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But even though I was telling Mary this … it was my turn to be brave.
Chapter 41
Charles
“Maybe we should wait for their call,” Mason said from the backseat of the car. “Not make any rash decisions.”
“Screw that. This psycho has Mary,” Brad shot out, doing ninety on the highway.
My security was tailing us to our destination, and the cops would be right behind them. I couldn’t wait for them, and since I was tracking Becky’s phone, I knew exactly where they were.
Part of me, the rational part of me, wanted to give this crazy woman the money she needed. It was the most certain way to ensure their safety—both Mary’s and Becky’s. But who knew when it would stop? If I paid her fee now, what was to say she wouldn’t come back and take Sarah next time and ask for more money then?
My phone pinged with a text, and I immediately swiped up to read it. I’d been holding on to my phone like it held my life. Which it did. My family was my life.
The cops had been trying to call the phone, but no one was picking up. Becky was smart though; she hadn’t turned off the phone, merely silenced it. Her mother wasn’t too smart. That was the first thing that she should have confiscated.
We were five minutes away, and my heart pounded hard in the chambers of my chest.
“She says to put ten grand in an envelope inside a bag and drop the money at Monroe and Lexington.” My voice shook as I spoke, my normal confidence not there.
“Let’s go there. Going to where Becky is will cause trouble. How do we even know Mary is with her and this crazy woman hasn’t taken her to a different location?” Mason said, his voice full of stress.
“Shut up. The only way to get this done is to go there and get Mary ourselves,” Brad snapped, eyes solely focused on the road while his hands were wrapped tightly around the steering wheel at ten and two.
I closed my eyes. Fear and adrenaline were a dangerous mix. For once, I didn’t know what to do.Did we just give this woman the money? Would that ensure the safe return of Mary and Becky? Would there forever be a bounty on my kids’ heads if she wasn’t caught?
What if she had a gun or other people working with her?
I knew nothing.
“Text her back, Charles,” Mason ordered.
I tried to focus on the task at hand, but my brain was mush.
“Charles!”
My eyes blinked open, and I texted four words back.
We’ll get your money.
“Did you text her?” Mason asked.
“I did.”
“So, where are we headed now?” he asked, frantic.
“What do you mean, where, Mason?” Brad griped. “We’re going to get Mary.”
“That’s stupid,” Mason ground out. “She gave us an alternate location. We still have to get the money. Right now, the banks are closed. The max that we can withdraw is three thousand.”
“Well, there’s three of us, so …” Brad tipped his chin. “We’ll get the money just in case, but we’re not going by her terms.”
“What do you mean? She has our kid,” Mason said.
I couldn’t think. I inhaled deeply, held my breath, and then counted to five.
“Charles …” Mason demanded.
