He jogged to his SUV and headed out of town, letting the miles flow under his vehicle. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, and Reid hoped for a sunny day to brighten everyone’s moods. Not that mere sunshine would brighten Megan’s day. He pictured her sitting beside Ella and holding her hand as he’d done. Terror gripping her heart, with maybe a little room left for hurt from his betrayal.
What kind of man was he to leave her like that? He’d been so judgmental of Ella’s father for bailing on her. Now here he was, doing the same thing. Disgust for his behavior settled like a lump in the pit of his stomach.
He pulled into a gas station and laid his head on the steering wheel.
I don’t want to run. I don’t want to be that kind of man. I want to be there for Megan, for Ella, but I can’t do it alone. I need Your strength to do this.
He sat there, time ticking by until God’s presence surrounded him.
If only Reid knew if Ella was going to live, but God didn’t work that way, revealing the future. He prepared people to handle everything they would face, however.
Reid needed to use his grief and pain from losing Diane to help Megan survive this situation. Whether Ella lived or not, Megan needed him. God needed him. To be with Megan.
My purpose is clear now.Thank You. Now give me the strength to do Your will and let Megan accept my help.
He lifted his head, feeling as if he could do anything. Eager to get back to Megan, he shifted into drive and pointed his vehicle toward the road for the return trip.
His phone rang. He glanced at caller ID. Russ.
“What’s up, bro?” Reid asked.
“Fowler’s been dead for three days and he didn’t die from hypothermia. Was strangled.”
“What?” Reid blinked rapidly as he processed the news. “Three days? Strangled? Impossible. He’s been communicating with Megan during that time.”
“Or someone else was pretending to be Fowler.”
“Someone else.” Reid thought about it. “Then Megan could still be in danger.”
“That’s why I called.”
“Megan’s alone at the hospital, and I’m thirty minutes out. Can you get someone there sooner?” The panic in his own voice nearly had him losing his breath again.
“I’ll do my best with the chief, but with the snow, there’s bound to be countless accidents in town tying up officers. I wouldn’t count on it.”
“Then what? What do I do?” Reid could hardly keep it together.
“What about Jack?”
“I’ll give him a call.” Reid ended the call and dialed his friend. “Fowler’s been dead three days. Couldn’t be the one stalking Megan. She’s alone at the hospital, and I’m thirty minutes out. Can you get there sooner?”
“I’m on my way, but I’m on the other side of town.”
“Just hurry.” Reid whipped out of the lot and onto the street. He cut off a car, their brakes screeching to a stop, the car nearly taking Reid out. He needed to calm down. He wouldn’t do Megan any good if he was hurt in a car accident.
At a stoplight, he thumbed through his cell to Megan’s number. It rang.
“C’mon, Megan. Pick up.” Voicemail. He left a message warning her about another man impersonating Fowler, then dialed hospital security.
“Security. Ingerman speaking.”
“This is Reid Maddox,” Reid said. “Ella Cash is in the PICU. We think someone may attempt to hurt or abduct her or her mother. I need you to get up there right now. Call me the minute you locate them.”
The light turned green, and Reid floored his gas pedal. The tires slipped on the wet street, and he eased off. He maneuvered through traffic nearly at a crawl.
Why had he left Megan? And why now, in rush-hour traffic when snow clogged the limited traffic and brought it to a near standstill?
He honked his horn at a slow-moving car and swerved into the next lane. The driver gave him a dirty look, but he didn’t care. He whipped in front of him and floored it again. But soon thick traffic completely blocked his way.