“Tell your suits to back off. Come any closer, and I’ll slit her throat.” Blackwood’s voice emerged cool, emotionless, and in control as he dragged the woman back two steps for a better view of the surrounding people. He held a knife beneath her chin to ensure the woman’s cooperation. Blood ran down her pale throat and merged with the fabric of her dress.
“Oh! Trina. Do something,” Mrs. Canon cried.
Two plain-clothes cops were ushering out attendees.
“Mrs. Canon, please go with the others. Sarah needs you. Let Nelson and his team help Trina,” Ashley murmured. “Please.”
“No, I…” A tear dampened her wrinkled cheek.
“Please, Mrs. Canon. They can’t do their job with you here. We will look after Trina. I promise.” Josh’s gut twisted as he uttered the words because Blackwood showed no guilt or concern for the woman in his arms. She was a tool and tools were disposable.
Finally, Mrs. Canon left at the prompting of her other granddaughter, and only policemen remained.
“Tell your men to back off.” He drew Trina closer and exerted pressure on the knife. She croaked, and blood ran down her chest and into her cleavage.
Ashley gasped while Josh stiffened in outrage and squeezed her hand in commiseration. “Let Nelson talk,” he whispered.
Nelson gestured for the men to give Blackwood space. “What do you want?”
Stephen Blackwood glared at Nelson before he focused on Ashley. “I want the truth to come out. I want Ashley Townsend to suffer.”
Behind him, Ashley mumbled something. Josh didn’t take his gaze off Blackwood. Neither did Nelson nor Gerry or the dozen plain-clothes cops.
“Why?” Josh asked. “What has Ashley done to you?”
Blackwood stuck his hand in his pocket, and Josh froze. Before he could draw his weapon, Blackwood pulled something small and black from his pocket. It wasn’t a gun.
“Flash drive,” Blackwood said, his gaze intent on Ashley. “I want the contents played on the news.”
“If we do that, you must do something for us too.” Nelson attempted to negotiate. “Let the girl go.”
“Fine. Give me Ashley in exchange.” A twisted smile curved Blackwood’s mouth. Yep, not an ounce of remorse or hesitation. Just a man set on following a plan.
“No,” Josh snarled. He’d seen men like Blackwood before. They’d lost all hope and didn’t care what happened to them, had no fear of death.
“She’s fooled you too,” Blackwood sneered. “You’re an idiot.”
Ashley dropped Josh’s hand and squeezed closer to Nelson to see better. Trina. That poor girl. Heaviness filled her stomach. Fear. Her fists clenched. Anger.
Nothing about Stephen Blackwood cried familiar. She still had no idea what he thought she’d done.
“Before we agree to your conditions, let the girl go,” Nelson stated.
Her heart ached for Trina. They couldn’t trust Stephen Blackwood to keep his word.
“I think not.” He jerked the girl back two steps. “Play this on the news, on the screen up there with the political coverage before I make any deal.”
“It will take time to organize,” Nelson said.
“I have time.” Blackwood adjusted his hold on the girl and pressed the knife more firmly against her pale throat. “I’m not going anywhere.” His gaze shot to Ashley, and his mouth curled with a cruel twist.
“Give me the flash drive,” Nelson ordered.
In reply, Blackwood tossed it toward one of the surrounding cops who strode over to Nelson.
“Let’s go,” Nelson murmured.
“Ashley stays,” Blackwood barked. “I will kill this girl. She means nothing to me.”
