Obsessed by Angela Ford Read Free Book Online Page B

the beach home. Gina stopped to talk to an officer beside the cars.
    “Mike!” Jess raced up and embraced Mike. He held her tight. “She took the baby.” Jess’s words were shaky. She trembled in Mike’s arms. He released his hold on Jess. Her eyes filled with fear.
    “Who took the baby, Jess?”
    Jess spoke so fast that Mike found it hard to understand. All he heard was Lisa’s name. He hadn’t met her, but Jess spoke highly of the woman hired to be their mid-wife. Jess looked as completely out of control as he would expect her to be. He looked over Jess’s shoulder at Tom.
    “Why would Lisa take the baby?” Mike asked him. He held Jess as she cried against his shoulder.
    Tom shook his head.
    “We have no idea why, Mike. We just know she’s gone and so is the baby.”
    Mark walked up to Mike and patted him on the arm. “Good to see you’re okay. We need to find this woman and fast.”
    Mike pulled Jess from their embrace.
    “Jess, I need you to try to calm down a bit. We need to go through the minutes before Lisa took the baby. Can you do this with me?”
    Jess nodded and wiped her tears with her sleeve.
    Mike put his arm around Jess and led her to the family room.
    Tom placed his hand on Mike’s back. “I’m happy to see you.”
    Mike forced a smile. He knew Tom meant he was happy he and Gina survived the crash. He also knew the baby’s disappearance was all anyone could think about.
    “Jess!” Gina hollered out.
    Jess turned and ran into Gina’s arms.
    “Thank God you’re okay.” Jess hugged her and then turned to Mike. “I’m sorry. I forgot about the plane crash. What the hell is going on today? And Eric and Malcolm…” Jess couldn’t continue. She broke down into tears again. Tom had to help her to the couch.
    “Don’t worry about anything else now, Jess. Let’s go through those last few minutes before Lisa took off.” Mike sat beside Jess. He held her hand and began to talk in a soft tone. “Close your eyes and relax. Let’s go back to when you last saw Lisa. Where were you? What were you doing?” Mike gave her hand a squeeze to remind her of his presence and to comfort her.
    “She stood at the end of my bed. She’d just put Thomas back in the bassinet. I asked her to watch him for a bit. I just heard the news of the crash and I needed a few minutes.” Jess opened her eyes in horror. “This is my fault. My selfishness for a few minutes alone allowed her to take him.” Tears rolled off her cheeks one after another.
    Mike swallowed hard. The look in her eyes, her tears, made him feel like someone just sucked the life out of him. He took a deep breath. He knew he had to keep Jess calm. He left his emotions behind and focused on the task at hand—finding the baby quickly.
    “This isn’t your fault, Jess. Lisa had a reason for taking Thomas. Try to remain calm so we can figure this out and find him. I promise you I will.” Mike may not have known where Lisa or the baby were but one thing for certain he knew: he’d do anything right now to find them. He squeezed her hand and told her to close her eyes.
    Jess took a deep breath and followed Mike’s advice.
    “You left the bedroom and went where Jess?” Mike continued.
    “I went upstairs to sit at my dad’s desk. It gives me comfort and helps clear my thoughts.” Mike then asked if there had been anyone else there with her. She replied that Tom had joined her and he called Nikki’s cell. Jess opened her eyes. “Mike, Lisa had Nikki’s phone and that’s when it hit me that Lisa was somehow involved. That’s when I raced downstairs and discovered she was gone with the baby.” Jess rushed into Tom’s arms in tears.
    Mike sat on the couch for a moment. He’d been trying Nikki’s phone endlessly on his way to the beach house. Her office couldn’t locate her or her car. He reached into his pocket for his phone and called Nikki’s supervisor.
    “Nikki’s phone has been located here. We believe a Lisa”—Mike moved