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“What are you going to do, Vic?”
She heard his sharp intake of breath. “If Eva’s keeping Jeremy here, then she’s waiting for further orders. That could be the reason she answered her phone so quickly. I’ll pretend I’ve come to take him to a secure place because she’s being evicted tomorrow. I’ll tell her that if the police find her with the boy, she’ll be charged with kidnapping. That should scare her to death and she’ll cooperate.”
It was a brilliant idea, but dangerous for so many reasons. “How can I help?”
“I want you to stay in the car with the doors locked. She’ll have a gun. If there’s trouble and I don’t come out, drive to the other end of the park and stay there while you call Kit. He’ll know what to do. I’ll leave the key in the ignition. Give me your phone and I’ll program his number for you.”
Her fingers shook as she handed him her cell. “Please be careful.”
After he’d punched in the number, he gave it back, eyeing her with his jet black eyes. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to find my son.”
“So will I.”
His lips brushed her cheek before getting out of the car.
Please, please, please be in there, Jeremy.
* * *
VIC WALKED UP to the mobile home entrance and knocked hard with his fist. “Open up, Eva. Fidel got word to me from a friend at the jail where Leroy and Armando have also been arrested. The police confiscated Leroy’s truck containing evidence, so I’ve come for the boy. I have to get him out of here before the police show up.”
“Police?”
So she was here. The fear in her voice convinced him she had Jeremy with her. That meant whoever had planned this kidnapping would be coming for Jeremy. Every second counted. Vic had to move fast.
“The manager is going to evict you tomorrow. If you’re caught with the boy, they’ll force you to tell who’s behind this and you’ll go to prison for kidnapping. No one will save you. Fidel told me to bring you money to pay the rent. Just hand the boy over, Eva.”
“How do I know you’re working with Fidel?”
Vic took a chance. “Shorty from the bar in Buda is our go-between. Now it’s my turn. I need proof before I hand over the money. How do I know the boy is alive?”
“Claro que si!” she rapped out in Spanish.
Joy swept through Vic at her declaration that his son was inside. “Then open the door and I’ll take him out to the car.”
“First the money!” She opened the door, but it was a mere slit because of the chain guard.
Vic reached for his wallet and pulled out four one-hundred-dollar bills. “This is all I could come up with on such short notice.”
Her fingers took it from him. “It’s not enough.”
“There’s more coming, but the manager won’t call the police if you give her that amount tonight. Now hand over the boy.”
“He’s tied up in the back room.”
Cringing with rage, Vic said, “I’ll carry him out. Now open the damn door before I kick it in.”
Suddenly it opened and he charged past Eva to the other end of the unit. The second he opened the door, he saw his precious son lying in a fetal position on the twin bed facing the wall. They’d gagged him with a scarf and tied his ankles with rope. He wasn’t wearing shoes or socks.
Terrified he was unconscious, Vic hurried over to the bed and gathered him in his arms. Eva kept her distance as he carried his son through the unit. Once out the door he headed for the car.
He could see Claire behind the wheel. She undid the locks and he opened the back door and got in, taking Jeremy with him. He looked at Claire. “Drive us home,” he said.
* * *
NEARLY OVERCOME WITH JOY, Claire started the engine and drove the car out to the road that led to the highway. Through the rearview mirror she was able to watch Vic undo Jeremy’s restraints.
“Son? It’s your dad. Can you hear me?”
