Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
Three days.
When all this started, if someone had told Melody this much time was going to pass without any word about where her husband could be, she would’ve lost it. But the days were all blurred together. She was barely sleeping, had to force herself to eat. Amy had taken Hope and Akilah back to her house to get them away from the constant stress and worry that had taken over the Keegan household. Cade had gone with them to help keep watch, make sure they were safe, and Rex, the guy from Colorado, had sent two additional men to help guard the girls. Melody thought they were introduced to her as Meat and Arrow, but she wasn’t one hundred percent sure. She was just relieved someone was watching over her kids.
She paced back and forth, something she’d been doing almost nonstop. She’d probably walked twenty thousand steps today already. But she couldn’t stay still. Couldn’t stop wondering what in the world was happening. Where John might be.
In the meantime, people around the world had donated almost seven hundred million dollars. Including a very large donation from Steve Ballmer, who had connections to Microsoft, and even the richest billionaire in the world, Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH empire of seventy-five fashion and cosmetic brands transferred a large chunk of change because he’d once consulted with Tex about how to keep his five adult children safe from money grubbing kidnappers.
It boggled her mind. That kind of money was incomprehensible. Yet it wasn’t enough. And it also didn’t matter, because they’d received no instructions from John’s kidnappers. Where to drop off the money. Proof of life. Nothing.
Beth hadn’t slept much either; she’d been in John’s office in the basement almost twenty-four-seven. She was constantly talking with Ryleigh, the woman in New Mexico. Together they were going through all of John’s files, trying to figure out who was behind this kidnapping and why.
But it was all happening too slow for Melody’s peace of mind. She wanted John back. Today. Now.
When Melody’s cell phone rang—the phone she’d gotten back from the police—she jerked her head toward the sound. She lunged toward the counter, hoping against hope it was John calling to tell her he’d escaped and to come pick him up. It was a ridiculous thought, but she couldn’t help hoping anyway.
But Wolf was standing right by the counter and reached the phone first. Melody watched him with wide eyes for any sign that whoever was calling had good news.
“Melody Keegan’s phone…yeah, she’s here, but you can talk to me… Wait—where? Seriously? Fuck. All right, someone will be there to get it. And we’re gonna want to see the security tapes too… Are you fucking kidding me? Shit, fucking hell. Fine . You’ll know who’s there to pick it up, because he’ll be the scary-as-fuck guy you don’t want to mess with.”
Then Wolf aggressively punched the off button on the phone.
“That was much more satisfying when phones could be slammed down,” he muttered, before taking a deep breath and looking around at the people in the room.
Caroline and Jodelle had gotten close in the last few days. Jodelle was the sweetest woman, and in any other situation, Melody would’ve loved to have gotten to know her better. But all she could think about was John and what he might be going through.
Baker was never far from his wife’s side, constantly checking in with her, making sure she ate, got enough water, and was doing all right during this very stressful situation. It reminded Melody of how John was with her, and it was equally painful and heartwarming at the same time.
Annie was still there, as well. She was like a cork ready to burst. She’d probably taken as many steps as Melody had. She wanted to be doing something, but because her skills didn’t lie with computers, she had to wait until they had information to act on.
“That was an employee of the Stop-N-Go on Fourth and Main. He said a kid, a teenager, came into the store with a tape and Melody’s phone number. Said he was told to go there and hand it over, and have someone call the number and tell the woman to come pick it up.” Wolf held up his hand. “But they have no security cameras. Oh, and the boy claimed the guy who gave him the tape said the clerk would pay him a hundred bucks to deliver it.”
“You think he’ll still be there when I get there?” Baker asked, obviously having no doubt he’d be the one going to get it.
Wolf snorted. “No. Because the clerk said the kid ran off when he refused to give him any money”
“I’m going too,” Annie said.
“I’ll tell Beth about the call,” Jodelle said. She went over to Baker, went up on her tiptoes and kissed him, before heading for the basement door.
“Even without cameras at the Stop-N-Go, she can look at other cameras in the area to see if she can figure out what direction the boy came from. That might give us an idea of where he met up with whoever gave him the tape,” Wolf muttered.
