Howard didn’t have Joshua. He’d been right about the guy. He really did love Rhoda too much to take the child away from her, or maybe she wouldn’t let him. Joe craved a glimpse of his son, but he was glad that he didn’t have to worry about making sure his child was all right while trying to take Howard down. Whatever Howard’s reason, his plan all along had been to overpower Marcie, then take the money and run. Rhoda was probably waiting with Joshua for Howard to pick them up. The three of them would be out of the state and headed for parts unknown hours before Marcie could find help on this bayou road. But Howard hadn’t counted on Joe being there. And Joe was counting on that. He intended for this day to end with Howard and Rhoda in custody for kidnapping, and his son back in his wife’s arms. “Oh,” Marcie said, pressing her hand to her throat. “I feel faint. I’d almost given up ever seeing him again.
