The rest of the evening passed uneventfully, though the obvious emotional distance hung thick between Slade and Asia. He and Trey tried engaging her in conversation, eliciting only single-word replies from her. She hadn’t touched her food before excusing herself with claims of a headache.
Slade never should’ve told her about his feelings. Timing is everything, Pops would say, and Slade’s timing was notoriously bad. At least he’d thought to obtain her consent in showing Trey the video.
Once the men had moved to the living room, Slade prepared to dive into the footage.
“Did I see what I think I saw earlier?” Trey reclined in the La-Z-Boy and flipped on the television, then turned down the volume.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Slade snatched his laptop and cued the file. “Let’s deal with this video.”
“Whatever, bro.” Trey’s eyebrows knit together, and he leaned closer to the screen.
“You see the familiarity too?”
“Yeah, but man, I just can’t pinpoint who it is.”
“Would you do your computer-whiz thing and lighten the footage?”
“I’ll do my best. Is Oliver aware of this?” Resignation clung to Trey’s words.
Slade sat up straighter. “Not yet.” He provided Trey a rundown of Oliver’s update and the order to arrest Asia in the morning. “We’re running out of time, so if at all possible, it has to be done tonight.”
“On it.” Trey lifted his laptop and started clicking away at the keyboard.
Slade’s phone rang, startling him. “Turn down the TV—it’s Jonah.”
Trey sat beside him, and Slade positioned the cell between them then hit Speaker. “Hello, Jonah.”
“Identify yourself,” the male’s voice demanded.
“Slade Jackson.”
“Ah, the infamous Slade.”
“I beg your pardon?” Irritation eked up his neck.
“Zander forewarned you’d help Asia,” Jonah replied. “Is she with you?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
Who was this guy? Another of Zander’s loser drug connections? “Look, Zander might’ve given you the scoop on me, but he certainly didn’t give me the same courtesy. I’m not divulging anything over the phone to a perfect stranger. Who are you?”
The man chuckled. “Zander said you’d react that way. Good. I like a suspicious person. Means you’re as wary of me as I am of you. For now, you’ll have to be satisfied with my first name. Meet me tomorrow at 0800. Only you and Asia and bring the SD card.”
“Sorry, pal, but I’m not willing to go trotting off to meet some interloper. I want more information before I even consider bringing Asia. Let’s start with the card.”
“I’ll play straight with you if you do the same, but no info over the phone. And it’s my card. You cannot bring anyone else into this. Too many lives are at stake.”
“Yeah? Well, too many lives are at stake on this end too.”
Jonah sighed. “I won’t do this little tango all night. Tell you what. I’ll up the ante. I have something that’ll prove you need to meet me.”
“And what’s that?”
“Confirmation of Zander’s suspicions...and details about his murder.”
Slade sucked in a breath. “How do you—”
“Tomorrow, 0800. I’ll text the location in the morning.” Jonah hung up, leaving no room for argument.
Trey jumped to his feet. “He said 0800. He speaks in military time. Cop? Armed forces?”
“It’s conceivable. Guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Dude, this is insane. You can’t just dart to some covert meeting with this guy! Someone needs to know.”
Slade stood and slapped his brother’s back. “Someone does know.”
Trey shook his head. “No way. I don’t feel good about this. Either you tell Oliver, or I will.”
“Believe me, if I had any other solution, I’d take it. Jonah’s running the show, and there are some very not-nice people hunting for this video.”
“You’re aware of the potential fallout from all of this, right? Like our jobs. If not our lives.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve counted the cost. I totally understand if you choose not to get involved. We can pretend this discussion never happened.” Slade studied his brother’s expression. Had he put too much on Trey?
“I don’t know—”
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.” Slade stooped to pet Magnum. “Promise me one thing?”
“You’re already overdrawn on your brotherly favors at the moment.”
Slade grinned. “Charge me interest.”
Trey rolled his eyes and dropped onto the couch.
“Whatever happens to me, please take care of Asia. Oliver’s providing a list of reputable attorneys. Use up my bank accounts, sell my house, do what you need to, but make sure she has everything she needs. And if there’s no evidence to exonerate her...get her to Canada.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Trey hissed, bolting upright. “You cannot sacrifice your life and career for her. I care about Asia too, but this is crazy.”
Slade scrubbed a hand over his face.
