Look Again - Lisa Scottoline [97]
“Let me explain.” Carol put up a hand. “A reporter who works with you called me at home and told me everything. Sarah Liu is her name. She told me about you and the boy you call Will.”
Ellen felt it like an electric shock. Sarah had called the Bravermans? How? Why?
“She caught you on our website, printing out my son’s picture. She called your house and verified that you were out of town. She figured out you’d come to Miami.” Carol paused, cocking her head. “Why did you? Did you want to check us out?”
Ellen’s mind reeled, then she fought to recover. She had to save Will. Moore would be waiting, the gun to her son’s head.
“Sarah claimed the reward, of course.” Carol smiled in gentle triumph, her diamond earrings flashing. “It’s a million dollars, life-changing money. That’s why we set it so high. We knew that sooner or later it would bring somebody out of the woodwork, and it did.”
“This is insane. Get out.”
“I Googled you online, I found the articles you wrote about him. I know you didn’t know he was kidnapped, but that’s not my problem. He’s mine, and I want him.” Carol’s tone turned indignant. “My husband’s on the way. His plane was delayed in the snow, and I didn’t want to wait.”
Ellen almost spiraled into an emotional stall. She used to think this was her worst nightmare, but now she knew better. Her worst nightmare was in her own kitchen. She had to get Carol out of here. Suddenly a noise came from the stairwell, and they both turned. Oreo Figaro appeared on the stair landing, where he stopped and sat down with a yawn, curling his inky tail around him.
“Where is Timothy?” Carol demanded. “I demand to see him.”
“He’s not Timothy, he’s my son, and he’s at a sleepover.”
“A three-year-old, at a sleepover?” Carol moved toward the stairway, but Ellen shifted over and blocked her way.
“Stop right there. You have no right to walk around my house.” She raised her voice to regain some authority. If Carol took one step closer to the stairway, she’d be able to see the kitchen from its other entrance. She’d smell the gasoline, and they’d all end up dead. Ellen put a firm hand on Carol’s coat sleeve. “Get out, right now!”
“I thought we could do this without the police, but maybe not. You have my son, and I won’t leave here without him.” Carol tried to wrench her arm free, but Ellen held on to it with all her might. She was trying to save Carol’s life, but the woman was endangering the son they both loved.
“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know he’s mine, and I’m appealing to you, mother to mother.” Carol’s eyes filled with sudden wetness. “I held out hope, all this time, I knew he’d turn up. I knew he was alive. I could feel him.”
“Get the hell out!” Ellen fought a rising panic. She could imagine Moore listening. They were running out of time. She could stand losing Will to Carol, but she couldn’t stand Will leaving this earth, not while she drew breath.
“We hired a detective, and he confirmed everything Sarah said, including your plane ticket down and back.”
“Go!” Ellen shoved her to the threshold, but Carol shoved back, her expression fierce.
“I’m not going!” She braced herself in the threshold, rooted as a tree. “I’ve waited two years to see him and that’s long enough. I’ll stand on your porch all night if I have to. I want my son!”
“He’s not here!” Ellen shouted, loud enough for Moore to hear. “Go! NOW!”
“Call the police then.” Carol folded her arms. “But you won’t do that, will you? Because you know that you’re keeping my child.”
“Get OUT!” Ellen shouted louder, fighting a wild impulse to run to the kitchen, grab Will, and go like hell, but Carol’s eyes narrowed with a new suspicion.
“Your eyes just moved. You just looked somewhere in back, behind you. He’s back there, isn’t he?”
“No, I didn’t. Now—”
“I know he’s here!” Suddenly Carol hit Ellen in the face, and she reeled backwards, off-balance, recovering too late.
“No, stop!”
“Timothy!” Carol broke free and bolted for the dining room.
“NO! STOP! WAIT!” Ellen chased her, took a desperate flying