“Who the hell has something to play a tape on?” Caroline asked no one in particular. “I mean, is it an eight-track, a cassette tape, one of those smaller tapes used in recorders that were so popular with reporters back in the day? Or is it an actual electronic recording?”
“I think Hope has a cassette player,” Melody said, her mind spinning. “We got it for her because she was obsessed with all things eighties when her elementary school had an eighties day. We found it at Goodwill, and they even had some tapes too. Debbie Gibson, Cyndi Lauper, Boy George…” She chuckled, but it wasn’t exactly a humorous sound. “I never would’ve thought I’d need it to play a tape sent by my husband’s kidnappers.”
Caroline immediately went to Melody and put her arm around her waist in support.
“We’ll be back as soon as we can. I’ll call Beth if we get any intel while we’re there,” Baker said in a flat, no-nonsense tone. Then he and Annie were gone.
Melody trembled. She dreaded hearing what was on that tape, but at the same time, Baker and Annie couldn’t get back fast enough. She needed to know what was happening with John. If he was all right. There was no guarantee he would even be on the tape, but she longed to hear his voice. To know he was still alive.
It felt like it took an eternity for Baker and Annie to return. Time seemed to stop as everyone waited. When Melody heard a car in the driveway, it was all she could do not to run out there and snatch the tape out of their hands.
Caroline had retrieved the tape player from Hope’s room, and it was sitting on the counter when Baker and Annie walked into the house, neither of them looking happy.
“The clerk had no info other than the boy was around thirteen, white, wearing jeans and a black T-shirt, and he’d never seen him before,” Baker announced.
“Damn,” Matthew muttered.
Melody almost didn’t care about any of that. Her gaze was fixed on the tape in Annie’s hand. The young woman saw the tape player on the counter and did a double take. “Where the hell did you get that? I told Baker we’d have nothing to play this thing on, but he wanted to get back as soon as he could because he knew Melody would be worried. Figured we could deal with finding something to play it on after we returned.”
Melody shot the taciturn man a grateful smile. He was gruff and rough around the edges, but she liked him a lot. He also didn’t try to hide anything from her. She appreciated that more than she could say. “I bought it for Hope last year when she was going through her eighties phase,” she explained succinctly.
Annie nodded and walked over to the counter. She carefully inserted the tape, then looked up at Baker as if to ask if it was all right to hit play. Melody wanted to growl. The only person she should be asking permission from to play the damn thing was her , but she held back her irritation. Everyone was only trying to help.
“Why don’t you let us listen to this first,” Matthew suggested gently.
Melody shook her head firmly. “No. Come on, Annie. Hit play,” she demanded.
“Are you sure?” Baker asked. “We have no idea what’s on there.”
“John is my husband. I am not stupid. I’m perfectly aware that he might not be on this tape at all. That he could be dead. And you might think I’m hysterical, or simply wishing for things that aren’t true, but I don’t feel as if he’s gone. Here. In my heart,” Melody said, putting a hand on her chest. “I need to know what the next steps are. If they really did this for cash, I want to be able to give the money people have generously sent in to these assholes and get my husband back. I need him. Hope and Akilah need him. Hell, the world needs him. Sometimes it annoys me how often he’s holed up in his basement, helping others, but I wouldn’t want him to be any other way. Now play the damn tape, Annie!”
“Do it,” Baker agreed, nodding at the young woman.
It felt as if everyone in the room was holding their breath as Annie finally pushed the play button on the tape recorder.
It seems as if your wife isn’t cooperating, a man’s voice said.
Melody shivered as the menace and hatred came through loud and clear through the scratchy tape.
Maybe if she knew who you were and why you took me, she’d be more willing to play your game.
Melody couldn’t help but grin just slightly at her husband’s words. He was right. She was more than willing to pay the asshole who’d taken John, but she needed to know how to do that.
How do you know I haven’t already told her those things?
Because if you had, you’d be dead and I’d be home with my family.
So damn cocky. You’ve always been the cockiest son-of-a-bitch out there. As I said, your wife isn’t cooperating. She obviously doesn’t love you as much as you’d thought, does she?
