on his plate. The steaming eggs sent delicious smells to hisnostrils. The doorbell rang, and he halted with a forkful of eggs halfway to his open mouth. He exchanged looks with Roland. Who would come calling so early on a Sunday morning?
Laney’s father headed for the door. Murmured voices, Roland’s and an unknown female’s, carried to Noah’s ears. A few seconds later, Roland appeared with a stocky woman beside him. Noah recognized the law enforcement prowl in her walk and the sweep of her eyes across the room, taking in every detail. She was likely on Laney and Briana’s Louisville watch detail. But why had she blown cover to waltz through the front door?
The woman flashed an FBI badge, confirming Noah’s assumption. “I’m here to inform you that an arrest has been made in your case.”
A soft cry came from Loretta, while Laney gripped the edge of the table. “Who?” she burst out.
“Edward Foreman.”
Noah’s heart skipped a beat, and then he frowned. “On what grounds?” The evidence had to be substantial in order to make an actual arrest.
“I’m not at liberty to tell you that, sir. Would you be Noah Franklin Ryder?”
“Guilty.” He lifted a palm.
An almost-smile flickered at the corners of the agent’s mouth. “I have a message for you from Supervisory Special Agent Burns.”
Noah snorted. “I can about guess what that is.”
The agent’s lips curved up another millimeter. “He says to go back to the day job. The professionals have done their work.”
“And you can tell him—” Noah stopped himself from questioning the arrest. “Never mind.”
He wasn’t about to rain on the parade of relieved grins from Roland, Loretta and Laney. But until he knew what evidence theywere charging Eddie on, he wouldn’t be convinced they had the right man. Granted, he had his own doubts about the playground skulker, but a solid case should take longer than this to build.
Roland escorted the agent out while Laney and her mother grabbed each other and wept. Noah studied his cooling eggs.
Laney’s father returned to the table, rubbing his hands together and beaming. “Looks like we won’t need to disrupt your life any further, Noah. We appreciate your willingness to help us out and the care you’ve taken of Laney and the little Bree-bee.” He slapped Noah on the back.
Noah rose and shook the man’s hand, forcing a smile onto his face. “I hope this is the closure your family needs.”
Laney came around the table and touched his arm. Her cheeks glistened with happy tears, but her gaze telegraphed concern. “You look more troubled than happy.”
He sighed. “I have a lot of questions—”
“Oh, me, too!” Laney twirled in a little dance across the tile floor, and Noah’s pulse leaped at her unconscious grace. “Simply to know Gracie’s killer is finally in custody and Briana is safe means everything! I can get my hundred and one questions answered later.”
“At least let me make a phone call to Hank and see if he has an inkling what hard evidence brought about the arrest.”
“Please do.” Loretta gripped the back of her chair. “We’d all like to know.”
Noah took out his cell phone and went into the living room. A few minutes later, he returned to the kitchen. The family had gone back to their seats, but it looked as if the excitement had stolen their appetites. Their plates remained full. Hopeful faces turned toward him.
He awarded them a nod and a smile. “Hank has his own resources for finding out what’s going on with the feds, and the collar looks good to him. Traces of Eddie’s blood were foundon the backpack, and a personal history check shows he had a route delivering office supplies that covered southeastern Minnesota at the time of Grace’s abduction.”
Laney slumped and lowered her forehead to the table, weeping again. “Thank you, Lord Jesus,” she breathed.
“Hallelujah!” Loretta clapped her hands.
Roland grinned bigger than the Cheshire
Laney’s father headed for the door. Murmured voices, Roland’s and an unknown female’s, carried to Noah’s ears. A few seconds later, Roland appeared with a stocky woman beside him. Noah recognized the law enforcement prowl in her walk and the sweep of her eyes across the room, taking in every detail. She was likely on Laney and Briana’s Louisville watch detail. But why had she blown cover to waltz through the front door?
The woman flashed an FBI badge, confirming Noah’s assumption. “I’m here to inform you that an arrest has been made in your case.”
A soft cry came from Loretta, while Laney gripped the edge of the table. “Who?” she burst out.
“Edward Foreman.”
Noah’s heart skipped a beat, and then he frowned. “On what grounds?” The evidence had to be substantial in order to make an actual arrest.
“I’m not at liberty to tell you that, sir. Would you be Noah Franklin Ryder?”
“Guilty.” He lifted a palm.
An almost-smile flickered at the corners of the agent’s mouth. “I have a message for you from Supervisory Special Agent Burns.”
Noah snorted. “I can about guess what that is.”
The agent’s lips curved up another millimeter. “He says to go back to the day job. The professionals have done their work.”
“And you can tell him—” Noah stopped himself from questioning the arrest. “Never mind.”
He wasn’t about to rain on the parade of relieved grins from Roland, Loretta and Laney. But until he knew what evidence theywere charging Eddie on, he wouldn’t be convinced they had the right man. Granted, he had his own doubts about the playground skulker, but a solid case should take longer than this to build.
Roland escorted the agent out while Laney and her mother grabbed each other and wept. Noah studied his cooling eggs.
Laney’s father returned to the table, rubbing his hands together and beaming. “Looks like we won’t need to disrupt your life any further, Noah. We appreciate your willingness to help us out and the care you’ve taken of Laney and the little Bree-bee.” He slapped Noah on the back.
Noah rose and shook the man’s hand, forcing a smile onto his face. “I hope this is the closure your family needs.”
Laney came around the table and touched his arm. Her cheeks glistened with happy tears, but her gaze telegraphed concern. “You look more troubled than happy.”
He sighed. “I have a lot of questions—”
“Oh, me, too!” Laney twirled in a little dance across the tile floor, and Noah’s pulse leaped at her unconscious grace. “Simply to know Gracie’s killer is finally in custody and Briana is safe means everything! I can get my hundred and one questions answered later.”
“At least let me make a phone call to Hank and see if he has an inkling what hard evidence brought about the arrest.”
“Please do.” Loretta gripped the back of her chair. “We’d all like to know.”
Noah took out his cell phone and went into the living room. A few minutes later, he returned to the kitchen. The family had gone back to their seats, but it looked as if the excitement had stolen their appetites. Their plates remained full. Hopeful faces turned toward him.
He awarded them a nod and a smile. “Hank has his own resources for finding out what’s going on with the feds, and the collar looks good to him. Traces of Eddie’s blood were foundon the backpack, and a personal history check shows he had a route delivering office supplies that covered southeastern Minnesota at the time of Grace’s abduction.”
Laney slumped and lowered her forehead to the table, weeping again. “Thank you, Lord Jesus,” she breathed.
“Hallelujah!” Loretta clapped her hands.
Roland grinned bigger than the Cheshire
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