“Camo bomber jacket. Dark beard. Mean eyes. I’m telling you, me and Ms. Peyton, we did everything we could to stop him. He’s got her wrist strapped to the overhead crossbar, so she’s pretty well trapped.” Randy blew out a breath laced with pain and relief and exhaustion as Kennett and Cain lowered him to the ground. “I tried to save her. Got in a couple of good blows. That’s when he shot me.”
Officer Hastings pulled up behind Kennett’s police cruiser. Paramedics arrived within the minute and took over tending Randy.
Rage steamed toward Cain’s brain as Randy’s words settled in. His body heated with the power of adrenalin working overtime. He’d spent the past couple of days figuring out his future, and now someone thought they’d take that away. They’d take his Betsy. He’d be dead in the dirt before that happened.
His phone rang with an Unknown Caller ID. He answered it on the speaker phone as Kennett moved closer.
“Cain Connery?” The man on the phone had a deep voice. Muffled tone. Unfamiliar.
“Yeah. Who is this?”
“Shut up and listen if you want your woman back.”
Cain clicked into agent mode. Play along. Listen. Decipher the background noise. Track the clue. There had to be a clue. “I’m listening.”
The man laughed. “I figured you would. We’re going to do a little swap. Mine for yours.”
“What have you got in mind?”
“Tell me where the two million dollars is hidden, and I’ll let Betsy go.”
That was a lie, but the more time Cain kept him on the phone, the more apt he was to get something out of the conversation. Like a clue to where this supposed two million came from. Might as well poke the bear. Make the man on the phone mad. Make him lose his confidence. Concentration. Courage.
“I like to know who I’m making a deal with. So what’s your name?”
The man laughed again.
“Oh, that’s right, you’re James. Mr. Partner’s errand guy. Saw an online photo of you holding his coat, James. Looked to me like you were stuck with no way to move up.” Cain paused for effect. “Now what is it you really want, James.”
“Shut the hell up, Connery. I know your game.”
Cain heard the slightest change in his tone and cadence. “Smart. You’re a smart man, James. Maybe we can strike a deal after all. I might be able to use you in my group, James. What do you think? Work for Mr. Partner? Work for me—James?”
“Are you stupid, Connery? I work for me! Me, you understand?” The man grunted into almost a growl. “Like I said before. Give me the money. I give you Betsy.”
The background on the other end was quiet. Too quiet. Outside? Inside? Cain couldn’t tell. “Let me talk to Betsy.”
“No. I’ll call you later with details for the exchange.”
Cain gave a sarcastic laugh. “Now who’s being stupid? You and I both know you’re gonna have to let me talk to her before I agree to the exchange.”
The man on the phone huffed. “Wait a minute.”
Kennett leaned in closer. Moved his fingers that the man was walking. Formed the silent word “gravel.” Cain nodded in agreement.
“Lady, if you kick me again, I’ll bind your legs. Nod if you’ve got that.” The man was quiet. “Good. Now tell Cain you’re okay.”
Silence.
“Don’t shake your head at me, lady. I said tell him you’re okay.” A single gunshot echoed through the phone.
From the south, the shot reverberated across the land. Kennett and Cain both looked in the same direction. Across the pasture. Way across. A hawk’s screech sounded in the distance on the other end. A flock of birds rose as one, while a group of ducks took flight and circled in a V-formation. All from the same direction. To the south. Near the lake.
“Betsy, say something.” Cain shouted. “Anything.”
“Water through the trees. Ducks squawking. Speck of dam far, far away.” Betsy rattled out words. Calm, but fast. “We’re north or west shore maybe near?—”
What sounded like a hard smack to skin flashed through the phone. “Shut the hell up.”Betsy grunted. Loud. A whimper. Still she kept talking as fast as she could. “Papa C’s brother hired a hit man to kill my dad. May have caused Phillip’s?—”
