Sweet Temptation

CHAPTER 38

Micah paced the interior of the meeting room at HPD. He was about to go out of his mind. Nathan, Gray, Connor and even Damon had gathered along with several detectives. They had crawled over Chad’s entire life, tracked his movements by credit card receipts, knew where he’d stayed in Houston and when he’d taken leave from Miami PD.

Micah blamed himself. The taste of guilt was sour and overwhelming. How could he not have seen what a nutcase his friend was? Hell, they’d worked together for years. Nothing had ever made him suspect Chad was off his rocker.

He’d made it entirely too easy for Chad to get to Angelina. He’d failed to protect her then just as he’d failed her now.

His cell phone rang and he flipped it open in his hand. He froze as he stared at the incoming number.

“It’s him,” he barked.

Silence fell, and one of the detectives motioned him over to the table.

“Put it on speaker,” he mouthed to Micah.

Micah pushed the button and snarled into the phone. “Where is she, you son of a bitch?”

There was a moment’s hesitation and then Angelina’s voice quivered across the room. “Micah?”

Fear exploded over him. He snatched up the phone even though it was still on speaker. He needed to be closer to her voice.

“Angel? Angel, baby. I’m here. Where are you? Are you all right?”

Her breath came out in a low sob, and she sounded winded and scared out of her mind.

“I don’t know where I am. I need help, but I don’t know where I am.”

The desperation in her voice scared him shitless.

“Okay, baby, calm down a minute. Where is Chad? Is he there?”

“I left him in the house,” she said faintly. “I handcuffed him and tied his legs and arms so he couldn’t come after me.”

Stunned expressions met her statement. The detective’s mouth dropped open. “Holy shit.”

Micah ignored him, his only focus on Angelina. “Good girl. You got away from him. Now tell me where you are so I can come get you.”

Another sob poured through the phone. “I don’t know. I’ve been walking forever, but I don’t see any signs and it’ll be dark soon. He ... he shot me.”

All the blood drained from his face. He collapsed into a chair still holding the phone to his ear. Oh God.

“How bad?” he asked, trying to stay calm when his heart was ready to pound out his chest.

“My arm. Or my shoulder. I’m not sure. Hurts. I’ve lost a lot of blood.”

Her voice sounded weaker.

“Angel, Angel, baby, listen to me. I want you to find a place to sit down. I need you to save your strength so you can help us find you.”

There was wind noise and a light whimper and then silence.

“Angel. Angel! Stay with me. I need you to stay with me,” he pleaded.

“Who is the cell provider?” the lead detective whispered loudly. “We can try to lock onto her location. I need that cell number.”

Micah held up one finger. His first priority was making sure Angelina was still on the line.

“Angel, talk to me.”

“I’m here,” she said faintly.

“I’m going to need just a second. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

He held the phone away and related the number to the detective.

“Keep her talking,” he said to Micah. “Have her tell us as much about her location as possible.”

“Angel, do you know what direction he took you?”

“North,” she said after a brief hesitation. “Last highway I took note of was 146. After that he took back roads. Dirt farm roads, only they weren’t marked. He took me to an abandoned house at the end of one of the roads. The woods are thick here.”

“Okay, Angel, don’t worry. We’re working on it,” he said soothingly. “Have you stopped the bleeding? How bad is it?”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted. “He made me take a pregnancy test.” Tears were thick in her voice. “He was so furious. I knew I had to protect my baby.”

Micah laid the phone on the table and covered his face with his hands. Someone put a hand on his shoulder, but he didn’t look up.

“Angelina, can you hear me?” the detective said in a loud voice.

“I hear you,” she said in barely a whisper.

“My name is Detective Sanchez. I’m here with Micah. We’re going to find you. I need you to believe that. You and your baby are going to be okay.”

“I can get a helicopter in the air,” Damon said. “Two, three, whatever we need. We can use the last known highway as a jumping-off point.”

“I won’t turn it down,” Sanchez said. “I have Carol working on getting a trace on the cell signal. If we can just get a tower, it will narrow the search field.”

“Micah?”

Micah raised his head. “I’m here, baby. Right here. We’re coming for you.”

“I should keep moving,” she said.

“No!” Micah protested. “Save your strength. We’ll come to you.”

“I need to stay awake. I feel so sleepy now. I’m cold. I’m afraid to close my eyes.”

Oh God. Tears knotted Micah’s throat. “Keep moving then, Angel girl. But go slow. Don’t hurt yourself.”

The wind noise stopped and the line went eerily silent.

“Angel?”

Silence greeted his demand.

“Angel? Goddamn it!”

He looked down to see the call had disconnected. He punched the send button to reconnect the call, but it went straight to voice mail.

“Son of a bitch!”

“We’ll find her, Micah.”

Micah looked up to see Connor standing over the table, his hands braced on the surface as he leaned forward.

Nathan, Gray and Damon stood to the side, their expressions grim but resolute.

“We can spread out. It’s only been a few hours. He couldn’t have gone too far,” Gray said.

“I’ll notify the sheriff’s department in Liberty County and have them out looking,” Sanchez said. Then he looked at Damon. “How fast can you get the choppers in the air?”

In response, Damon flipped his phone open and started barking orders and directions.

Micah stood, gripping the phone, his thumb hitting the send button again. Connor put a hand out to stop him as he went to leave the room.

Micah shrugged him off. “Don’t,” he bit out. “Don’t even say it. That’s my child out there. Angelina. I’m going.”

“I’ll drive,” Connor said. “You’re in no shape to.”

Before Micah could protest, Connor shook his head. “You need to keep trying to get her back on the phone. I’ll drive.”

Micah nodded, ignoring the jackhammer going off in his head. “Let’s go then.”