooner were they in front, the engine started up and a man appeared to untie the lines.
Sloan pulled out his badge. “FBI. Just stop what you’re doing. We need to talk.”
Looking relieved, the fellow threw down the ropes and walked over to the controls on the deck. He turned off the motor. “What can I do for you, officer?”
“Agent Sloan Booker and this is my partner, Agent Hawkins. We’d like to come aboard and talk with you, sir.”
“As you can see, I’m headed out on a day trip. Have a customer who’s paying the shot and time’s a-wastin’.”
“It’s that customer I’m interested in. Can I come aboard?”
“Sure. I haven’t done anything wrong that I’m aware of.”
Sloan climbed the ladder onto the boat and helped Alia aboard also. Les and Libby brought up the rear. “Have you seen this boy?”
The captain seemed uncomfortable as he studied the photo. Before he could answer, Kean yelled, “Sloan, I’m in here. Ow! Let me go, you creep.”
Kean appeared on the stairs leading down into a cabin. He held the tabby kitten protectively. Close behind came Paul, his face full of fury, he cheek bearing scratches and his whole manner that of a man close to losing it completely.
Kean ran to his mother, to her open arms, and his telltale sob awakened every protective cell in Sloan’s body. Before he could step forward, Paul had moved into Alia’s space. “You. What kind of mother are you? The kid’s a freaking brat.” Paul pointed his finger and continued his rant. “He kicked me, bit me, wouldn’t take orders and go to sleep. He’s a—”
Suddenly, before anyone could stop her, the kitten flew out of Kean’s arms and tore a strip of skin off Paul’s face.
“Goddamnit!” Paul screamed and flung the cat away from him. It landed on its feet, back arched, its fangs still showing. Paul’s finger again poked in front of Alia’s face. “That blasted cat’s as big a menace as the kid.”
Sloan reached for the stupid prick, but Alia beat him to it. He’d never seen anyone get flipped over so fast and all because his finger had been where it didn’t belong.
