“Hello there,” Afton said, speaking softly to her. “A lot of very worried people have been looking for you for a long time. Your mommy and daddy miss you very much. Are you ready to go home?” Afton smiled faintly at Max. There was only one thing left to do.
“You want me to make the call?” Max asked. “Get Susan Darden on the line?” He held up his cell phone. “It’s working okay now.”
“I think I’d like to talk to her myself.”
Elizabeth Ann waved her little arms with enthusiasm. She’d been fussy earlier, but one of the EMTs had warmed a bottle for her and the feeding had settled her down. Now she seemed as content as any baby could be.
“But you dial the number,” Afton said.
Max heaved himself down onto the couch and dialed the number. When someone answered, he said, “Yeah. This is Montgomery. Everything turned out real good. That’s right, we recovered the kid.” He listened for another couple of moments, and then said, “Okay, I’ll hang on.” He gazed at Afton. “Officer Drury went to get her. Said she was upstairs, taking a nap.” He handed the phone to Afton.
Susan Darden came on the line a few seconds later. “Detective Tangler,” she cried. “You found Elizabeth Ann? You’ve really got her?”
“She’s right here in my arms,” Afton said.
“And you’re sure she’s okay?” Susan asked. “What if there’s something wrong with her?”
“The EMTs already checked her out and pronounced her as healthy as can be,” Afton said. “Now she’s wiggling around and gurgling like a happy baby. But you know what? I should probably let Elizabeth Ann tell you herself.” She held the phone down to the baby’s face. “Talk to your mama, sweetheart.”
“Elizabeth Ann!” Susan Darden’s excited cry burst across the phone lines.
Elizabeth Ann, whether flattered by all the attention, amused that Max had just tickled her tummy, or alerted by the sound of her mother’s voice, suddenly let out a hearty giggle.
“That’s her!” Susan cried. “I can hear her. That’s my baby. Oh, thank you, thank you!”
Afton jiggled her knee. “Go ahead, Elizabeth Ann. Talk to your mama all you want.”
Elizabeth Ann opened her mouth, promptly blew a bubble, and said, “Fweee!”
“My baby,” Susan crooned as Max took the phone from Afton’s hand so he could give Susan a timeline on when they’d be bringing her back.
“That’s a good girl,” Afton whispered to the little baby who snuggled in her arms. “You’re safe now. I promise you with all my heart that you’re forever safe.”
Afton lifted her eyes and stared out the side window. The headlights from five different vehicles cast bright beams that pierced the darkness. She saw a black body bag lying in the snow. Marjorie. She saw a figure lying in the back of the ambulance. Ronnie.
Afton smiled a thin, cool smile and cut her gaze away. She had more important things to worry about. Like her own kids.
She had to call Poppy and Tess the minute Max was off the phone. Had to tell them she was on her way home. Had to promise them that, as long as she was watching over them, they’d be forever safe and loved.