Awareness registered in Trey’s expression, and he shook his head. “You still have feelings for her.”
Unable to look at his brother, Slade concentrated on the beige carpet.
“No. You cannot cross the line from professional to personal. If Oliver suspects you’ve gone one hundred percent partial, he’ll pass Asia over to Beardly.”
Slade didn’t answer. His confession to Asia had been interrupted, but she hadn’t resisted. Had he taken advantage of her weakened state? “Doesn’t matter.”
“Oh, it matters.”
“All I care about is Asia’s safety. Please promise me.”
Trey groaned and threw up his hands in a “whatever” gesture. “Family comes first. I’ve got your six.”
“I need to talk to Asia.” Slade crossed the room and stepped into the hallway. No light shone from beneath her closed bedroom door. She must be asleep.
Should he wake her or wait? The woman needed rest. They’d run nonstop since her release. Still...she’d demanded to be filled in on every detail.
Zander’s case had gone cold too early in the investigation, and unlike Asia, he wasn’t an innocent party. Yet he deserved justice too. Would Jonah reveal the identity of the other men in the video? And why had he called it his SD card? Regardless, Slade had a fail-safe copy.
He pressed his fingers against Asia’s bedroom door as the internal debate continued, then concluded he’d wake her early tomorrow and fill her in on the details. She needed rest. They all did. Tomorrow he’d face the biggest decision of his life.
Trey’s words resonated with him. Was he stupid to sacrifice everything for a woman who’d openly declared her dislike for him?
The endless hamster wheel of mind racing and eventful days left Asia exhausted. A twinge of guilt for contemplating escape battled with her longing to sleep. Time wasn’t on her side—not that it had been since the onset of this never-ending nightmare.
She tugged the pillow tighter under her chin and rolled over, staring at the ceiling. “God, I give up, okay? I’m waving my little white flag of defeat.”
If Slade heard her, he’d think she’d lost her mind. Or forty-eight hours of it that would cost her her life if she didn’t remember, and fast.
She lifted the small blue SD card, turning it over between her fingers. The craziness of the day’s adventures played like a comedy, from their ridiculous disguises to outrunning the shooters, finding the video and now waiting for the mysterious Jonah to return Slade’s call.
And around again she went on the hamster wheel as questions ravaged her mind. Why hadn’t Zander gone to the police with the evidence? Why sacrifice his life for something if it wasn’t enough to save him?
She held up the card. What did this video prove? Should she leave it for Slade? No, he’d made a copy on his laptop, and Trey would do whatever he did to enhance the images. She’d left them everything they needed. Surely her cooperation would be a mark in her favor, and perhaps they’d find something to clear her name.
Trey and Slade’s soft baritone discussion was too quiet to decipher, not that she’d tried. One devastating eavesdropping session today was plenty. Besides, what difference did it make? Slade planned to arrest her in the morning. She had no choice.
Asia glanced at the bedside clock. Midnight. When would those two call it a night?
Finally, their voices faded, and several seconds later the neighboring bedroom door shut. Was Trey still in the living room? He’d stay and keep watch. At least she hoped so. If Magnum barked, though, that would be her undoing.
Patience was essential. She’d get one shot at escaping, so blowing that on a hasty exit was foolish. Her eyes grew heavy, inviting sleep, so she pushed up off the bed and crept to the window. Her hand stilled on the drapes. With a long inhalation, she peeled back a corner and determined her getaway route. The large rectangular single-paned glass would be easy to climb out of.
She frowned, realizing her winter coat hung in the living room. Why hadn’t she thought to grab it earlier? Layering the hoodie over her sweater would have to suffice. Asia slipped the SD card into the whale’s hidden compartment, then dropped it into her hoodie pocket for safekeeping.
Asia hesitated. There’d be no turning back once she left the safety of this house. Was she making a mistake? Her hopes hung on this mysterious Jonah and the expectation he’d provide life-changing information. Slade promised to tell her as soon as the man called, but that hadn’t happened yet. Disappointment was a familiar friend. She wasn’t waiting around anymore. She’d try contacting Jonah again when she was on her own.
She twisted, glancing at the door.
What if Jonah provided no help? Slade’s words flitted through her mind. Kramer’s forcing his own idea of justice on us. Please allow me until tomorrow before I bring her in.
