AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sunny was out and he shouldn’t be—he risked too much standing in the open in broad daylight with two cops, but he took that risk in a blond wig and tanning lotion which veered his sun-blessed skin into orange-blessed. For me, he was here.
“Whore?” Sloane in action was even better than the efficient, no-nonsense man I spoke to on the phone. He told me I’d have my daughter in my arms within twenty-four hours. Watching him then, I shortened the timeline. “One in the many lies Miss Bellisario warned us you’ve leveled against her. She has a spotless record. No arrests or convictions for drugs, solicitation, neglect, or abuse. Miss Blaine is Laurel’s mother, and she will be taking her home now.”
“She never wanted her! That monster dumped her in the alley behind my house. I found Laurel next to the trash.”
It was me who had to be held back. For her to speak such a filthy lie eroded my self-control. Sloane instructed me to wait on the sidewalk and let him handle it, but if he didn’t shut that woman up quick, all bets were off.
“Stand aside!” the officer barked. “Now. If I have to tell you again, we’re taking you in for obstruction and kidnapping.”
“Kidnapping?” she cried. “But I—”
Her break in concentration gave him the chance to move her out of the way. Officer Guzman stormed the place. Charlie made to go after him and his partner stopped her, drawing her out onto the lawn.
“This is all a horrible misunderstanding.” Charlie’s ruddy cheeks paled sallow. “I did not kidnap that baby. I rescued her. I did the right thing.”
“If that was the case,” Sloane replied, “you would’ve contacted the police and social services the night you found an abandoned baby on your doorstep. As a foster mother, you know the proper procedure, so explain why there’s no record of Laurel’s official placement in your care?”
A wicked smile twisted my mouth as she stumbled over her answer. Whatever Sunny paid Sloane, it was not enough.
“Someone made a mistake,” Charlie said. “The paperwork was lost.”
“Hmm. A more accurate view of events is Miss Blaine asked for your help when she fell on hard times, because she’s a good mother who wanted Laurel safe and healthy. When the time came for you to return the child to Miss Blaine, you refused because you’d grown attached and determined you’d make a better mother.”
“Lies.” Charlie folded her arms, her glare burning me where I stood. “It’s all lies. She has the maternal instinct of an alley cat. I will fight this, for Laurel’s sake. My baby deserves better than that woman.”
Officer Woods looked his nose down on her. “Miss Blaine is willing to not press charges if you stop making this difficult. That’s a very generous offer since the alternative carries the maximum sentence of life imprisonment.”
“She’s not pressing charges?! Why on earth would she? It’s me who dealt with harassment, threats, stalking.” She leveled a finger on me. “The other night, she broke into my home. I filed a police report and told them exactly who to look for. How does that fit into her spotless record?”
Officer Woods flicked to me. “Is this true, Miss Blaine?”
“What night are we talking about?”
“You know! Don’t play innocent.”
“Which night, Ms. Mayberry?” Woods repeated.
“Two nights ago around nine thirty. I went upstairs to check on the baby, and she jumped out the window, scaring poor Laurel. She probably came here to steal money for drugs.”
“That bitch is pushing it,” Sienna gritted.
“She’s a desperate animal backed into a corner. It’s her last chance to get a few strikes in before I go for the throat in three, two, one...” I raised my voice. “Two nights ago at nine thirty? I was nowhere near here. Tony and I were at Rocco’s Pie and Creamery from eight o’clock until midnight.”
“That’s right,” Sunny replied smoothly. “My lady and I were getting our strawberry pie on. We were there the whole time—didn’t leave once.”
“Liar! She broke into my home.”
Woods fixed on us. “Will the other patrons or employees be able to confirm this?”
“No reason they wouldn’t. The owner, Rocco, served us himself. I’m sure he remembers a handsome couple like us.”
Charlie was shouting, cursing, and carrying on. Right then I understood why Sloane ordered me to stand there in my bow tie dress and heels—the appearance of calm, classy, and collected while the kidnapper ranted on the front lawn, tearing any bit of her credibility to shreds. The maternal, mother-bear side of me hated Charlie Mayberry in every corner of her soul. Confusedly, it was also the same side that didn’t wish to see her thrown in prison.
Despite what she put me through, my daughter was a healthy, happy nine-month-old and that was due to Charlie. She took care of Laurel when I needed her—if only she hadn’t gotten unclear about the fact it wouldn’t be forever.
