Page 49 of Stand By You
“Simons. Listen we’re taking a detour to do a wellness check on Geneva. We’ll be at the Richmond West address with the warrant as soon as we can. Whatever you do, do not put yourself in danger before we get there,” Simons said. “And whatever you do, do not enter the house.”
“I hear you,” Nick said. “But I can’t promise Jillian will listen if she believes Travis is inside.”
“Make her and that is an order,” Simons said and ended the call.
Unease creptalong Jillian’s spine. “What is that about me not going in the house?” she asked.
“Simons was warning us to be safe until they arrive. Apparently Geneva is in distress, and they’ve been ordered to go check on her,” Nick explained.
“Hm-m-m,” Jillian mused. “That is odd. Should we go over there first?”
“Do you know the address?” Nick asked.
“No, but I bet Swede does,” Jillian said with a smile.
Nick laughed. He made the call to his new tech guru and relayed their request. Swede did one better and he sent them the address along with the recording of the 9-1-1 call Geneva had placed.
They listened to it twice before either of them spoke.
“That’s insane,” Jillian said. “Her own parents?”
“We sorta figured they were involved,” Nick said as they drove to the exit that would take them to the gated community where the Reyes family lived.
“Yes,” Jillian admitted. “But I thought it was Geneva who was behind the abduction and that her parents were accessories.”
“I guess that just goes to show you that you can’t always make assumptions,” Nick said.
By the time they arrived at the Whispering Pines Lane address, a patrol officer was leading Robert Reyes, in handcuffs, out to his patrol car. Simons and Kohl were talking to Geneva and Judy Reyes on the front lawn.
Nick pulled up in front of the house and Jillian got out and hobbled toward the detectives.
Judy Reyes glanced up and blanched white when she saw Jillian. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
“What’s that?” Simons said. “Are you telling me you were under the impression that Ms. Grant had been killed?”
“Mother!” Geneva said, clear outrage all over her face. “It’s bad enough you were behind Travis being taken, but to hear you tried to kill the only person who has cared for Travis like a mother in my absence. How could you even think about doing that?”
“It just goes to show you never know what a person will do.” Kohl slapped handcuffs on Judy and started to lead her over to the waiting female officer.
“Wait,” Jillian said. “Tell me why you tried to hurt me?”
Judy glared at her. “Isn’t it obvious? You tried to take our daughter’s place with Travis. You testified against her and because of that, that dead judge took her parental rights away.”
“So, are you admitting to being behind Judge Michael Stevens murder?” Nick said.
“He had to pay,” Judy sneered. “Just like that lawyer who advised Geneva she couldn’t get Travis back because of her inability to stay sober. If she’d been a better lawyer she’d have fought harder for our Geneva.”
Geneva covered her ears, shaking her head and closing her eyes. “No more. I don’t want to hear anymore of what you and daddy have done.”
“It was all for you baby girl. All for you,” Judy shrieked as Kohl marched her to the patrol woman’s car.
“We’re done here,” Simons told them, a grim smile spreading over his lean features. “Let’s head to Richmond West and get Travis.”
At the mention of his name, Geneva looked up, her face streaked with tears. “Can I come?”
Simons stared at her for a moment. “You’d have to change first.”
Geneva laughed and looked down at her robe and slippers, then pointed at her gawking neighbors. “Guess they’ve neverseen a woman dressed like this. I’ll be fast. I won’t even put on makeup.”