No question—he’d arrest her because his job came before anything else. Ever the rule follower, Slade wouldn’t go against Sergeant Oliver’s orders. His sudden change in withholding the card from Oliver meant he wanted credit for the find. Once Slade arrested her, he’d return to investigating the case while she did time for a murder she didn’t commit. Especially without the money for an attorney and no family or friends. She was alone.
Asia leaned her head against the cold glass, whispering her plea. “Lord, what right do I have to ask for Your help? But where else can I go? Please rescue me.”
She released the drapes, and they fluttered closed. Time to make her escape. Asia tugged on her shoes and glanced at the clock again. Five minutes to one.
One last peek at the door. What was the best way to leave the house without anyone hearing or seeing her?
She returned to the window, and her finger bounced in nervous anticipation. Finally, she unlocked the latch. After several tries, she managed to tug it upward, tossing caution out with her common sense.
The shoved-out screen landed with a soft thump in the yard.
Asia listened for any sounds. Nothing.
Reason battled with fear. Think. Where do I go from here? God, what do I do?
The visual of Slade’s heartfelt confession came to her, immediately squelched by the reminder that he and Zander had been best friends too. Look what happened there.
Slade saying he cared for her was nothing more than a selfish way of softening the blow when he arrested her in the morning. Just another infamous Sorry, I’ve got to do this excuse. She had to leave before he destroyed their relationship forever. She’d never forgive him for turning her in. This way, she’d chosen to be labeled a fugitive over a prisoner.
She’d return with evidence to clear her name. Nobody proved capable of protecting her from these psychopaths, especially in jail. She wasn’t safe anywhere. Any illusion of security had been quashed at the hospital.
She thought of the little cabin tucked in Long Pine’s forest where she’d grieved in seclusion after Zander’s murder, away from the judgmental citizens of small-town Newman Valley. She had stayed, at least until she had run out of money and supplies, prompting her return to real life and her job, which the salon thankfully had held.
It was doubtful they’d hold her position again if she were incarcerated. The retreat to Long Pine became more appealing. She couldn’t—no, she wouldn’t—wait for the proverbial other shoe to drop.
Resolve fueled Asia’s climb out of the window. She contemplated tugging the glass closed, then retracted her hand. What difference would that make? As if Slade wouldn’t realize how she’d escaped?
Trey’s vehicle sat in the driveway, but borrowing the dually wasn’t possible. Walking would take longer, but she’d hitch a ride once she reached the highway. Asia surveyed her options, choosing to move toward the backyard and into the connecting alley rather than walk down the street in case someone saw her. No fence surrounded the property, and small spaces of dead grass peeked up where snow had melted in sections of the yard.
Asia used the dry patches to hopscotch her way to the alley, pausing under the cover of the shadows beside a gardening shed. The similarity to her and Slade’s escape the night at the mobile home wasn’t lost on her, but there was no danger tonight. Not a sound came from the house, and the older neighborhood slept while adrenaline ravaged her veins in anticipation. A light flutter of snow flitted around her, feathering her eyelashes.
With a deep breath, Asia ignored the inner voice warning this wasn’t a good idea, and spun on her heel.
She collided with a force that jerked her backward. Something clamped hard over her mouth.
Asia twisted, screaming under the gloved hand.
A pinch to her neck dropped her legs out from under her. Every nerve ending went numb. Weightless, her body ignored gravity as strong arms hefted her into the air and carried her away.
Slade snagged his gun, bolted upright and threw his legs over the bed. He peered out the window, certain he’d heard something, but spotted nothing. He opted for a glass of water and strode into the darkened living room.
Magnum’s triangle ears were perked, and he emitted a low growl as he stood beside Trey at the front door.
“What’s going on?” Slade asked as Trey tugged open the door.
Magnum bolted outside with the two men trailing behind him. The dog rounded the house and hurried to the backyard.
They caught up with Magnum in the alley. The dog paced back and forth in the same area, nose to the ground. Trey ruffled the dog’s fur. “Something’s got him worked up.”
“Probably another cat.” Slade yawned.
“Maybe...” Trey said with a twinge of doubt in his tone.
Slade surveyed the slumbering neighborhood. No unusual activity, lights or sounds. Just the ordinary quiet of Meadow Hills. They were safe. No one knew about this house except him and Trey. He hadn’t even shared the location with Sergeant Oliver.
Yet Magnum’s response left Slade unconvinced, at least partially. The trio returned to the living room and turned the lock. Uneasiness still burdened Slade. “Find anything useful?”
