Vanished (21 page)

J.T. backed away and stood next to Madison observing Susan's apprehension. “Why Ted's house?”

“When I talked with Ted a while ago to find out the best way to get into his house undetected, he said she volunteered to water the plants and bring in the mail. He took her up on the offer and gave her a key.”

“She had us all fooled.” J.T. shook his head.

“And I think I know why she wanted this house.” Madison took his hand and pulled him toward the kitchen.

In the room she pointed toward a door that led to Ted's basement. A doggy door was cut into the wood.

“That's new. That wasn't there before.” J.T. inspected Susan's handiwork.

“I think she installed it right after Ted left on vacation.” Madison gestured toward it. “Look. She didn't even bother to clean up all the sawdust. Obviously housecleaning isn't one of her strong points.”

“No, planning kidnappings and murder are.” He put his hand at the small of her back. “I have a graduation to go to. I hope it's not too late for Neil to get his diploma—and now he can give quite a speech.”

Day twelve, 11:00 a.m.

Madison rapped on J.T.'s office door.
This is it. I can't stay around any longer.

“Come in.”

She entered as he hung up the phone and turned a brilliant smile on her. Her car was packed and now all she had to do was tell him goodbye. It wasn't going to be easy, she realized, basking under the power of his smile.

“That was Ross. Jill returned late last night. She stayed in a hotel in Chicago instead of going to her parents because she didn't want them to drill her. They've been up all night talking and working out their problems.” J.T. relaxed back in his chair.

Since two days ago when they had apprehended Susan, Madison had seen a change in J.T. developing. He
was more at ease. The stress, ever present since Ashley's kidnapping, was fading. He really looked rested for the first time. “I've finished my paperwork.”

“Not one of the fun parts of our job.”

She sat in the seat in front of his desk, needing the width of the wooden top to keep from throwing herself into his arms. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind, a roller coaster of emotions surrounding this case. But now it was time to move on.

“Paul left a few hours ago. I need to be going, too.”

His smile faltered. J.T. leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “So soon.”

“Yeah, I'll need to report in tomorrow—I'm glad, with such good news.”

“Can you believe the lengths Susan went to for revenge?”

“You and I have both seen a lot as law enforcement officers.” They were dancing around the real issue. “The sad thing is that Max was pulled into her scheme and she killed him for it. She wanted no witnesses, not even Ross's dog.”

“I can imagine her pleasure when we checked out every false lead—the vanilla scent, the footprints made using a weight belt so the person seemed heavier, Ted's white car, Eric Carlton.”

“Where she's going there won't be much pleasure.”

“I talked with Ralph Baker earlier this morning. She stole twenty-five thousand from him before leaving.” J.T. pressed his fingertips together, his gaze fixed on her. “I have no sympathy for that man. Anyone who terrorizes a woman, even someone like Susan…” He shook his head.

“She learned from a master. He terrorized her, and she did it to you and your family.” She couldn't stay any longer, talking as if this was just another day while her heart was breaking into hundreds of pieces. She rose. “I'd better be going. I stopped by earlier at your house and told your kids goodbye.” The memory of that scene clogged her throat. After hugging each one of his children, she had walked away. Her arms had immediately felt empty.

He pushed to his feet. “They'll miss you.”

How about you?
The question was on the tip of her tongue, but she wouldn't ask it. Their time together had been unreal. Reality waited for her back in Chicago.

A one-bedroom apartment that really wasn't a home.
The thought intruded, sharpening the pain. She started for the door.

He rounded his desk. “Madison?”

She stopped. “Yes.” Only a foot from her, she wanted to wind her arms around him and never let go. But since Susan's capture he had retreated behind a professional facade as though they had never shared any kisses.

He inched forward. “I know I've told you before, but I wanted to say it again. I couldn't have done this without your help. You kept me focused. Thank you.”

She didn't want his gratitude. She wanted his love. There, the thought was out. She loved him. But they had met under the wrong circumstances. “You're welcome. I was only doing my job.” The hoarse thread to her voice spoke of her tightly reined emotions. She needed to get out of his office before she broke down in front of him.

“More than your job, and for that you'll always have my appreciation.”

Appreciation. Tears crammed her throat. “Goodbye.” Madison hurried from the office.

J.T. started after her but halted in his doorway. For the past day and a half he'd wrestled with his growing love for Madison. What did he have to offer her? He wouldn't move his family to Chicago. He couldn't. He was a recovering alcoholic who had come close to floundering during the case. She'd been wonderful and supportive, but he'd heard the pain in her voice when she had told him about her father. No, she was better off without him. He turned back into his office.

Day twelve, 11:30 a.m.

Pulling over to the side of the road, Madison swiped away the tears running down her cheeks. She should have told him how she felt. She thought he cared, but what if gratitude was what prompted the mind shattering kisses? No, it was best if she kept heading toward Chicago. She should put some distance between them. Then she could think more rationally.

Madison steered her car back onto the highway and headed away from Crystal Springs. She was doing the right thing. Then why did it feel so wrong?

Suddenly in the rearview mirror she saw flashing red lights and a Jeep—J.T.'s—speeding toward her. Was something wrong? She parked on the side of the road and climbed from her car as he came to a stop behind her.