Melody wanted to snort. John knew how much she loved him, because she told him every day. At least once. He was her everything, and he knew it.
Are you listening to me?
Yes.
Hearing John sounding so calm in the face of this asshole getting more and more worked up was satisfying. He’d always been that way. He had to be in order to do what he did. He had to stay calm when the shit was hitting the fan. John had once told Melody that staying calm was the best thing that anyone could do in a situation that was out of their control.
Melody realized she’d missed some of what was said because she was lost in her head, thinking about her husband, but the angry man’s next words snapped her back to attention.
She doesn’t fucking love you! The only reason she’s with a cripple like you is because of your money. It’s no wonder she doesn’t want to pay. She wants to keep all that cash to herself. She’s probably relieved she doesn’t have to look at your disgusting stump anymore!
That pissed Melody off. She loved John for the man he was. She couldn’t care less about what his leg looked like.
How do you think she’s gonna feel when she hears you being shot on tape?
Her heart literally stopped beating in her chest. Melody gripped the edge of the counter and leaned forward, toward the tape player. She wanted to beg Annie to shut it off. She’d been so sure John was alive. That he was fine. She couldn’t bear to hear him being shot on tape.
Don’t comply!
For the first time, John’s voice held a note of anxiety.
Shut up!
I love you, Mel. I’m fine! Don’t give this asshole any money! Tell ? —
Melody gasped as the sound of the shot echoed through the kitchen. Her legs went weak and she collapsed to the floor, shock making it hard to think straight.
You asshole! What the fuck?!
Maybe that will give your precious wife motivation to get the fucking money we asked for!
There was a click—and the recording ended.
John! That was John swearing. He was alive…or had been right after that gunshot had gone off. Melody sat on the floor, shaking uncontrollably.
Caroline was immediately at her side, an arm around her shoulders, holding onto her.
To Melody’s surprise, Baker knelt down next to her on the floor. He didn’t touch her, just hovered in her personal space. “He’s okay,” he said firmly, in a low, deadly tone.
“You don’t know that,” Melody whispered.
“You heard him. He was pissed. If he’d been shot in the head, he wouldn’t have been able to say a word. And if he was shot in the heart or gut, he most likely wouldn’t be swearing at his kidnapper; he’d be swearing in general. Probably using his last moments to tell you how much he loves you.”
Melody shivered at the picture Baker’s words put in her head. But…he had a good point. “Do you think he was shot at and not actually hit?” she asked, hoping against hope Baker would say yes.
Instead, the man pressed his lips together.
Shit.
“Tex is smart. And tough as hell. He’ll get through this. Just as you will. You’re both relying on the other to stay strong. To have a clear head. To do what needs to be done,” Baker told her.
Melody nodded, even though she felt anything but strong right now. “Did you get anything from that?”
“Get anything?”
“Yeah. Like clues or something?”
To her disappointment, Baker shook his head slightly. “Not really. But the clerk at the gas station told us the kid who dropped off the tape had a message. He said the money should be taken to the old Sugar Shack Mill tomorrow at eleven p.m. sharp. No cops, no FBI, no one but you with the money.”
Melody was shocked. “The Sugar Shack Mill? That’s in the middle of nowhere. And it’s long since been abandoned.”
Baker nodded. “Annie did a quick search while we were on our way back here with the tape, and that’s what she gathered from the Google Earth view, and from other intel she found online.”
“Wait, does he want cash? Even I know that’s impossible. First, there’s no way we can get that much money. There simply isn’t enough cash in the state. Second, all those bills would weigh a ton. Literally. Okay, I don’t know exactly how much it would weigh, but that’s ridiculous. Why wouldn’t whoever has John request that it be transferred electronically?”
Melody felt much better talking about this kind of thing. She had no doubt she’d replay that horrible tape over and over in her head for the rest of her life, but for now, she was more than willing to think about anything other than her husband being shot.
“Because the asshole knows we can track any kind of money transfer.”