Trey sat up, pulling the computer onto his lap. “Not yet, but I’m getting closer.”
“I need to talk to Asia.” Slade sat in the recliner. The weight of the day pressed down on him, draining every remnant of energy from his exhausted body.
“Thought you didn’t want to wake her?”
“I don’t, but I can’t sleep. She deserves to know. It’s her life.”
“I agree. She might be awake and staring at the ceiling,” Trey said, fingers gliding across the keyboard. “First thing in the morning, you need to notify Sergeant Oliver too. Jonah’s call is significant.”
“You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
“Nope.”
Slade considered Trey’s suggestion while walking to Asia’s bedroom. In the hallway, he scrubbed his hand over his face, took a fortifying breath and rapped lightly on the door three times.
Magnum barked and rushed to his side. Wound this tight, Slade would never get to sleep. If his knock hadn’t awakened her, the Belgian Malinois’s throaty greeting would do the trick. “Asia? Wake up. I’ve got news.”
No response.
Three more knocks.
One final thump and no reply had Slade opening the door. “Hey, sorry to intrude on you, but—”
An icy breeze and the waving curtains signaled him. He rushed to the open window and stuck his head outside. No. No. No.
He stormed to the hallway, heart thundering in his chest, and nearly bumped into Trey. “She’s gone.”
“What?” Trey pushed past him and entered the bedroom, Magnum at his side. “How’s that possible?”
Slade spun on his heel, snatched his gun and flashlight off the nightstand and bolted through the front door, circling the house. There weren’t footprints in the hardened snow, but the patchy areas provided viable places where she could’ve stepped.
Yet no sign of Asia. A chill ran up his spine that had little to do with the eerie calm of evening and the frosty breeze.
What had she been thinking? He jogged the perimeter, then out to the street.
Trey and Magnum worked the opposite side, making their way to him.
“She left voluntarily. The window was unlocked from the inside.” Slade’s anger spread throughout his body. “Why would she do something so stupid?”
“She’s on foot and won’t get far.”
“Let’s drive the neighborhood. I’ll update Oliver.” He lifted his cell phone.
Trey put a hand on his shoulder. “Wait. What if she got scared and took off? If we alert Oliver and he posts an APB on her, she’ll be marked a fugitive.”
His brother was right.
“No need to call the boss yet. We’ll find her and talk some sense into her,” Trey assured him.
Slade nodded and dropped the cell into his pocket.
“Magnum’s got something.” The dog tugged Trey back into the alley, nose scouring the ground.
Slade caught up to them and spotted the figurine Magnum alerted on. Slade stooped, dread flooding him, and picked up the wooden whale. Turning it over, he opened the small compartment and withdrew the SD card, then passed them to Trey.
“Maybe she was running, and it fell out of her pocket?” Trey frowned.
“It’s possible, but my gut says she didn’t leave voluntarily.”
The ground shifted beneath her, combined with a hum, reminding her of Slade’s hot rod Big Sally. The fogginess beckoned Asia, but she forced her eyes open and squinted against the glow of red next to her.
Brake lights. She’d been stuffed into the trunk of a car.
Her pulse increased, and she gagged on the sour fabric lodged in her mouth. Breathe. Breathe. She willed herself to calm down, focusing on the last events before her abduction. The getaway and pausing in the alley before the man grabbed her. Then a complete void. She’d never seen her kidnapper. Never had a chance to respond before he’d stabbed her with a needle, drugging her.
The weight of her body pressed her injured shoulder into the scratchy, sparse carpeting. Restraints on her wrists and ankles rubbed the tender wounds from the night before.
She focused on escape possibilities, keeping her mind busy to reduce her fear. Every car made after 2001 was required to have a trunk release. She knew that because she’d used it as a topic for a paper in college. All she had to do was pull the lever and escape.
Asia studied her surroundings. The car was old, and with the dim light, she struggled to find the latch. And her hands were bound behind her back.
The vehicle slowed and Asia rolled forward. The driver accelerated and turned, sending her crashing into the hard plastic wall.
She blinked against the stinging in her nose.
The vehicle stopped.
Terror squeezed her chest, stealing her breath. Her pulse beat heavy in her ears. She wriggled, but there wasn’t enough room to kick her feet free.
A door slammed. He was coming for her. Whoever he was.
