Disclaimer: The characters in this story don't belong to me, they are owned by Erle Stanley Gardner's pen. I don't receive any economic good for them. I only write for the pleasure of doing it.

Many thanks to the incredible to tengland2 for helping correct this story and for staying by my side helping me.

Thanks so much, to 52shar, crayones64, Milissak, Good girl, and other guests for their reviews.

All the errors are only mine.

Chapter Thirty Eight

Friday afternoon Mae returned to LA from Bolero Beach, to spend the holidays with family. She had returned to her own home a week before the girls returned to LA to straighten out things that had taken place while she had been in Boston. She had missed her baby the days she had been separated from her and was looking forward to Dee and the girls returning to Bolero Beach, in search of their own home.

Although there were still some details to be done with the final signing of the building the girls would set their office up in. Margaret and Della planned a final trip to the mall for what Margaret claimed would this be the last trip of the presents. Perry would also go to the grocery store later for everything what he needed to finish his prep for Christmas meals.

The being Saturday morning, there would be a great family breakfast. As always, Perry would be in charge of making breakfast including fat toast for his princess and had hoped to hide several pieces in the freezer for when Dee started teething. Smiling to himself, thinking that in a few more months his Miss Dee, would enjoy them. He could only hope would take a liking to her mother's favorite breakfast or his little one would inform him eventually what preferred

Lizzie and Andrea accompanied by Paul and Perry would be going to the realtor's office to meet with him and sign the papers for the office building. Both fathers had insisted on going to take a look at the building and the neighborhood first. Lizzie and Andrea knew it wasn't worth trying to stop them from checking.

The girls had suggested that Della, Margaret and Mae take Dee with them to the mall. Della was intent on having Dee's picture taken with Santa, as a surprise for Perry. Mae had wanted to do most of her shopping in LA, many more choices, someone else to do the wrapping and less to bring on the 45 minute trip from her home. Plus, this trip would be one of the last times of the two grandmothers would have time to enjoy with their baby, before the move. Margaret and Della both wanted to expand Dee's wardrobe, insuring that she would have clothes to grow into over the next several months.

Most important to Della, this trip gave her a chance to spend a bit more time with her precious little girl, who had stolen her heart as well as Perry's. In just over two weeks, Lizzie, Andrea and Dee would be leaving to start their next adventure, near the beach and the Mason/Drake household would be quiet. Granted the drive without much traffic was only 45 minutes, but would seem like an eternity to reach Dee, yet so much closer than Boston had been.

After arriving at the mall, they decided that they would first accompany Mae to help her finish her shopping. After completing Mae's shopping, they passed for several shops with children's clothes. Della y Margaret had seen and select several beautiful dresses and accessories for their little girl.

Mae couldn´t help but laugh to see her nieces selecting all those dresses butt if this little one was anything like her mother had been as a child, she would spend more time in jeans, shorts, nice tops and sneakers. Both Della and Margaret just smiled, because they knew very well that this was the truth, as both Lizzie and Andrea spent more time in jeans and blouses than dresses. Della remembered more than one occasion when she and Lizzie fought over her having to wear a dress, instead of nice slacks. Perry would smile at them both, realizing Lizzie had her mother's rebellious streak and he had learned to pick his battles with his princess.

It had been Tom who managed to get both girls into dresses on more than one occasion. He's best shot with Lizzie was the loss of her princess status, if she didn't wear a dress when necessary. But for a while longer Della and Margaret were in charge of what her baby. Before, Dee can protest and choose the jeans and sneakers. So they would choose outfits for spring and then summer, they would choose the perfect spring dresses and summer shorts.

Dee had captivated several employees within the stores, this smiling little girl who looked like her grandmother, had conquered the hearts of many people, as her grandmother did. Finally, their last stop before lunch was to have her picture taken with Santa. It was then Dee decided to pout and start a protest.

"That is one young lady that can't be fooled by a big guy and a lap. Seems she prefers the lawyer type in a rocking chair." Says Margaret, as she and Mae laugh.

Della struggled with Dee for a moment, then Santa started a gently rocking motion, whispering to the young lady. Dee quieted down, looking up at this man with a white beard, who smiled at her. She smiled tugging gently at his beard, long enough for several pictures to be taken.

