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“With Kylie gone I had my gun on the bedside table.” She didn’t admit she hardly closed her eyes all night. She was in law enforcement and didn’t need someone to protect her. That was her job.
“That’s good. I’m getting my car back today too. They were unable to track who hacked it.”
“I don’t think you should be driving anyway. I want you to stay at my house so I can keep an eye on you. I’m not sure Martha would have the time to keep checking. And she might not know what to look for.”
“I’m really fine, love. I was dizzy for a while and my head hurts, but I can think and see. No double vision or anything like that. A CT is a waste of time.”
“But you’re going to do it anyway, just to be on the safe side.”
He sighed. “Fine, I’ll do it for you.”
The doctor entered with a swab in his hand. “Let’s get this done. You know the drill.”
“Results within a week or so,” Annie said. “But it’s a formality only.”
The doctor smiled. “I don’t doubt you, Annie. And I make no judgments.” The doctor addressed Jon. “Speaking of results. Thank you for urging Anu to get checked. I think we both know it doesn’t look good. But I do think it’s probably early stage. I’m praying it is.”
Jon slid off the table to his feet. “We’re praying too.”
Annie thanked Ben. At least he didn’t doubt her word, but the rest of the town might not be so kind.
Thirty
Taylor sat on a grassy hillside overlooking the lake. The sun was all the way up, and the humidity climbed along with the sun. The air smelled fresh and clean. Sailboats dotted the blue of the water, and the hum of bees in the dandelions should have calmed her agitation.
But nothing settled her.
What she’d overheard last night had kept her awake all night, and she couldn’t decide what she was going to do with the knowledge that Annie, her supposedly wonderful sister, hadliedfor years to her own daughter. So much for her being such a great mom and a good person. She was no better than Mother, who had lied Taylor’s entire life. She still wouldn’t know for sure who she was if her mother hadn’t died and Sean hadn’t ferreted out the truth.
Just as she deserved to know her roots, Kylie deserved that too. And maybe she should have a new mother, one who wouldn’t lie to her like Annie did. Taylor knew how much lies hurt, and she could raise Kylie herself in a good home, a place of love and acceptance.
It sounded good, but money was the biggest problem. She could get Kylie to come with her willingly, but Taylor only hadabout fifty dollars in her pocket. That wouldn’t go far once she left Bree’s cottage. It wouldn’t even pay one night for a hotel.
Taylor clasped her legs to her chest and considered her options. She could rob a bank, but with the way streets had cameras these days, she probably wouldn’t get away with it. Jon’s car was worth a lot of money, so she could steal it and sell it. But she didn’t have the title, so she wouldn’t get much for it on the black market.
What about kidnapping Kylie and demanding a ransom? Jon was rich, and since he was Kylie’s dad, he’d cough up whatever Taylor asked. His father had plenty of money and could chip in too. That might work.
Or she could suck up to Annie and get her to give her half of their parents’ estate. Then once she had that, she could sell it and vanish with Kylie.
Taylor shook her head. It would be impossible to hide her disdain for her sister. And besides, she was getting tired of tiptoeing around Bree. It was clear whose side she was on, and Taylor could read the disapproval in her green eyes. Everyone thought Annie was so wonderful. Taylor wanted to be the one to tell Bree what a tramp her dear friend really was. Letting another man believe he was Kylie’s father was the height of deception.
What kind of person did that?
Any desire Taylor might have harbored for a real relationship with her sister had vanished when she learned the truth. Now she needed to figure out how to use it to her benefit.
The kidnapping scheme nagged at her thoughts. Was there a way to make it work? She had to make sure no one suspected she was the one behind Kylie’s disappearance. And she would need to figure out new identities so they could vanish. How much money would it take to disappear?
Sean would have known, and Taylor had Annie to thank for his loss as well. Would some of his friends be able to help her? Maybe Lissa Sanchez would know of a resource. Taylor had met her a few times, and Lissa might be willing to help for Sean’s sake.
“Hi, Taylor. Um, I mean, Aunt Sarah.”
Taylor looked around for the small voice and spotted Kylie. “Good morning. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I spent the night with Bree. Jon’s car got hacked.”
“Hacked? You mean stolen?”
“No, someone took control of it, and he couldn’t drive it. So Mommy let me stay with Bree.” Kylie, dressed in white shorts and a blue top, settled beside her on the grass. “What are you doing?”
