Against All Odds Read online

  Anger burned in his gut, knowing the answer. Dave hadn’t taken Zoey to be a babysitter. She was gorgeous—always had been—and any man would be lucky to catch her eye. Alex had managed to do that twice, even after screwing everything up so bad for so long.

  Alex shook just thinking about what Dave could do to her while wielding a gun. Alex would rip off his head personally if he so much as laid a finger on her for any reason.

  He stared at the trees in the distance for a few more minutes to make up for looking at the screen so long. Then when he couldn’t wait a moment longer, he went back to the laptop.

  This time, instead of continuing to scroll through Dave’s feed, Alex opened a new tab and found Dave’s pervy son Mason’s profile. The kid also liked posting about places he’d visited. Not nearly as many as his dad, but plenty more than the average kid his age. Certainly far more than Alex had ever traveled.

  He appeared to have no mom. Either that, or she had no online presence for him to connect to. That was more likely. The kid also didn’t seem to have a girlfriend. Probably why he went after Ava. He couldn’t get anyone to go near him without force.

  Alex continued scrolling, quickly losing interest. Aside from his travel pictures, it was mostly all just normal, boring teenage boastings. The kind of things Alex himself had posted but had long since outgrown.

  After ten more minutes, his eyes grew heavy. He was about ready to close the tab when something caught his attention. It was a picture of father and son in the woods together, both decked out in full camouflage hunting gear.

  But that wasn't all. The woods, with the evergreens and mountains in the background, looked like they could be local.

  The police could use that picture to figure out where those two were. There might be a cabin nearby, or maybe they have pictures of a camper—or anyplace Dave may have taken Zoey and Ava.

  Alex could hardly breathe as he scrolled to find more pictures. There weren’t any—at least not publicly. What if he sent a request? Did most kids still accept anyone as friends just to boost their numbers and look popular?

  There was only one way to find out. He opened another tab and requested to connect with him. After there was no immediate acceptance, he went back to scrolling through the kid’s feed. More boring brag-fests.

  What about more pictures of hunting in the northwest? Alex’s scrolling finger was starting to ache, but now that he’d actually found something useful, he was more determined than ever.

  After another twenty minutes of scrolling—and nearly getting dizzy—Alex gave up. He walked around and drank an energy drink, stopping at his window to study the horizon. The mountains weren’t within sight, so he had no way of knowing if that was the direction they’d been.

  He checked again, but the request hadn’t been accepted. What next? More scrolling? His head and finger hurt just thinking about it.

  Instead, he tried calling Nick again. Then he texted him.

  I think I found something big. Call me.

  Alex went back to his laptop and downloaded the picture just to be safe. He wasn’t going to risk one of them realizing their mistake and deleting it.

  A little voice in his head told him to call the department, but after wasting their time with Flynn’s sketch, Alex wanted to make certain he had something before going back to them with anything. He couldn’t give them any reason to ignore what he had.

  Back to scrolling it was.

  Epiphany

  Nick popped a couple ibuprofen in his mouth and downed them with hot black coffee. He glanced around the quaint coffee shop.

  Everything was so normal. People were coming and going. Kids shrieked. Some friends laughed at something on a phone’s screen. A guy complained about his boss.

  The normalcy of everything was like a kick in the gut. There was nothing normal about life right now. Not with his daughter missing. Not with him unable to do anything about it.

  He was living a nightmare while everyone around him was going about business as usual. It felt like an assault to what Ava was going through. Not only that, but an assault on the pain so many others were dealing with in the aftermath of the shooting. Kids missing their principal, nurse, secretary, and other loved adults. Teachers missing their coworkers. Families missing loved ones they’d never see again. They were the ones to really pity. Nick at least stood a fighting chance at finding his little girl—though she’d likely glare at him and have some choice words for him thinking of her as his little girl.

  Nick smiled a little, thinking of her feistiness. Hopefully Ava was using her quick wit and internal strength to get herself away from Dave. If anyone could do it, it was her.

  His phone buzzed in his pocket. Again. It had been going off constantly. So many people wanted to express their condolences, but as much as he really did appreciate it, he didn’t want to talk to anyone about it. He only wanted to speak with anyone who had information that could help them find Ava. And so far, nobody knew anything helpful.

  Nick pulled out the phone and glanced at the list of missed calls. The only person he remotely wanted to talk to was Alex, but given that Zoey was missing, he probably only wanted to know if Nick had learned anything, which he hadn’t.

  He then scrolled through the list of texts. Mostly everyone expressing their pity. No surprise there. He was just about to turn off the phone’s screen when Alex’s last message caught his attention.

  He’d found something?

  Nick’s mind raced. He breathlessly called his friend back.

  “Finally!” Alex answered.

  “What did you find?” He held his breath as Alex explained the picture. “Text it to me, then let Garcia know.”

  “It would sound better coming from you.”

  “I’m off the case. You need to do this. Besides, you’re the one who found it.”

  Alex groaned. “They think I’m an idiot.”

  “They’re not going to ignore what could be solid evidence. If anyone does think poorly of you, this could change their minds.”

