Countdown. Heather Woodhaven

you’ll get any useful answers from him right now.”

      The sound of sirens rang through the window screens. “I hope that’s for us.”

      “Should be.” James didn’t take his eyes off the man underneath him. “I’d hoped they were still in the vicinity. They should’ve been hunting for this guy.”

      Her shoulders relaxed, the reality sinking in. James had the man subdued. The police were on their way. Once the man was gone, the danger would be over. Everything could go back to normal. “Thank you, James,” she whispered, straining past her aching throat.

      She stared at the kidnapper’s meaty hands, hands that had almost succeeded in taking her, hurting her. Was this all because she had stopped him from kidnapping the neighbor’s kids?

      No good deed goes unpunished. Her uncle used to say that often. Of course, he was a drug dealer, and the only good deed he’d ever done was not forcing Rachel into the family business. She’d often wondered if her uncle knew the quote came from the first female ambassador to Italy. If he did, she was sure he’d never have repeated it again. Her uncle didn’t believe women were worth much. None of the men in her family did.

      Two police cars parked in front of her house, and the officers rushed to her door. Rachel crossed the wooden floor and flung the door open. “He’s in here.”

      Two officers ran to where James sat. James jumped up from his post on the man’s back so the officers could take over. The same officer who’d collected her witness account stood just inside her doorway. “I can send for an ambulance.”

      “No,” Rachel replied. She placed a hand on her neck. “I’m okay, really.” Or at least she would be.

      * * *

      The police escorted the man in handcuffs out of the house. While the officer questioned Rachel about what had just happened, James stared out the window. His stomach churned, his neck ached...the beginnings of a tension headache. He’d called out to the boys and told them he had to help Rachel and would be right back as he’d run out the back door, but he’d already been away from his boys long enough.

      At least he had told them to play in his office behind the secret door just in case it was a ruse to separate him from the boys, but the fact remained he had never left them home alone before. Now, the first time he had—even just to run next door—was the same day someone had tried to take them away. If there were ever an award for Worst Parent...

      “I need to go,” he said.

      The officer stopped midsentence and looked out the window. “You live there?”

      James nodded.

      The officer’s lips flattened before he nodded. “Okay. I think we have what we need for now. You can go,” the officer said to James before he offered Rachel a smile. “I think we’ve got enough evidence to keep them locked up for a long time. Now that we’ve got both suspects, you can put your minds at ease.”

      James stiffened.

      Rachel’s eyes locked on him. She raised her eyebrows and gave a subtle nod. James knew that look. His mom always did that when she wanted him to do something, say something. Problem was, half the time he had no idea what she’d expected.

      A small sigh escaped Rachel. “Why would they target the boys and then me?” She looked at James, but the question seemed directed at the officer.

      The cop shrugged. “I wish I could tell you definitively. I don’t know about the driver, but this man shows the signs of a crystal meth addiction.”

      “I thought so,” Rachel muttered.

      How had she known the signs? He made a mental note to ask her, but he needed to call Derrick immediately before things escalated. He’d never got to finish his call when he’d seen the man creep through her living room. The officer and Rachel seemed satisfied with their theory, but it still didn’t make sense to him.

      Even if one of the kidnappers was addicted to drugs, why would they target his kids and then Rachel? For money? He didn’t make enough to warrant attention. There were plenty more affluent parents in the area, and a hairdresser—even a very good one like Rachel—wouldn’t make a ton, either.

      The officer nodded at both of them. “Have a nice night.”

      James and Rachel watched the last police cruiser leave the cul-de-sac. Rachel exhaled. One arm cradled her ribs.

      “Are you okay? Do you need an ambulance?”

      “No, I’ll be fine. Only a little bruised up. I didn’t feel like I could breathe fully with that man and then the cops stomping around my house.”

      She shivered and hugged herself, but there wasn’t any breeze. The air remained still. Surely she wasn’t cold?

      She looked down at his bare feet. James shrugged, self-conscious. “I didn’t take the time to put my shoes back on when I saw the man in your house.”

      Rachel stepped closer to him. “I can’t thank you enough for stopping him.”

      His heart beat a little faster. Should he tell her his suspicions? If they came after her once, what was to stop them again? He’d inadvertently put a mark on her. He shook his head. “Don’t thank me. I’m not sure you’re safe here.”

      Rachel frowned and looked around for some clue to his statement. “What do you mean I’m not safe? You heard the officer. They got him. They have both of them.”

      “You told the police he said, ‘Let’s see how much your boyfriend loves you.’”

      Her cheeks flushed. “I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said. “And, like the officer said, the guy had to be on drugs or something. Nothing he said made sense.”

      James raked a hand through his curls. She didn’t understand the implication. “I hugged you.” His voice gruff, he turned to her. “Back there. I hugged you...twice. We held hands.”

      “We were praying. I was trying to be supportive.” Her eyes widened as she held both palms up.

      “The kids hugged you,” he continued, “while the kidnapper watched. We drove back together. Until Sunday, we had been driving together twice a week.”

      “About that—”

      “I...I think he was referring to me,” James said, trying to get to the point. “I’m afraid I put a target on you.”

      Rachel’s breath hitched, but she said nothing. She took a small step back, as if replaying his words in her mind. She frowned, her mouth dropped slightly.

      “I’m sorry. I have to get back.” He took a step toward her. “Put a bag together with the essentials—clothes, money, whatever you might need to leave for a few days. Meet me at my house, and I’ll take you wherever you want. I just don’t think you should stay here alone. Please.”

      Rachel blinked. “I...I don’t understand. They caught him.”

      James blew out a breath. He spent all day talking in computer codes. His communication skills were rusty at best, and he hated it. “I’ve already left the boys alone long enough.” He put his hands on her shoulders, and heat radiated up his arm. He stepped back immediately. “Grab your stuff, and I’ll give you a ride to somewhere safe. I’ll explain on the way. I promise. And if you still think I’m crazy, I’ll pay for you to take a cab back here.”

      She raised an eyebrow. “Is it possible you might be overreacting? They’ve caught both men now. He was probably after me because I could identify him, because I messed up their plan.” She placed a hand on the back of her neck. Her eyes widened as she looked up at James. “He said, ‘If I can’t take the kids, it seems you’ll do.’” Her gaze stayed on him, but it seemed she was staring into the void. She blinked rapidly and recognition crossed over her features. “Someone is trying to find leverage on you?” She flung a hand to the door. “Why not tell