by Juanita Kees
‘Yes, she is. It’s her tenth birthday in a couple of months,’ she choked out. ‘I hope … I want to have her home safely before then.’
He wanted that too. Now more than ever. And he hoped Peta would let him be part of his daughter’s life. Things could have been so different if he’d only listened to his heart instead of his mind. ‘Do you have any more photographs?’
She shook her head. ‘Not with me right now.’
Surreal. The enormity of it slammed into his gut. He was a father. Had been one for almost ten years. To a daughter he’d never seen and maybe never would because that little girl was in the hands of a madman. God help Paul Price if he harmed her in any way. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
Peta shifted on her chair, catching her bottom lip between her teeth then releasing it. ‘Would it have made a difference to your decision or your family’s?’
His eyes snapped to hers, anger rising in his gut. ‘Did you think it wouldn’t? Good God, Peta, you know me better than that. I could have at least made sure you and the baby were taken care of financially.’
Peta snatched the photo from his hands and put it back in her purse, her spine ramrod straight, ice dripping from her words. ‘It wasn’t your money I wanted. I was—and still am—quite capable of taking care of my daughter financially.’
‘Yes, and by keeping your mouth shut, you’ve endangered her life and your own.’
Jaime regretted the words the moment they left his tongue. Peta flinched as the shutters descended in her eyes and she retreated inside the shell she wore like armour. What the hell was he thinking laying the blame on her? She’d be feeling guilty enough. He’d been the one to close the door on their relationship, placing her in a position where she couldn’t approach him about the pregnancy. He’d made it final.
‘I’m sorry. That was unfair and a lousy thing to say.’ He ran a hand through his hair, the other on his hip.
‘I did what I could, Jaime. If I could change anything in my life at all, it would be that I wasn’t strong enough to walk away from him the day he stepped into my hospital room. He was caring, charming and oh so believable in his concern for me. He promised me a dream I could hold on to, something to live for. And when I realised I was being used for his own gain, it was harder to get out than it should have been.’
Her mouth pulled so tight he wanted to ease the crease away with his thumb. He jammed his hands into his pockets. He wanted to reach for her and hold her, ease some of her pain, but her arms hugged her waist in a barrier between them, so he did the only thing he could and listened.
‘It didn’t take long to reveal his narcissistic side. Add drugs, alcohol and bad company into the mix and he bordered on bi-polar, swinging between mania and deep depression.’ Peta raised her eyes to his. ‘You have no idea what it’s like knowing you’d be hurt if you stayed or dead if you left, because I had no doubt he’d carry out his threats. And if I’d known he’d extend those threats to my daughter, I would have taken the risk and ran. But I didn’t.’
Jesus. The thought of what she’d been through made him want to kill Paul Price himself. ‘But Mark—’
‘Did as much as the law allowed him to in order to protect me without ending up in prison himself or being thrown off the force for it.’
And he’d done nothing except get on with his life and try to forget her.
The door opened as Mark and Harold returned. ‘We didn’t have much luck with the analytics.’ Mark dropped the room key on the table and took in the tension in the room. ‘No background noise, nothing to identify his whereabouts.’ He watched as Harold bent to wipe up the soapy puddle on the floor near the kitchen sink then looked at Peta and Jaime curiously, catching sight of the still damp patch on Jaime’s chest. ‘World War Three or just a minor disagreement?’ When they both glared at him, he continued, ‘Okay, then … on to the plans for tonight. Since Paul’s violence has escalated, we’re looking at putting a substitute in Peta’s place for the drop off—’
Peta dug her heels in. ‘No, I go or the deal’s off. He’s not playing games anymore and I won’t do anything that might make him angry enough to take it out on Bella.’
Mark tried to be the voice of reason. ‘Peta, he’s unstable. Who knows what he’s likely to do? The drop off could be a trap. It’s too risky. He knows there’s no way we’re letting you go in there on your own. He’ll be ready and waiting for us … and you.’