  “You think so?”

  “I’m sure of it. Don’t forget to send it to me. I want to see it.”

  “I thought you were off the case.”

  Nick took a deep breath. “Don’t start with me.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t trying to—never mind. I’ll send you the picture. Want me to let you know what they say?”

  “Yeah, let me know.” Nick ended the call, his mind racing worse than before. The headache medicine hadn’t yet kicked in, turning the dull pain into a thundering roar.

  A few seconds later, he got the picture. It was definitely Mason, and Nick would put money on the forest being local—or at the very least in the Pacific Northwest, maybe Oregon or Idaho. Possibly Alaska.

  Corrine might know something. She was staying pretty tight-lipped about Dave, but maybe a look of shock on her face would confirm Nick’s suspicions that she knew more than she was letting on.

  He finished the drink, dropped the empty cup in the garbage, and headed back for his Mustang.

  Parker and Hanna were out in the front yard, kicking a soccer ball back and forth. Neither appeared into it.

  “Daddy!” Hanna ran over and threw her arms around him as soon as he stepped onto the sidewalk. “Are you picking us up today?”

  Nick picked her up and kissed the top of her head. “I wish, sweetheart.” He carried her over to Parker and gave him a hug. Parker didn’t resist, even out in his yard where people could see. “I have to talk to your mom. Why don’t you two go over to Shelly’s?”

  The young mom next door often babysat the kids. Normally, Parker would grumble about being watched, but they both headed over to her house without fussing.

  While Nick appreciated the cooperativeness, he missed Parker’s arguing. He was clearly beaten down by everything—not just his sister’s disappearance but the shooting, and the fact that his mom’s ex was the perpetrator. All three kids would need counseling.

  Nick frowned, then watched a
s the neighbor welcomed them with hugs and brought them inside. He groaned as he ambled to the front door and knocked.

  Corrine opened the door and her expression soured. “Oh, it’s you again.”

  “Don’t pretend to be excited for my benefit.”

  She glared at him. “What do you want, Nick?”

  “I have just one more question.”

  “Can’t get enough of me, can you?” She moved aside, then closed the door behind them.

  Nick took his spot at the couch, but this time didn’t kick his feet up.

  “What do you want to know?” Corrine didn’t sit.

  “I need to show you something first.” He patted the cushion next to him.

  She eyed him with suspicion. “What?”

  “Come and see.”

  “I don’t have time for games. My daughter is missing!” She walked over to the window. “Where’d those kids go?”

  “I sent them over to Shelly’s so we could talk.”

  Corrine shot him an icy stare, then reluctantly sat next to him. “Hurry up.”

  Nick pulled out his phone and thought about what to say, but then figured he’d let the photo speak for itself. Without a word, he clicked it so that it took up the whole screen, then he handed it over.

  Her eyes widened and her face paled. She covered her mouth with her free hand.

  That confirmed it. She knew more than she was letting on.

  “What?” Nick demanded.

  Corrine looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

  He hadn’t expected that. “What?”

  She cleared her throat. “I just… I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about start with why you’re having such a strong reaction to the picture?” Nick leaned closer to her. He could smell her floral perfume. It was the same one she’d always worn.

  “I… it’s unnerving to see Dave after what he’s done. He just looks so normal.”

  Nick studied the man. His jaw was jutted and his expression was gruff. “Normal?”

  “Yeah.” Corrine studied at the photo of the two and swallowed.

  “He looks pretty serious. I thought you said he was a jokester.”

  Corrine narrowed her eyes. “I never said that. He has a sense of humor, that’s what I said.”

  Nick shrugged. “So, which is the normal Dave? Funny or intimidating?”

  “Both.” She turned her attention back to the image. A different expression came over her face. Nick couldn’t place it. Longing? Regret?

  “Do you miss him?”

  Corrine looked up at him. “What?”

  “Dave. Do you miss him?”

  “No. I was happy to leave him behind. He’s kind of… suffocating.”

  Nick scratched his chin. “You didn’t like someone giving you a lot of attention? I’d think you would since all I ever heard from you was that I never gave you enough.”

  “Did you come over here to pick on me while I’m already down?”

  Guilt stung him, despite everything she’d done to hurt him. “No, sorry.”

  “You are?” She sounded so shocked.

  Did she really see him as so cruel that he wouldn’t be sorry for hurting her?

  They stared at each other for a few moments until she glanced down at the picture and sighed. Nick followed her gaze to see if she was staring at the background or Dave. Her attention was fixated on his kid.

  Nick studied him. Then something struck him. Sent a wave of disgust straight to his core. Mason’s eyes were the same shape as Corrine’s. He had her cheekbones. They even had the same mouth shape.

  She looked up at him, and her eyes widened. “What?”

  “He’s your kid, isn’t he? That’s why you’ve been defending him.”

  Truth

  Nick’s entire body shook as he stared at his ex-wife. Their entire relationship had been a lie. All those years. Everything he’d given her, including himself.

  Now it made sense why it was never enough.

