Protecting Her Secret Son Read online

  “Shannon?” He looked up and down the street, not seeing anything that would freak her out. “What’s wrong?”

  “He’s not with Aiden,” she said suddenly. “Not yet.”

  “Your ex?” He sat her down on the edge of the steps when she swayed a little. “What are you talking about?”

  “Bradley isn’t the type to get his hands dirty. I realize that’s a no-brainer.” She gripped her phone in both hands. “A little kid? He wouldn’t want any part of that. Too messy. Yes, it was a safe bet he wasn’t with the team that took Aiden from Rachel’s house. But Bradley isn’t with whoever is holding Aiden.”

  She dropped her head to his shoulder and her body trembled as her breath shuddered in and out.

  “Take it easy.”

  “He’s not here. It’s a little thing that’s a huge relief. The whole order to stick with my routine?” She tapped her blank phone screen. “If anyone is watching me or the house, it isn’t him. A huge relief,” she repeated.

  He didn’t know what to say, so he just listened, his arm around her until she stopped shaking.

  “The house wasn’t searched because he’s not here in town. I’m sure he’s calling the shots, I’m sure he wrote that script, but he isn’t with Aiden.”

  “That’s good news for Aiden, right?” He wondered what she expected her ex to find at her house, but he saved the question for a better time. Preferably after he shared her revelation with Grant when they got back to her place.

  “Absolutely. I wouldn’t wish time with my ex on anyone.”

  He nearly laughed. “If Stanwood isn’t in Philly, who would he trust to handle the kidnapping?”

  “He would have called in a favor among local talent. If Grant’s detective friend isn’t hearing any rumors about it, my ex applied the right pressure. He’d send the orders through his lawyers.”

  “Like Gary Loffler? You heard Grant mention his recent visits.”

  “I know why you think so.” She moved away and faced him. “I don’t believe Gary did this. Not with Aiden.”

  The look in her eyes told him she believed it. “Why do you have such faith in Loffler?”

  “He helped me when I needed it most.”

  There was more to the story, but he’d learned not to pry. Victims often didn’t want to revisit their worst days. She hardly knew him well enough to trust him with her deepest secrets. “Let’s get going.” He stood up, pressed the key fob to unlock the truck. “Hope you’re right.”

  “Me, too.” She climbed into the passenger seat. “I realize we’re no closer to why he’d take Aiden now.”

  “Grant is tugging lines at Marburg,” Daniel said. “We’ll figure it out. I’d ask you to be patient but that seems almost cruel under the circumstances.” He caught her smiling at him. “What now?”

  “Somehow I have a tough time thinking you could ever be cruel.”

  He basked in the compliment all the way back to her place. Considering the fear dogging her, he thought the time away from her house had been productive. She’d shifted gears from construction solutions back to solving the mystery of her ex-husband’s criminal decisions.

  Although he couldn’t do anything more than listen, her mind fascinated him as much as her strength. He knew part of her wanted to curl up and cry, but sheer willpower kept her going.

  Willpower, love and devotion to her son. She was a remarkable woman.

  Chapter 5

  Shannon had a running tally of the hours she’d been away from Aiden ticking in her head. Like a runaway clock in a cartoon, time kept racing forward and no one seemed to know where her son was being held.

  Monday had come and gone like Sunday, with no word at all, except she and Daniel went to work at the Caldwell charity project rather than touring open houses. Eating was a wasted effort, sleep nonexistent, though she put up a brave front on both efforts.

  Tuesday, while she and Daniel were having breakfast, another video arrived. In it, Aiden held the morning paper as he fussed and whined about going home. Her heart soared at the proof of life. Like the first video, it gave them little to no information on where he was being held. She watched it every chance she had anyway.

  None of her research into Bradley’s business dealings panned out. Loffler hadn’t been back to Marburg, Grant hadn’t been able to speak with him and no amount of prompting or review of past or present headlines in New York left her any clues to her ex-husband’s current motivation. It had to be business; nothing else mattered to him. If only one item lined up, they would have a lead. Despite long, secure email exchanges with Grant and his detective, she couldn’t come up with anything helpful.

