Nanny Witness. Hope White

familiar feeling of helplessness chilled her heart. She would not accept it. Even though she’d been unable to save Greta from their horrible parents, that didn’t mean she’d give up on baby Mia.

      Carly pulled out of the driveway and the deputy followed her onto the main road. She should find temporary lodging somewhere, perhaps at the Juniper Inn. They knew her there since Renee, the owner, was in Carly’s Bible study group.

      She’d get a room later. Right now even the most comfortable room would offer little solace since Mia was out there, frightened, being held captive by a stranger. The image of Mia’s red, crying face inspired Carly to follow her heart, even if it landed her in trouble.

      She drove a bit, a plan forming in her head. She pulled into the Juniper Inn parking lot and Deputy Schneider drove past, lights flashing.

      Waiting until he was out of sight, she left the parking lot and headed for Mountain Pass Drive. It was a long shot, but she didn’t know what else to do.

      Carly was desperate to save Mia.

      If she happened to find the minivan, or even show up at the scene when police found it, would they assume Carly was involved? Officially arrest her this time?

      Keep your distance, reason dictated.

      Help the child at any cost, her heart countered.

      With firm hands gripping the steering wheel, she stayed calm and pushed aside the fear that the kidnapper might hurt little Mia. Who could possibly look at her sweet face and want to do her harm?

      A few minutes later, as she approached Mountain Pass Drive, she hesitated at a four-way stop. She was about to press the accelerator when a car sailed through the intersection.

      “Yikes!” Carly cried out. Through her rearview, she spotted the vehicle that sped off.

      A minivan.

      White.

      “Unlikely.” Possible.

      Carly made a U-turn and followed the car on the off chance it was the kidnapper. Stranger things had happened. Where were the police? Maybe she was being silly, but it was worth a try.

      She wasn’t sure what she’d do once she caught up to the minivan. In the meantime, she decided to call the police and report its location. If the van happened to be the kidnapper’s vehicle, Carly would make sure it didn’t disappear, along with Mia.

      She pulled out her phone to call 9-1-1.

      In the distance, two police cars were blocking the road.

      The minivan took a sharp right turn and went off-road, heading directly into the forest.

      What was the driver thinking? There was no way out, nowhere to escape.

      It had to be the kidnapper.

      The minivan didn’t slow down.

      Neither did Carly.

      She made a sharp right turn and clung to the steering wheel, her little compact bobbing up and down on the uneven terrain. This would destroy her car for sure.

      She didn’t care.

      The minivan swerved left...

      And went nose first into a ravine.

      “Mia!” Carly cried.