He swallowed and nodded. He’d find a way to get them out of there. He had to.
“Is that bulge beneath your jacket what I think it is?” the chief asked.
“We’re both armed, both permitted.” In his case, carrying was probably not a good idea at the moment, seeing as he was currently under suspicion of murder. But the chief didn’t press the issue.
Beau’s phone rang. He dug it out of his jeans and looked at the screen. It was Missy’s cell number. “It’s him.” Warren moved closer and Beau held the phone so the chief could listen.
“I’m here,” Beau said. “Just landed in the park across the street.”
“I thought I told you no cops.”
“I didn’t call them. One of the neighbors spotted you through the window and dialed 9-1-1.”
“You got the money?”
“I’ve got it. Let Missy take the baby and leave, and you can have it.”
A harsh laugh came over the line. “Yeah, like I’m gonna do that. What, you think I’m an idiot?”
Beau took a calming breath.
“Ask him his name,” the chief quietly suggested.
“Who are you? What’s your name?”
“None of your business. The money in the chopper?”
“Yes, it’s waiting for you there. So what do you want me to call you?”
“I guess it don’t matter. Since we’re gonna be such good friends, you can call me Franco.”
“All right, then, Franco.”
“Leave the money where it is. We’re getting ready to come out. I’m bringing the girl and the kid with me. Tell the pilot to get the chopper ready to go. Anybody tries to interfere, I shoot the girl.”
The phone went dead and the knot in Beau’s stomach tightened to the point of pain.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The baby was fussing, sensing her mother’s fear. Missy held her gently, twirling from side to side, bouncing her a little, trying to comfort her. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Mama’s right here.”
“Get the kid ready. We’re leaving.” After the police arrived, the man who had broken into their home had removed the ski mask he’d been wearing. He was average height, with olive skin, heavy eyebrows and a long, pointed nose. He’d told her to call him Franco.
“You’re letting us go?” Hope rose inside her. She knew Beau had just arrived in his helicopter. Maybe everything was going to be okay.
“Not yet. Once we get to Mexico, I’ll let you go.”
A jolt of fear tore a strangled sound from her throat. “Mexico!You can’t take us to Mexico! How will we get home?”
“Look. I wasn’t gonna take you, okay? But now the cops are here, so I don’t have any choice.”
“Please. I’m begging you. Evie’s too little for a trip like that. She might get sick. She might even die.”
His black eyes swung to her face, taking in her longblond hair and blue eyes, slid down over the curve of her breasts beneath the robe and nightgown she was wearing, took in her slender bare feet.
A shiver ran through her. She’d had a boyfriend in high school. She’d slept with Stewart. She knew when a man looked at a woman that way, he wanted to get between her legs.
“So . . . if you want,” Franco said, “we could leave the baby in the house and you could come with me. Just you and me, you know? With all that money, we could have some real fun in Mexico.”
