Page 63 of Scorched

“No kidding about the emergency. You and half a dozen other people are looking for loved ones. If you don’t stay back, we can’t do our jobs and find them.”

“But—” She backed away, her heart racing in her chest. She couldn’t wait for Paul. She had to do something. Luke could be in trouble. If Stan really was alive, he could have snatched the boy and run with him.

A sob welled up in her throat. She was torn, afraid to leave before making sure the man she was seriously in danger of losing her heart to made it out of the burning building alive. Paul was a grown man, there were emergency personnel crawling all over the place. They’d make sure he got out okay.

In the meantime, her son was missing. A defenseless little boy against a crazed killer didn’t stand a chance. Agent Bradley had her hands tied, watching over Brandon. She couldn’t go after Luke when Elise’s other son was in danger as well.

Elise made the decision. She yanked a piece of paper from a pad in her purse and scribbled a note on it, telling Paul where she’d gone and why. She handed the note to the first policeman she came to. “Please make sure FBI Agent Paul Fletcher gets this note.”

“Lady, I don’t know who he is.” He tried to hand it back to her. “Give it to him yourself.”

“I can’t. He’s tall and blond and he went back intothat building to save a woman’s son. When he comes out, give him this.” She shoved the note into the man’s hand, refusing to let him give it back. “It’s a matter of life and death.”

With one last glance toward the building, Elise ran toward her little gray car that had been delivered with a new windshield early that afternoon. Thank goodness she had rescued her purse from her classroom. She dialed Paul’s number. The connection went directly to his voicemail.Damn. With no other recourse, she left a message and climbed into her car.

Rain dripped off the end of her nose and down inside her jacket. The cold penetrated her clothing, sinking all the way to her heart. If someone had taken Luke, she wouldn’t begin to know where to look. Tears filled her eyes, making it impossible to drive. She blinked them back, fiercely determined to be strong for her sons, strong for Paul and most of all strong for herself. She couldn’t fail Luke.

Elise inched her way out of the parking lot, careful to avoid emergency vehicles and gawkers. “Move, please,” she said aloud, though no one could hear her with the driving rain and emergency sirens. She slammed her palm against her steering wheel, fear for her son making her want to slam her foot down on the accelerator and fly home. The longer Luke was missing, the farther away the killer could get with him.

As soon as the roadway cleared ahead of her, Elise dropped her foot to the floor, urging her little carbeyond the posted speed limits, only slowing for stop signs to avoid wrecking and further delaying her arrival at her house. Several times, she hydroplaned on the slick roads, her heart in her throat as she slid close to mailboxes only to right herself and press forward.

Melissa’s red pickup stood in the driveway outside Elise’s house. Skidding in next to it, she slammed on her brakes, shoved the shift into Park and leaped out.

Agent Bradley met her at the door. “Where’s Paul?” She stared closer at Elise. “What happened?”

“There was an explosion at the school. I left. Paul was still helping people out of the building.” Elise pushed past Melissa. “Where’s Brandon?”

“I’m here.” Brandon stood in the middle of the living room, his backpack on, fully clothed in jeans, jacket and shoes.

“How long has Luke been gone?” Elise asked.

“Around fifteen minutes, twenty tops. I tried to call you as soon as I discovered he was missing.”

Elise dropped to her haunches next to her oldest son. “Are you all right?”

He nodded, solemnly. “We have to find Luke. It’s raining outside.” Brandon waved a hand toward the door, his brow furrowed into a frown that was too heavy for a boy his age. “Luke gets scared when there’s thunder.”

“I know, I know, honey. We’ll find him.” She hugged Brandon, straightened and turned back to Melissa. “How did he get out of the house?”

“I went to answer my phone, and the next thing I knew, he’d gone out the back door.”

“He went to find George. He wanted to show him a picture of the puppy he wants to get.” Brandon’s eyes filled. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t shown him the picture, he’d still be here.”

“It’s not your fault, Brandon. You can’t keep an eye on Luke all the time. He’s fast and determined to do what he wants to do.” Elise recognized the same guilt in Brandon as she felt herself. She should have been here—she should have guarded her sons.

“But I’m supposed to be the man of the house.” The tears spilled out of the corners of his eyes. “I didn’t save him. Now he’s going to die.”

Elise’s heart burned in her chest. “Listen to me, Brandon. Luke is not going to die. And this is not your fault. Luke shouldn’t have left the house. He knows better.” If anyone was at fault, it was her. She shouldn’t have left her children, knowing a killer was loose, threatening her and her family.

“I’m sorry, Elise. I turned my back for a moment. I never thought he’d leave the house.”

Elise wanted to yell at Melissa, wanted to scream and cry, but she couldn’t. All of this was her fault. She should have moved farther away, maybe to Mexico or South America. Some place where no one could find out about her past and no one could trace her or her children. Was there such a place? She shook her head. “The important thing right now is to find Luke.”

“Right. Now that you’re here, I can get out and start canvassing the neighborhood. The sooner we find him the better. Problem is that I can’t wait for Paul to get back to protect you two.”

“We’ll be fine, just go.”

“Lock the door. Don’t let anyone inside.”

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