Read Online Abducted by Janice Cantore - Free Book Online
Authors: Janice Cantore
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ways.” He grinned. “But I’m on your side; don’t kick me out. Can I join you?”
Andrea stood. “You can sit here, Alex. I’ve got to get back to the floor. I’ll see you later, Carly. And sorry I snapped. I’m tired, okay?”
“Don’t worry about it. And don’t work too hard. Remember, it wasn’t your fault.”
“Thanks.”
Both Trejo and Carly watched Andrea as she left the cafeteria. Trejo turned back and studied Carly for a minute. He sat in the chair Andrea had vacated.
“What was up with that? She blame herself for the kidnapping?”
“I have a mind to check you for tape recorders before I say anything.”
“Edwards!” Trejo leaned back in mock indignation. “How could you suspect me of subterfuge? I thought we were friends!”
“Yeah, Alex, you’re a friend like a tiger is a pet. You may look docile, but you always have to be watched.” Carly offered a wry smile.
Trejo laughed. “Okay, okay. Today I’m really on your side. I want to help get this kid back. I like Joe; you know that. I’ll do all I can. Is there anything you can tell me that wasn’t said at the presser?”
Carly shook her head and toyed with her coffee cup. “I know as much as you do. Someone posing as a volunteer took my partner’s baby. They broke into a secure room to turn off surveillance. We’re hoping to match prints, and that’s the extent of what I know. And I’m hoping you’ll help.”
“Again, I’ll do anything I can. After all, you and Joe helped me out, kept me from getting my head bashed in. I owe you both. He’s got to be torn up. How’s his wife?”
Carly remembered Alex getting beaten by two corrupt cops, Drake and Tucker, when he tried to conceal her presence in his house. It was Joe coming to the rescue with the FBI that saved both their lives. “He
is
torn up. Christy is stable but not conscious. I don’t think the doctors know what made her sick.” She drained the last of her coffee and picked at the remnants of her bagel.
“You certainly ate a nutritious lunch,” Trejo observed.
“If you walked through the line here, you noticed that not much is appetizing.”
“That’s true enough. Hey, why don’t you let me buy you dinner? We’ll get out of here and head down to the Apex.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll hang out—”
“And do what?” Trejo cut her off. “Look, there’s nothing for you to do, and you know it. I know Joe’s parents are here, so he’ll be taken care of, and Harris has the investigation. No need for supercop Edwards there. You look like you need to get away from this for a bit. Come on, it’s on me. I do owe you.”
“Don’t you have a story to file about the kidnapping?”
He held up his phone. “There’s an app for that. Already sent all the pertinent info; it’s up on the website as we speak. I will add more when I get it.” He regarded her with raised eyebrows.
“Well . . .” Carly considered the offer and Trejo’s earnestness. Maybe it was a good idea to get away from the depressing atmosphere of the hospital. “I’m going to check with Joe first. I can’t just leave unless I’m certain there’s nothing more I can do.”
“Fair enough. I’ll be in front where they’re tearing down the press conference stage.”
They stood and followed the path out of the cafeteria that Andrea had taken a few minutes ago. Carly turned left at the elevators, and Trejo turned right to exit. While she rode the elevator up, she thought about Andrea and hoped they’d be able to sit down and clear the air soon.
When Carly arrived at the critical care floor, Jacobs, Nelson, and Pete were huddled together in the waiting area—discussing the case, she figured.
“Carly.” Nelson saw her and waved her over. “Pete asked you about helping out with the invest, right?”
“Yeah, I’m up for it.”
“Good. I’ve got a call into Garrison. Where are you headed now?”
“I was going to see if Joe needed anything.”
“He sat down after
Andrea stood. “You can sit here, Alex. I’ve got to get back to the floor. I’ll see you later, Carly. And sorry I snapped. I’m tired, okay?”
“Don’t worry about it. And don’t work too hard. Remember, it wasn’t your fault.”
“Thanks.”
Both Trejo and Carly watched Andrea as she left the cafeteria. Trejo turned back and studied Carly for a minute. He sat in the chair Andrea had vacated.
“What was up with that? She blame herself for the kidnapping?”
“I have a mind to check you for tape recorders before I say anything.”
“Edwards!” Trejo leaned back in mock indignation. “How could you suspect me of subterfuge? I thought we were friends!”
“Yeah, Alex, you’re a friend like a tiger is a pet. You may look docile, but you always have to be watched.” Carly offered a wry smile.
Trejo laughed. “Okay, okay. Today I’m really on your side. I want to help get this kid back. I like Joe; you know that. I’ll do all I can. Is there anything you can tell me that wasn’t said at the presser?”
Carly shook her head and toyed with her coffee cup. “I know as much as you do. Someone posing as a volunteer took my partner’s baby. They broke into a secure room to turn off surveillance. We’re hoping to match prints, and that’s the extent of what I know. And I’m hoping you’ll help.”
“Again, I’ll do anything I can. After all, you and Joe helped me out, kept me from getting my head bashed in. I owe you both. He’s got to be torn up. How’s his wife?”
Carly remembered Alex getting beaten by two corrupt cops, Drake and Tucker, when he tried to conceal her presence in his house. It was Joe coming to the rescue with the FBI that saved both their lives. “He
is
torn up. Christy is stable but not conscious. I don’t think the doctors know what made her sick.” She drained the last of her coffee and picked at the remnants of her bagel.
“You certainly ate a nutritious lunch,” Trejo observed.
“If you walked through the line here, you noticed that not much is appetizing.”
“That’s true enough. Hey, why don’t you let me buy you dinner? We’ll get out of here and head down to the Apex.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll hang out—”
“And do what?” Trejo cut her off. “Look, there’s nothing for you to do, and you know it. I know Joe’s parents are here, so he’ll be taken care of, and Harris has the investigation. No need for supercop Edwards there. You look like you need to get away from this for a bit. Come on, it’s on me. I do owe you.”
“Don’t you have a story to file about the kidnapping?”
He held up his phone. “There’s an app for that. Already sent all the pertinent info; it’s up on the website as we speak. I will add more when I get it.” He regarded her with raised eyebrows.
“Well . . .” Carly considered the offer and Trejo’s earnestness. Maybe it was a good idea to get away from the depressing atmosphere of the hospital. “I’m going to check with Joe first. I can’t just leave unless I’m certain there’s nothing more I can do.”
“Fair enough. I’ll be in front where they’re tearing down the press conference stage.”
They stood and followed the path out of the cafeteria that Andrea had taken a few minutes ago. Carly turned left at the elevators, and Trejo turned right to exit. While she rode the elevator up, she thought about Andrea and hoped they’d be able to sit down and clear the air soon.
When Carly arrived at the critical care floor, Jacobs, Nelson, and Pete were huddled together in the waiting area—discussing the case, she figured.
“Carly.” Nelson saw her and waved her over. “Pete asked you about helping out with the invest, right?”
“Yeah, I’m up for it.”
“Good. I’ve got a call into Garrison. Where are you headed now?”
“I was going to see if Joe needed anything.”
“He sat down after
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