Jennie sat on the bed. Her face in her hands. Hiccupping sobs shook her body. How had she let herself get into this mess? She’d been desperate for love, that’s how. But Aunt Emily had taught her better than to jump at the first man to show her attention. Not that most men were abusive like Kenny, but still. If she’d come home to her aunt, things would have turned out differently for her and Zoey.
“Oh, Zoey, where are you?” Jennie pulled her phone from her pocket and found a photo of her daughter. Her bright blue eyes glimmered with mischief.
She inhaled. She’d do anything to get her baby back.
The phone vibrated, startling her.
She glanced at the Caller ID.Unknown.
Could it be the person that took Zoey? She punched the button. “Hello?”
“I imagine you want this pretty little girl back,” A slimy voice oozed over the line. She tried to place it but couldn’t.
“Don’t touch her.” Bile rose in Jennie’s throat.
“Demanding, aren’t we?” he hissed. “Time you figure out who you belong to.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m disappointed, Jennie. You haven’t figured out who I am?”
The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. “Let Zoey go. It’s me you want.”
“You’re right.”
“Tell me what to do?”
“There ya go, that’s my girl. Always wanting to please.”
Her skin crawled at the memories of Kenny’s touch. This man wasn’t Kenny. She knew that much, but she’d do what it took to free Zoey.
The sickening sweet voice sounded over the line. “I’ll make a trade. You for your daughter.”
“You won’t hurt her?”
“I guess you’ll have to trust me.” He cackled.
Not likely. “Where?”
“There’s a car at the gas station on Highway 1. Keys are under the seat and the directions are in the glovebox.”
“It’ll take me a while to get there.” She needed to buy time for the police to get there first.
“Don’t lie to me! You have thirty minutes to get here. If you don’t, I’ll kill her.”
Jennie whimpered. “Please don’t hurt her.”
“And no cops. I see a cop and you both die.”
“Fine.”
“Remember, thirty minutes. No cops.” The man hung up.
She found directions to the gas station, then shoved her phone in her pocket. Her gaze drifted to the door. Should she tell David and his buddies about the call? But what if the guy on the phone found out. He’d kill Zoey. No. She couldn’t take that chance. She was on her own again. She slid the window open and slipped outside.
The cool coastal air slammed into her, stealing her breath. Her mind screamed to tell David, but her heart told her to keep moving. She only had thirty minutes.
Using the flashlight app on her phone so she didn’t trip, she raced around the corner of the house and jogged along the edge of the road. Her body protested, but she couldn’t stop. Tears stung her eyes at the ache flowing through her limbs. She endured so much since all this had started, but she’d put aside the pain to save her daughter.
