CAPTURED INNOCENCE Read Online Free PDF Page B

know who you are. You have no right to barge in here…”
                  “As soon as we have Alex.” Conley glanced around the room. “Where is he?”
                  “The restroom.”
                  “You let him go to the restroom alone?” Jo whipped the door open and sprinted down the hall, Conley close on her heels. She tried the restroom door and found it locked.
                  “Alex?” Jo knocked on the door. “It’s Mommy. Let me in.” There was no answer.
                  Conley stepped back and delivered a powerful kick which sent the door crashing open. The small room was empty.
                  “Alex?” Jo whirled. “Where is he? Alex?” She stepped back into the hall. By this time, several of the tenants stared into the hall. Tears welled in Jo’s eyes. Her heart pounded a fierce rhythm in her chest. “Conley?”
                  “Stay here.” He bounded down the stairs. His footsteps echoed through the stairwell. Within moments he returned, grabbed Jo’s arm again and pulled her up the stairs to the third floor. He stepped aside while she unlocked her apartment with trembling hands.
                  Rushing into the room ahead of her, Conley pulled a revolver from beneath his shirt and searched the room. His gaze roamed across the small space.
                  “You’ve got a gun?” Jo stood in the middle of the room. Her hands hung limp at her sides. A cold fist grabbed her intestines and squeezed. The room spun around her. “Who are you? Where’s my son?” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “How do you know so much about us?”
                  He reached behind her and shut the door. Taking her hand more gently than he’d grabbed her arm earlier, he led her to the sofa and pushed her down onto it. He grabbed one of the kitchen chairs, placed it in front of her, and straddled it.
                  “Five years ago, you left, and divorced, your husband, Nielson Blake.” He held up a hand to stop her as she opened her mouth to interrupt. “You disappeared, leaving only a note addressed to your parents. Blake went berserk. He searched everywhere for you, not caring who got hurt in the process. Your nanny was killed.”
                  Jo choked and put a hand to her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over.
                  “A year ago you made the mistake of contacting your parents by phone, then mailed them a postcard, correct?”
                  Jo nodded. “But I mailed it from a different city. I’ve moved so many times.” She sniffed.
                  Conley reached across to the table and grabbed a box of tissues to hand to her.  “Your parent’s home was broken into. They didn’t think anything had been taken, but they were mistaken. Blake found the postcard. He’s been tracking you ever since. A couple of months after the break-in, your mother discovered the card missing. She contacted me. My name is Conley Hook. I’m a private investigator hired by your parents to locate and protect you.”
                  Her eyes never left Conley’s face. Suddenly the features of the man following her fell into place. “The man who’s been following me is Blake. He’s let his hair grow and he grew a beard.” She shook her head in disbelief. “He’s changed. I didn’t recognize him.”
                  Conley leaned forward and took her hand in his. “He hasn’t changed that much. Not really. I believe he now has your son, Alex. He is your son, right? Not Blake’s?”
                  She nodded. “I was pregnant when I married Blake. He said it didn’t matter. That he loved me enough to love some other man’s child. He was delighted when I had a boy.” Her eyes grew wide. She lowered her voice. Tremors shook her body. “He sells children, Conley.