Found a note from Ronnie on my kitchen table. It said they'd come by hoping to catch me. Said they had run away together and were headed for Mexico. Said they'd let me know how to reach them when they got where they were going."
"I'm surprised they would pay you a visit. Weren't they afraid you'd try and talk them into returning home?"
"Truth is, Mr. Galloway, I told Ronnie if they ever needed my help, I was pleased to offer it."
Dendy had attacked so quickly no one saw it coming, least of all Davison. Dendy landed on Davison's back with all his weight behind him. Davison would have fallen forward, had not Galloway caught him and broken his fall. As it was, both men landed hard against the wall of the van that was lined with computer terminals, TV monitors, video recorders, and surveillance equipment. Sheriff Montez grabbed Dendy by the shirt collar and hauled him backward, slamming him into the opposite wall.
Galloway had instructed one of his subordinates to drag Dendy the hell out of there.
"No!" Dendy had had the wind knocked out of him and was gasping for breath, but he managed to rasp, "I want to hear what he has to say. Please."
Somewhat mollified, Galloway had relented. "There will be no more of that crap, Dendy. Do you understand me?"
Dendy was red-faced and furious, but he nodded.
"Yeah. I'll get even with this son of a bitch later. But I want to know what's going on."
Order restored, Galloway had asked Davison if he was all right. Davison had picked his cowboy hat off the floor and dusted it off on the leg of his jeans. "Never mind about me. I'm worried about those kids. The baby, too."
"Do you think Ronnie was coming to you for money?"
"Could be. Regardless of what Mr. Dendy here thinks, I didn't offer to help them run away. In fact, just the opposite.
My advice to them was that they should stand up to him." The two parents exchanged dirty looks. "Anyhow,"
Davison had continued, "I reckon they could've used some cash. Ronnie works after school at a driving range to earn spending money, but his salary wouldn't finance a move to Mexico. Since I missed him today, I guess he decided to do this."
He'd gestured toward the store, his expression remorseful.
"My boy's not a thief. His mother and stepfather have done a good job with him. He's a good boy. I reckon he was feeling desperate to take care of Sabra and the baby."
"He's taken care of her, all right. He's ruined her life."
Paying no attention to Dendy, Davison had asked Galloway,
"So what's the plan? Have you got a plan?"
Galloway had brought Ronnie Davison's father up to speed. Checking his wristwatch, he'd added, "Fifty-seven minutes ago, he gave us an hour to persuade Mr. Dendy to leave them alone. They want his word that he won't interfere in their lives, that he won't give away their baby.
That-"
"Give away the baby?" Davison had looked at Dendy with patent dismay. "You threatened to give away their baby?" His disdainful expression spoke volumes. Shaking his head sadly, he'd turned back to Galloway. "What can I do?"
"Understand, Mr. Davison, that Ronnie will face criminal charges."
"I reckon he knows that."
"But the sooner he releases those hostages and surrenders, the better off he's going to be. So far no one's been hurt. Not seriously anyway. I'd like to keep it that way, for Ronnie's sake, as well as the others."
"He won't be hurt?"
"You have my word on that."
"Tell me what to do."
That conversation had resulted in Cole Davison placing a call to the store just as the deadline expired.
"Dad!" Ronnie exclaimed. "Where're you calling from?"