Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(68)

“Did you see Grace?” he asked, scanning for her.

“She probably went with some friends to the bounce houses. She loves those,” Bethany answered.

If she spent more time with Grace and paid attention, she’d know Grace wouldn’t do that. “I told her not to go anywhere else.”

“Maybe she needed the bathroom and couldn’t wait to check in. I’ll go see.” Jessie headed for the temporary bathrooms set up behind the bandstand.


“I’m going to check the bounce houses. Stay here in case she comes back.” He couldn’t recall a single time Grace had disobeyed him on anything like this but she was a kid surrounded by her friends. Kids followed their peers all the time.

When a search of both bounce houses and the craft table nearby turned up nothing, he started back for their blanket, hoping that Jessie had found her or she’d wandered back. The sight of just Jessie and Bethany standing together froze the blood in his veins. He continued to survey the area as he walked, and he reminded himself that this was North Salem not some huge city.

“I checked the bathrooms and asked some parents I passed.” Jessie’s voice echoed his own worry.

“She has to be here. This town is like Hicksville. Everyone is either related to each other or knows everyone else. Nobody would take her.”

While Bethany might be close to the truth, he knew strangers did pass through town all the time, and it only took one messed-up person to snatch a little girl. Hard cold fear knotted inside his chest. As a member of law enforcement, he’d seen what could happen to a little girl like Grace both during his time with the Boston Police and now with the FBI.

He continued sweeping the area as he waited for his father, the police chief, to answer his phone. He might be jumping the gun. She could be playing with friends somewhere, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

Every police officer on and off duty descended on the Common and search parties formed, spreading out from the Common in every direction.

“Maybe she walked home,” Bethany offered as they crossed onto Fender Drive toward Peggy Sue’s coffee shop.

“Why the hell would she do that?” Sure, she could’ve cut through the church parking lot and made it to the house with no problem, but she had no reason to.

“To see the dog. She was upset when you wouldn’t let her bring him today.”

Grace had cried a little, and she did love the dog. Still, he didn’t picture her doing that.

“It’s not a bad idea to check just in case,” Bethany said.

Bethany had a point. “I’ll call you if I find her.” He took off at a dead run and prayed he found Grace inside with Socks. She’d seen him hide the extra key outside the week they’d moved in. If she had gone back to the house, she’d be able to get inside, assuming she remembered where he put the key. Knowing Grace, she remembered. The kid didn’t forget anything.

The house remained empty and Socks still sat in his locked crate. The hands around Mack’s heart squeezed tighter as he thought about his next move. If anyone hurt his little girl, they’d wish they’d never been born when he got done with them.





Chapter 15




Despite her best efforts, Jessie’s mind kept bringing up horrific images and headlines from child abduction cases she’d seen on the news. No, we’re going to find her. Jessie repeated the line in her head for at least the hundredth time. Still, her panic rose.

She reached the corner of union   and Pleasant Streets. When she heard her cell phone ring, hope flared. It had to be Mack saying they’d found her safe and sound. Stopping dead, she pulled the phone out, but the word Gramps appeared on the screen instead of Mack. Her grandfather didn’t know they couldn’t find Grace. While it felt like an eternity had passed, it had, in fact, been less than thirty minutes since they’d realized she was missing.

“Hi Gramps, I can’t—”

“Grace Ellsbury is here looking for you.”

Had he said what she thought he said? “What?”

“Mack’s daughter walked in, looking for you.”

Her legs wobbled. “Keep her there. I’ll be right there.” She flew down Pleasant Street and didn’t think to check traffic before she crossed the street and ran into the hardware store.

Jessie’s heart stopped and she paused, her brain processing what she saw. Grace sat in her office next to her grandfather, sucking on a lollipop. She was safe. No one had her.

Once Jessie’s brain accepted the sight, she rushed forward and picked her up. “What are you doing here? Why did you leave the picnic?” Frustration slowly ate away at the relief in her chest. Did Grace have any idea of the hell she’d put everyone through?

“I want to come live with you.” Tears glistened in Grace’s eyes.

Stay calm. Don’t shout.

“I don’t want to move again.” Grace sniffled.

“Grace, who said you’re moving?” Jessie asked in a soothing voice as she sat her back down in a chair.

“Mommy did last night.”

At the mention of her mom, Jessie realized Mack needed to know Grace was safe. “I’m going to call your dad and let him know where you are. Then you can tell me why you’re upset.”


Her hands shook when she pulled out her phone. Never in her life had such fear gripped her. Mack’s phone rang only once before his anguished voice barked a hello.