“Give her to me,” Izzy snapped, diving toward the burlap. Louie shoved her into the muddy grass, but she leapt right back to her feet.
“See, that’s the problem.”
“There’s no problem.” She’d scream if he forced Greta into the car. Scratch his eyes. Pull his hair. But that all seemed insignificant when another monster waited for him in the driver’s seat. She’d never be able to overpower both men.
“Your fella’s gotten himself into a bit of trouble.”
“I want nothing to do with Simon’s trouble.”
Louie tapped the squirming bag. “We need a little something toincentivatehim.”
Simon must have done something dreadful if they were kidnapping his daughter.
Then again, the professor said Simon was using all of them. Perhaps he’d sent these men.
She inched forward, close enough now to touch Greta. “She’s not collateral.”
“You’re smart enough to know that my pal here and I are not gonna lose.”
When Izzy reached for her hand, Louie whirled around, smacking the bag against the door. Greta cried this time, angry and scared, her fear piercing Izzy’s heart.
“Go sell your horses,” she shouted, clawing at his coat. “And leave us alone.”
Louie held the bag over Izzy’s head. “Horses?”
“Or whatever it is that you and Simon are dabbling in.”
“Dabbling.” He snickered. “I like that. Unfortunately, you’re already in deep.”
“She’s not going with you.”
Louie lowered the bag. “We’re only borrowing her for the day.”
Lies, just like Simon used to tell her.
Louie opened the burlap, and Greta’s head popped out, her eyes swollen. “What’s your name, doll?”
“Don’t tell him!” Izzy said, trying to wedge between him and the car.
Louie swatted her away like a bug, then leaned over to deposit Greta in the back seat. “I just need you to take a little drive to see your daddy in Cleveland. Then I’ll bring you home.”
Izzy lunged toward Greta. She didn’t want to hurt her daughter, not any more than the bump already on her head, but if she didn’t rescue her now, she might never see Greta again.
Louie backhanded Izzy, and she screamed, stunned, as she fell back to the ground.
She didn’t see the truck pull up behind them or the giant of a man hop out. Didn’t see him until he yanked Louie from the car.
Greta tumbled out with them, and Izzy hugged her daughter to her chest, kissing her head.
A siren wailed through town, and Louie cursed before diving back into the roadster. Then he and his partner peeled away.
Peter was the heroic mill worker who’d rescued Greta. One of their neighbors. As the roadster flew down Main, he held out his hand and helped Izzy to her feet. “The police will stop them.”
She nodded, even as she knew those thugs would never pull over.
Greta buried her head in Izzy’s shoulder, a bruise pooling on her cheek.
“Do you want me to find your mother?” Peter asked.
