Free Murder in the City: Blue Lights by Clare Tatum Page B

through. Couldn’t bear to see another family put through what they endured.”
    “So, he knew about the demand for an end to furloughs?” Lainey inched closer to the mayor.
    The mayor glanced away. “He called, asked if there was anything he could do.” She shrugged. “I told him he could finance the police furlough days for the next six months.”
    “Did the kidnapper who demanded an end to the furloughs mention Julie? Did he say he would let her go, also, if the furloughs were ended.”
    The mayor’s eyelids slipped down, hiding her eyes as she tilted her head toward the ground.
    “Lainey,” the mayor said in a beaten voice. “I’m hoping for the best outcome for everyone. I’m hoping that when he brings Tiana home, that Julie comes home safe and sound with her.”
    A desperate half sob choked out of Lainey’s throat. “But, he didn’t say that would happen?”
    The mayor raised her face, for the first time meeting Lainey’s gaze straight on. She shook her head. “No, Lainey. He didn’t mention her directly. I said, ‘Both little girls, you’ll bring both little girls home, right?’ And he said nothing.”
    A low moan slipped from Lainey’s mouth. Brice stepped toward her but the mayor beat him.
    She took Lainey by the shoulders. “We’re going to get them both back, Lainey. I promise you. Every resource we have is on this.”
    Lainey sagged for a moment, looking defeated. Then, she glanced over the mayor’s shoulder, meeting Brice’s gaze and he saw a steely purpose there.
    Their eyes held each other’s gaze for a long moment, him reading her resolve to get her sister back and him sending her his silent promise that he would make sure that happened.
    Then, a mounting wave of sound outside the house washed toward them.
    As one, everyone in the room turned toward the door. Something momentous moved toward them, the noise rising in decibels.
    The only sound that stood out above the clamor was a high pitched child’s voice calling, “Mama.”

Chapter Ten

    The mayor shrieked, the sound reverberating through the room, bouncing off every cell in Lainey’s body. The mayor sprinted toward the front door, ripping it back just as a long limbed pre-teen ran up the front steps.
    Tiana! It was Tiana!
    The mayor and her daughter collided with a clash of flailing arms, kisses and tears.
    Lainey’s heart jerked in her chest, almost feeling like what she would imagine a heart attack felt like. She ran toward the door. Where was Julie? She strained to see behind the mayor and Tiana.
    But, Julie wasn’t there.
    Lainey stumbled down the stairs. Her gaze swept the street and she ran along the home’s front walk that led to the main sidewalk, yelling, “Julie, Julie.” Brice ran after her.
    “How did she get here?” she called to no one in particular, scanning the face of every police man and woman positioned on the road.
    A policewoman stepped forward. “I saw Tiana running down the street not too far from here and recognized her. I gave her a ride here.”
    “Was my sister with her?” Lainey searched the cop’s face for any sign to hope. “Do you know anything about my sister?” Her voice rose to a high pitched screechy imitation of itself. She heard it but couldn’t control it.
    She saw TV cameras trained on her, but didn’t even care how she was coming across. Control, poise and professionalism had always been her mantra when appearing before the press.
    Now, she didn’t give a damn. They could broadcast her image far and wide, acting like a crazy woman. She just didn’t care.
    The policewoman’s sad expression answered and Lainey placed a hand to her head. Brice stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her. “Come inside.” He motioned with his free hand to the police officer. “Let’s all go inside and debrief.”
    He steered Lainey inside, his arms steadying her as she stumbled, her legs weak and wobbly.
    “Mama, it was so horrible,” Tiana sobbed as her mother led her to the couch.