Peta looked at them, chin raised, her stubborn expression leaving them in no doubt she wasn’t in the mood to obey. ‘All the more reason why I should be doing what he says. I won’t put anyone else’s life in danger. There are already too many innocent people involved. It’s my daughter’s life at stake here. I go tonight and there’ll be no argument.’ She held up her hand as Mark began to protest. ‘If Paul sees you or anyone else show up, he’s more likely to harm Bella. You know how hostage negotiation works, Mark. It’s me he wants. I know how to handle him. It’s been a week since he snatched her. I want her back.’
Mark sighed. ‘I had to try. Okay, but be careful and wait for instructions.’
‘Surely there’s another way?’ Jaime shifted on his feet, the thought of Peta walking into danger sending chills up his spine.
‘I’ll do what I have to do,’ she insisted.
Mark glowered. ‘You’ll do what I tell you to do.’
Her chin rose higher. Jaime admired Peta’s strength, even while his heart pounded with fear for her. She’d come a long way since they’d been apart. The naive young girl he’d left behind was gone for good. No way was she letting anyone do battle on her behalf. In different circumstances it would be as sexy as hell. Right now, it was downright damn scary.
‘So, what’s the plan then?’ Jaime asked, not entirely sure he really wanted to know. There was so much at stake, so much to lose, so many things that could go wrong. No one knew that better than him.
Chapter 9
Time dragged by as day turned to night and the clock on the kitchen wall marched slowly towards the deadline. Peta’s teeth worried her lower lip as images of her daughter flashed through her mind. God help Paul if he’d hurt her in any way. She was so tired of making excuses for him. He’d only harmed himself when he’d refused to seek help with his gambling and drug addiction. Instead Paul had sunk deeper into the dark underworld of crime. She should have just given him the money.
I helped you earn it. If it wasn’t for me you’d still be a nobody.
To him, she was the meal ticket to get exactly what he wanted—power, wealth and the best drugs money could buy. The man she’d once thought sensitive and caring had become her worst enemy and a bully.
‘It’s time.’ Mark’s voice fell into the silence like rocks on a pond.
Peta drew the brown envelope towards her, terror eating at her stomach. What if their plan went wrong? Harold had a copy of the video footage that would lead to an investigation to put Paul and his cronies behind bars for a long time. They had their evidence, now all they needed was to ensure Bella’s safety before Mark could make his arrest.
‘Let’s do this.’ Mark placed a mobile phone in Peta’s hand. ‘Your number, but it has a tracking app enabled which will activate when you receive Paul’s call. We’ll be following closely and will be within shouting distance at the drop off point. Your wire will pick up any conversation.’
‘I’m not happy about the wire.’ Paul would know.
‘It stays in place or I pull you out and find a substitute.’
Every second counted. She couldn’t afford to argue. ‘Let’s do this,’ she said, apprehension thick in her voice.
‘Jaime, keep your distance when this goes down. Don’t pull any heroic moves. You’re a sitting duck Price is more than happy to shoot at. And I’m fairly sure he won’t hesitate to take us down with you,’ Mark instructed.
‘You’re forgetting this shit used to be my day job. I know what to do,’ Jaime snapped back.
Mark patted his shoulder as he turned
his attention to the three policemen who made up the Williams police force. They’d been over the plan many times, but there could be no doubt on this mission. So much could go wrong. She didn’t want to think about the consequences if it did. While Mark barked out last minute orders and all attention was on him, she slipped her 9mm Beretta Nano from her handbag into her coat pocket.
Main Street was completely deserted as Peta pulled the rental car into the parking lot in front of the Post Office. She scanned the darkened area carefully while touching her coat pocket to reassure herself the gun was close at hand. She would not hesitate to shoot Paul where he stood. If he made even the smallest attempt to hurt her or if he’d harmed so much as a hair on Bella’s head, she would pull the trigger with no regrets in the name of self-defence. And then scour every inch of the town in search of her child.
She got out of the car, the brown envelope containing the evidence Paul was so desperate to get heavy in her hands. Fear trickled through her, but she pushed it back. Kiss up, shut up, know what you want. The mantra played in her head as she looked around her. There was no sign of the others, but she knew they were there. Paul would too.
