The Billionaire Next Door (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 10) Read online

  Eric’s comment somewhat diminished Curt’s happiness. When the director said they’d found her, he’d thought Eric meant the team physically had her. That Reese was safely away from her bitch of a mother and the deadbeat with Eliza.

  “How long until she’s home?” Curt asked.

  “Matter of hours. When I hear back from Connor, I’ll contact you again. Sit tight. This will be over soon,” Eric assured him with confidence.

  Easier said than done. The little girl meant a hell of a lot to him.

  Taylor and Curt ended their calls about the same time.

  “Agent Morris says your security firm found Reese and Eliza.” Taylor referred to another FBI agent assigned to the case. “They’re holed up in an apartment in Dorchester.”

  The boyfriend’s demand that Taylor meet Eliza in Boston made more sense now. Dorchester was Boston’s largest neighborhood. Getting from there to Faneuil Hall wouldn’t take long, and it’d be easy even with a child in tow.

  Taylor went over and shook her mom awake. Neither ringing cell phone had disturbed her. “Mom.” Taylor waited for Priscilla to open her eyes. Judging by the older woman’s expression, it took a moment for the previous day’s events to come back. “The authorities found Eliza and Reese.”

  Priscilla made the sign of the cross. “Thank God. Where is she? Can we go get her?”

  Taylor fixed her ponytail and yanked her sneakers back on. “The police don’t have her yet.”

  “But you said they found them,” Priscilla said.

  “They did. Eliza and her boyfriend brought Reese to Dorchester. But the authorities can’t burst in. They’re putting a plan together.” She walked away as she spoke.

  “Why not? If they know where your sister and Reese are, can’t they knock on the door? Demand she open it, and take Reese out?”

  He knew what Taylor didn’t want to share. The authorities didn’t know what might be waiting for them inside. People who kidnapped a child only considered themselves. If cornered, Eliza and her boyfriend might use weapons to escape. The police, FBI agents, and HRT members didn’t want any bullets finding their way into Reese or themselves.

  With Taylor out of the room, Curt answered Priscilla. “The authorities need to make sure the situation remains safe for everyone, especially Reese.”

  He knew the moment she comprehended what he told her. “I wasn’t—I should’ve thought of that. My husband was a police officer. But Eliza has never been a violent person. I don’t think she would be now, either.”

  Curt disagreed. A person as desperate as Eliza might do anything, and her boyfriend was a wild card in the situation. “Then this should all be over soon, and Reese will be upstairs tucked in bed asleep.”

  Taylor rushed down the hall toward the front door. She held keys in one hand and Peanut, Reese’s stuffed tiger, in the other. “Mom, I’ll bring Reese home. Don’t worry.”

  She’d spent enough time sitting around and doing nothing. She had a general location—Agent Morris hadn’t given her a specific address—and intended to help. Go in with the team, bring Reese out, and then hand over Peanut. That wasn’t the only thing motivating her, though. She wanted to be the one to slap the handcuffs on her sister and walk her to a waiting police cruiser. The Dorchester section of the city consisted of about six square miles. With a call to a friend at the Boston Police Department and some luck, she’d have the exact location soon.

  Taylor never made it outside.

  “Where are you going?” Curt pulled her back and slammed the front door closed at the same time.

  “To get my niece. And make sure Eliza lands inside a jail cell.” She yanked her arm back, but Curt kept his fingers locked around her wrist. “Please stay with Mom. Keep her company until I come back.”

  “Did Agent Morris share the team’s location?”

  She almost lied and said yes. “No. It doesn’t matter. I used to work for the Boston PD and I still have friends there. I’ll get the location on the way.”

  He stepped into her personal space. The front of his T-shirt rubbed against hers. Both understanding and compassion swam in his eyes. “Do you really think that’s the best idea? Would you want someone so emotionally involved on your team when you do an arrest?”

  No. This was different. She could put aside her emotions and do the job.

