THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

there?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Don’t lie to me, Ms. Braddock. A good Christian doesn’t lie.”
    “I’m not.”
    “A good Christian, or lying?” He knew that would get her goat. “What did you do with the boy? Where is he?”
    “Quit calling him boy.” Her voice sounded shrill, and her gaze held his. “He has a name. His name is Jake.”
    “Fine. Where’s Jake?”
    Libby’s hands trembled in her lap.
    Scott’s nostrils flared. He leaned in closer to her. “What kind of woman takes a child from his mother?”
    “Stop.” She covered her face with her hands. “I love Jake. He’s a good boy.” Tears shimmered in her eyes.
    “Where is he, Ms. Braddock?”
    She took a deep breath. “I did the right thing.”
    Scott stood and prayed he’d keep his cool. “What do you mean?” His words were slow and controlled. “What does ‘the right thing’ mean?”
    He moved to the other side of her.
    Her chest heaved with each breath she took.
    “I’m going to ask you again. Where is Jake?”
    “I’ll tell you where.” She sat taller in her chair. “He’s with his father. Where he belongs.”
    Scott blew out a breath, as if he’d been sucker punched. He tried to swallow, struggling to keep his composure.
    “He’s with his father?” Scott’s insides sank.
    “It’s where his father would want him to be.”
    “What did you do to him, Ms. Braddock?”
    She shook her head.
    “I did the right thing,” she whispered again. “I love him.”
    Bile rose in Scott’s throat. He winced.
    Had she harmed Jake once she’d learned they were on to her?
    There was a double-rap on the door, and Deputy Taylor poked his head in. “Sheriff?”
    Scott slapped the table as he walked around it and headed out to the hall. As soon as the door clicked closed behind him, Scott kicked the metal file cabinet three times. “Damn it.”
    “What’d she say?” the deputy said.
    Scott shook his head. He couldn’t repeat Libby Braddock’s words. “What do you have?”
    Dan handed him a small photo album. “I just finished inspecting her bags. You need to take a look at this.”
    “What’s in it?” Scott flipped open the small book. Pictures of Jake filled the album. It was sort of a brag book like the one a grandmother might carry around in her purse.
    “Flip to the very back,” Dan said.
    Scott turned to the last page—to a picture of a woman and a man.
    The woman was Kasey. Next to her stood a man he recognized—the guy he’d recently met at her house.
    Jeremy.
    Kasey wore a wedding gown, Jeremy, a black suit. If Scott didn’t know better, he would have thought it was their wedding picture.
    Von rushed down the hall toward them. “Hey. I got here as quick as I could,” he said, out of breath. “What do we know?”
    Scott turned the picture to Von. “Ever seen this?”
    Von looked surprised.
    Scott said, “I thought that guy was the chauffer or nurse or something—for her grandmother.”
    Von nodded. “He is. But he’s like a family member. That picture is from Kasey and Nick’s wedding. Where’d you get this?”
    Dan spoke up. “It was in Libby Braddock’s suitcase.”
    “I wonder how she got it.” Von looked from one of the two men to the other.
    Scott leaned against the filing cabinet. “That guy showed up at Kasey’s one day, unannounced. I was with her. It was during her first week there.”
    “At the new place?” Von asked.
    “Yeah. She seemed surprised to see him.” Scott rubbed his chin. “I had a bad feeling about him. And those butterscotch candies he’s always eating. What’s that all about?”
    Von laughed. “I don’t know, but he’s always got a pocketful. Sugar addict? Ex-smoker, maybe?”
    “It might be a coincidence, but when I was at Kasey’s the other day, I was looking for a spoon and there were a bunch of those candies in one of the drawers.”
    “Interesting.” Von crossed his arms. “Could be a coincidence.”
    “He’s got something to do with this,” Scott said.
    “Kasey will never believe it. She thinks that guy walks on water. You better have a rock- solid case.”
    Scott rolled his eyes. “I hear you.”
    Von snapped his fingers. “You know, the neighbor said Libby Braddock was keeping her nephew. Did you ask her about that?” Von rubbed his upper lip. “Do you think she’s Jeremy’s sister?”
    “She could be.” Scott motioned for Von to follow him, leaving Dan standing in the hallway.