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Dawn was late coming in mid-December. It was going to be another cold, damp day. At least he didn’t have to go in.
    It was a rare Saturday off and Luke was more than glad to give the case from hell a rest.
    He owed his mother a visit. Even after all these years, every time he thought or said the word mother, that same stab of resentment pulsed through him.
    He’d been adopted. Not a bad thing, but his adoptive parents had kept it from him. Rosie was everything a mother should be. Loving, caring, thoughtful. So what if she had lied about his paternity­­? So what if she wasn’t his biological mother? He was a grown man with a career in law enforcement. Rosie was a widow living alone, who on occasion needed his help. And he loved her.
    The last time they’d talked, she’d had a list of chores. A couple of light bulbs needed replacing. Her outside hose bibbs should be wrapped for the predicted freeze. And her pilot light wouldn’t stay lit on her hot water heater.
    If only he could get her to move closer where he could check on her more easily and more often. But he’d been down that road to no avail. Rosie wasn’t getting any younger. Neither was her best friend, Nester Green. Both women were stubborn, but it was past time to make a change. Today wasn’t the day to discuss the issue. Instead, he’d stop by Home Depot and pick up what he needed. Filters probably needed changing, too.
    From experience, he knew Nester also had a list. He didn’t mind doing odd jobs for the two of them. On the contrary, he looked forward to his visits and the chores. He just wanted them out of that area of town. What had once been a blue-collar neighborhood of young couples raising their children was now a high-crime area. It wasn’t unusual to see a drug buy going on down the street. Worse, gangs had all but taken over and it wasn’t safe to go out.
    Luke thought the only thing keeping Rosie and Nester safe now was that everyone in the neighborhood knew he was a cop.
    ****
    Kayla woke with a start in a strange bed, a strange room. For a frantic second, the thought she was back in the house where she’d been held prisoner.
    Then she saw the old-fashioned dresser with the lace doilies, the frilly curtains on the window. And it all came rushing back.
    Sam was gone.
    Curling into a ball, she remembered everything.
    And the cops wouldn’t help her.
    Tears from her restless night soaked the pillow. Now, a scream of frustrated fear raced to her throat. She took an unsteady breath, forced herself to stay calm and think. She had to stop dwelling on the terror of her ordeal. She was free and it was time for action.
    She took a deep breath. Even though she didn’t know who took Sam or where to look for him, she was going to find him. The longer he was gone, the harder it would be. That’s what all the crime shows on TV said. But whether the police helped or not, she’d find her baby.
    Maybe Aunt Nester would help. An old woman? What could she do? Kayla hoped her aunt would at least give her the one thing she’d wanted all her life: support and stability. Something her mother had been incapable of doing.
    She’d thought she had that stability with Sam’s father. But David had proven the opposite of what she thought.
    Her dream to provide a stable home for her child had turned into a nightmare, but she’d get Sam and the dream back.
    To find Sam, she’d need money, but dared not access her puny bank account. It would be too dangerous with both the police and a killer looking for her. Kayla sat up against the headboard. One big plus on her side was that the cops knew nothing about her aunt. The second was that Aunt Nester might help her.
    A small amount of calm settled over her. Even if all her aunt could give was emotional support, Kayla would be grateful.
    Amazed at the physical difference between the sisters, Kayla compared her mother’s small and daintily pretty body with Nester’s tall and big-boned one. Not fat, just a big woman.