  She feared she’d lose her mind before they rescued her son.

  On Wednesday afternoon, as her nerves continued to fray, Daniel told the crew he was taking her to lunch. Ed raised an eyebrow, but no probing questions. They’d wound up at the Escape Club to hear Grant’s update that the organized crime unit was working a tip that Bradley was in Philly. They had nothing more on Gary Loffler or Aiden’s location.

  That night after work, she found the lock on her back door had been broken. They reported it to Grant, though none of her valuables were missing. Her bedroom had been searched, though the laptop she’d left on her dresser was still there. Daniel replaced the locks while she installed a wireless home security system. When her room was back in order, she gave in to the despair and collapsed on the bed, crying herself to sleep.

  It was getting harder and harder to believe she’d ever see her son again. She still felt the weight of the threats that if she didn’t continue with her life as normal, her son would come back in pieces.

  By noon Thursday, Shannon was only going through the motions and everyone around her knew it. She couldn’t keep her focus on anything for more than a few minutes at a time. They cared about her and, naturally, asked how to help. She was tired of giving everyone white lies about Aiden feeling poorly.

  Hearing a saw going outside, she peeked out the bathroom window. Below, Daniel and Lou were rebuilding the porch, adding a ramp.

  She knew Daniel planned the schedule to the hour, counting on his best team to complete the project on time. He needed her to keep it together, to help the team knock out the work before he returned to shifts with the PFD next week. He never said a word about it, though he had ample opportunity, but they both knew he’d shortchanged himself and jeopardized the schedule by not replacing her.

  Yes, with her ex reportedly in town, she understood why Grant wanted someone watching over her. Daniel refused to let anyone else take over the task or even trade off. He refused to let her out of his sight. Even without the kidnappers’ demand that she maintain her routine, she might as well be doing slow work here rather than force him to try to manage the project from her place.

  Every minute turned into another battle to stifle the scream building in her throat. It was agony to be home without her son. Too quiet, too lonely, despite Daniel’s constant presence. If, when, Aiden came home, she’d never get grumpy about his incessant chatter and questions again. Her heart ached every morning when she drove by the sitter’s house on the way to the Caldwell house. Although Daniel was always right behind her, it made her skin crawl thinking Bradley could be watching. The word routine had quickly morphed into a foul oath in her vocabulary.

  “Have a routine day,” she muttered, treating the word like a curse.

  In an effort to practice the belief Daniel kept hammering into her weary heart, she kept Aiden’s favorite pullback racer in her purse. His favorite dump truck, a change of clothes and the blue rabbit occupied a backpack she carried around at all times, ready for the moment he was found and they were reunited.

  She glanced at the backpack now, sitting just outside the bathroom she was supposed to be finishing. Believe, she coached herself silently, struggling to
hold back another wave of tears.

  Crying on the job would only raise more questions she couldn’t answer honestly. Lying to her friends on the crew was tough, but since she hadn’t brought Aiden by as she might have on a normal week, she had to stick with the latest fabricated excuse that he wasn’t feeling well.

  Her hands moved with slow deliberation as she tiled a shower wall. Yesterday she’d had to take out the bottom third because she’d messed up the pattern and hadn’t noticed. If Ed hadn’t pointed it out when he’d brought her lunch order, it would’ve been a whole day lost, plus materials and time. Daniel, in true saint form, had shrugged it off when she’d told him, though she’d felt horrible.

  The last vestiges of pride drove her to do better today. She didn’t want to be the reason they fell behind. She knew what this meant to him and he deserved to be on hand when the Caldwells saw it for the first time. The delay she’d caused—no matter the reason—only put that goal in jeopardy. Keeping an eye on her was enough of a burden for him. The least she could do was manage her work in a timely manner, per the job she’d been hired to do.

