Page 53 of Child In Jeopardy

Lana took hold of Pamela’s arms and turned her mother to face her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, your father bought that necklace. Or one just like it. I found it in a little gift bag in his car—” Pamela stopped when her voice broke. “He said it was a birthday gift for someone who worked in his office. I thought he was lying, but I never thought...” She stopped again and began to cry while sucking in loud, jerky breaths.

Slater looked at Lana. There was no anger in her eyes. Just a deep sadness that seemed to go all the way to her heart. Shehad to be thinking that she’d lived under the roof of a killer. One who’d killed his lover and had her buried here.

“Oh, God. I’m going to be sick,” Pamela blurted, and before Lana could even reach for her, she bolted from the cruiser.

Pamela ran toward the arena, catching on to a thick log post that had once framed the entry. She lowered her head, and Slater heard the retching.

On a sigh, Lana got out, no doubt so she could go to her mother and try to offer her some comfort. Slater and Duncan got out as well, and even though Pamela’s life seemed to be falling apart right now, they kept watch around them.

Lana took slow steps toward Pamela and was still a good twenty feet away when Pamela’s body lurched. It was as if she’d either dived forward or had been yanked by someone.

Pamela screamed. A blood-curdling sound that echoed through the arena. And then the woman disappeared into the darkness.

FORAMOMENT, Lana stood there frozen in shock over what she’d just seen and heard, but she quickly shook it off and bolted toward the arena. Or rather that’s what she tried to do when Slater darted in front of her.

“You could be gunned down if you go in there,” Slater said, using the warning as they continued to move with Duncan right next to them.

Slater was right, of course. It looked as if someone had grabbed hold of her mother, and if so, that person could be Buck’s accomplice. And this could be a setup to draw them out of the relative safety of the cruiser and into a building where they’d be easier prey.

Lana considered calling out to her mother, but she decided against it. She’d heard her mother’s scream well enough, and if Pamela was capable of doing that again, she likely would have.

Which meant she could be gagged. Or hurt.

Or worse.

Lana didn’t want to consider the worst. Couldn’t. She had to stay focused on whatever danger they were about to face inside.

Duncan and Slater were clearly ready for the danger. In the sprint toward the arena, they had both stayed low while drawing their guns. Lana did the same, and when they reached the building, none of them rushed in. They stood there for a moment and just listened.

Lana thought she heard some footsteps, but the sound that stood out the most was the creaking of the roof. She prayed it wasn’t about to collapse on them.

Slater stepped into the darkness first, and he moved even lower, practically to a squatting position, no doubt so he wouldn’t be an easy target. Duncan moved in behind Lana, shielding her, she realized. She didn’t want or expect him to take that kind of risk, but Duncan would likely consider it his duty to the badge.

A few seconds passed before Slater moved even deeper into the arena. Lana and Duncan were right behind him, and now that her eyes had had time to adjust to the darkness, she was able to better see the place. It wasn’t a closed-in space but rather had walls that went up about six feet, allowing for the night breeze to rush through. It felt cold and damp, and the entire place smelled of mold and things she’d rather not smell. There was a sense of death here.

The dirt-filled center area, where once the performances and competitions had taken place, was huge. The weeds had made it into this part of the arena, too, but they weren’t nearly as thick as they were in the parking lot and on the grounds.

The roof had indeed collapsed on one side, but a good portion of it was still intact. As were the bleachers that stretched out most of the length of the competition area. To the right were the stalls. Again, a large space where the horses and bulls would have been contained.

Lana didn’t see her mother in any of those spots.

So where had the person taken her? There had to be exits, and it occurred to Lana that might be the plan. To drag her mother in here, only to hurry out to a waiting vehicle so she could be taken elsewhere.

But why?

Was it because the accomplice wanted to silence her? Maybe. If so, then her father or Marsh could be here.

Or it could besomething else.

As much as Lana hated to consider that something else, she knew she had to. If Pamela had been the one to work with Buck, then it was possible the only threat she, Slater and Duncan were about to face would come from her mother.

Following Slater’s direction and pace and while keeping their footsteps soft, they moved even deeper into the building. Lana focused on keeping watch on the stalls and the bleachers where there were plenty of spots for someone to hide.

Slater stopped, motioned toward the floor, and Lana saw the scuff marks in the dust and dirt on the ground. And there were more of them in the direction of the stalls. They started toward them, but the sound stopped them cold.

It was a moan.