Page 25 of Final Approach

But desperate people often came up with surprising solutions to problems.

“But maybe he did,” Tabitha said. “I mean, it’s not in our account.” She picked up her phone and waved it. “Trust me, I looked. But there’s no other place hewouldput it. Not at work for sure.”

“So, if it’s not in the bank and you don’t think he would leave it at his job site, then the house is really the only option, right?”

“Yes, I guess, but I don’t know where to even start looking.” She sighed and raked a hand over her head. “I don’t even care right now, to be honest. If I have to stay here—and I think I do because some psychiatrist came by to talk to me—I want my brush and my favorite pillow and the book on my nightstand.”

“Would you like me to go get those things for you?”

The woman bit her lip and hesitated. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”

“I don’t mind at all.” It wasn’t like she didn’t have time on her hands with the investigation into her role in the hijacking situation.

“Okay, then yes, I would appreciate it. When you get to the house, next to the front door, look to your left. The third brick from the bottom is loose. Pull it out and there should be a key under it.”

“Okay, thanks.”

She rubbed her hands on her sheet-covered thighs. “I hope they’re going to let me out of here before too long. I need to get home to my children. My neighbors I’m sure didn’t factor in overnight stays.”

“But they came through for you when you needed it.”

Her brow crinkled as though she hadn’t thought of it quite like that before. “Yes, I suppose so.”

“I think you have more friends than you might have been aware of.”

“I don’t know. Jacob says they’re only offering to help so they can tell their friends they know the hijacker.” She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them with tears shimmering. “How is Jacob? When will he be able to come back home?”

“I’m not sure, but I would guess as soon as you’re able to care for him.” She hesitated. “We need the names of the friends your other kids are with. As long as you give permission for them to stay there and CPS clears them, they should be all right and can stay put until you’re able to take them home.”

“I ... I don’t know. I don’t know if I should tell you that or not.”

Kristine bit her lip, trying to choose her words carefully. “Look, they’ll find them one way or another. If you cooperate and let CPS check in on them, things will go better for everyone. Especially the kids. You hear what I’m saying?”

The woman dropped her eyes and sniffed. Then nodded. “Yeah.” She gave Kristine the names, and she sent the information on to Andrew and Nathan in a group text. They’d pass that to those who needed it. She looked up at Tabitha again. “The social worker brought Jacob by, didn’t he?”

“No. I haven’t seen him.”

Rats.

Tabitha frowned harder. “Was he going to?”

“He said he was.” She pulled her phone from her back pocket. “I’ll check on him and see where he is. His name is Billy Freeman and he seemed like a decent man. Was very concerned about Jacob.” Especially when the bullets were flying, but since Tabitha hadn’t brought that up, she didn’t see the need to add that to her worries. That would come soon enough. “The social worker promised to bring him here to see you.”

Alarm widened the woman’s eyes. “You don’t think something’s happened, do you?”

Kristine rose. “Excuse me while I find out.” No more texting. She dialed Nathan’s number and he answered on the second ring.

“Hey, what’s up?”

Kristine filled him in.

“I’m sorry, what? He never took him?”

“No.”

“Aw man. I thought he was one of the good ones.”

“Can you check and see where Jacob is and what happened?”