“And where were you?”Gant asked, pinning Miles in place with a casual stare.
Miles raised his eyebrows in disbelief.“Why on earth should it matter where I was at?My sister is missing.Why aren’t you out trying to find her?”Taking heart in the fact that several of Ruban Crossing’s finest were present, he glanced at Ryder, confident that he could say what was on his mind without coming to harm.“Better yet, why aren’t you questioning her husband?We don’t really know a thing about him.”
“Oh, but we do, and his story checks out clean.Besides, he has nothing to gain from her demise.On the other hand, you and your sister have several hundred millions dollars at stake.Am I right?”
Erica stood up with a gasp of indignation as Miles shifted nervously in his seat.“Of course not.Casey inherited.”
The detective persisted.“But what happens if she dies?”
Miles shrugged.“I wouldn’t really know.”
As the family lawyer, Lash was in attendance.At this point he interrupted, but seemed hesitant to do so.“That’s not exactly true, Miles.You did come to my office this morning and ask what would happen if Casey defaulted on the terms of Delaney’s will.”
Ryder came to his feet, and if there hadn’t been a desk and a chair between them, he would have put his fist in Miles’s face.
Miles spun, his face livid with anger.“You’re twisting everything.You knew I was asking because we all thought Ryder had flown the coop.”
Lash looked repentant.“I’m sorry, Miles, but I felt obligated to tell the truth.If anyone needs me, you know where I can be reached.”He picked up his briefcase and made a quick exit.
Ryder was shaking with anger.“You son of a bitch.Do you remember what I told you?If Casey hurts—you bleed.”
The low, even tone in Ryder’s voice frightened Miles far more than any shout of rage could have done.He scrambled to his feet and backed toward the door, looking frantically toward the police for protection.
“Sit down!”Gant said, and then glanced at Ryder.“While I can understand your indignation, this isn’t getting us anywhere.A woman is missing and all you people seem able to do is fight among yourselves.”
Ryder hunched his shoulders and stalked to the windows overlooking the courtyard, looking up at the small apartment over the garage.Precious minutes passed as pain twisted within him, drawing and pulling like a dull knife.The night before last, he’d slept in Casey’s arms.They’d made love with an abandon that had surprised even him.And less than thirty-six hours later, someone had lied to Casey and stolen from Ryder the thing he cared for most—his wife.
And then suddenly the phone rang, and everyone jumped as if they’d been shot.
“You answer it,” Gant directed, pointing at Ryder.
Ryder said a prayer and picked up the phone.“Hello.”
“This is a recording.I will not repeat myself, so pay attention.Casey Justice is with me.At the moment, she is alive.If you choose to ignore my conditions, she will not stay that way long.For her release, I want three million dollars in small, unmarked bills, none of them larger in denomination than a fifty, none of them smaller than a five.I will call you at five o’clock, day after tomorrow, and tell you where and when to make the drop.”
The line went dead, with the computerized sound of an altered voice still grinding in his ear.“Did you get that?”Ryder asked.
Gant nodded.“All we can do now is wait.”
Ryder slammed the phone down.“Like hell.That’s three days.In three days, anything could happen to Casey.Don’t you have any leads?Didn’t anything turn up when forensics went over her car?”
Gant was a man who believed in telling it like it was.“Forensics is still going over her car, and you know as well as I do that we don’t have any other leads.However, we will actively be pursuing the investigation.”
Ryder covered his face with his hands and turned away.He felt sick to his stomach and couldn’t quit shaking.He kept thinking about Casey.Of how afraid she must be.“Dear Lord.Why is this happening?”
Gant briefly touched Ryder’s arm.“Because someone got greedy, Mr.Justice.Now I suggest you try to get some rest.
The next forty-eight hours will be crucial.The FBI should be here by morning.”He grinned wryly.”You’ll probably have to repeat everything you’ve told me to them.They’re kind of partial to taking their own statements.”His smile faded.”I think you should be prepared for the possibility that the kidnappers are going to want you, or another member of the family, to make the drop.”
“I’ll do whatever they ask, but I’m not very good at waiting.”He exhaled slowly, as if the action pained him.“There will be time to rest after Casey gets home.”
Gant looked away.He was too aware that the odds of that happening weren’t all that good.
“If anyone needs me, I’ll be at the apartment,” Ryder said, and started down the hall when Erica caught up with him.
“Ryder.”
He stopped and turned.