Looking up, Melody saw Beth had come up out of the basement and was listening to her conversation with Baker. Everyone was. Jodelle, Matthew, Annie, Caroline…and apparently even Ryleigh from The Refuge in New Mexico. Beth was holding a phone, and the comment had come from the small speaker.
“But they’ve already messed up,” Ryleigh continued from the other side of the country. “I’ve been studying the tape, separating out the voices from the background noises, putting the kidnapper asshole’s voice through an analyzer, and I have a program that’s searching through known samples of scumbags from all over the world to see if he matches up.”
“And?” Matthew asked impatiently.
“Nothing yet, as I just started, but right before you guys got back with that tape, I’d narrowed down the list of people who might hate Tex so much they’d want to see him suffer. And those who have the smarts and connections to do something as ballsy as kidnapping him in the middle of the day, on a very public street.”
“Woman,” Baker threatened as he stood, taking Melody’s upper arm in his hand and gently helping her to her feet as well. The difference in how he held Melody and the irritation in his voice was stark.
“Three people: Damien Nightshade, Vincent Coldridge, or Asher Rook.”
“Wait, I know Nightshade,” Matthew said, sounding shocked. “He was a sergeant when I was on the teams. We did an op with him. I can’t remember where.”
“Afghanistan,” Ryleigh said. “And good memory. Yes, he was a medic, and before he worked with you and your team, he worked with Tex. His team was tasked with having Tex and his team’s six as they infiltrated a stronghold of bad guys while trying to take out an HVT.”
“That’s a high-value target,” Caroline whispered to Melody.
“I know,” she said.
“He’s done everything in his power to get the medals stripped that Tex and the rest of his team earned on that mission, because he claims his team was the one that rescued the group of civilians who got caught in the crossfire between the SEALs and ISIS.”
“So he’s holding a grudge,” Matthew commented.
“Oh yeah. A big fucking grudge,” Ryleigh agreed.
“And I know Coldridge,” Baker said. “Or I know of him, at least. He’s got connections with the Italian mafia in New York.”
Melody wanted to ask how the hell Baker knew someone in the Mafia, but decided she was better off not knowing. “Why would he have a thing against my husband?” she asked instead.
“I don’t know. But you can bet I’m going to find out,” Baker said grimly.
“Because Tex tracking down a missing teenager exposed a multimillion-dollar gun-running operation run by Coldridge’s family,” Ryleigh said, as easily as if she was informing them all of the weather for the upcoming week. “He obviously didn’t mean to, but the girl had run away with her boyfriend, who was part of the security team for a shipment of guns, and when the cops went looking for the girl, they found themselves drowning in weapons instead. Coldridge has never forgiven Tex for that, even though he didn’t really have anything to do with exposing the gun-running operation. His missing girl was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Fuck,” Baker said.
Melody agreed with that sentiment a hundred percent.
“And the last guy? Asher Rook? Who’s he?” Annie asked.
“Nobody,” Beth answered, before Ryleigh could. “Literally no one. He hasn’t been in the military, doesn’t have a ton of money or influence. Hell…he actually lives in his mom’s basement. He’s forty-three, not currently married, no kids, and only works sporadically. His favorite pastime is playing video games online.”
“Why in the hell would he be on your list?” Baker asked. “From everything Melody said, the guys who took her and Tex seemed like professionals, and they know enough not to use any electronic means to communicate so they can’t be traced.”
“Well, five years ago, his wife disappeared. Just poof—gone. She went to a football game in Pittsburgh and never came home. The police never found any trace of her. Asher was interrogated, but there’s been no evidence that he had anything to do with her going missing. Apparently, Rook had heard of Tex and contacted him, asking for help. But at the time, he was neck deep in a case, trying to find someone else. He told Rook he was sorry, but he couldn’t help.”
“Did they ever find her?” Melody asked quietly.
“No,” Ryleigh said. “Nothing. No body, no clues whatsoever. Then, about a year ago, there was a flurry of activity on the dark web from Rook’s mom’s IP Address pertaining to Tex. Research…inquiries about everything from his life before he was in the Navy, to the missions he participated in while he was a SEAL, his medical records, and any and all mentions of Tex in the news.”
