Page 129 of Running to You

Michael shook his head vehemently.

Sam couldn’t agree more.

“No,” she said. “I’ll fly in, and then we’ll figure out a place to meet.”

Michael held the card to her, and Sam glimpsed it a second before she grabbed it.

No money for 5 days. Wire transfer out of the country.

“The thing is, Jed.” Yes, she definitely sounded stronger. If she was faking it, she was doing a good job. “I wired the money today, but it won’t be at my bank for five days.”

“Now, Eliza.” The man’s patronizing tone made Sam want to punch him. Well, more than punch him. “We both know wire transfers only take twenty-four hours. You do wire transfers every day in my business.”

His business.

Seemed Jed had forgotten who actually owned it.

“It’s in an overseas account,” Eliza said.

“You’re lying.” The man’s voice held a threat for the first time in the conversation.

“You always said the American banking system was on the verge of collapse. With everything in the news lately, it seemed wise to get the money out of the country.”

Michael gripped Sam’s arm and handed him a business card. It had a phone number and a few other words. Michael mouthed, Now.

Oh-kay. Sam would figure it out. He climbed out of the car but didn’t slam the door. No need to remind Keller that their conversation wasn’t private. He moved into the next aisle of shiny new automobiles, carrying Michael’s phone and two business cards in his hand. He dialed the number Michael had written.

A woman answered with, “If you’re calling for another favor, I’m hanging up.” Her voice was familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

“My name is Sam Wright. I’m Michael’s brother.”

A slight gasp. “Is he okay?” Her lighthearted tone was all business now. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s fine.” Sam read the notes on the card. Michael hadn’t bothered with things like instructions or explanations. Aside from the phone number, all it said was,

Hostage negotiation. Location of phone ASAP.

“He’s involved in a hostage negotiation,” Sam said. “Two people have been kidnapped, and the kidnapper’s demanding—”

“I don’t need the details,” the woman said. “He needs a location?”

“Of a cell.”

“Europe? Asia?”

“Uh, probably somewhere in New England, actually.”

“Okay, give it to me.”

Sam read Keller’s phone number, and she said, “I’ll get back to you. Hang tight.” She ended the call.

As he returned to the SUV, he prayed the woman would be able to find Keller.

Eliza was crying in the backseat. “Jed, Nicole hasn’t done anything wrong. Just leave her be. Leave them all—”

“This is on you, Elizabeth. Whatever happens to her at this point is entirely dependent on what you do. You come back to your family and she’ll be fine. As will your mother and our son.”

Michael wasn’t giving instructions now, just watching with his lips pressed into a thin line.