He let out another breath. He was alone in the back. No cops.

Yes.

He opened one of the bigger drawers, finding stacks of towels. He set Junior on the towels, giving his head a pat. He was so glad that the kid hadn’t cried and he hadn’t had to smother him. That would have sucked.

Carefully he slid the small window in the side of the van open, recognizing the area at a glance. He’d told Evelyn to drive to a secluded area near the Mount Airy Forest once they were through the roadblock. She’d drop him off and he’d let her go.

Except that wasn’t exactly the way it was going to happen. He laid out a few of the nylon dog leads and cut up some towels in preparation, then waited, watching the scenery pass by for another thirty minutes, until the van slowed and Evelyn pulled over. She’d followed his instructions well.

She opened the back doors and scanned the interior for Junior.

“He’s right here,” Cade said. “Not a problem. He’s a good kid.”

He waited until she leaped into the back and raced for the baby before grabbing her and shoving one of the cut-up towels in her mouth. Quickly he tied her hands and feet with the dog leads and lowered her to the floor of the truck. He put Junior beside her.

“We need to go a little farther and I need for you not to know where I’m getting out,” he said. “Don’t want you to call the cops on me the moment you drive away.”

The flash of impotent fury in Evelyn’s eyes told him that she’d planned to do exactly that. Then he could see nothing of Evelyn’s eyes because he tied one of the towel remnants over them.

“Sit tight. You’ll be free soon.” He got out of the van and slammed the doors closed. “And I’m free now.” He needed to figure out how to stay that way. First, though, he had to find a safe place to regroup because his leg was throbbing. He needed to clean it properly, without having to hold a damn baby. Once it healed, he’d be able to make his escape. When he ran, he needed to be able to actually run.

He’d have to figure out a way to change his appearance, because there was no way he was escaping a conviction if he was caught.

One thing was certain—he was not getting to Michael Rowland. They had to have that kid in a safe house six miles underground by now.

Cincinnati, Ohio
Monday, March 18, 8:30 a.m.