His mother was dead. It hadnt occurred to Clare to ask about his immediate family. His parents. His siblings. Wouldnt that be one way to find out if he was related to the Ryans of the Delgado Ranch?
Whats your sisters name? And does she have any kids?
Joshs lips quirked up in something that resembled a smile. Her name is Maggie. Shes never been married and has never had babies. But she loves them. Her best friend is the next-door neighbor who has a youngster of her own and runs a day care out of her home. Maggie is over there a lot. Josh threw a glance back at Jimmy. Maggie is really going to enjoy having your son in the house.
She doesnt know were coming, does she? Are you sure its going to be okay to have us come barging in on her when her grandfather just died?
Itll be fine. Wait and see.
In a small office right off the lobby of the Abu Fujarah Embassy in Washington, Abdullah Ramzi al-Hamzah questioned the man he had hired to find his son. So your employees actually had my son within their reach in Houston but let his mother spirit him away? That is not the result Im paying a small fortune to achieve. How did it go wrong?
That we found them at all was no small feat, Excellency. The American woman apparently has confederates here in her homeland that are helping to keep your child hidden. But there is nowhere she can hide the child for long. I have hired new men, men more familiar with the country who are new-technology experts. We are watching anyone who has ever come in contact with her and we will find her. Its only a question of hours, perhaps a few days at most.
Ramzi fisted his hands but stuck them in his pockets. He was frustrated beyond belief. His child. His beloved son. Taken from his place of birth and from the bosom of his rightful family.
Clare. Ramzi never imagined such a beautiful and gracious woman would be capable of committing the treachery of stealing his only son. At the end of their marriage, she had ceased to mean anything in his life. A minor annoyance only. He had been prepared never to think of her again once she was banished from his country. Now, he could think of nothing else.
I will give you another forty-eight hours, he told his employee. Though I charge you to remember my instructions. I care nothing for what happens to the woman but my son is not to be put in danger. If baby Prince Bashshar is harmed in any way, I will hold you responsible.
In the meantime, Ramzi continued, our diplomats are in the midst of negotiations with the U.S. State Department. I want no possibility of that woman seeking the help of her government in order to keep my child from his home. The U.S. must learn that harboring her will cause a serious rift in our oil negotiations. Soon she will be a fugitive in her own country. Neither friends nor any allies will give her refuge legally.
Ramzi willed his temper back in place. He had to keep his mind focused on the goal. The return of his son. There would be time enough afterward to think of consequences.
Josh pulled the truck up in front of his grandfathers