Sins Of The Mother (Chapter-29)

Brooke sat staring out the window at nothing in particular. It was as gloomy outside as it was in the house. Her stomach was churning; her mind had gone numb.

The five-member FBI team, including Danny Smart, had already set up in the living room. They brought with them an array of computers and other equipment and were in constant motion. She prayed the equipment and the people using it would help get her little girl back.

She’d spoken briefly to her father on the phone. He was on his way to Brooke’s house. Her mother’s hyoid bone was fractured, and they were going to keep her for observation for at least one night, but she would be fine. Dolan must have been in a hurry. For that, at least, Brooke was grateful.

When she called Alex and told him about the situation, he went ballistic. He was in Greeneville, Tennessee, attending some kind of seminar, but he would, of course, be leaving for Kingsport immediately. Not that there was anything he could do. Brooke knew when Alex showed up, he’d only make things worse. He would blame the job. The job had always been his go-to when a problem came up. He’d even had the audacity to blame their divorce on her being a cop. He said it had changed her. But he was the one who had an affair. That was what broke up the marriage.

Brooke heard the front door open and saw her father walk in. She ran to him and fell into his arms. “Dad! I’m so sorry. ” Tears were streaming down her face again.  

“It’s not your fault, honey. It’s nobody’s fault. We need to discuss some things. In private, okay?”

Brooke and her father walked down the hall. It was adorned with family photos of happier days. They went into her bedroom. He shut the door and stood waiting for her to compose herself before he began.

“What I’m about to say to you is going to be hard to hear. But please, at least try to listen to me. I know your world has turned upside down, and I know how devastating this must be for you. But you have to find a way to put aside

Advertisement

the guilt you’re feeling and look at this through the eyes of an investigator. You have to try to remain positive and try to think as clearly as possible. She’s out there somewhere. You have to believe she’s still alive. ”

“I hear you. I do. But—” She choked back a sob. “Dad, I don’t know if I can do this. ”

“The last thing you want to do is sit here being a victim. If you do and something happens to Sierra, you’ll never forgive yourself. Use your resources. All of them. Your mother and I raised you to be independent and strong, and you’re both. So, stop feeling sorry for yourself and start thinking like a cop. Evaluate the situation, look at the facts, trust your instincts. Hunt down leads and follow them. Get my granddaughter back. ”

She breathed in and slowly exhaled. “Okay, Dad,” she said. “I’ll try. ”

As they emerged from the room, Danny Smart approached them.

“Can we talk?”

“Sure. ”

Danny introduced Brooke to the team that would call her home theirs until the situation was resolved. He explained in detail what she was to do in case of a ransom call, or if Dolan contacted her by any means. She knew the drill. She just never imagined she would be on this side of it.

“Let’s cut to the chase,” Brooke said. “What’s this guy’s agenda?”

“I can’t be sure. But off the top of my head, I don’t think we’re going to be hearing any ransom demands. I know this is going to sound a little strange but think about who we’re dealing with. I think he took your little girl because he knows you’ll come after him hard. I think he wants you to find him. ”

“Why would he want me to find him?” Brooke said.

“So, he can kill you. ”

“And why would he want to kill me?”

“Because you’ve gotten in the way of him doing what he needs to do, and he wants revenge. ”

“What does he need to do? Kill hookers?”

Smart nodded. “Exactly. He was just getting revved up, and you got in the way. He thinks you have to pay for what you’ve done to him. ”