Texas Takedown

Texas Takedown by Barb Han Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Texas Takedown by Barb Han Read Free Book Online
Authors: Barb Han
in the first place and not tried to figure this out on my own. Then, you wouldn’t be here.”
    Dylan figured he’d led this guy straight to her. What happened earlier was on him. His ringtone broke through the awkward moment. He immediately answered when he saw Brody’s name, noticing that he had a missed call.
    â€œThere’s no good way to put this,” Brody started, and an ominous feeling rolled through Dylan.
    â€œJust come out with it.” This wasn’t going to be good. Waiting never made it better.
    A deep sigh came across the line. “I wanted to notify you before the Amber Alert was issued. Maribel is missing.”

Chapter Four
    Dylan dropped to his knees. A dozen emotions pinged through his chest, rapid-fire like an AR-15 and with the same devastating effects. Rage battled to the surface, making him want to rip apart the first thing he could get his hands on. Ten years ago—hell, three—and he would’ve done just that. He was a different man now, and especially since Maribel had come into his life.
    The image of his little girl waving to him at the kitchen door wearing the Mickey Mouse backpack that was almost as big as she was assaulted him. His military training kicked in, and that was the only reason he didn’t explode in anger. It was the only thing keeping him from putting his fist through the nearest wall.
    â€œTell me exactly how it happened,” he said through clenched teeth.
    â€œFirst of all, Mrs. Applebee tried to call. She didn’t want to lose time, so she immediately phoned me when she couldn’t reach you or Ms. Anderson.” Ms. Anderson was first on the emergency call list. Brody and Rebecca were second.
    â€œMaribel was on the playground at the Dinosaur Park,” Brody continued, “and teachers were stationed at each corner. Mrs. Applebee blew the whistle. Kids lined up. Teachers counted heads. They turned up one short.” Brody’s voice was racked with agony.
    Dylan knew his friends loved Maribel, too. That wasn’t the thought he intended to focus on at the moment, and yet his brain didn’t want to accept the reality that she was missing.
    This had to be a mistake.
    â€œAny chance she’s inside somewhere? Hiding in one of the bathrooms at the ranger station?” he asked.
    â€œThe headmaster checked each one personally. She and the staff looked in every possible nook and cranny. Mrs. Applebee called the sheriff to file a report immediately.”
    Dylan was four hours away in Austin while his daughter was probably scared half to death wandering around somewhere, lost. He didn’t even want to go there with the possibility she could be lost in the woods overnight. What kind of father was he to let this happen?
    He pushed to his feet.
    â€œWe’re all searching for her. We’ll get her back. Stay positive, bro,” Brody said. His solemn tone belied his words. “This is not your fault.”
    Yes, it is.
Guilt raided Dylan. He was supposed to be on that field trip. If he’d kept his schedule as planned, then Maribel would be safe right now and not out there alone, stranded, scared.
    It wasn’t like his daughter to wander off.
    Maybe Lyndsey had had good reason to be afraid that Dylan would be a lousy parent. She’d never really told him why she’d kept their daughter from him.
    Samantha took Dylan’s fisted hand, opened it and, palm to palm, wrapped her fingers around his. He squeezed hers and then let go. He walked across the room, turned toward the door and spoke low into his cell. “Have you spoken to the sheriff?”
    â€œRebecca is trying to get through to him now. She’s been getting the runaround.” Brody paused a beat. “She’s sick about this. Said it’s all her fault for asking you for a favor.”
    â€œShe couldn’t have known this would happen.” The hope that this could be a mistake drained out of Dylan like water

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