“And you said I was expendable. If I tell you everything now, you’re likely to shoot me and shove me out of the car. I’ll take you to it when we get to the farmhouse.” She held her breath.
He grunted, withdrew the gun, placed it on the arm rest on his right-hand side and sped down the road.
The clock on the dash said only fifteen minutes had passed since she’d left her house. It was an hour’s drive out to the Ridge, if Kurt followed the speed limit.
Hopefully enough time for the Stokes to find out he was coming. They would call the police.
They could help her stop him.
Chapter 20
“That looks incredible.”
Arthur finished the final brush stroke and looked up at Ed’s comment. “There’re a few spots where I couldn’t get the dents out.” He washed his brush and examined the Ridge sign for any spots he’d missed.
Ed shook his head. “Charlie would love the dents, and Mum would love that you’ve used her paints to fix it.”
Arthur allowed the praise to sink in. “Thanks.” It had been easier than he’d expected to make amends with Ed. He and Tess had come out to the Ridge where they’d spent the morning in the cellar with Amy, Brandon, Matt and Darcy, looking at the treasure and debating what their next steps should be, while he’d fixed Charlie’s sign. Faith and Lara were in town, and Georgie had gone to work.
“Let’s have some lunch,” Amy said as she walked in, her gaze going straight to the sign. “Oh,” she breathed. “That looks just like new.”
Darcy and Matt both nodded. “I can’t wait to rehang it,” Darcy said.
Brandon placed sandwich fillings on the table. “Good job, Sherlock.”
Arthur smiled and leaned the sign against the wall so it could dry, and then made himself a sandwich. He gazed around the table at the people who had become part of his life. Friendship and family, two things he’d been missing without realising it. The only thing that would make it more perfect was if Gretchen and Jordan were here.
Darcy’s phone rang and he answered. After a beat, he said, “Lara, slow down. I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
Everyone stopped talking. Lara was supposed to be at school.
Darcy flashed Arthur a glance full of concern. Something was wrong with Jordan. Arthur stood and pulled out his phone.
“A tattooed man took Jordan and Cody from school,” Darcy repeated. “Wait, when did you speak to Gretchen?”
Arthur was already dialling Gretchen’s number. It went straight to voice mail. She should be in town. The only reason she wasn’t out at the Ridge was she didn’t want to leave Jordan in town on his own.
“She saw the black four-wheel drive that took Jordan?” Darcy asked. “Have the police been called?”
Brandon dialled a number on his phone.
“OK, Pumpkin. It’s all right. We’ll find Jordan and Cody and Gretchen. I’ll call Faith and get her to pick you up. Don’t leave the school until she comes, all right? And don’t go anywhere alone with your teacher.” Another pause. “Yeah, she might be like Jay. Love you.” He hung up.
“What happened?” Arthur barked.
“A short, tattooed man came up to Jordan at lunch and said he’d hurt Gretchen if Jordan didn’t go with him,” Darcy explained. “Cody stood up for Jordan and they both left. Lara ran to tell her teacher, but Miss Simpson wouldn’t believe her. When the boys didn’t come back to class, the teacher called Gretchen. Gretchen asked to speak with Lara, and Lara told her everything. But then Gretchen said the car that took the boys was coming towards her.”
Kurt had Jordan and Gretchen. Arthur clenched his hands. If he hurt them, Arthur would kill him.
“I’ll call Faith,” Amy said.
Brandon looked up. “Dot says it wasn’t reported.”
“There’s more. Jordan took a coin to school and Natasha stole it, showing it to everyone. Stonefish know we found treasure.”
“They’re coming here,” Arthur stated. Gretchen would do anything to save Jordan.
Sam nodded, getting to his feet. “How much time do we have?”