After the adventure with Santa, Della, Margaret and Mae decided to go for a light lunch at one of the restaurants of the mall. When they finished and leave the restaurant, sat down near the elevators, before going to the garage level, to finally go home. None of them seemed to have noticed they had been watched and followed throughout the mall by several people. One in particular was a tall middle-aged man, wearing a cap and a hooded sweatshirt. He looked around for the other man, beckoning him to start following the women when they started moving again. Speaking through his microphone giving someone else directions.

"They sitting near the elevators and should be heading towards the parking lot. Make sure everything is ready, I don't want any errors." The man said.

As the women were about to enter the elevator, a man collided with Mae, causing her to drop the packages she was carrying. The collision had caused Dee to wiggle a bit more in grandmother's arms. Seeing the discomfort of Dee, Margaret told Della to go on to the car, she would help Mae. The man apologized, then disappeared among the people who had come off the elevator.

Mae watched Della and Dee as the elevator doors closed, a strange feeling of dread came all over her body. Something wasn't right, she could feel it, but for the moment the packages had to be gathered up with Margaret's help.

Dee was becoming more and fussier in Della's arms, tired of being carried. "Shh, my little one. Your grandma know, you're tired of being carried and would rather be in your stroller. Now we just need to find the car and wait for your other grandmothers to catch up with us." Pausing, she smiles at Dee kissing her forehead. "I'm sure your grandfather and mom will be waiting for you to come home. So your grandfather can try whatever flavor of step baby food he thinks you might like, before your bottle." Della thought briefly of Perry giving Dee, her bottle while rocking her in his new favorite chair.

While Della walking in search of her car, she felt that someone was watching her, she shrugged her shoulders as her mind came back to paying attention to her surroundings. When she turning glancing around, she saw her car and moved towards it. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her, holding Dee tightly to her chest, she quickened her step, until a tall and robust figured, stepped out in front of her. She hugged Dee closer to her chest. "What do you want? STAY AWAY FROM US", she shouts nervously hoping her shouting be heard by another someone else. She turns try to escape the person in front of her, but in her attempt, she collides with another man, who grabbed one of her arms. "Quiet lady, don't do anything stupid, it will only make your situation worse." Showing a weapon as Della was about to scream again.

Della getting nervous and starts stuttering, "ple... please don't hurt us, take my purse and whatever is in it. Please, not you see you're scaring my baby." Della begins to cry as she hugs Dee protectively against her chest.

"Lady, we don't want your purse or any of those frilly items you bought. What we want is you and that baby. We are sure both of you together are worth a lot of money to your family and the child to others in particular." Said the first man, who attempted to get baby from Della's arms. Dee let out a loud scared cry, as she was taking out from grandmother's arms.

"NOOOO, my baby, please, give back to my child." Della let out a shout of anguish, trying to reach for Dee to get her back. But she was held back by the man still holding a weapon on her. Dee kept crying, she was so scared without knowing what was going on, Della could see in her little girl's eyes the fear. Dee not being able to understand what was happening around it and not knowing who was that horrible man was holding her so abruptly.

"It is my understanding this beautiful little girl is worth to a lot of money or at least a small fortune. I understand there are several people who would be interested in paying for her safe return." Then an evil smile is drawn on the face of man.

Della try desperately to get released of the man's grip, she doesn't stop moving trying to break free. But the man, wrap his arm around her waist tightly, bringing her closer to him. Della feel the man's disgusting breath against her neck. "Ma'am, I bet your husband would be willing to pay any price, just to have you returned to him. But if he doesn't want to pay for you, I'm sure you and I could have a very good time together." Says the man, whispering in Della's ear.

Della moved her head from side to side trying to push the man away from her neck. Then she was beginning to feel sick, feeling like her stomach started to flutter and bile piling on her throat. Della could barely speak, "please lets us go or leave the baby in the car for her other grandmothers to find. Please, just take me, they don't need her. She's very small for her age and needs special care that she can get only at home." Della pleads, praying they would leave Dee behind in the car.

Della saw Dee's little arms reaching out for trying to reach her, while she was still desperately crying. Suddenly she felt a handkerchief covered her face, with a strong smell that emanated made her. She felt panic begin to flood her trying to resist, but her strength began to leave slowly, feeling that her body was relaxing little by little. The last thing Della heard before losing all her senses and entering a deep darkness, was Dee's heartbreaking cry in the distance.