  “Knock, knock.”

  She glanced up and over to see Ed in the framed-out doorway. If she ever finished in here, they could hang the door and finish it off with fixtures. “Hi.” Suddenly fearful she’d messed up the pattern again, she studied the shower wall.

  “It’s looking good,” he said, as if he’d read her mind. “I just came by with the lunch order.”

  “Oh.” She stood, wiped her hands on her jeans. “Thursday. My day to pick up.” She could do that. Had to jump through the hoops of her normal routine for Aiden’s sake. Her smile must have come off as a grimace based on the way Ed eased back a little.

  “Before you go, I ah, couldn’t help but notice, um.”

  She resisted the urge to cut him off. Normal Shannon would keep it together, keep it friendly. “Spit it out, Ed. We’re friends.”

  “That’s just it.” He stepped into the bathroom, sparing a look over his shoulder. “You left the site last Saturday really upset.”

  She nodded. “I overreacted to that call from the sitter.”

  “Right. You told us at the club. But, well...” He glanced at the open doorway again and lowered his voice. “I’ve been giving this some thought.” His gaze slid away for a moment. When he looked at her again, the determination was clear. “I talked with Toni. If Daniel—or anyone else on the crew—is giving you trouble, speak up, all right? I don’t care who it is or what he owns, this needs to be a safe workspace for everyone.”

  Startled, she stared at him, searching for a reasonable response.

  “I mean it, Shannon.” He fisted his hands at his sides. “If you need to leave, I’ll help you out. Don’t give me any song and dance about providing for your boy or anything else. I can get you work with another contractor. Someone good. Someone who offers benefits.”

  “Ed.” She wanted to hug him. “I appreciate all of that. You’re the best.” She paused when he started blushing. “Toni, too. Tell her thank you. I promise Daniel isn’t the problem.”

  Ed squinted at her. “He’s been hovering since he took you out last weekend. We’ve all noticed. It would be different if you were acting happy about it. Plus his micromanaging is making your work suffer,” he added, clearly unconvinced. “Usually on a job he’s easier—”

  Shannon couldn’t let Daniel’s reputation on the job site suffer because of her problems. “I swear to you, Daniel isn’t giving me grief. Aiden...” Her voice cracked on his name and she had to pull herself together. Believe! “Aiden’s been under the weather,” she managed, “but he’ll be fine. This big cough he has now, after the crazy mix-up thinking he was hurt the other day, has me on edge and preoccupied. You know how it is. The doctor assures me this isn’t serious. He ordered the tests anyway. A precaution.”

  The worry in her voice came naturally, just not for the reasons she’d given Ed.

  “All right.” His hands relaxed. “Waiting for results is the worst when they’re small.”

  “Exactly. Daniel’s been so understanding as a boss and a friend,” she said honestly. “You, too.”

  “I didn’t want to think he was harassing you, but y’know. Had to ask. Ignoring the behavior changes leads to bigger trouble down the line.”

  “It does. I appreciate you asking.” She nipped the list of lunch orders from his shirt pocket. “My focus will improve, I promise.”

  Cheesesteaks, she noticed, reviewing the order, already hearing the inevitable debate over the proper cheese protocol for the famous Philly sandwiches. She picked up her phone and checked the app for food trucks in the area. “I can grab everything at Cheese Wheelies. They’re nearby today.”

  Ed pointed to an item she’d overlooked at the bottom of the list. “Lou has been going on all morning about the hand-cut chips at Jack’s. It’s taken supreme willpower not to staple his lips shut.”

  She laughed. “Jack’s it is. I’ll call it in and head that way.”

  “You are my hero,” Ed said with heartfelt sincerity.

  Daniel met her at the car. “I’ll ride along.”

  She shook her head, noticed Ed watching from the front window of the house. “I can manage the short drive to Jack’s without an escort.”

