In under an hour, Evan called back with instructions. Brody and the others had put contingencies into place, calling in favors throughout the surrounding counties, making sure all their bases were covered, regardless of where Evan wanted to do the exchange. He still couldn’t believe his dad offered himself in exchange for Jamie. Not that he was surprised by his dad’s act, but that he’d beat him to the punch. All along, he’d intended to offer himself in exchange for sweet little Jamie, knowing Evan held a grudge against him for being part of his arrest.
Evan made sure the meet-up took place outside of Shiloh Springs County, so Rafe’s jurisdiction was limited—or so he thought. Idiot didn’t realize the Boudreaus had friends in almost every branch of law enforcement, and didn’t mind calling in markers owed. Now the State Highway Patrol, Texas Rangers, FBI, and a host of local jurisdictions were all on the lookout for the stolen car, Evan, and Jamie.
Evan’s demands were simple. Douglas was to come alone, with his laptop, and the cell phone. Demanded he drive toward Williamson County, get on Interstate 45, and head north toward Dallas. Then he’d text further instructions.
Traffic was light, since it was late on a Sunday, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t still spots of congestion. This was Texas; there was always construction on their highways and interstates. Rafe and Brody followed their dad’s truck, staying at least thirty yards behind, but close enough they could spot trouble. They’d been on I-45 for about fifteen minutes or so when Douglas’ truck slowed perceptibly. His blinker indicated he was taking the next exit. They were still inside Williamson County.
Brody’s hands tightened on the wheel, while Rafe called his contact with the Williamson’s Sheriff’s Department, relaying the exit number. His heartbeat kicked up a notch, and he kept his eyes glued to his dad’s taillights. He drove within the posted speed limits, though he doubted anybody would pull him over. Every available cop was watching, monitoring the situation, but keeping a respectful distance. Nobody wanted things to go south, not with a child involved.
The blinker on his dad’s truck clicked on, indicating a left turn, and Brody eased into the left lane. A quick glance at Rafe showed his brother’s whole body tensed for action, ready to spring at a moment’s notice. This was happening—soon. He could feel it in his gut, that feeling of everything slowing down around him, coming into sharp focus. It was the same feeling he got when he was fighting a fire. He knew every movement, every nuance of what the flames would do, and he was prepared and ready to fight it, tame it, control it. And he’d do the same here with Evan.
“Be ready,” he said, tightening his grip on the wheel.
“I’ve got this. Don’t go off half-cocked. We have to stay outta sight, or Stewart’s gonna try to run. I wouldn’t put it past him to use Jamie as a human shield.”
His father’s truck made a right turn into a Braum’s parking lot, and Rafe pointed toward the stolen car, and then toward the inside of the ice cream store. Stewart sat at one of the little tables with Jamie, a cup of ice cream sitting in front of her. He continued through the parking lot toward a sandwich shop a couple of storefronts over, and parked in front of it. Douglas climbed out of his car, and headed inside, straight for Evan’s table.
“Here we go.” Rafe laid his cell phone on his lap. Douglas had the cell phone Evan gave him in his hand, but his personal cell was in his jacket pocket, already on speaker. Their end was muted, so Evan wouldn’t accidentally hear anything from their end, but they’d be able to hear every word. Antonio had wanted to wire Douglas, but everyone agreed Evan might ask Douglas to prove he wasn’t wearing a wire. This was their next best option on such short notice.
“Hey, Jamie.” Douglas squatted down beside her, ruffling his hand through her hair, and Brody felt a clenching sensation in the middle of his chest. He adored that little girl. If anything happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.
“Mr. Douglas!” Jamie wrapped her arms around Douglas’ neck. “Did you come to take me home? I wanna see Mommy.”
“You’re gonna be going home in a minute, sweet pea. I need to talk to your daddy for a few minutes, okay?” He pointed to a table beside the one where Evan and Douglas were sitting. “It’s grown-up talk, so we’re going to sit right over here. You eat your ice cream.”
“We can stay right here,” Evan started saying, but Douglas cut him off.
“She doesn’t need to hear this. She’ll be fine, right where she is. You’ll be watching her the entire time. Not like I’m going to try to pull anything. Not while you’re holding all the cards.”
“Fine. Where’s your laptop?” Evan scowled clear enough Brody could see it through the plate glass window. “You need to wire the money into my account.”
