Franklin Graves had nothing to say to the man who sat in his passenger seat, but if he screwed this up, his wife and son would be dead. So he told Garrett Reid the truth.
“The FBI is following us.” His voice was raw, the adrenaline from his court performance giving way to the cold fear that his family was in danger.
“Doesn’t matter,” Garrett said. He was grinning, his fingers tapping a silent rhythm on his leg.
“They’re going to charge you with murder.” His voice cracked. He cleared his throat, his chest tight. The nightmare had started three days ago, and Franklin didn’t know when it would end.
“Nope. Didn’t do it because there’s no evidence. No evidence means not guilty. They have nothing on me. Nothing!” Garrett chuckled. He was enjoying himself, the sick bastard.
“You attempted to kidnap two federal agents.”
“It won’t stick.” He ran a hand over his hair. “Just call me Teflon.”
Franklin swallowed nervously. What would happen if he couldn’t get the charges dropped? Would his family die?
Garrett glanced at him. “What’s your problem? You did good.”
“I’m not a criminal defense lawyer, not anymore.”
“Doesn’t matter. You did what you needed to do, and soon we’ll be out of your hair.”
“You have to be in court on Monday.”
“I’ll be long gone.”
“They froze your passport.”
He laughed. “Ye of little faith.”
“They’re dead, aren’t they?” Franklin said, his voice a whisper.
“They’d better be dead,” Garrett said. “I wanted to be gone by now, but Audrey was still having fun. Damn feds. Serves them right.”
Franklin was thinking about his family, not the federal agents. He decided not to say anything else. In the three hours he had known this man, Franklin realized two things: Garrett Reid was both smart and ruthless. And, maybe, crazy. He had to be crazy to think he could get away with murder when the cops were already onto him!
“Why me?” he asked. He didn’t mean to say it out loud, but it came out anyway, so he kept talking. “There’re other lawyers, better lawyers, people with experience who would be able to do a better job. Why me? Why my family?”
“Because Audrey knows you,” Garrett said matter-of-factly.
Franklin almost said he didn’t know anyone named Audrey, but decided to keep it to himself.
Garrett glanced at him with a frown. “What’s your problem, Franklin? We’re going to pay you. Don’t tell me you have some warped sense ofethics.You’re a fucking lawyer, you got off drug dealers all the time in Miami.”
That was a long time ago, before he had a crisis of conscience.
He didn’t want or expect money from these people. He just wanted his wife and son back, alive and well.
On Saturday, he’d gone to his office to catch up on some work; when he came home his wife and son weren’t there. At first, he wasn’t worried. Nathan had batting practice that afternoon and they could have gone shopping after. He called Lily; no answer.
When they weren’t home by dinner, he became worried. He called Lily again; again no answer. Nathan didn’t have a phone. He was about to call the batting coach to find out what time they left, when his phone rang;Lily My Lovepopped up on screen and he smiled.
“Hello, I was getting worried.”
“Hello, Franklin,” a woman said. Not his wife.
“Who is this?” he demanded.
“I can’t believe you don’t remember me,” she said. “You will. But for now, your wife and stepson are just fine. They will stay fine as long as you do what I say.”
