Nowhere to Run by Valerie Hansen Page B

wandered off a couple of minutes ago, so she can’t have gone far. Can you get a few others together and cover the ground between the motel and the garage? Good. Thanks. We’ll be right here.”
    â€œNo. I can’t stay here,” Marie argued. “I have to go look for her, too.”
    â€œWe will. We’ll work back the way you came and see if we can turn up any clues, maybe see some footprints in the wet ground. I can’t believe you didn’t call me in the first place to save time.”
    â€œI never thought of it.”
    â€œDo you have a cell phone?”
    She shook her head. “No. I didn’t want…”
    â€œI know. You didn’t want to be traced because of it. The kind I have is simple. It doesn’t allow tracing, because you buy the minutes up front instead of having an account, and if you don’t give out the number or leave the phone turned on all the time, it can’t be located.” He handed his to her. “Here. Take this for now. I’ll buy you another one the next time I’m in Ash Flat.”
    â€œI can’t do that.”
    â€œYes, you can. You have to,” Seth said firmly. “It’s already programmed with the garage number, so you can call me for help with the push of a button.”
    â€œWell…”
    â€œSmart woman. Now, come on, stick that phone in your pocket and let’s go.”
    Watching Marie’s reactions, he was satisfied that he’d given her enough other things to think about to keep her from falling apart, at least for now. When they found the child, she’d have plenty of time to weep.
    If they found her, he added, gritting his teeth. The prospect of failing in this instance was unacceptable. Because they were beginning their search so quickly, their chances of success were greater, yes, but there was also the possibility that Patty had been taken by the same man who had tried to steal her from the truck the night before.
    Seth knew Marie was well aware of that. He just hoped and prayed that wasn’t what had actually happened.
    The way he saw it, there was a fair chance of it going either way.

NINE
    M arie spotted Becky Malloy first. The pastor’s wife was toting Timmy on her hip and walking slowly through the used-car lot next to the garage, stopping every few yards to call Patty’s name.
    That meant only one thing. No one from the church had found Patty, either.
    â€œI will not cry,” Marie insisted quietly to herself. “I will not lose control when my daughter needs me to keep my wits about me.”
    She waved to Becky as she quickly joined her. “Any luck?”
    Becky smiled benevolently. “Not yet. And luck isn’t something I like to count on. We’ve been praying for you and Patty since the moment we heard.”
    Marie wanted to accept the reassurance the other woman was offering, but searching her deepest heart, she found unreasoning fear. Trepidation. Feelings of guilt and failure.
    â€œI never should have let her out of my sight,” Marie lamented. “Never. I know better.”
    â€œWe can’t keep our children with us 24-7,” Becky said wisely. “That would make emotional cripples of them. Besides, they belong to the Lord. We’re just watching them for Him.”
    â€œAnd I haven’t been doing a good job of it, have I?” Marie was fighting tears and barely able to speak.
    Becky laid a comforting hand on her shoulder and nodded. “I know how you feel. I wasn’t always a pastor’s wife. My life wasn’t easy while I was growing up, or later, for that matter. But I think the longer we’re Christians and keep following Jesus, the more instances we have to look back on where we can see God’s handiwork and learn to trust Him.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Marie said. Her voice cracked. “I don’t know anything anymore.”
    â€œWe’ll find Patty,” Becky said