46

 

It was now or never. Jamie had to make her move to get Andrew out of the house. She prepared her body and her mind to snatch Andrew and go. She mapped the scene out, the interior of the house, the escape, the run for the SUV, her path down the road. A quick prayer and she was ready. As her hand reached for the door, voices came from the front of the house. She shrank back desperately looking for a hiding place.

The two men cursed their luck in not finding her. Worry filled their tones. Obviously, they were afraid of the man in charge.

She ran to the end of the porch. Climbing on the railing, she hopped off. As she landed in the dirt, a pain ran up her leg. Her hand flew to her mouth to keep from moaning. She rolled under a bush next to the foundation as the men stomped up the steps.

Another minute and they would have seen her.

“Hey, Scott. We couldn’t find her.”

A pause.

“You came back here without her?” The man’s voice was rich with disdain. “If she makes it to town, we’re done. She’s somewhere out there in those woods. Find her. And when you do call me.” The door slammed as the men entered the house and the voices became indistinguishable.

His words sent a chill right down Jamie’s spine. This man would kill anyone who got in his way. And Jamie was very much in his way.

I am with you, always…

Her breathing evened out. Her heart calmed. I trust you, God. You’ve kept me safe before, and I know you will again. She held her breath and squeezed closer to the bush her ankle still throbbing. She scanned the area for a better hiding place. There was space between the ground and the porch. Flattening, she scooted underneath. Once she was in, she fluffed up the bush to make it look normal again.

Finally, the back door slammed and the men stormed off with loud complaints.

Jamie crawled from beneath the porch. The pain in her ankle made her grimace, but she was able to walk. You are with me, God. Taking a deep breath, she went up the steps. She peered into the window careful to stay out of view.

The kitchen was empty. The cell phone was still sitting on the counter, its battery beside it. Without the battery, the police couldn’t trace the phone’s built-in GPS.

She hesitated. It would tip them off that she’d been in the house if she took the phone. But a phone—a connection to the outside. It was worth the risk. She scooped up both items.

Jamie unlocked the pantry door and opened it.

Andrew was huddled in the corner whimpering. He looked up at her.

She put a finger to her mouth.

He choked on his sob, his eyes wet with tears.

Jamie admired the boy, so brave, working so hard to do as she’d asked. For all he’d been through, Andrew was tough and resilient. He’d be OK once Jamie got him back to Zink.

He held his hands out, but as she leaned down voices filtered in from the porch. With no time to panic she slid into the pantry and closed the door.

“You need to be quiet. I promised to keep you safe and I will.” She wiped the tears off the boy’s face. “Stay behind me.”

An arm wrapped around her leg.

She shoved the battery in the phone with trembling fingers, and then scrolled through the menu to the last call. It had been to Michael Zinkleman. And Michael was with Enrique.

Pressing the recall button she slipped the device into her pocket.

Enrique would figure it out.

 

****

 

Enrique paced around the room.

Michael Zinkleman’s phone rang.

Being the only FBI agent in the room, Michael looked at him.

“Hold on a minute.” Enrique moved to the door and yelled out to the tech guy. “We’ve got another incoming call. Are you ready?”

“Go ahead.”

He turned back to Michael and nodded.

Michael hit the button. “Hello.”

No response.

“Hello.”

Again no one answered. His gaze moved to Enrique. “Should I hang up?”

“No, as long as the connection is open, they can trace it.” He moved closer to the speaker the phone was attached to. He could hear muffled voices in the background but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Had the kidnappers accidentally pocket-dialed?

GPS tracking hadn’t been able to ping the phone’s location before. But maybe they could if the line stayed open long enough.

Enrique looked at Michael. “Better not say anything. If they dialed inadvertently or if whoever’s on the other side of that phone can’t talk. The last thing we need to do is call attention to the connection.”

“Sounds right.” Suzanne nodded.

A few moments later, the tech guy came in. “We got a location in Arizona near the Huachuca Mountains. Agents are on their way, but it’ll take a while.”

“Great.” Thank you, God. Keep them safe. “Do you have a specific location?”

He gave Enrique the address. “There’s no reason to go. It will be over before you can even get there.”

“I hope you’re right, but I’m still going. The woman I love is there.”

Suzanne was by his side. “Me, too. My child is there and I’m going.”

Michael Zinkleman stood up. “Me, too.”

Bob Nelson walked into the room. “That’s not happening, Michael. You still have a warrant out for your arrest, and besides, you have to be here if any more calls come in.”

“I can be anywhere when they call me—they have no idea if I am here or there. I’m going.”

Nelson shook his head. “Even though I’m starting to believe your innocence, you’re not off the hook yet. You’re not going anywhere.” He turned to Enrique and Suzanne. “You two can go. I’ll have a plane waiting for you at the airport.”

Suzanne moved to be beside Michael. “We’ll bring Andrew home.” Her arms went around him. “To us.”