“That doesn’t mean Rook is involved. Especially if he doesn’t have any military experience. Like Baker said, from what we saw on those surveillance cameras, the people who took Tex and Melody had skills,” Matthew argued.
“Asher Rook has an IQ of 150,” Ryleigh said.
“Holy crap, that’s like…really smart,” Melody said.
“Exactly. The average IQ is a hundred, genius is between 120 and 140…and that’s only about two percent of the population.”
“Then what’s this guy doing living at home and mooching off his mom?” Annie asked. “He could be working for one of the top companies in the world. Making a ton of money.”
“No clue,” Ryleigh said. “But keep in mind that he’s also spent hours upon hours playing video games. And his favorites are those military shoot-’em-up ones.”
“Fuck.”
“Shit.”
“Damn.”
Melody agreed wholeheartedly with her friends’ assessment of the situation.
“All those hours were kind of research for him then,” Baker said. “So are we thinking it’s Rook?”
“I didn’t say that,” Ryleigh said patiently.
“But you didn’t not say it either,” Matthew argued.
“Look. It could be any of those three guys. Or someone I haven’t found yet,” Ryleigh told them.
“But you don’t think so,” Matthew said.
“I don’t think so,” Ryleigh confirmed. “I checked and Nightshade and Coldridge have rock solid alibis. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t have hired someone, or a whole slew of someones, to snatch Tex, but there’s nothing about those two that is out of the ordinary for them. No phone calls to unknown numbers. No money being transferred out of any of their offshore accounts. They’re just going along with their miserable lives at the moment.”
“So what are our next steps? Melody was right, how the hell does he expect her to bring that much cash to the drop point?” Baker asked.
“It’s not about the money. It never has been for him,” Matthew said grimly. “It’s about winning the game. About revenge. He didn’t help Asher find his wife, so he wants Tex to suffer.”
“He’s never going to let John go, is he?” Melody whispered.
The look of compassion and regret on Matthew’s face almost made Melody’s legs buckle again.
“I doubt it, no,” he said after a long moment.
“So what’s the point of all this?” Melody yelled, fed up with everything. She’d reached her breaking point. It hadn’t been that long, but every day that passed seemed like an eternity. A part of her, a very small part, was empathetic toward this Asher guy. It had to have been horrible to not know where his wife was or what had happened to her. He’d gotten no closure whatsoever. But to take out his frustration and anger on her and her family because John had been busy saving someone else? That was unacceptable.
“Why have me bring money to that abandoned factory in the middle of the fucking night if he isn’t going to let John go?”
“Because he wants you to suffer, as well,” Ryleigh said calmly.
Melody didn’t want to hear that. Didn’t like how the other woman seemed so unaffected by this entire situation.
Reaching out, she grabbed the coffee cup she’d used earlier and threw it as hard as she could against the living room wall. It shattered into a thousand pieces.
“And I want you to care!” she shouted at the phone, wishing the woman she was aiming her ire at was standing in front of her. “I want you to sound as if you give a shit, not like you’re reciting what you need to buy at the damn grocery store later! And I want my husband back!”
No one said a word.
All Melody could hear was her own harsh breathing. Caroline’s hand landed on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off. Her gaze was locked on the phone in Beth’s hand, willing the apparently amazing Ryleigh—who John thought was better than him at hacking—to say something that would make her feel better.
Instead, her words made Melody feel worse.
“I care. Tex made me feel…worthwhile for the first time in my life. As if I wasn’t a freak for knowing how to do the things I can do with a computer. He told me he admired me. That if his daughters turned out half as smart, kind, and resourceful as I am, that he’d consider it a blessing. And the fact that someone dared use you to get to him pisses me off, because I was once used as bait and leverage, just as you were. But if I take the time to think about it too much, I won’t be able to do my job. If it makes you feel better, after this is over and Tex is back home, I’ll completely fall apart and probably have to spend several sessions with our in-house psychiatrist, Henley, here at The Refuge.”
