Vendetta by Lisa Harris

bloodstained hands against her pant legs as the glass door to the center shut behind them.
    God, don’t let him die . . . please.
    Tyler motioned for Nikki to move beside him. “Nikki works on the state’s missing persons task force. She’s working with the park rangers and the local police to find your daughter.”
    â€œI said I don’t believe you.” Loretta’s voice cracked. “The police took my husband. Promised . . . they promised he would be back, but he never came back.”
    â€œI’m sorry for whatever happened to your husband,” Nikki said, “but my job is to find people, Loretta. People like Bridget.Which is what I’m trying to do, but I need you to trust me so I can help you.”
    Nikki caught the conflict in Loretta’s eyes.
    â€œI saw her picture on TV. She was such a beautiful baby. She never cried. I could put her on a blanket on the floor, and she would play, content for hours.” Loretta stared at Bridget’s photo on the flyer, then looked up at Nikki. “Why didn’t somebody call me and tell me she was in trouble?”
    â€œYour son tried to call you.”
    â€œKyle?” Loretta’s frown deepened. “Where is he?”
    â€œOn his way here right now. He’s been doing everything he can to help us.”
    â€œI thought . . . I thought they were going to hurt her. Like they hurt my husband.”
    â€œNo one wants to hurt Bridget,” Nikki said. “We want to find her.”
    Loretta’s hands were trembling harder now. Nikki glanced down the row of hostages. Until the gun was out of the woman’s hands, none of them were safe.
    â€œLoretta, have you had any contact with your daughter?”
    â€œOf course. I’m her mother. She sent me a card for my birthday last month.” Loretta smiled. “It had a flower on the front. A red rose.”
    â€œDoes she call you?” Nikki asked.
    â€œShe emails me sometimes.”
    â€œWhat do the two of you talk about?”
    â€œSchool. Boys,” Loretta said. “Do you think you can find her?”
    â€œYes, I do, but not as long as I’m in here. I need to be out there. Talking to people who might have seen her. Making sure everyone sees her picture. Can you let me do my job so I can find your daughter?”
    Loretta looked down at her weapon, shoulders slumping. “I shouldn’t have brought the gun.”
    Nikki took another step forward. “No, you shouldn’t have.”
    â€œI didn’t think . . . I didn’t think anyone would listen to me.”
    â€œI’m listening. Let me have the gun, Loretta. And I’ll do everything I can to help you find your daughter.”
    Loretta hesitated, then slowly handed Nikki the gun.
    â€œThey’re going to arrest me, aren’t they?” Loretta said.
    Nikki made the call. Local police moved in to handcuff Loretta and read her her rights. Nikki handed the gun to one of the officers as Kyle arrived at the front door.
    â€œClear the room and make sure everyone is okay,” she said to Jack and Gwen, before turning to Tyler. “Thank you.”
    â€œYou okay?”
    â€œYeah.” Nikki glanced down at her clothes, not missing the worry in his gaze. She needed to wash her hands and change, but first there was something else she needed to do. “Just glad it’s over. I need to speak with Kyle. He needs to know what’s going on.”
    Tyler nodded. “Go.”
    Nikki hurried outside the building behind the officers and Loretta. “We need to talk, Kyle.”
    â€œWait a minute.” He hesitated as they led his mother past him toward one of the squad cars. “What’s going on?”
    His mother looked back and caught his gaze. “I’m sorry, Kyle.”
    Nikki pulled him aside. “They’re arresting your mother. You’ll get a chance to talk with her later, but for now you