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For a split second neither reacted.
He charged.
She kicked him in the gut.
He fell backwards, but the wooden ark stopped his fall. He bounced up as if he’d hit a trampoline instead of a rock-hard playground structure. He came at her arms up and ready to attack. His face was a mask of anger. “Where’s Andrew? Who are you?” he yelled. “What have you done with my son?”
His words penetrated her adrenaline rush. Shocked, she stopped and stared at the man.
What was he talking about? He took the opportunity to pounce on her.
Jamie fought back.
They fell to the ground as each struggled to gain the upper hand.
Pulling her fist back, she punched him in the stomach. She heard a moan and took advantage by grabbing his hair.
A woman screamed somewhere. “I’m calling the police.”
Jamie looked towards the voice—Samantha Waters stood there with a phone in her hand.
Zinkleman stilled, but his hands clasped both her arms. He released Jamie and jumped up. “Don’t do that.”
“But...”
“It’s OK.” He turned to Jamie. “Tell her it was a misunderstanding. You don’t want the police involved, do you? I’ll do anything you want. I just want my son back.”
Her first thought was to scream at the woman to call, but why had he asked her where Andrew was? Instinct kicked in. “Will you come with me without a fight?”
He nodded.
She looked up at the woman on the step still holding the cell phone and looking terrified. “It’s OK, Samantha. Just a little misunderstanding. We’re both leaving.”
“Are you sure?” Samantha asked.
Jamie looked at Michael Zinkleman.
He nodded.
She turned back to the day care director. “I’m sure.”
Zinkleman held up both hands as if to show her he meant no harm. “Let’s go. “
“Not without you in handcuffs.”
“I said I’d go with you and I will.”
“Handcuffs, first.”
“If you do that she’ll be sure to call the police. She’s still watching. “
“Fine with me. I’m not the one with an arrest warrant.” Jamie really didn’t want the police here. It would only cause more problems. “Fine, you walk in front of me so I can keep an eye on you. One suspicious move and I’ll be on top of you.”
“Where to?”
“To my car in the parking lot. It’s the green SUV.”
At the car, he turned around and leaned against the side. “Let’s keep this casual looking. I guarantee she’s watching us and still trying to decide if she should call the cops.”
“I don’t have a problem with her calling the cops. In fact I spent most of my day yesterday with them.” No reason to tell him she was under suspicion of murdering his friend.
“I don’t care where you spent yesterday. I don’t have time for mind games. I want to know where Andrew is.” His voice cracked on the name of his son.
“And you tell me you don’t want to play mind games. Why would I know where Andrew is? I’ve never seen him.”
“You have to know where he is. If you don’t know, then they took him.” His eyes were wild.
Jamie had seen a lot of liars over the years. Looking into his panic-stricken eyes, she knew one thing.
Michael Zinkleman wasn’t one of them.