Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace Read Free Book Online Page A

“I miss you, Beth. Sure wish we lived closer.”
    “Me too. I’m glad you called.” The loud noise of a slamming door filled the phone line. “I’d better run. The dynamic duo has awakened and escaped their cribs.”
    “I’ll call again soon.”
    “Good. And call that handsome FBI guy. I need some vicarious testosterone excitement without diapers and bills to pay.”
    As Gracie hung up the phone, a new idea took root. She remembered Steven’s sad eyes as he and his son left Hope Ridge back in June. Maybe he needed a friend too. And his job as a federal agent could prove helpful to her search.
    Even if talking to him came to nothing, at least the possibility had given her an inroad into her sister’s heart once more. And that was a place she wanted to be again.
    Deep in the heart of her family.
    He’d spent a month casing his old college haunts.
    Georgia State hadn’t changed much in the two years he’d been in DC. Five long years he’d slogged at this institution for higher learning. Mother Dear had been proud of his MBA with honors and his appointment by her snooty school board to the job of vice principal at her highbrow school.
    She didn’t know about the drinking.
    Or the DUIs he and his fraternity buddies had narrowly escaped.
    Or the accident.
    Tom rubbed his brown beard and looked into the rearview mirror. The past should stay in the past. Right where he intended to keep it.
    Even his old girlfriend, who still worked in admissions, hadn’t recognized him. Or she’d have slapped him. Hard. Like the last time they talked. The day after her obstetrics appointment when he questioned whether her positive pregnancy test was his concern.
    Kimberly still looked good. Slender and young. Not married either.
    He took a swig of his Starbuck’s iced frappe. No use wasting good coffee while waiting across the street from GwinnettCounty police headquarters. Gracie Lang shouldn’t be in there much longer.
    Far as he could tell, her quest had turned up dead ends. So today’s visit must be to say good-bye. At least Tom hoped that was what her bringing a cake to the station had meant.
    He’d snoop through her e-mails later tonight to make sure. A gold mine he’d found from prowling around Georgia State. Meeting with an old frat-budd-turned-computer-instructor and laying on a thick sob story provided the wealth of information he’d needed to tap into Gracie’s ISP With a quick trip to the electronics store, he was in business. And with paying cash, they didn’t care to learn his name or anything else.
    He loved technology. And all the information money could buy.
    Gracie exited the police station without wet cheeks this time. His top-dollar binoculars gave him a sharp picture of her peaches-and-cream face.
    His coffee gone, he decided to follow her home once again. Then he’d head back to DC, mission accomplished.
    Gracie had found nothing. And once she settled back into DC life, he could keep an eye on her from the comfort of his office desk chair. Far away from her stupid, too-observant dog.
    He’d invent extra work for her to do if the sleuthing bug bit her again. He’d dream up ways to scare her if that didn’t work.
    Or worse.
    He had all sorts of ideas and lots of time to perfect them. But that didn’t matter. For now, the past was safe.
    As long as her search ended here.

5
    N auseating described the Baltimore club scene before him.
    Pulsating strobe lights distorted the two giggling girls flitting round and irritated Gordon’s throbbing temples. As did the smell of sweltering bodies dancing to American “oldies.” The late July heat ramped up the displeasure of his chosen assignment.
    Olivia Kensington. Daughter of his brother’s killer.
    While he kept vigilant watch, he drank his bitter with the chill off. Just like home.
    Olivia and her seventeen-year-old American friend wouldn’t even use the lavatory without hooking arms. Interesting turn of events that fact could bring.
    Almost time to play