Steps drew closer. Asia tried to swallow the fear, succeeding only in gagging again.
Who had her? What was going to happen? Why had she been so stupid? Slade would never find her.
This was it, her inevitable demise. She would die tonight.
I’m sorry, Lord, for everything. She’d walked away from God. Not completely, but enough that she’d hardened her heart, unwilling to trust Him again. Blaming Him for her choices and every bad thing in her life. Each disappointment added a brick to her wall, holding God at a distance. She’d convinced herself He wasn’t trustworthy, relying only on herself. And where had that gotten her? Here. Residing in wounded isolation because she feared enduring hurt again. I can’t be alone anymore. Lord, I don’t deserve Your forgiveness, but I’m asking. A tear trickled down her cheek. Help me face my death with courage.
The footsteps stopped outside the trunk. An endless series of seconds ticked by.
Finally, the lid opened with a painful screech, illuminating a yellow light above her.
Asia blinked, absorbing the sight of the gorilla-masked man. He hovered, gun aimed at her.
“Ah, you’re awake. He’ll be glad to see that.”
He? Asia tried to swallow, choking again on the gag.
“This was avoidable. All you had to do was give me the card at the hospital. I would’ve protected you from him. Now you’ll face his wrath and likely die. Unless you cooperate. Then you might survive.”
She blinked, focused on his eyes. Dark brown, shadowed by the mask.
“I’m going to lift you. If you don’t fight me, I’ll set you down nice and gentle. Make me mad and I’ll drop you on your empty head. Got it?”
Asia nodded, her ear rubbing against the carpet.
True to his word, he reached in and grabbed her arm, hoisting her out of the vehicle.
She winced at the harsh treatment but remained compliant.
He set her gently upright on the snow-covered dirt road. The moon hung low in the sky, providing ample light, but the area was unfamiliar. Fear compressed the air from her chest like a boa constrictor was wrapped around it. She had no hope of rescue.
Asia squeezed her eyes shut. Lord, I’m trying to be brave but I’m terrified. Why didn’t I tell Slade I was leaving?
“You’re wise to follow instructions,” he commended.
As if she had any choice. Worry swarmed her, and not unwarranted. She’d made a huge mistake. It would appear making the wrong decision had become her natural talent.
Asia fought her anxiety by working to memorize every detail of her location. If she managed to escape, she’d have to find her way back to civilization. Focus.
Anxiety morphed into confusion, increasing to full-blown fear as he turned her toward an aged two-story farmhouse. Only the howling wind blew through the trees. No lights of neighboring homes glowed in the distance. There was no one to run to for help.
Asia shivered. Why did her captor remain disguised? Who was the other man he referred to? He’d keep her alive until he got what he wanted. You don’t negotiate with a dead person. She’d barter with him, convince him to take her back and promise to surrender the card. He didn’t know the whale was in her pocket.
Focus before your minuscule courage completely flees. She studied the home. Light glowed from the kitchen window, beckoning her forward.
“Walk or I’ll drag you by your hair.” He pressed the gun into the small of her back.
Was the man inept? How was she supposed to move with her ankle restraints? He must’ve sensed her hesitation because he ripped off the tape, taking the rag with it.
Asia coughed, inhaling the frigid air. “Why are you doing this?”
“Don’t play stupid. I’ll remove the tape on your ankles. Try to run away and I’ll shoot you.”
“Okay,” she choked out.
He seemed to consider her before placing the gun in his waistband. He removed a switchblade from his pocket and flicked it open, pausing, she guessed, to increase the terrifying effect. Finally, he knelt and sliced through the tape, freeing her to walk. He withdrew the weapon and poked her in the back. “Let’s go.”
She shuffled forward, studying the aged property in serious need of TLC. Her father called homes like this shotgun houses. Shoot through one end, and it went out through the other. She climbed the decrepit porch steps, wood creaking beneath her feet.
Her captor tugged open the windowed door, releasing a wave of musty air. The hazy glow from the back of the living area welcomed them.
“Move.” He shoved her from behind.
She stumbled into the kitchen, catching a glimpse of a butcher block with knives on the counter to the right. If only she could manage to free her hands, or at least get him to move them in front of her, she’d grab one.
“Sit down.” Her captor pulled out a chair at the table.
Asia dropped onto the seat and glared at him. Her head continued to throb, along with her shoulder in pulsating beats. “What did you inject me with?”