  He arched one dark eyebrow. “We’re not giving anyone an opening,” he said. “Besides you know these guys. You’ll need another pair of hands to carry it all.” He reached for her door. “Grant called,” he said at her ear.

  “Great.” She plastered a smile on her face, gave Ed an okay sign behind Daniel’s back. “Did they find Aiden?”

  “No. They found Loffler.”

  Hope swelled, nudging aside the pervasive discouragement. “That is something. Do they know where he’s staying?”

  “Should I make you turn back so I can drive?” he asked as she zipped in and out of traffic.

  “You should talk.” Days of so much nothing had drained her patience. “Tell me what you know.”

  “According to Grant, Loffler went into the Marburg building this morning, had a meeting with an attorney who has done work for Stanwood as well as a few shell corporations. As far as we know, today’s visit addressed personal business for Loffler.”

  “Personal.” Her mind spun, trying to make that piece fit. “What can that mean?”

  “Wills and trusts was my first thought,” Daniel replied.

  “Isn’t Marburg primarily a criminal defense firm?”

  “They have fingers in plenty of pies,” Daniel said. “Would Loffler handle the personal legalities for Stanwood?”

  “Well, yes. Gary had a good handle on how Bradley did business. He didn’t leave things as important as what happens to the money undone. Those details were adjusted before we exchanged vows,” she mused, remembering. “As his wife, I was initially the main beneficiary.”

  “You had a prenuptial agreement?”

  “That, too.” She parked in one of the carryout spaces in front of the restaurant. “Does the source inside Marburg know if Loffler’s been married recently?”

  “No idea. Sounds like they’re still working to find out exactly what he did during his visit.”

  “Do you think there’s any chance I can speak with him? If I told him what Bradley’s done, I think he’d talk, if only about Aiden’s kidnapping.”

  “Assuming he knows anything, would he really hand over his boss without hard evidence? We don’t have anything directly linking your ex to Aiden’s disappearance.”

  Frustrated and exhausted, she glared at the steering wheel. If Daniel gave up on her theory, gave up on rescuing Aiden, she was lost. How quickly she’d adapted to having someone on her side to listen, to support, to keep her hopes high in the face of such ridiculous odds.

  “I believe you,” he said. “All I’
m asking is if your ex’s attorney will believe you.”

  “He knows what Bradley is capable of. I have that old cell phone number.” Determined, she opened her car door. “Tell Grant I want to meet with Loffler.” She got out and slammed the door. “We need to get the food before Ed loses patience with Lou.”

  “Hand-cut chips are his weakness.” Laughing, Daniel opened the restaurant door, held it for her. “Give me your phone,” he said as she passed him.

  “Why?”

  “Because you want to make that call whether or not Grant approves. You probably should.” They joined the carryout line. “I’d only ask you to take an hour and think about what you hope to get out of the conversation.”

  “Assuming the call is answered.”

  “Assuming so,” he agreed with a wry smile.

  He had a point. Considering the extreme stress and ongoing shortage of sleep, she needed to be as deliberate about her decisions as she was about the tile work. She pulled her phone from her pocket but didn’t hand it over. “You’ll keep it on?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ll tell me if anyone calls or texts?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “You’ll give it back after lunch?”

  He raised a hand as if taking an oath. “I solemnly swear.”

  She surprised herself by putting the device into his palm. It was more trust than she’d placed in anyone other than Rachel since settling in Philly.

  “I won’t let you down,” he said, tucking the phone into his pocket.

  She believed that, too. “You haven’t yet.” She caught his hand in both of hers. “I’m grateful beyond words.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “The past few days would’ve been unbearable without you.”

  Mary Ellen, cofounder and wife of the restaurant’s namesake, bustled forward to the counter, sliding hot, foil-wrapped sandwiches into long, white deli sacks. She’d gone to school with Daniel and others who worked for Jennings Construction. Calling Shannon to the register, she spied their joined hands and beamed at Daniel. “Well, it’s about time. Good for you, Danny.”