‘Well, here goes,’ she muttered into the microphone concealed in the front of her shirt.
Mark’s voice was reassuring in her ear. ‘Good girl. Keep your eyes open and don’t take any risks. I mean it, Peta.’
‘Yes,’ she hissed. ‘I know how to play.’
‘And watch that temper, girl,’ he growled. ‘Don’t antagonise him.’
She didn’t bother to respond to that and instead walked down the side of the building and into the alley. She found the darkened doorway and checked her watch—dead on time. Peta propped the envelope up against the door frame and hurried back to the safety of the car, locking the doors. She could almost feel his evil presence in the creepy, deserted alleyway. She jumped as her mobile phone rang, splitting the silence. Her finger trembled as she pressed the answer button.
‘There was no need to run away like that,’ Paul’s voice taunted. ‘You know I won’t hurt you, not when you’ve been such a good girl.’ His nasty laugh jarred in her ear, sending frissons of ice-cold fear down her spine. Play the game.
‘Where is she, Paul? I’ve given you what you want.’ Peta heard the rip of paper as he opened the envelope.
‘Well, well … it’s all here,’ said Paul. ‘I didn’t think you’d do it, princess.’
‘I’m not your princess, Paul. You have your evidence. Please give me what I want now.’ She struggled to keep her tone even, to keep the impatience and desperation out of it.
‘Oh come on now. Did you really think I’d believe that you and your cop mates would make it this easy? You’ve never been very co-operative, Peta. You always were too stupid to know when to give me what I needed.’ He laughed again, that cruel, taunting sound that made the fine hair on her arms rise with the goosebumps on her skin. ‘What did you expect, my dear? That I would take the envelope and just hand her over nicely?’
‘Paul, I swear to God, if you don’t tell me where Bella is, I am going to get out of this car and hunt you down and kill you myself.’
Peta tried and failed to hold onto her calm. Long, sleepless nights filled with the fear of the unknown took their toll. The vision of her daughter being taken from school. What had Paul said or done to make her go with him so easily? Bella had always been so wary of him.
The soles of her feet still ached from racing out of the school grounds, desperate to find his car still there or discover it was some kind of cruel joke. The awful, tearing pain that had gripped her as she’d seen his car disappear from sight and known it to be true, taking with it what was left of her heart.
‘Back off, Peta.’ Mark’s low growl sounded in her left ear.
‘Okay, okay.’ Paul’s voice echoed in her right. ‘We’re going to play a little game, a treasure hunt, if you will. Go to the abandoned storage warehouse on Smith Street. Your next clue is there. I’ll be in touch when you get there.’
‘I’m done playing games, Paul. You have what you want, now I want my daughter back.’
‘I don’t have everything I want yet, so you have no choice. Clock’s ticking.’ The line went silent as Paul hung up.
‘Sonofabitch!’ she yelled, as she stabbed the button to end the call.
‘Take it easy, Peta, or I pull you in,’ said Mark in her ear.
She drew in a deep breath and let it go slowly. ‘I’m okay, sorry.’
‘You’re doing fine. He’ll hang back a while to see if you’re followed so we’re going to wait here a while. I’ve got two people on their way to the warehouse. They’ll cover you until we get there,’ Mark instructed.
Peta started the engine, put the car in gear and pulled away. As she headed towards Smith Street, she spotted the familiar heavy shape of Paul’s imported sedan in her rear view mirror. The cocky bastard flashed his lights behind her before veering off into a side street. She listened to the squeal of his tyres as he sped away in the opposite direction.
‘He’s not following me. Why?’
‘This is just another clue, all part of his game,’ Mark answered. ‘Play along, keep your cool. We can’t move too quickly on this. He’s too volatile.’
‘Yeah, yeah, I know.’ Peta felt for the gun concealed in her coat pocket, closing her eyes at the comfort of having the cold steel against her palm. ‘I’m turning into Smith Street now. The warehouse is dead ahead. There’s no sign of Paul.’