“Not until Jamie is safe and away from all this. That was the deal.”
“Deals change. You wire the money first.”
“Not gonna happen, Stewart. You want the million, Jamie goes free.”
Evan’s eyes widened and he looked around frantically. “I told you to come alone!”
“Calm down. I didn’t bring anybody. I followed your instructions to the letter. I can call my son, and he’ll come pick Jamie up and leave. Then you’ll get your money. Plus, I’ll add in a bonus. I’ve got a private plane on speed dial. It’s already fueled and waiting. Twenty minutes away from here, with a pilot standing by. He’ll fly you anywhere you want to go, no strings attached. Think about it, Stewart. Your only problem will be deciding where you want to spend your million dollars.”
Brody choked on the breath he’d been holding. What game was his father playing? They didn’t have a plane, much less one on standby. He looked at Rafe, who shrugged. Guess he was clueless, too.
“Which one?” Evan’s voice came through the phone, drawing them back to the situation unfolding inside the ice cream shop.
“Which one what?”
“Which son are you going to call?”
“Does it matter?” Douglas’ voice sounded so nonchalant, you’d never know the man was in the middle of a hostage situation involving a four-year-old little girl. His dad really had nerves of steel.
“Can’t be that lousy sheriff. He’d try to pull a fast one, and take me in. I’m not going back to jail.” Evan paused for a moment and then laughed, the sound sending a chill up Brody’s spine. “Make it Brody. I heard he’s been sniffing around my wife. Maybe we should have a little chat before I leave the country. Besides, I owe him for pulling a shotgun on me.”
Douglas held up the cell phone not currently in use, wiggling it in front of Evan. “I’m going to call him now. I’ll put it on speaker so you can hear the whole thing, and know this isn’t a set-up. I simply want Jamie safe and returned to her mother.”
“Call him, but no funny business, or me and the brat will be gone, and you’ll never find us, I swear.”
The phone rang, and Brody answered on the first ring. “Dad, what’s happening? Did you find Stewart? Is Jamie okay?”
“Everything’s fine. I’m with them now. Jamie’s eating ice cream, and Stewart and I have come to an understanding. How far are you from Williamson County?”
“Roughly fifteen, maybe twenty minutes.”
“Head up the interstate north. I’ll text you directions. Follow them exactly.”
“Tell him not to bring anybody with him, or we’re outta here.”
“I know what to do. Dad, be careful, I don’t trust Stewart.”
He heard Stewart’s bark of laughter. “Like I trust you, either.”
Brody ignored the other man’s taunt. “I’ll be there as fast as I can, Dad.”
He disconnected the line, turning to Rafe. “Alright, here’s what I think we should do.” Ignoring his brother’s smirk, he continued, “You head to the back door, and see if you can get in the employee loading area. That way, you’re inside in case things turn ugly. I’ll pull around the building and come in from the street side, so Stewart doesn’t know we’re already here. Once I’ve got Jamie clear of the building, you and Dad take Stewart down.”
He watched Rafe’s face as he mulled over the plan. “I think it’ll work. Drop me off around back, and make sure I get inside before you pull off.”
Brody started the car and drove around the small row of shops, and pulled to a stop behind the Braum’s. Before getting out of the car, Rafe unbuckled his ankle holster and handed it to Brody. “Just in case.”
Brody silently eyed the gun before reluctantly taking it. “I don’t want to use this.”
“I know, but I don’t trust Stewart not to try and pull a fast one. Once you have Jamie, take her to Beth.” He knew Beth was spitting mad, because he’d refused to let her come with them. Arrangements had been made for her to be with Antonio. They were only a couple of blocks away, close enough to get Jamie to her within minutes, but far enough away she was out of the line of fire. Even though her anger had raked gouges in his soul, he’d refused to back down. There was nothing and nobody putting the woman he loved in danger.
“Everybody in place? You all heard the plan.” Rafe spoke into the radio inside the unmarked car.
A string of affirmatives responded to his call. Everything was set. Rafe slid from the car and quickstepped to the rear door, knocking twice. It seemed like an eternity before a guy, little more than a kid really, answered. His eyes widened as big as saucers at whatever Rafe told him, but he opened the door and Brody watched Rafe ease inside, shooting him a thumb’s up before disappearing.