  “It’ll be better for everyone if you stay here and wait.” He plucked her keys away and shoved them in a pocket before she realized his intention. Then he released her wrist and cupped her face with both hands. “When Reese is safe, they’ll call us. As soon as they do, I’ll bring both you and Priscilla to Reese and back home again.”

  “Curt, the waiting is killing me.”

  Curt moved closer, and she felt his heart beat against her chest. “I know. It’s killing me, too.” He spoke with almost as much anguish as she felt. “But let the FBI and the police and everyone else handle this. It’s almost over. Reese will be safe soon.”

  Since Mom’s first call, she’d struggled to keep everything inside, not let her fear or anger show. She needed to be strong for both Mom and Reese. Besides, crying solved nothing. It would only upset Mom more. The poor woman didn’t need that. Standing near Curt, with his misery apparent, pushed her over the edge. Without warning, all the emotions she’d held back for hours broke over her and forced their way out. Tears streamed down her face, and her shoulders shook.

  It’s almost over. She repeated Curt’s words, but they didn’t soothe the fear festering inside. “Damn. I don’t want to cry.” She dropped her head against Curt’s shoulder and his arms went around her. “It’ll upset Mom more.” Her words came out broken up and muffled.

  “Your mom can’t hear you.” Curt whispered the words against her ear. “Cry all you need to. Let it out.” He made small circles on her back with his hand. “You’ll feel better.”

  Doubt that. Crying usually gave her a headache, a stuffy nose, and red eyes. But maybe a brief breakdown would help ease the tension trying to rip her body in two. Maybe after a good cry, she’d get her emotions back under control enough to get through the next couple hours.

  ***

  Curt put to shame professional race car drivers getting them from New Hampshire to Boston after the call finally came. She’d participated in a few high-speed chases, but even she closed her eyes a time or two during the trip. And she’d heard Mom say a prayer in the back seat.

  When they walked in the Boston Police Department, Captain Parker met them. “Please follow me,” he said, holding open a door to a restricted area. “Reese is in a conference room with Detective Hughes. We thought she’d be more comfortable with a woman, and Detective Hughes has children around Reese’s age at home.”

  “The poor baby must be exhausted,” Priscilla said as they followed the captain.

  Taylor looked down at the irregular sound of Mom’s sandals bouncing off the walls. On one foot Mom wore a purple rubber-soled flip-flop, and on the other a sandal with a wooden sole. Considering how quickly they’d left the house, it wasn’t a shock Mom wore mismatched shoes.

  The captain opened a second door and escorted them down yet another hallway. “When I left them, Reese was talking Detective Hughes’s ear off while eating a donut.”

  Sounds like the Reese we know and love, Taylor thought. She hoped Reese stayed that way. An ordeal like the one she’d experienced could change anyone but especially someone Reese’s age.

  Their escort stopped at a closed door marked Conference Room 2.

  “Where are my sister and her boyfriend?” Taylor asked before the captain touched the doorknob.

  When they got the call telling them Reese was safe and with the police, she hadn’t asked about Eliza or her dirtbag boyfriend. At that moment, only getting to Boston and Reese had mattered. She wanted to know, though, and she didn’t want it discussed in front of Reese.

  “Eliza Walker and Brad Monroe are in holding. Both face a long list of charges,” Captain Parker answered.

  Well
, she knew kidnapping was one. “What else besides kidnapping?” It’d all come out in court, but she’d rather hear it now instead of at Eliza’s arraignment. Something she planned on attending Monday.

  “Illegal possession of firearms. Possession of heroin.”

  The captain rattled off a few more charges. Taylor’s mind stayed focused on the first one. Illegal possession of firearms. She offered up a little prayer. Reese and everyone who’d gone in to get her were safe, but it could’ve turned out much differently. Mom’s expression said she was thinking the same thing.

  Taylor put an arm over Mom’s shoulders, and hoped Eliza spent the rest of her life in jail. “Thank you, Captain Parker. We’re ready to go in.”

  Reese sat at the oblong conference table, half a strawberry-frosted donut and a container of chocolate milk in front of her. As she talked to the woman sitting next to her, she swiveled her chair from side to side. When she saw Taylor enter she jumped from the chair, ran over, and hugged her.

