The Steel Kiss (Lincoln Rhyme 12)

Henry pushed inside an instant later and they both scanned the small room. No one. The window was still locked. And the closet was empty.

"But..."

She handed the husband the knife and picked up and clutched her child.

Arnie and Carole were right behind them. Relief flooded their faces, seeing the baby girl.

"Is he here?" Carole asked in a tremulous voice, looking around.

But Arnie, the high-tech entrepreneur, was shaking his head, picking up the monitor near Trudy's crib. "No, he's not. He could be a hundred miles away. He hacked into the server." He set the device back onto the table.

"So he could hear us now?" Ginnie cried, shutting it off.

Arnie said, "That doesn't always cut the connection." He unplugged it and added, "People do it just to mess with you. Sometimes if there's a video monitor they do screenshots of the kids or videos and post them online."

"What kind of sick fuck'd do that?"

"I don't know what kind. I just know how many. A lot of them."

Arnie asked, "You want me to call the police?"

"I'll take care of that," Ginnie said. "Just leave, please."

Henry said, "Honey, really." Glancing at his friends.

"Now," she snapped.

"Sure. Really sorry," Carole said. She embraced Ginnie with what seemed to be true concern.

"And," Arnie offered, "don't worry about the wineglass."

After they were gone, Ginnie took the knife once more and, carrying still-snoozing Trudy, checked every room, Henry with her. Yes, all the windows were locked. There could have been no physical intrusion.

Back in their bedroom, Ginnie sat on the bed, wiped tears and fiercely cradled her daughter. She glanced up and saw her husband dial three numbers on his mobile.

"No." She half rose and took it from him. Hit disconnect.

"What're you doing?" he snapped.

She said, "It's going to ring in a minute. Nine one one'll call back. You tell them you hit it by mistake."

"The fuck would I do that for?"

"If I talk to them, a woman, they'll think it's a domestic and might send somebody anyway. You have to tell them it was a mistake."

"Are you crazy?" Henry raged. "We want them to send somebody. We got hacked. That asshole fucked up our evening."

"The police are not going to hear that we left our daughter alone to go drink some overpriced liquor with two idiots just because you want a new client. Do you really think that's a good idea, Henry?"

The phone rang. No caller ID number. She handed the unit to him. Glared into his eyes.

He sighed. And hit accept call. "Hello?" he answered pleasantly. "Oh, I'm really sorry. Nine one one is first on my speed dial, I hit it by mistake, calling my mother. She's number two... Yes, it's Henry Sutter..." He gave the address, apparently in response to another question. "I'm really sorry... Appreciate your following up like this, though. Good night."

Ginnie walked into Trudy's nursery and, one-handed, pulled the crib after her into the guest room. "I'll sleep here tonight."

"I think we should--"

She closed the door.