The waiting seemed interminable; each minute of the clock seemed endless. He buckled the ankle holster in place, praying he wouldn’t have to use Rafe’s spare weapon. Once fifteen minutes passed, Brody pulled onto the street and then made a U-turn before heading into the parking lot, making it appear he’d come from the main road. He parked directly in front of the store, and stepped from the car, his hands spread at his side, so Stewart could see he wasn’t holding anything.
The scent of grilled burgers and greasy fries hit him when he pulled the door open, his eyes darting back and forth between Stewart and his father. He hadn’t taken more than two steps inside, when he was hit by three feet of flying blonde pigtails and two arms twined around his waist.
“Uncle Brody! You came, you came!”
“I promised you I’d come and get you, honey bear.” He stared at Stewart, watching the other man, part of him hoping he’d get five minutes alone with him once the dust settled. The other half hoped the other man wasn’t a complete idiot who’d escalate the situation. They didn’t need any unnecessary bloodshed.
“Daddy and Mr. Douglas are here. They didn’t want any ice cream. Did you want ice cream, Uncle Brody? I can share mine with you, but it’s kinda melted.”
“That’s okay, honey bear. I don’t need any ice cream right now.” He ran a hand protectively over her back. “Dad, everything okay here?”
“It’s good. You take Jamie and—”
“Not so fast, Boudreau. Brody, you take a seat with my daughter. Mr. Boudreau, Brody’s staying put until you get your laptop. We have a transaction to make before anybody leaves.”
“That wasn’t the deal.” Douglas argued.
“Deal’s changed. Get the laptop.” Stewart moved aside the flap of his button-front shirt, revealing the gun tucked into his waistband. “I suggest you move quickly.”
Douglas clamored to his feet, and shot a look toward Brody. He nodded and led Jamie back to her table, hoping Rafe could see and hear what was happening. They’d only get one shot at this, and they’d need to take it soon.
Walking back in with a laptop computer, Douglas eased back onto the chair across from Stewart. “Did you check to see if this place has Wi-Fi? Otherwise, we’re going to have to move to some place that does.”
“They’ve got Wi-Fi. Here’s the password.” He slid a scrap of paper across the table. “Connect and let’s get this over with. I want out of this lousy state.
Keeping his gaze on his father, he noted movement behind Stewart, who had kept his back to the kitchen and ice cream area, making sure he had a clear sight line through the front window. He spotted Rafe and a couple of other men inching closer to the small eat-in area.
“I’ve got a connection. Now let Brody and Jamie leave, and you’ll get your blood money.” Douglas held his hands over the keyboard, waiting.
“Right after you transfer the funds. I’m a reasonable man, Mr. Boudreau. But I’m not stupid. If I let Jamie go, I’ll never see a dime of that money.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out another ragged-edged paper. “Here’s the account information and the routing number. Let’s get this done, because I’m losing my patience.”
Douglas lifted his hands from the keyboard, and crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”
“What do you mean, no? We had a deal.”
“Like you said, deal’s changed. You want to change the rules partway through, fine. Now we’ll do things my way. Brody, get Jamie out of here. Get in your car and drive away.” He leaned back in his seat. “Unlike you, Mr. Stewart, I gave my word to exchange myself and the funds in exchange for Jamie. You wanted the money and a hostage. That’s the deal. A plane and a full tank of gas, headed anywhere you want. An influential hostage. Nobody’s going to try and stop you, not as long as you have me.”
Stewart shot Brody a hate-filled glare. “Take her and get out!”
“Dad…”
“Everything’s gonna be fine, Brody. Take Jamie to her mother, where she belongs.” Douglas held up his cell phone. “I’m making a call to the pilot, the second Jamie and Brody are out the door. Agreed?”
“Do it.”
Brody lifted Jamie’s trembling body into his arms and raced for the front door. During the exchange, Jamie had figured out something bad was happening, and her little body shook with fear. She buried her head into the crook of his neck, and he felt her warm tears against his skin. Throwing open the car door, he strapped her into the passenger seat, and ran around the car, sliding into the driver’s seat. With a last look inside, he pulled away, tires squealing.
Jamie was safe. He’d left behind a disaster in the making, and he couldn’t help wondering how they’d manage to disarm the situation, or if the only answer would be bloodshed.