Page 113 of Falling for Brody

"I'm outside your house now. Brody and Rachel are inside tending to Missus Hardy. Gabriel is on his way. We're going to find Chip, Rhea."

"He's missing."

"Yeah. We'll find him. I'm calling everyone in to help. We will find him."

"Okay." Her hands were shaking and her heart was pounding in her chest. "I'm coming back."

"Okay," Joshua's voice was softer, more intense, "drive safe."

He hung up and Rhea was on her feet, reaching for her wallet to pay her half of the meal.

Keely grabbed her hand and shook her head. "Don't worry about this. Go home. I'm sure that by the time you get there, Chip will be back home.

Rhea staggered away from the table. "I hope so."

* * *

Brody preparedto load the gurney into the back of the rig. Missus Hardy's eyes opened and she found his gaze immediately. "Brody! Brody!" Her voice was painfully soft and her features were twist in agony. "A man... he took Chip."

One of the officers stepped up. "Ma'am did you see who took the boy?"

"He was..." she licked at her lips, wetting them. "He was thin, tall. His shirt was dirty. His jeans, too." She started to cry and Brody moved to her side and took her hand. "He came through the back gate and took him out the same way."

Brody nodded, following along. "Thank you," he lifted her hand, cradling it in his. We'll find him."

He turned to look at the officer. "Can you check for cars on camera? Unfamiliar cars?"

Missus Hardy gripped Brody's hand tighter. "I think... I believe Chip got away."

"You did? You do?" He leaned over her. "Why do you say that?"

She swallowed and her eyelids were growing heavy, but she was fighting it. "I heard him yell. He was angry. It sounded like they started running." Her eyes filled with tears. "Toward the woods."

Brody lifted his head and looked at her house.

The backyard bordered on the woods that surrounded the town.

"Brody?"

"Yeah, Bea?"

She sagged into the gurney beneath her. "Bring him home."

"I will."

She was out again, and she probably hadn't heard his words, but he meant them.

Joshua waved him away and Rachel ran over to help put the gurney in the back of the rig.

"I'll go with Joshua," Rachel told him. "I'll be needed in the clinic anyway. Bring him home."

Brody nodded and waded into the crush around the house, but stopped when he heard a half dozen vehicles pull up.

Ethan Watson was the first one out of the car. The rest of his search and rescue team made their way over.

Ethan held out his hand and Brody latched onto it like a lifeline. "Thanks for coming, Ethan."

The other man nodded. "We came to see how I can help."

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