“These guys had this well planned,” he said when she returned to the table, trembling as she sat back down. He wished there was something he could do, something besides just sit and wait.
“They knew which room was his,” he continued. “They brought their own ladder, probably used chloroform or something similar to subdue him. They’ve thought this through, which means they probably know we’re going to want proof of life. They aren’t going to do anything to harm Griff until they get what they want. He should be okay until then.”
She made a sound in her throat. “Until then? Until we pay them? And then what? Then they kill him?”
The tears glistening in her eyes drove him up from his chair. He pulled her into his arms. “That’s not going to happen. We’re going to find him and bring him home.” He caught her chin, tipped her head up, and softly kissed her. “Do you believe me?”
A resigned sigh whispered out. “I have to believe you. I can’t allow myself to imagine the alternative.”
The ringing of a cell phone ended the moment and Reese let her go. Kenzie’s worried eyes flashed to his. He nodded and she picked up the phone, held it so he could hear.
“This is Kenzie.”
“I believe I have something you want.” The voice was unrecognizable, completely distorted by some kind of device. It sounded like a steel guitar string turned into words.
“Let me talk to my son,” Kenzie said. “I need to know he’s all right.”
“All in due course,” the eerie metallic voice answered. “Is your boyfriend there? I imagine you called him first thing.”
He caught a flash of fear in her face, then it was gone. “You didn’t tell me not to. You said not to call the police.”
“Don’t worry, I’m glad he’s there. You see, it’s going to be up to Reese whether your son lives or dies.”
Kenzie swayed. Reese reached out to steady her as he battled the fury sweeping through him. He took the phone from Kenzie’s trembling hand, set it down on the table, and hit the speaker button. “How much do you want? Whatever it is, you won’t get a dime until we know Griff’s all right.”
“You don’t understand,” the metallic voice said. “It isn’t your money I want. Money won’t buy the return of the boy.”
He flicked a glance at Kenzie, read the shock on her face. “What, then? What do you want?”
“I want you to give up the Poseidon. I want you to pull out of the deal.”
Icy calm replaced his fury. “That’s what this is about? You kidnapped an innocent child to force my company to give up a business venture?”
“It isn’t quite as simple as you make it sound. There are ramifications you wouldn’t understand, but yes. That’s what it will take for the boy to be returned to his mother.”
Reese’s mind was spinning, going back to what his brother had said.Give them what they want and they might kill the boy, anyway.He thought of everything that had happened. The accidents. The helicopter crash leaving two men dead. The mechanic responsible found murdered.
It was a ruthless pattern he couldn’t ignore.
“Reese...?” Kenzie’s terrified voice snapped him back to the moment.
“I’ll abandon our position in the deal if that’s what you want, but it’s going to take some time. There are papers to file, lawyers on both sides. They’ll have to negotiate the terms of the cancellation. Nothing happens quickly when that kind of money is involved. Before I do anything, I need to know the boy is okay. Put him on the phone.”
Kenzie moved closer to the table. There was a shuffling sound and Griff’s voice came over the line.
“Mom? Is that you?”
“Griff.” Tears sprang into her eyes. “Oh, baby, are you okay? They haven’t hurt you?”
“I’m locked in a room someplace but I don’t know where it is. They wear ski masks whenever they come in. I’m scared, Mom.”
“We’re going to bring you home, Griff,” Reese said firmly. “Just do what they tell you until we can make that happen.”
Kenzie leaned toward the phone as if she wanted to get closer to her son. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love—”
The phone jerked away and the metallic voice resumed. “As you heard, the boy is fine. He’ll stay that way as long as you keep your end of the bargain.”
