“Yes, boss.” The men glanced at her and then turned away.
If the normal rule applied, she had twenty-four hours to find Eb. Twenty-four hours where she had to be a cop, not a mother who’s daughter had been taken. Her stomach rolled and she swallowed the sob rising in her throat. Ryder clenched her fists tight, using the pain of her nails on her palms to try to focus herself. Sure she could break down and cry, railing against the horror of it all because she knew more than most what could be happening to her daughter right now. A fit of tears might ease a little of the pain, but it would do nothing to bring her closer to finding Ebony. What am I going to do if I don’t get her back? The thought hit her fair and square in the gut and the urge to give up her breakfast almost overrode her attempt to stay calm and focused. Ryder breathed through her mouth, remembering the small disagreement this morning when Ebony dawdled over brushing her teeth and she’d raised her voice. Something so trivial that had set her off, making her raise her voice. Please don’t let the last thing I said to her be in anger. We have to have another chance together. She’s all I have left.
Her ears rang with distorted voices as those around her talked. Ryder swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and blinked the tears away. Her world had dropped off its axis but Jake was right, this wasn’t how she should be acting. She had to save her daughter and breaking down wasn’t doing anything. Eb was gone. It didn’t bear thinking about. Better to keep busy and try to figure this out. It was the only hope she had of not losing her mind—trying to figure out where she was. She scrunched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The pain kept her in the present.
Ryder used a technique Gabe had taught her for those times when it all threatened to get her down. With eyes closed, she breathed and let her body lift away from the present. She distanced herself from the pain and the anguish, floating in the comfort of her own breathing until she could put the hurt aside and focus on what lay ahead. Then she opened her eyes and looked at the day care centre with strong determination and focus. She would get her daughter back if it was the last thing she achieved.
“Let’s go. I want to check my computer and see if I’ve got a reply to my request.” Ryder flicked another gaze around the room and stormed out, determined to see this through without falling in a heap. She climbed in her truck and headed back to work.
She ignored everything but her computer. Ryder logged onto the website and looked in her mail box. Nothing! She dropped to her chair and rested her head on her hands. The madness simmered at the top ready to explode, but she wasn’t going to let it get out of control. That wouldn’t bring Eb home.
Footsteps sounded next to her desk. Jake squatted down to look into her eyes.
“It’s my fault because I worked those cases, I know it is.” Ryder blinked and looked at him, waiting for a miracle.
Jake reached out a hand and brushed her hair from her cheek.
“I always knew policing was a dangerous job, but I never expected to have this happen in a town like Mudgee, not to me. One of the reasons we left the States was to come to a quiet town where I wouldn’t have to face these types of cases again. I don’t think I have the heart for it anymore.”
“Me either to be honest. I’m so sorry, Ryder. Rest assured I’m going to do my best to find her.” He gripped her hand, squeezing it tight. “Want to come out and search with me? I can’t see you wanting to sit and do nothing. We can check in every now and then and see if they’ve made contact with you if you like.”
“Yeah, why not? We might get lucky.” The last words were said as a sob rose and she swallowed hard to keep it down, to keep on track. “You’re right, I have to do something. Sitting here watching the website won’t bring her back.”
“Let’s go in my car and the first place we’ll search is Ethol’s then spread out.”
* * *
Later that night, Ryder sat on the back step of her house waiting for something, anything to happen. The search had been called off until first light and Jake had insisted she return home and get a shower and a change of clothes. Sleep was impossible so coffee kept her keyed up ready to go if word came in. Milo sat beside her, his big head on her knee. Seems he and Eb had bonded well already and he missed her, looking up at Ryder with big eyes full of sorrow.
“Sorry, boy. I miss her too. Couldn’t bear if we don’t find her.” They sat together watching the stars light up the night sky.
A vibration and the incessant ringing of a phone in her top pocket woke her. Loathe to move from the steps, she must have fallen asleep leaning against the railing. Half asleep, Ryder answered the call. Jake’s voice brought her out of the fuzz she was in. “Ryder, get to the hospital now. Ebony has been brought in.”
Ryder screamed, grabbed her keys, flew down the steps, and hurried to her truck. The trip to town was tortured with questions. Was she okay? Had anyone hurt her? Where had she been and what did they put her through? The horror of possibilities made her sick to the stomach.
When Ryder pulled into
