CHAPTER22
Nick was just puttingthe finishing touches of paint on the arts and crafts room at the church when Mary came running toward him.
“Nick. I heard from Gillian.”
“What?” Nick set down his brush and descended the ladder. He took the phone she handed him.
“What should I do? Should I call her back?” she asked.
Nick quickly read the message.Mom. In SB CA. With Paul. Help!
“No. I don’t think so. Do you know the number? Is it Paul’s?”
Mary shook her head. “No. I’ve never seen it.”
“Let’s call Agent Morris. See what he says.” He took out his phone and dialed Agent Morris.
“What is SB CA?” she asked as the phone rang.
Nick shrugged. “California?”
“Agent Morris,” the agent answered.
“We heard from Gillian,” Nick told him and read him the message.
“Okay, send it to me. Gillian had mentioned Paul had been planning to move them to California before he was arrested. He must have followed through on those plans.”
“Do you know where in California?” Nick asked.
“Santa Barbara. This is a good lead. We’ll find her.”
“I’m coming with you,” Nick said, looking at Mary.
“You know I can’t allow that.”
Nick always regretted not going after Gillian the first time she left with Paul; there was no way he wasn’t going after her now. “What I know is you can’t stop me.”
“Send me the text. I’ll see if I can discover the location of the phone it was sent from.”
“All right.” Relief filled Nick’s heart. They were going to find her. “Call me as soon as you know anything.” He hung up the phone, forwarded the text, then gave Mary a hug. “He’s going to find her.”
“Oh, God, I hope so.”
“Have faith.” He smiled. “I need to find my dad and tell him what’s happening, then I’m catching a flight to Santa Barbara. Do you have a picture of Gillian and Paul?”
“Of course.”
“Good, send it to me, and if Agent Morris calls you back, call me and let me know what he says.”
“I will.”
He turned to go.
“Nick, be safe and bring back my baby.”
He thought of Bailey and everything he’d do to protect her. “I will. I promise.”
On the flight to Santa Barbara, Nick read everything he could find on the city. He studied the maps, discovered where the tourist district was, the historic areas, and where the wealthy people lived. Unfortunately, Santa Barbara was home to a lot of wealthy people.