He immediately thought that they were being held for ransom. He wasn’t rich, but he had some money from the years he worked in criminal law, which he’d put in two trusts, one for his daughter, and one for Nathan’s education. He’d do whatever he could to get his family back. But he also wasn’t positive that this wasn’t some sort of prank. He’d heard how sophisticated scammers were, that there were computer programs that could spoof a loved one’s voice. Maybe this was a twist on that cruel con.
“What do you want?” he demanded.
“Right to the climax,” she said, oddly.
“I’d like to speak to my wife. I can’t take your word that she is okay.”
“You’ll have to.”
“Then I’ll call the police.”
They could trace her phone, find her.
“You call the police, they both die, and it won’t be pretty.”
It was the tone more than the words that had Franklin believing this woman was serious.
“I need proof of life,” he said quietly. “Please.”
“Please, that’s a nice touch. Say pretty please.”
He straightened. Was she serious?
“Pretty please,” he whispered. The woman laughed.
A few seconds later, he heard Lily’s voice. She stuttered, “F-Franklin?”
“Are you okay? Is Nathan okay?”
“We’re fine. Nathan is in a cage and I—”
“That’s enough,” Franklin heard in the background, and then the woman came back on the phone. “They’re alive. They’ll remain alive unless you disobey. I’ll contact you tomorrow with instructions.”
“How much do you want? What—” But she’d already hung up.
Franklin eased his sedan into the narrow lot behind his townhouse, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror out of habit. He’d told Dotty not to come in for the next couple of days. She only worked part-time, so it didn’t raise eyebrows. He didn’t want her anywhere near this.
“Nice office,” Garrett said, stepping out and glancing around. “Classy, but not ostentatious. I like it.”
Franklin unlocked the back door. As soon as they walked in through the break room that had once been a kitchen, a woman leapt up from the couch in the waiting room, tossing aside a fashion magazine. “Garrett!” she squealed, launching herself into his arms.
They kissed—deeply, hungrily—and then Garrett spun her, pinning her to the wall. She laughed, breathless.
Franklin froze in the doorway, staring. Heknewher. That face. Those eyes. But the name Garrett used—Audrey—didn’t match the one in his memory. He couldn’t quite place her, even though he recognized her. Not yet.
She turned and smiled directly at him, her fingers pressed playfully to her lips as if sharing a secret. Then she crossed the room with eerie calm, kissed Franklin on the cheek. He shivered.
“I need you for just a minute,” she said, pulling out a phone.Snap.“Say cheese!”Snap.“Perfect.” Her tone shifted. “Now go upstairs while Mommy and Daddy talk.”
She gave him a gentle push toward the stairs. Garrett didn’t say a word as he watched the exchange. Did he look confused? Or bemused? Franklin couldn’t tell.
“My wife—” Franklin began, but she cut him off sharply.
“Shut up, Franklin.” Her eyes turned from playful to cold in a blink. “Go.”
His instincts screamed at him to stay, to demand answers—but something in her voice, her smile, chilled him.
He passed his office then turned up the stairs to the second floor where he had a spare office for his occasional intern and a small conference room that housed his law book collection. He sat at the long table, his hands trembling. The silence below seemed unnatural, then he heard a crash and moan and laugh. Her laugh.
