Then, he sat at Charlene’s desk and tugged on the center drawer, but it was locked. Kneeling, he looked inside the opening of her desk and smiled.There was a lone button affixed to the right pedestal.
As soon as he pushed it, the bookcase swung open. He strode over and peered into the hidden room. Not wanting to get ambushed, he turned on his phone’s flashlight and stepped inside. In a space no bigger than eight by eight, shelves of canned food and bottled water lined one wall. On a small mattress lay a rumpled blanket. In the corner, Charlene crouched like a child playing hide-n-seek.
“Your luck has run out, Charlene.”
“Evangeline, I found her. Send a—”
Shrieking, Charlene lunged for his weapon. He flung down his phone, grabbed her arm and twisted her around, shoving her face first against the wall and holding her there. She fought, but he pressed the barrel of his gun against her head. “Don’t you fucking move or I’ll splatter your brains all over this wall.”
“I thought you were dead,” she ground out.
“You’re going to wishyouwere when I’m finished with you.”
“Fuck you, Sinclair Develin.”
“Sin, are you okay?” Evangeline blurted through the comm.
He applied more pressure, ensuring she didn’t move. “Yeah. I’m in her office, top floor, north end.”
“We’re on our way,” Evangeline replied, breathing hard.
“How about I pay you off?” Charlene asked. “I’m wealthy…very wealthy. You help me get out of here and I’ll transfer a cool mil into your bank account.”
The temporary relief he’d felt at having found her was replaced with hatred. Gritting his teeth together, he stayed silent.
Her blathering continued. She promised him introductions to people he already knew. She added another million to sweeten the deal. “I’m one of the good guys. I help couples realize their dreams of having a family through adoption. I assist pregnant women find homes for their unwanted babies. I provide a valuable service. You and that bitch have ruined my life.”
“When you decided that profiting from the sale of babies was a good thing, you ruined your own life,” he bit out.
The faux bookcase opened wider, letting more light into the safe room. Evangeline stepped inside. “Charlene Caraway, you’re under arrest for human trafficking, and for the kidnapping of Hannah and Robert Caraway.” She brought Charlene out where Officer Springer cuffed her and read her her rights.
On his way out, Sin grabbed his phone. “She offered me two million to help her escape.”
“I heard everything,” Evangeline replied.
Charlene’s lip lifted into a snarl. “I have the best lawyers in D.C. and they’ll post my bond in a matter of hours. I’ll be home by dinner.” Her smugness sickened him.
The officers escorted her out.
Evangeline glanced around, her gaze resting on the Klimt print. “Charlene was a lot of things, but I never imagined she was the mastermind behind the biggest baby trafficking operation in recent history.” She ran a soft hand down his back. Her soothing touch eased his tight muscles.
“As someone who was adoptedtwice, I’m a big advocate for adoption. What she was doing disgusts me.”
Rising up on her tiptoes, she kissed him. “Thank you so, so much. You cleared my name, you found my sister and her baby, and you helped me solve the biggest case of my career. I am so indebted to you, it’s not even funny.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I did it because I love you.”
Her gaze softened and she kissed him again. “I’m pretty sure I’m the luckiest woman on the planet right about now.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
“For what?” she asked as they left Charlene’s office.
“For loving me exactly the way I am.”
“That’s easy. I think you’re perfect.”
That made him smile. “I’m about as far from perfect as humanly possible.”