He jumped from his Jeep and strode toward her, determination on his face. “You can't leave.”

“Why? Did something else happen?”

“Yes.” He halted in front of her, inches away. “You can't leave before I tell you how I feel about you. I owe you that much. I love you, Madison Spencer, and I want to see if we can make this relationship work.”

The tears, lately so near the surface, flowed again from her eyes. “You love me?”

“Yes.”

She did what she wanted to do in his office. She threw her arms around him, pressing her cheek against his chest, listening to the thudding of his heartbeat. “I love you, too.”

He leaned back. “You do?”

She cradled his face. “Very much.”

“This won't be easy. I can't move to Chicago. It's not a place I want to raise my family, too many memories best left in the past.”

“And I would never ask you to.”

“Then that means we'll be two hours away from each other.”

“Yes, for the time being. But I can put in for a transfer to Central City's FBI office. A lot of people in Crystal Springs work in Central City.”

“Are you sure? It's a small office compared to Chicago. Probably not nearly as exciting.”

“I'm sure of one thing. I love you and I want to see if we can work it out. That won't happen if we live two hours away from each other.”

He grinned and brought her closer. “I like your way of thinking. We make a good team.” He framed her face with his hands and kissed her.

“I
present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Logan,” Colin announced in front of the altar of Faith Community Church, closing his Bible.

Madison turned in unison with J.T. and faced the crowded church. All were on their feet and clapping. Joy filled her. She'd found a home with a man she loved with all her heart. She'd found a family, a family that was healing from its ordeal. Her gaze swept from Neil, standing up for his father as best man, to Kim and Ashley, her maids of honor.

“Ready to greet our guests, Mrs. Logan?”

She smiled at her husband. “I don't think they are all going to fit into the rec hall. Half the town must be here.”

J.T. took her hand and headed down the long center aisle. “What a way to end the year.”

“And begin a new one tomorrow,” Madison said over the loud applause following them as they made their way down the aisle and into their new life together.

Dear Reader,

Vanished
was one of the hardest books I've written. The emotional trauma of a child being kidnapped would be one of the worst ordeals a parent would have to deal with. Putting myself in J.T.'s shoes was difficult. I felt I was going through his pain, as well. J.T.'s faith was what sustained him through the crisis.

In
Vanished,
J.T. faced his alcoholism all over again. He had conquered it years before and was a recovering alcoholic who hadn't taken a drink in almost six years. But when he was emotionally at his lowest, he was tempted to take a drink. It was Madison's reminding him of the power of the Lord that helped him to weather his need for alcohol. In the end the crisis strengthened him. A recovering alcoholic is just a drink away from being an active alcoholic. He or she needs a good support system, and J.T. had it with AA, his faith, friends and family.

I love hearing from readers. You can contact me at P.O. Box 2074, Tulsa, OK 74101, or visit my Web site at www.margaretdaley.com where you can sign up for my quarterly newsletter, sign my guest book or e-mail me.

Best wishes,

1. J. T. Logan faces his worst nightmare as a parent. How has your faith helped you to weather a crisis? Which Bible verses have given you strength through the crisis?
   
2. In the end J.T. forgives the kidnapper. Have you forgiven someone lately for a transgression that was particularly hard for you to forgive? How does your faith prepare you for that?
   
3. Guilt can consume us. J.T. lived with the guilt over his wife for years. How can guilt affect your life? How do you use your faith to help you work through your guilt?
   
4. Madison is afraid to risk falling in love again because she is hurt. Risk is part of life. When and how have you had to learn that? What risks are important enough to take? What risks should not be taken? Where do we draw the line?
   
5. Fear is a major theme in this story. J.T. faces the fear of losing one or more of his children. Ashley faces the fear of being a captive. Even Neil and Kim must face their fears concerning someone targeting their family. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whosoever putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” How does this verse help a person with his fear? Have you ever dealt with numbing fear? Has your faith helped? Did you turn to the Lord or away from Him?
   
6. In a moment of anger, Kim wishes she didn't have a sister. Then when Ashley is kidnapped, Kim feels her wish is the reason why. Have you ever thought or said something you regret later? How have you resolved your guilt over it?
   
7. Madison's brother was murdered by a gang shooting. As a teenager she decided to become an FBI agent and help others in a helpless situation. That was her dream. What is your dream? What steps have you taken or will take to achieve your dream? How has your faith helped you achieve your dream?
   
8. When J.T. faces the kidnapper, he feels God's presence and a peace descends even though a gun is pointed at him. Have you ever been in a situation that was difficult, but where you felt God with you and were able to handle it in a calm, peace-filled way? Have you been in a situation where you haven't and needed to feel that way? What was the difference between those situations? Were you at a different place in your faith journey?
   
9. One of the hardest things to do sometimes is to forgive yourself for something you've done—like J.T. with his wife's death or Kim with her wish. We are often harder on ourselves than on others. How can you help yourself to forgive something you've done? Why can forgiveness be so hard for a person?
   
10. J.T., while a police detective in Chicago, turned to alcohol to help him deal with the ugly side of life. He began to drink more and more until it nearly destroyed his family and life. Have you or a loved one dealt with an addiction of any kind? What has helped you to get through it? Did you turn away from the Lord or to Him for help?