Richard made his next call to Margot, needing to fill her in. He sat on the sofa in Jean’s office, wrapping a consoling arm around her shoulder. He opted for his cell to avoid too much discussion about his glasses with Jean, but kept the speakerphone on.
Margot picked up, sounding panicked.
Richard tried calming her. “Did you get a text? What did it say?”
“What text?” Margot shouted. “This isn’t about a text. I’m sending you what I just got from a friend on the inside at the Herald. A ridiculous announcement that’s scheduled to be released tomorrow.”
Richard asked Margot to hold for a second while he and Jean scanned the text Margot had just sent him.
PRESS RELEASE
For Distribution to All Media
James Baxter of Baxter and Associates Acquisitions and Jaclyn Long of Long Multinational Systems are engaged to be wed.
The story went on to discuss how Jaclyn and Jim met, and where they would honeymoon. But more upsetting was that the wedding would happen that weekend in a private venue overseas.
Richard assured both women he’d do everything to get Jaclyn back, and proceeded to quickly put together a rough plan. Flipping through several apps on his phone, he worked intently as Jean watched and Margot waited.
“I know where she is,” he said, “so we can get to her faster than I thought. She’s not in Mexico. She’s right here in Dallas.”
“How do you know that?” Margot asked, remaining remarkably calm while Jean trembled, trying to hold back her tears.
“I gave her a prototype of my glasses, but a much earlier model. She must still have them on. I can track her, but I can’t communicate with her. The best I can do is record everything the glasses are capturing. And I’m not just able to find her, but I’m measuring her vitals as well. From what I can tell, she’s asleep.”
Margot gasped. “Drugged?”
“Possibly,” he said. “But we’re going to get her. As quickly as we can. The team will be in Dallas within the hour, and we’ll head out.” Then I’ll fucking murder that worthless piece of shit Jim Baxter.
“I’m heading back to the States. Richard . . .” Margot’s voice cracked, and she paused to clear her throat. “If anything happens to her—”
He looked at the woman sobbing on his shoulder, getting her attention. “Both of you listen to me very carefully. We’re getting Jaclyn back, but I need you two to work on a few things in the meantime.”
“Anything,” Jean said.
“I need you to pool all your resources and find anything and everything you can on Jim Baxter. We’ve got to take that son of a bitch down right here on US soil. The only way he’s leaving with Jaclyn would be by private jet, so we’ve got to keep his planes grounded, whatever it takes.”
“Leave that to me,” Margot said. “But I’ll need a full list of his jets. If he’s in Dallas, he’d be leaving out of Addison. And all his planes would be held in their hangars. Jean, get me tail numbers. I’ll do the rest. We’ll touch base again shortly.” With that, Margot hung up.
Richard tightened his grip around Jean’s shoulders to reassure her. “I’ll text you to let you know what’s going on. Get Everett’s executive assistant to keep those headlines off his radar.”
She nodded in worried agreement. “I, uh . . .” She cleared her throat to control the quiver in her speech. “You and Margot seem . . . close.”
He could tell by Jean’s expression that her statement was more of a question. And she seemed to be waiting for an answer.
“It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”
I guess.
Richard stood up and headed toward the door, turning back for one last word on the subject. He caught a glimpse of his own devilish good looks peering back at him from the magazine, taunting him to give Jean one last honest-to-goodness truth.
“Besides, I’ve got a thing for brunettes.”