  “Auntie Taylor, look what Beverly gave me.” Reese stepped back and held up a white stuffed horse with a pink mane and a pink tail. A tag still attached to the animal’s ear indicated it was a brand-new toy. “I named her Strawberry because her tail is pink. See?” She stretched the tail out. “And Beverly got me donuts and milk. I already ate the one with sprinkles.”

  Beverly must be Detective Hughes, the woman walking over to them. “I hope you don’t mind. I thought Reese could use a special treat. My daughter’s favorite treat is donuts.”

  “Reese loves them, too. Thank you.” Taylor pulled Reese in for another tight hug, tempted to never let the girl leave her side again.

  Reese tolerated the hug at first but then wiggled free. “Mimi, are you feeling better?” She moved and wrapped her arms around her grandmother. “Eliza said you’re sick, and that I had to stay with her until you got better.”

  Mom kneeled so she was at Reese’s level. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

  “Good. I didn’t like it with Eliza and Brad. Their house smelled really funny, and they wouldn’t let me watch what I wanted. And they yelled at each other a lot.”

  Taylor hoped yelling was all they’d done around Reese. “Say thank you to Detective Hughes so we can go home.”

  “Who?” Reese asked.

  “Me, silly,” the detective said.

  Reese waved but didn’t move away from her family. “Bye. Thank you for Strawberry. I’ll take good care of her.” She tilted her head back. “Is Curt coming home with us?”

  “I am, short stuff. I’ll even give you a ride outside.” He picked Reese up and sat her on his shoulders. “Ready to go?” He looked at her and Mom.

  Definitely. She had the three most important people in her life around her. Everything else took a back seat. “Let’s go home.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  She’d listened as the judge read the charges against first Brad and later Eliza. The only emotions she experienced were anger and hate. Did that make her a terrible person? Eliza was her sister. They’d grown up in the same house. They’d learned to ride their bikes and gone to camp together. Even though they’d often disagreed and Taylor hated the choices Eliza had made, she never thought she’d hate Eliza. Looking at her sister next to her court-appointed attorney, anger and hate had consumed her. She’d envisioned herself yanking Eliza to her feet and slapping her. Demanding to know why she’d done something so terrible. But she hadn’t. She’d stayed silent, seated next to Mom.

  Mom experienced more than hate and anger, though. She’d heard Mom sniffle once or twice as she gripped Mr. McIntyre’s hand. Much like Curt, the man had been a permanent fixture at the house since Saturday, giving her the impression something more than mere friendship existed between him and Mom. If she ever got a moment alone with Mom, she’d ask her about him.

  “Do you need to stop anywhere on the way home?” Mr. McIntyre asked from the front seat. He’d driven them all to Boston for Eliza’s arraignment.

  Mom touched Mr. McIntyre’s shoulder, adding more evidence to Taylor’s belief that at some point the two had started a romantic relationship. “I’m all set, Danny.” Mom glanced back at her. “What about you, Taylor?”

  “Good here.” It’d been hard enough leaving this morning. Only the fact that Curt and Reese were together made it possible. Spending any more time away from Reese was the last thing she wanted.

  Maybe that’s not completely true, she thought, watching the traffic around them. Talking to Curt about what her sister had done and what it meant for them ranked pretty high on her list of things she didn’t want to do.

  You have to do it. She couldn’t ignore the fact that Eliza tried to extort money from him. Up until now, he hadn’t mentioned it or Eliza at all. Instead, after driving them home from the police station, he’d helped her tuck Reese into bed and then crashed on their sofa. Much of yesterday, he’d played soccer with them, and afterward offered to babysit today so she and Mom both could go to court. But just because he hadn’t said anything didn’t mean he hadn’t thought about it. Once life became more normal, he might let her know he couldn’t stay with someone who had such deplorable relations.

