The Missing Mccullen

And he trusted her a hell of a lot more than he would some court appointed attorney who might know Elmore or be in his pocket.

* * *

BJ LEFT CASH with unanswered questions. The sheriff frowned at her, but stepped into the room to escort Cash to the cell.

She needed to speak to Maddox before she revealed Cash’s connection to the McCullens.

The pain in his eyes ripped at her. She was still straddling the fence about his innocence or guilt, although she was leaning on the innocent side.

One thing she knew for sure, though. He loved that little boy.

And he was seriously worried about him.

Which roused her own fear for Tyler.

She rushed into the restroom, grabbed a paper towel and wetted it just as the first wave of dizziness assaulted her.

Three-year-old Tyler Elmore was missing.

She’d had no idea when she took the case. All she was told was that Cash Koker had been arrested for murder.

Panic gnawed at her as she recalled Cash’s last words. He wanted her to look for the little boy. He’d chosen that over his own release.

Even though he’d denied being the child’s father, he was frightened for him.

Tears blurred her eyes, and she removed the rainbow drawing she kept with her. Her son had been obsessed with rainbows and had made this one for her for Mother’s Day.

Time faded and she was back with her son.

“Mommy, tuck me in.”

She wiped her hands on the dish towel, then went to Aaron’s room. He was in his cartoon pj’s, snuggled with his stuffed lion, holding his favorite book. She crawled on the bed and he nuzzled up against her as she began to read.

Seconds later, he fell asleep on her arm.

Two days later—the call that had shattered her heart. A highway patrol officer.

Her ex had taken Aaron on a camping trip, but they’d had a terrible accident.

Neither one of them had survived.

BJ wiped the tears from her eyes, folded the drawing and put it back in her pocket. It hurt too much to think about Aaron’s little innocent face looking up at her as if she’d protect him from the world, when she’d failed.

If Tyler was in danger, she had to help.

She left the bathroom, then walked up front to talk to Sheriff Jasper. “Has Mr. Elmore located his grandson?”

A vein throbbed in the lawman’s neck. “No, all the more reason you tell us what that Koker guy did with Tyler.”

BJ bit the inside of her cheek. The sheriff definitely had made up his mind about Cash. He’d probably lynch him if he didn’t think he’d get caught.

“My conversation with my client is confidential, although I don’t believe he took the child or knows where he is. He seems genuinely concerned. If you haven’t followed up on the Amber Alert, do so immediately.”

“I know how to do my job.” Jasper’s sarcastic tone implied she didn’t. “You just need to push Koker to talk.”

Anger mushroomed inside BJ. “I told you he didn’t take the boy. Have you spoken with Mr. Elmore to see if he received a ransom call?”

“He hasn’t.”

BJ tensed. That wasn’t a good sign. “For a moment, let’s just say I’m right, Sheriff. The first forty-eight hours are critical for a missing child case.” She tapped her watch. “Every minute counts. So while you’re sitting here on your butt, whoever abducted Tyler is getting farther and farther away.”

Which meant they might not get the little boy back alive.

That terrified her more than anything.

Chapter Three (#ulink_4be69413-9735-533b-b7b8-e30bdea3e952)

BJ stopped at the diner in town and ordered coffee and a muffin. Her stomach was too knotted to eat much, but she needed something before Cash’s bail hearing.

She ran a search on her computer and found articles about Lester Elmore and his ranch, along with a story on his success. A photo of Sondra accompanying her father to a state fund-raiser when she was seventeen revealed the depth of the young woman’s beauty. Her father was looking at her in adoration.

Her Facebook page revealed a photo of Sondra and Tyler. The kid had sandy-brown hair, was freckle-faced and so adorable that tears pricked her eyes. “Where are you, little guy?”

She quickly searched Sondra’s friends and posts, hoping to find a clue as to someone Sondra may have left the boy with but came up empty. Although she had a close girlfriend named Diane who’d ridden with her when Sondra had been into showing horses. Those posts were dated two years before though.

She punched in Sheriff Maddox McCullen’s phone number, sipping her coffee while she waited. The phone rang three times, then a male voice answered. “Sheriff McCullen speaking.”

“Sheriff, it’s BJ Alexander.”

A heartbeat passed. “Call me Maddox. You met Cash Koker?”

“I did,” BJ said.

“What do you think?” Maddox asked.

BJ hesitated. “I don’t think he has a clue that he has brothers or any family.”

Maddox heaved a sigh. “I figured as much. If he did, he would have probably called or shown up at Horseshoe Creek.”

Cash didn’t strike her as the type to ask for handouts. “The bail hearing is soon.” BJ fidgeted. “Have you read the sheriff’s report?”

“No, but when I spoke to Sheriff Jasper, he was adamant that he had the right man.”

“He’s made up his mind,” BJ said. “I don’t think he’s even considered that Cash might be innocent.”

“So he’s not investigating or looking for another suspect?” Maddox said with disgust.

“No.”