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“It’s okay, baby. Is it the guy with the limp? He’s been arrested. Now tell me where you are.”
Bethany gave another little gasp. “Arrested?” Hope shimmered in her voice. “Oh, good. That’s so good.” Lacey’s heart nearly broke as her daughter gave a hiccupping sob. “I’m at a pay phone across the street from the homeless shelter. There’s a place around the corner that serves free meals.”
Mason grabbed Lacey’s arm and ushered her toward the door. She followed at a quick pace, and soon they were in his car racing toward the shelter. Daniel led the way.
Bethany gave a gasp. “On, no! There’s that car again. I thought you said he’d been arrested!”
“What car?” Mason snatched the phone from Lacey.
“The one that always seems to find me when I’m around here!”
“Describe it for me, quick.”
“Um. I don’t know. It’s a white Buick. It’s coming closer!”
“Can you see what the driver looks like?”
“No. The windows are dark. I can’t…”
Mason’s jaw looked like granite as Lacey’s stomach twisted inside itself. Prayers floated from her lips as Mason instructed, “Bethany, I want you to run into a crowded place like the nearest restaurant or the shelter. Wait until you don’t see the car anymore then call me back on Georgia’s phone, all right?”
“All ri—Hey! Ouch!”
“Bethany!”
Faintly they heard, “Why’d you do that?”
“Bethany, what happened?”
No answer.
“Bethany!” he hollered again.
Nothing but nerve-shattering silence answered him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Seven minutes later, Mason spun the wheel to the right and followed Daniel’s car around the curve, breathing a sigh of relief as the homeless shelter came into sight.
Immediately, he saw the pay phone Bethany had called from. The receiver hung off the hook, gently swaying back and forth. His relief faded as his stomach dipped and his heart picked up speed. Lacey’s distressed breaths echoed through the car as she craned to get a look at the pay phone. “Where is she? Where is she?”
Mason felt sick. They were too late.
It wouldn’t stop them from looking, but he knew they were too late. Someone had grabbed her. Police cars had already started to arrive on the scene. Three pulled up in front of the homeless shelter.
Lacey pointed. “The phone.”
He didn’t tell her he’d already seen it. “Keep your eyes open. She may be hiding nearby.” He wanted to believe it…but didn’t.
Lacey jumped out of the car the minute he pulled to a stop next to the curb. He didn’t bother to stop her. Whatever danger had been here had already claimed its victim today.
Bethany.
Daniel began issuing orders. “Question all the residents of the shelter. I’ll start with her, she’s a regular and pretty friendly with the cops.” He flagged a ragged-looking woman down and asked, “Helen, did you see anything over there by the pay phone?”
“Like what?” She tilted her head and gave Mason and Lacey the once-over.
“Like someone attacking a teenage girl and forcing her to go with them.”