Finding Her Son(62)

“Red and green devil tattoo with a pink ribbon,” Mitch said, the frustration churning inside of him. Another lead. Dead.

The uniform nodded. “A gunshot wound in the chest and another through the head. The other body was found nearby. Different caliber.”

Tanner turned toward him. “Frank Mangino. Bodies are piling up around here. Someone is not taking any chances of leaving witnesses behind.”

Someone who believed he could get away with murder. Mitch slammed into the conference room. “Mrs. Wentworth. Where are your husband and son?”

Victoria started at his intrusion, then straightened her back. “Thomas decided at the last minute to take the plane on business today. I don’t know where William is.”

“How far would your husband and son go to protect themselves, Mrs. Wentworth?” Mitch asked.

Comprehension dawned on her face. “No, it can’t be. They wouldn’t have.” She sank back into the chair, stunned, her lip trembling. “Please tell me they didn’t kill Eric.”

Mitch nabbed his jacket and looked at her. “If they did, they’ll pay.”

Without pausing, Mitch returned to the bullpen. “I need everything we have on Frank Mangino, and I want any of Thomas or William Wentworth’s flight plans for yesterday, today and tomorrow,” he barked. “ASAP.”

“You sound like a real detective, Mitch,” Dane said. “What are you thinking?”

“That Emily will never quit until she finds her son. That makes her dangerous.” Mitch had a bad feeling. He tore down the hall to the waiting room. Empty. He checked his phone. No messages. She could be searching the databases. He hurried down the hall and flung open another door. Empty. His gut twisted, and he doubled back to the police station’s lobby. “Emily Wentworth? Did you see her?” he demanded of the desk sergeant.

“Sure. She left with some guy maybe ten minutes ago. Fancy suit.”

Mitch’s heart sank. He’d told her she was safe here. He’d been wrong.





Chapter Fourteen


The Wentworths’ large, private hangar loomed tall in the distance. Emily could barely contain her excitement. Her entire body felt supercharged. She grinned at William. “We’re almost there. I can’t believe it. I’m going to see Joshua. Finally.” She squirmed in her seat and leaned forward, staring at the horizon. “You’re sure it’s him, right, William? I don’t know if I can take another disappointment.”

“Almost one hundred percent positive,” William said. “After a year, he’s obviously changed, but this whole nightmare will be over soon.”

“Does Joshua’s adoptive family know he was stolen?” Emily let out a slow breath. “They’ll be devastated.” Her heart ached for the horror they’d all gone through because of the man who’d killed Eric and stole her son. The terrible thought hit her. “What if they were in on the kidnapping, William? Maybe we should wait for Mitch and the police.”

“Don’t worry.” William patted her hand. “I’ve taken care of things.”

He turned down a road, and the front of the thousand-square-foot hangar, with its huge sliding door, appeared in the distance. She could just make out the snow gathered around in dirty piles against the metal siding. Areas of black ice slicked the tarmac. William slowed as they made their approach.

Emily squinted. “What’s that lying in front of the building?”

The hangar grew closer, and the black blob started to take on the recognizable shape of a man. The gray-haired figure struggled to rise, then waved at them.

Recognition ricocheted through her. Emily gasped. “I think it’s your father.”

Thomas Wentworth rolled to his side. His chest was bloody.

“William, he’s hurt! Hurry!”

Her brother-in-law pressed down on the gas. The car lurched forward.

Emily clenched her fists, and her nails bit into her palms. Who could’ve hurt Thomas? Had the adoptive family been involved the whole time? Panic clutched her heart. “What about Joshua? Where is he? I don’t see anyone else.” Frantically, she searched for any other car or movement.

Then she noticed Thomas struggling. He held something in his hand and was pointing it at the speeding car. “Gun!” she yelled.

William wrenched the wheel to the left, just as the front windshield shattered. The car rammed into the side of the hangar and both airbags exploded, turning the world white. Seconds later, everything shuddered to a stop.

Emily shook her head to clear her vision, then released her safety belt and rammed her shoulder against the door until it opened. She had to find cover before Thomas opened fire again. She peeked over the edge of the window. Her father-in-law had fallen back, lying still as death. “He’s not moving. Are you all right, William?”

Her brother-in-law groaned and pushed away from the steering wheel and the deflated airbag. His shoulder oozed blood. “No, dammit, I’ve been shot.”

She reached into the car for his phone. “Give me your cell. I’ll call for help.”

“Leave it alone!” William slammed his fist into Emily’s face. Her head snapped back, and her jaw exploded with pain.

“This is all your fault. You ruined everything. You just kept coming and coming, never giving up. You were supposed to be dead. You were all supposed to be dead.”