She stumbled at her ex’s casual question. “What?”
“You heard me. The cripple who’s going out on your boat.”
Someone was still watching her.
She pressed her lips together, but then figured it would be easy enough for him to find out. “His name is Arthur Hammond. He was Sam’s teammate in the army.”
“Hammond… why does that name sound familiar?”
“He’s my friend Amy’s brother.”
“The chick who married Brandon Stokes?” His immediate interest gave her goosebumps.
She shouldn’t have said anything. “Yes.”
“Does the cripple have a girlfriend?”
“I don’t know. I only met him last week.”
“Find out. I want you to seduce the loser. The sap will be grateful for the attention from anyone, even you. He’ll be able to give you information on the Stokes. I want it by the end of the week. You’ve taken too long as it is.”
Gretchen cringed at the implication Arthur was so desperate he’d even look at her. At one time, Kurt’s insult would have made her try to please him more, but now it irritated as much as it hurt. He had never loved her, had only been with her to get to her family’s business.
“And if he’s not interested?” She wouldn’t do it, but it was worth asking the question.
“Put on that whole innocent act of yours. He’ll fall for it. Diving in after his leg is a good start.”
Her head whipped around, scanning the area. Another tour boat was coming into the marina, a man and his two boys were fishing off the rocks nearby and a couple were strolling hand in hand along the footpath.
Kurt chuckled, low and nasty. “You won’t see me, babe, but I’m always watching. I’ll call tomorrow.” He hung up.
Gretchen lowered her phone. She stopped scanning the area, not wanting to give the bastard further satisfaction, and instead walked to her car, checking the back seat before getting in.
No nasty gifts.
Her hand shook as she turned the key. Nothing had happened at pony club last week and she’d been lulled into a false sense of security. She’d forgotten that was his style. Threats followed by a period of anxiety when nothing happened, and just as she’d started relaxing again, he’d follow through.
The purr of the car engine made her come back to the present. She drove away, expression blank while her thoughts raced.
He was watching her, probably Jordan as well, which meant his threat to make her son disappear was still very real. Her heart thumped double time as she drove to Cody’s house to pick up her son.
Cody’s mother, Holly, opened the door. “Gretchen! What are you doing here?”
Nausea rose in her stomach. “Picking up Jordan.”
Holly shook her head. “He’s not here. He told Cody he was going straight home today.” She turned and called, “Cody, come here.”
Heavy footsteps as the boy ran to the front door. “What?” He smiled at Gretchen.
“Where’s Jordan?” Gretchen demanded.
Cody shrugged. “He wanted to walk home.”
“No one turned up at school to talk to him?” Gretchen asked. Had Kurt already delivered on his threat?
“Nah. Said he had stuff to do.”
Gretchen raced back to her car, every horrific option running through her head. Kurt enjoyed inflicting pain, both physical and emotional. Just prior to her leaving, he’d started manipulating Jordan, playing emotional mind games similar to the ones her own parents had played on her.
