* * *
“Maybe it’s time to get the authorities involved,” Jayce said as they ate dinner at a sidewalk café in South Hampton.
Kristine gasped. “You can’t mean that. I know what I’ve been asked to do is heinous—despicable. But give me a chance. I’ve been wrestling with how I can make it look like I’ve met their demands…but don’t worry, I won’t kill an innocent person. I couldn’t live with that. Honestly, it sounds like the guy could already be dead. If not, I’ll get him out first. I’ll make sure the fire department gets a heads up just as soon as I’m sure I’ve done what Donkey Pizzle wants me to do.”
Jayce shook his head but said nothing.
His hesitation bothered her. “You wouldn’t say anything to anyone, would you?”
“I’d like justice, but I’m not a cop. I’m here foryou,Kristine. My only thought is to make sure you don’t get caught. When do you have to do this? What time tonight?”
“They didn’t say.”
“Why don’t you go home after this, and I’ll keep looking for your mother.”
“Which, by the way, is still a long shot. We don’t even know if we’re near the right beaches.”
Jayce seemed to be picking at his food. He’d had a margarita, and she wondered if the alcohol might affect him if he didn’t eat.
“Are you gonna be okay to fly?” she asked, nodding at his empty cocktail glass.
He chuckled. “I don’t think the FAA is going to ground me. Seriously, Kristine, I’ll keep looking for your mom. Once it gets dark, I’ll be able to see in lit windows, and chances are I won’t be seen. We can leave my sweats behind a rock in the woods where I can go and change privately and then find a phone. I promise to call you if I see her.”
“What phone?”
“I can grab a prepaid phone or use a pay phone—there are still pay phones in most public places. I’m sure if it’s an emergency someone will take pity on me. Just answer even if you don’t recognize the number.”
Kristine leaned on her elbow and rested her chin in her hand. “That’s fine. But what do you plan todoif you find her?”
Jayce scratched his head. “I think that’s when we should get the authorities involved. Kidnapping is a crime. Anyone in that house with any knowledge of your mother being held against her will should be arrested—at least as an accessory. I can ask for a SWAT team. They’ll make sure your mother is safe before they storm the place.”
Kristine closed her eyes. She tried to picture the scene Jayce had described. So far, she didn’t see anything wrong with that plan. “Okay. I think that sounds reasonable. Promise me you won’t do anything about it yourself. Just call the police and give them the address. Make sure they don’t come in with sirens blazing.” She leaned forward and whispered, “You know how they are sometimes.”
Jayce laughed. “Yeah, they can be real cowboys. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they know exactly what’s going on.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I do feel better having a plan we can agree on.”
If you find her.Kristine didn’t feel much better at all. They finished their dinner, and she paid with her credit card.
“I wish I had a couple of cards on me. I’ll pay you back,” Jayce insisted.
“Tell you what, if you find my mother, dinner’s on me.” She managed a small smile, hoping to make him feel better. “It’s not like you can carry your wallet in your beak.”
They walked hand in hand back to Kristine’s car, and she wished they could enjoy the lovely evening. She would’ve loved to watch the sunset with him, holding hands on the beach. But logic dictated she should get back home. She had called in sick. If her shift came around and someone called to check in on her, it would be suspicious if she didn’t answer. The captain had been known to do that before when he was concerned and had the time.
When they arrived at the car, she turned toward him, and they held both hands for a moment. “I’d better get back,” she said.
Jayce leaned in and pulled her close to kiss her. He only let go of her hands to wrap his arms around her and hold her in his warm embrace. Any time his lips touched hers the passion sprang up, and Kristine never wanted that feeling to end.
When they tore away from each other, Kristine took a few deep breaths, bit her lip, then said, “Man, what you do to me… You’d better let me go, or I’ll never get home.”
“I know what you mean. If you don’t hear from me by eleven o’clock, wait for me. I want to be there to protect you while you carry out your orders.”
Kristine opened the car door and slid inside. “What are you going to do? You can’t hold a king-size sheet open and shield me from view all by yourself.”
“I can act as lookout. If I see anything, I’ll give you a couple of squawks so you can find a hiding spot.”
She closed the car door and rubbed her temples, trying to ease the headache that was starting. “Okay.”
Jayce cupped her chin and leaned down. “I know it’s not ideal. What would be perfect is finding your mother. I’m going to concentrate on doing that.”