  The Sherbrooke family was an integral part of elite society. The name was synonymous with wealth and prestige. People everywhere recognized it. Curt might act like the average guy next door, but his family was a vital part of him. He’d never do anything to embarrass or tarnish his family. Hell, she hated being related to someone like Eliza, but at least no one cared who her relatives were. Reporters wouldn’t dig up the information and try to use it against her. However, if the media found out a member of the Sherbrooke family was dating someone who had a sister in prison, which was where Eliza would hopefully spend much of her life, it’d go nuts.

  Reese kicked the white-and-pink soccer ball as Taylor stepped out of Mr. McIntyre’s car. The ball flew through the air before hitting the hood of Curt’s car with a solid thump. Correction, the hood of Curt’s very expensive car. He’d driven the Aston Martin to his cousin’s wedding Saturday morning. When the call came about Reese, they came straight here, so his more subdued SUV remained at his Newport condo, along with her suitcase.

  After hitting the car, the soccer ball bounced to the ground and rolled away. Reese shouted a hello and went after it, but Curt jogged toward her without a word to her niece about being more careful. To a man who’d been prepared to pay Eliza a million-dollar ransom, a dent in his car was probably no big deal.

  “Hey, how’d it go?”

  “As I expected.” She preferred not to rehash today’s courtroom drama. “Everything okay here?” Reese had shared very little about what happened while with Eliza and her boyfriend. And, so far, she continued to behave as she always did. Any of that could change, which was why Wednesday she had an appointment with a child psychologist her pediatrician recommended.

  “Perfect. Reese went swimming and then we went for ice cream. When we got back we came out here.” He searched her face. Afraid of what he might see, she looked away for a moment. “Something’s wrong.” His knuckles skimmed across her cheek. The tender gesture sent a sharp pain through her chest. “Do you want to talk about it? Maybe I can help.”

  No, she didn’t want to, but what she wanted didn’t matter. They had to talk, and soon. “Give me a chance to change first.” She’d worn her standard court uniform: skirt, nylons, blazer, and heels. Outside of an air-conditioned building, today was proving way too warm for any of it. “I’m dying in this outfit.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  Reese dribbled the soccer ball back their way. Sweat dripped down her face, and her cheeks were a nice bright shade of pink. “Why don’t you both wait inside. I think Reese needs a break anyway.”

  Women acting unlike themselves usually didn’t bode well for a relationship. While he wouldn’t classify Taylor’s behavior as grossly odd, something was off, and had been since yesterday. At first, he’d chalked it up to the situation with her sister and
Reese. After going through such an ordeal, anyone would be distracted and distant. This afternoon it seemed more pronounced. His instincts said more than the weekend’s ordeal was bothering her. Whatever the problem, he wanted to help—assuming she let him, of course. Taylor Walker was as independent as they came. Reese was quickly following in her aunt’s footsteps. Taylor’s strength and independence were two of the things he loved most about her, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t offer his aid.

  “I’m having a freeze pop. Do you want one? There are blue ones.” Reese skipped past him toward the kitchen. They’d spent a lot of time outside today, but she still had an overabundance of energy. An obvious perk of being a kid.

  “No, thanks. Water is all I want.” He was hot as hell from running around outside. The Walkers had window units throughout the home, and ceiling fans, but he missed his central air-conditioning. Any other time he would’ve asked Taylor to meet him back at his house. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know Taylor didn’t want Reese out of hearing distance any more than necessary.

  “I’ll get it for you,” Reese’s voice floated back to him.

  Curt stepped in front of the air conditioner. Cold air blew across him, and he savored the effects. After Taylor shared whatever she needed to get off her chest, he’d invite Taylor and Reese over for a swim. He hadn’t gone in the pool earlier, but Reese claimed it was the perfect temperature. Priscilla could come, too, and bring along Danny McIntyre. He’d never met him before the past weekend, but it was clear the two were romantically involved.

  “Much better.” Taylor walked in and joined him in front of the window. She’d ditched her business attire and put on denim shorts and a blue tank top that made her eyes look more blue than gray. Not long after they met, he’d noticed how her eyes looked either bluer or grayer depending on her clothing. “Nylons are the worst piece of clothing every created. I’d find a different job if I had to wear them every day.”