“Something to keep you compliant.”
“Scopolamine?” A fresh surge of fear smothered her with terrifying scenarios.
“Aren’t you the little pharmacist? No, that’s not my style.”
“Have you been sent to kill me?”
He snorted and leaned against the wall. “Killing you would defeat the purpose of getting the card, now wouldn’t it? Are you figuring out Zander had a lot of enemies? I’m not the only one who’s coming for you. It would be best to work with me.”
“If I tell you, will you let me go?”
He shrugged, and the action looked almost comical with his gorilla-masked face. “If the boss comes down here, you’re dead for sure. With me, you’ve got a chance of surviving.”
“Why?” Stupid question, but whatever kept him talking.
“Because you can’t identify me.”
The man was a liar. She was dead. Alarm gripped her heart.
“I’ve researched you, Mrs. Stratton. Widowed. No family. Best I can find, no real friends either. Would anyone notice if you were gone?”
Hurt tightened Asia’s stomach at the hateful yet accurate assumption.
“So why not tell me? Who would it affect? No one cares about you. Make this easy on yourself.”
“Slade does,” Asia uttered.
“Ah yes, Mr. Walking Policy-and-Procedure Manual. Kudos to his creativity though. We thought you’d be thrown into prison by now.”
Asia lifted her chin. “He’ll find me.”
“Really? And how will he do that? Is he aware you slipped out of your bedroom and tried to run away? You did make that too easy for me, by the way. Thanks.” The trilling of a phone broke their standoff. The man jerked, apparently startled. “Not a sound or I’ll silence you for good.”
He wouldn’t, at least not until she told him where to find the card. He’d have to remove the mask to answer. When he did, she’d tackle him. And how will you pull that off with your bound hands?
Her captor crossed the room and moved behind her, placing the gun to her head, conveniently against the stitches. “Move an inch and I’ll shoot you without question.”
She winced but remained motionless.
He paused, then said, “Yeah.”
Asia strained to hear the caller’s voice. The gorilla-masked man pressed the barrel harder against her healing wound. What did it matter? Even if she gave him the card, this goon had no inkling Slade had a copy.
She dropped her gaze to her hoodie. She didn’t feel the weight, but the figurine was little. Was the whale still in there? Shifting slightly, she crossed her legs, bumping the hoodie pocket. Empty. She’d lost it! Hope exploded. Slade would find it and realize she’d been kidnapped. Until he saw the opened window. Then what? Please, God, lead him to me and give me wisdom.
“Yep. Perfect,” the man said, still engaged in the phone conversation.
If she remained here, she was dead for sure. Slade wouldn’t discover this remote farm. She had to get back to civilization, get someone’s attention and escape.
Mask in place, the man moved around her, hovering. “So where is it?”
Maybe there was a way to bluff her way out of this mess. “Seems you and I were both placed in the middle of a tug-of-war over this card.”
He stepped to the side, crossing his arms.
What she’d give to see his face. Was she getting through? Asia continued, “I’d be willing to bargain with you.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Why not? I want to live. I never chose the responsibility of keeping that stupid card. Didn’t even know it existed until I was framed for Quenten’s murder. I want nothing more than to be rid of that albatross. But I need something in return.”
“Too bad.” He shook his head.
She pressed on. “Just think, if I gave you the card, and you agreed to let me go, you’d make your own demands. I haven’t seen your face, have no way of identifying you.”
“I don’t know...”
Asia shrugged, confidence building. “Or kill me and you get nothing.”
“How do I know you wouldn’t tell the police?”
She snorted. “You mean the police who believe I killed Quenten? They’re not going to help me, so why would I do that? Besides, if you have the card, I don’t have anything of value for your boss, right?”
He tilted his head, and Asia had to keep from grinning at the silliness of his posture with the gorilla mask. He didn’t ask about the video. Did he know what the card contained? Would his boss reveal those details? Or was this hired kidnapper nothing more than brawn?
“I’ll take you to where the card is, you can drop me off on the side of the road and we both get what we want.”
He lifted his phone.
No. He’d call his boss and she’d never escape. “Demand enough money to leave the country. Go somewhere tropical.”
He jerked up his head. “Okay, Mrs. Stratton, I’ll take you up on your offer. But if you’re lying or trying to trick me, not only will you die, but so will Slade and his brother Trey.”