Page 73 of Dangerous Secret

“We go back a ways to when we were both in the Navy. He told me about your ex-husband and what all he’s involved in, including two possible murders, but I’d like to hear it from you. What all you know.”

Two murders? “I’m not sure where to start.”

“Does the name George Pickens mean anything to you?”

“Grayson mentioned that name. He had his home stolen, too, right?”

“Yes, and he was killed.”

“I didn’t know.” She felt physically sick hearing the news.

“We’ll get him, Harlow, and he’ll go to prison for a very long time, if not for life. Start at the beginning. From when you met your ex-husband. Especially the things that you saw or overheard that made you uncomfortable or suspicious.” He set his phone face up on the table. “Do you mind if I record our conversation?”

“I’m agreeable to anything that will help me get my son back.”

“Along with seeing justice done for the people he’s wronged, that’s our goal.”

She talked for a little over an hour and when she finished, he asked a few questions. After she answered them, he stopped recording and put his phone in his pocket.

“With what you’ve told me and the photos Grayson’s going to get, we won’t have any problem getting a search warrant. Grayson said you’re worried about your son being in the house when we serve the warrant. I’ve told him that we won’t stop him from leaving with Tyler and taking him to you.”

“Words don’t convey my gratitude, but thank you.” Soon, she’d hold her little boy in her arms again, and she was so very grateful. To him. To Cooper and Liam. And most of all, to Grayson.

“We live to put bad guys away.” He grinned. “So thank you for bringing us one.”

It was her pleasure. Truly.

Chapter 33

It was happening tonight, and Harlow hadn’t been able to concentrate on work all day. She’d tried if for no other reason than to keep her mind from thinking of all the things that could go wrong.

Stop thinking the worst.Grayson would be safe. All he would be doing was taking pictures while Anthony was gone. In and out in a few minutes, Anthony none the wiser. She didn’t know how long it would take the FBI to get a search warrant after they got the evidence, but it had to be a matter of only a few days before she’d have her boy back.

Would he be happy to see her? That was a worry she’d tried to ignore, but now that the time was near, the fear that Anthony had turned him against her refused to be silent. She didn’t doubt for a minute that Anthony would have told Tyler she was to blame for the divorce and her absence from their son’s life.

Tyler would probably hate her at first, and it would take time and much understanding on her part for him to trust her again. Would he remember the bedtime stories, the times they played with his robots together, talked about when dinosaurs roamed the earth? It would take patience and love to rebuild their bond, and all her time and focus had to be for him.

What she needed was a cup of chamomile tea to settle her nerves. As she heated water, she glanced at the microwave clock. Was Grayson at this very minute breaking into Anthony’s safe? She should have asked him to call her when it was done so she wouldn’t spend all night worrying.

After dropping a tea bag in the heated water, she took her cup to the living room. As soon as she sat on the sofa, Einstein jumped in her lap. He purred, as if he knew she needed comfort.

“You’re the cure for anxiety,” she said as she combed her fingers through his soft fur. “I should rent you out. I’d make a fortune.”

He purred louder, apparently agreeing.

When someone banged on her door, she startled, spilling hot tea on her fingers. “Ow. That hurt.”

Einstein raced to the door. She put her eye to the peephole and gasped at seeing Ava holding Tyler.

Her fingers fumbled with the lock as she tried to open the door so she could get to her son.It’s a trick.She didn’t want to listen to that voice in her head, but this was exactly what Anthony had done the last time. She dropped her hand from the lock and pressed her forehead to the door.

She wasn’t going to fall for another of Anthony’s tricks. Even if she opened the door, Ava would disappear with Tyler like before, and it would be Anthony standing there. She hated him with a passion for using their son in his cruel games. “Just a few more days,” she whispered. She just had to be strong a little longer, and then all this would be over.

“Harlow, please,” Ava yelled. “I’m scared. Anthony’s in a rage. I’ve never seen him like this. You have to open the door before he finds us here.”

Fear and desperation filled her voice, but could Harlowtrust her? She’d never actually seen Anthony lay a hand on anyone, but he did have a fearsome temper.

“Please. He hit Tyler, and then he tried to hit me when I pulled Tyler away from him. You have to let us in.”

---