‘He may have come in from another direction, but my guys would’ve spotted him. Since they haven’t reported any movement except yours, I’m guessing he’s on his way to the next rendezvous point,’ Mark said. ‘We’re right behind you now. Wait in the car.’
‘I’m not waiting in the car.’ She braked outside the warehouse and got out. ‘If he’s coming for me, I want to meet him face to face, not be taken by surprise.’ Because if he did, she wouldn’t have time to defend herself. She’d been caught off guard too many times in the past.
‘Damn it, Peta, don’t do anything stupid,’ Mark yelled in her ear, his patience clearly slipping its tether.
‘You forget I’ve played his games before. I know how his sick mind works and I’m damned if I’m going to sit here waiting for him to kill me,’ she bit back.
Silent and swift through the darkness, Mark, Harold and Jaime were at her back before she reached for the door handle. Jaime’s hand closed around her upper arm as he pulled her towards him, allowing Mark and Harold to take their places in front of the door. They swung it wide, guns aimed into the semi-darkness, the only light coming from the full moon as it filtered through the dusty windows.
‘Clear,’ Mark called, moving into the building.
Peta’s heart sank as Mark and Harold searched every dark, damp corner of the warehouse, knowing they’d find it deserted. A chair stood in the centre of the room, an empty reminder of the horror that might have taken place there on the cold concrete floor.
Peta walked towards it. Thick, coarse rope taunted her from the backrest, sliced through and left to hang loosely from the wooden sides. The cut was clean and sure, typical of Paul’s skill with a knife. She’d seen the flash of that blade often enough to recognise its signature cut.
The bastard had tied up her daughter. God knows what else he’d done to terrorise her. Her gaze fell on Bella’s blue ribbon where it lay next to the chair. Picking it up, she wrapped it around her fingers and bit down on the nausea that rose to burn in her throat. Her fear turned to frustration. She swallowed around the scream that fought its way to the surface, counting to ten and breathing to stem the anger that took its place.
Jaime turned her to face him, his hands firm yet comforting on her shoulders. ‘Peta.’ Tipping up her chin, he forced her to meet his gaze. ‘Where would he think to go next?’
Peta tried frantically to clear her head. She scrubbed her cheeks with her fists to dry the angry tears. Jaime held her closer and she laid her head against his
warm, comforting chest, closed her eyes to the press of his lips against her forehead.
‘Think, Peta. What would his next step be?’
She moved out of his arms. He was too close, she couldn’t think, even though the temptation to stay in the comfort of his hold was high. Paul’s nature was to plan perfectly. His determination to be smarter, better, above everyone else meant he’d have planned every move right down to the finest detail.
‘He said there’d be another clue,’ she said. Her eyes dropped to the thin strip of blue wrapped around her fingers. ‘The ribbon. Paul bought Bella a blue ribbon at the church fair for her first birthday. We were in London, Trafalgar Square at St Martin’s in the Field. The church.’ Triumph warred with fear for her daughter. At least they were one step closer. ‘That’s where we need to go next.’
Her mobile phone rang, a shrill sound that shattered the air around them. Impatiently she hit the answer button. ‘I know where you are, Paul. I’m on my way.’ Know what you want. ‘I want to know that Bella is okay. Let me talk to her.’ Kiss up. ‘Please?’
Paul’s laugh held no humour. ‘You always thought you were smarter than me. Well come on then and bring your playmates with you. I know they’re there. I’m in the mood for a good fight. It would be a pity if Bella got hurt though, wouldn’t it? I’ve done such a good job taking care of her up until now.’
Peta closed her eyes. Thank God. Whether he wanted to or not he’d let her know she was okay. ‘Paul, I’ll warn you again. If you harm Bella in any way, I’ll kill you myself. It would be worth the jail time,’ Peta said, putting her hand in her coat pocket and closing her fingers around the butt of the gun.
Mark held a warning finger under her nose. ‘Stop baiting him.’
Peta pulled her hand out of her pocket and pushed his away. ‘I’m on my way.’
‘I’ll be waiting right here with your bastard child,’ Paul replied, and the line went dead.