  He jumped up from the couch and clenched his fists, staring down at her. “Answer me!”

  She flinched, then nodded. “Yes.”

  Nick’s stomach lurched, threatening to release the coffee and ibuprofen. “Mason’s your kid?”

  Corrine nodded, now looking away.

  His mind spun, trying to make sense of it. How had she hidden a pregnancy from him? The kid had to have been conceived when they were together. At his age, that was the only thing that made sense.

  “How did you keep this from me?”

  “Nick, sit.”

  “No!”

  She took a deep breath. “You have to calm down if you want me to tell you anything.”

  “Calm down?” he shouted. “You expect me to calm down?”

  “I’m not going to tell you anything while you’re intimidating me.”

  “You think this is intimidation? Screw it, I’ll just take you to the station and you can explain why you kept information from them in such a big case! How about that? Obstruction of justice. Protecting a murderer.”

  “You’d do that to me?”

  “Why not? Your lies could have cost us finding Ava! Speaking of lies, does your firstborn know he sexually assaulted his sister?”

  “Stop saying that!”

  “At least now I know why you’ve been defending that little pervert. Now it all makes sense.”

  Corrine glared at him.

  “Tell me why you hid this from me,” Nick demanded.

  “After you sit.”

  “You don’t get to call the shots.”

  She took a deep breath. “I first met Dave at a club when I was visiting Chelsea in New York.”

  “Your college roommate?”

  Corrine nodded. “I was drunk, and you and I had just had a big fight. I didn’t mean to sleep with him, but I did. And I hated myself for it the next morning. I called you as soon as I calmed down, and we made up.”

  “What was the fight?”

  “I don’t know. It seemed like the end of the world at the time, but now I can’t even remember.”

  Nick bit his tongue. If he said what he felt like, he would regret it later. “Go on.”

  She squirmed in her seat. “Won’t you sit?”

  “No.” He started pacing. “What happened next?”

  Corrine picked at a nail. “I forgot about Dave and focused on you. On us. Then one day I realized I hadn’t had a period in a couple of months. I took the test, but already knew the results before I got them.”

  “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

  She stared at him, her face pale. “I was terrified of losing you. I thought about telling you it was yours, but there was no way it would work with the timeframe. Between my travels and your obsession with the academy, we’d gone too long. You’d know right away.”

  Nick drew in a deep breath. “That year when you went to take care of your sick grandma.”

  Her eyes shone. “It was an outright lie. Once I started showing, I made that up and stayed with Chelsea. I was going to stay with her until I could adopt the baby out. Then I ran into Dave at the movies. He put two and two together, then said he wanted to raise the baby with me. I refused, wanting to get back to you. He convinced me to let him keep the baby—promised he’d never ask for money or give up my identity unless I wanted to be involved. Since he was the dad, I figured that was for the best. At least the baby would know one parent.”

  Nick fell onto the couch, unable to stand any longer as he took in the story. “You gave up your kid?”

  She wiped her eyes. “So I could be with you. I never wanted to be apart from you. Our daily video chats weren’t enough for the short time I was away. I knew I couldn’t live without you. Once the baby was born, I didn’t even hold him. I didn’t want to become attached. So, Dave took him, then as soon as I could work out, I got myself back into shape and came back here.”

  He stared at her. “If you were so desperate to be with me, then why did you divor
ce me? I pleaded. You know I did, since you love to throw that fact in my face.”

  “I never got to see you! Your real wife is the force, and you know it. Spending time with our kids made me realize how much I was missing out on my other son’s life. Once I figured out that I couldn’t have you, not really, then I knew I needed to have all my kids together. As much as I wanted to believe you would change, I knew you wouldn’t. I had to leave and get to know my child.”

  Nick closed his eyes and leaned his head against the couch. Everything made sense. Any questions he had, now they were answered.

  There were so many things he wanted to ask her, but he had no energy. Questions like was it worth it? Did the kid know Ava’s his sister? Was that why Corrine was convinced he’d never touch Ava again?

  Then another question struck him—were Nick’s kids his?

  He sat upright and turned to her. “Are our kids mine?”

  Corrine’s eyes widened. “Yes! Of course. How could you ask that?”

  Nick glared at her.

  “You’re all I ever wanted, Nick! I gave up my baby to be with you! Yes, our kids are yours. Test their paternity. You’ll see.”

  He grabbed his phone from her and stared at the picture of Dave, trying to find any similarities between him and the kids. There were none with Ava and Hanna. But Parker…

  Parker had been born not long after he and Corrine had gone through the roughest patch of their marriage. They’d even separated for a short while.

  Nick glared at her. “You sure about that?”

  “Yes!”

  “Was Parker conceived during our separation?”

  Her mouth dropped.

  “Was he?”

  “Right before. I swear.”

  “Forgive me if I don’t believe you. Where did you go when we were separated? Back to Dave?”

  Corrine shook her head.

  “Or did he come here? Is that it? You two hooked up right under my nose?”

  “No!”

  “Maybe I will take you up on that paternity test.”

  She looked down at her lap. “You’ll find that I’m telling the truth.”