Page 99 of Girl in the Water

Unfortunately for her, airport security was finally rushing up to the gate. Ian had only to hold up his CPRU ID and point, and two guards were right there, grabbing Carol.

“Easy!” Ian ran forward. “She’s pregnant. Be careful.”

Baby Lila was crying, then crying harder, scared by all the people surrounding the stroller. Ian picked the baby up, held her against his chest, and patted her back with soft little taps.

“Hey,” he cooed, something Daniela had never heard from him before. “Everything is okay now. We’re going to take you back to Mommy.”

The baby looked up at him, teary eyed and blotchy faced. Hiccupped. Then gurgled. Then smiled at the giant of a man who held her. And Ian smiled back.

As Daniela watched him, her heart suddenly felt too large for her chest. That sweet, achy pressure filled her, an indefinable longing that was so sharp, it stole her breath for a second.

Security was tugging a protesting Carol away. “Ian. This is not what it looks like. Help me.”

Ian glanced at Daniela. “Can you hold the baby? I’ll go with Carol.”

So Daniela took Lila from him, with a squeak of protest from the baby, who, after a moment, was content to settle against Daniela and shoved her little fist into her mouth. “Go.”

Because Carol was pregnant. And Ian would want to make sure the guards weren’t too rough on her, wouldn’t hurt her unborn child by accident. Because that was the kind of guy Ian was.

Exactly why Daniela had fallen in love with him.

* * *

Carmen

Carmen nearly dropped the phone. Their small room seemed to close in on her. She couldn’t breathe.

Phil was by her side instantly. “What is it?”

Her body trembled so hard, she thought she was shaking the room. She put out a hand to steady herself on the doorframe. “They have her.”

“They have our Lila?” He grabbed her gently by the shoulders, his gaze eagerly searching her face. “Who?”

Tears streamed down. “The police. We have to go to the station.”

Her hair was a mess. Her clothes were a mess. She’d let Gabriela and Fernanda give her a makeover earlier, to the girls’ great entertainment. Whenever she wasn’t out on the streets looking for her daughter, she was with the girls downstairs. They kept her sane.

She glanced in the small mirror on the wall as she flew toward the door. Winced at her reflection. And kept going. Thank God she had clothes on, because if she hadn’t, she wasn’t positive she’d take time to dress. She might have run out in her underwear.

Phil ran right by her side, catching her when she tripped over her own feet, his voice tight. “What did they say?”

“It was Daniela. She said they had Lila.”

“Is she sure it’s Lila?”

“They’ve seen her picture enough.” But Carmen didn’t dare fully believe it either. Her heart was a soap bubble.

They ran into Pierre at the bottom of the stairs, sorting mail. “What’s going on?”

“They have Lila!” Phil shouted as they passed the Frenchman. “We’re going to the police station.”

Pierre ran after them. “I’ll take you. The truck is up front.”

Mrs. Frieseke came running from somewhere in the back at the commotion, a wooden spoon dripping in her hand. “What happened?”

“The police have Lila!” Pierre called back. “We’re going to the station.”

Carmen kept running. Then she was in the truck, and if willpower could make trucks fly, they would have been in the air already.