“I’m sorry. Shit, I’m so sorry. I’m being a bitch,” Melody said, her voice hitching. “You probably haven’t slept much in the last three days either, and I’m here being ungrateful and horrible. I know you care. Everyone does. Because that’s the kind of man John is. He cares about everyone, wants to protect the world from evil, so I know the people he’s closest to would feel the same. I just…I’m so worried. And frustrated about what to do next.”
“Ryleigh, where is Asher now?”
Everyone turned to stare at Annie. She was standing away from the others a bit, her hands in fists, and she…looked… pissed .
“At this exact moment, I’m not sure. As I said earlier, he lives with his mom in a neighborhood north of the town of Washington. Why? What are you thinking?”
“People with high IQs are book smart, but sometimes they aren’t the best at dealing with real-world stuff. What if he’s got Tex nearby?”
“Nearby how?” Baker barked.
“I don’t mean in his mom’s house, that would be too obvious, even for him. But are there any abandoned houses in the neighborhood or within a reasonable distance? Or…I’m assuming he wouldn’t have him stashed at the money-drop factory, but is there somewhere in between that and his home that could be a possibility?”
They all heard fingers typing on a keyboard. “I don’t know. I need to look,” Ryleigh said.
“We’ve got until tomorrow at eleven at night to figure things out,” Annie said.
“No way in hell is Melody going to that drop,” Matthew said firmly.
“What? Why not? I have to!” Melody said.
“Nope. Not happening,” Matthew told her. “If you think Tex would ever forgive me, or any of us, for putting you in the middle of this clusterfuck, you’re wrong. You’ll stay here, where you’ll be safe.”
“If this Asher guy is as smart as Ryleigh says he is, he knows that’s what John’s friends will say. He obviously knows where I live, since he kidnapped us from our own street. He’s aware that there’s no way anyone would let me go to that drop. What better way to circle back around and snatch me out from under your noses while you’re all occupied at the damn Sugar Shack?”
“Shit. She has a point,” Baker growled. Honest-to-God growled. In any other situation, Melody might’ve found it hot.
“What if we turn the tables on him?” Beth asked. “He knows we aren’t going to bring a billion dollars in cash to the drop. He probably won’t even be there. If Ryleigh’s right, he just wants to fuck with Melody…and Tex. So you guys can hit any possible places where Ryleigh thinks Tex might be stashed, while Melody goes to The Sugar Shack…not alone,” she added quickly. “Cade could go with her. Or maybe there’s another one of Tex’s friends who could go with her.”
“I’ll call the guys,” Matthew said quickly.
“The guys?” Melody asked.
“Yeah. Abe, Cookie, Dude, Mozart, and Benny. Hurt and Cutter will stay home to look after the families, just in case this Rook guy decides to branch out with his asshole-ness.”
“I’m sure they have stuff going on,” Melody protested, but deep down, she knew she’d feel a hell of a lot better with Matthew’s SEAL team there with her.
“I’ll call Truck and my dad too. No one fucks with Truck,” Annie said with a shit-eating grin on her face. “He and I can team up to check out any places Ryleigh comes up with, and Fletch can stay with you and the rest of the guys, Melody.”
“How are you going to get her to The Sugar Shack without this Rook guy seeing a vehicle full of six former special forces guys?” Jodelle asked.
“The more I think about this, the more I think Ryleigh is right. Rook never intended to meet Melody at that abandoned factory. But for the one percent chance he is there, we’ll only put one of our guys in the vehicle with her,” Matthew said. “He’ll be crouched down in the front seat next to her. The others will fan out and infiltrate the factory grounds and building. If anyone’s there, they’ll find him—them—and wait for the right moment to take them out.”
For the first time, Melody began to feel a bit more optimistic. “And the money?” she asked.
“It won’t be necessary either way. If Rook is there, we’ll take him down. If no one shows up, the money still isn’t needed,” Baker said.
“Why hasn’t he called?” Melody asked. That detail had been bugging her. “Why pass the message about the money through that kid? If he truly wants me to suffer, wouldn’t he call to gloat that he has John? To hurt him more while I’m listening live?”
“Because he knows he could be tracked that way,” Beth said. “He knows what Tex can do with anything electronic, and probably figures he’s got friends who can do the same thing. So he’s avoiding any places with cameras, or sending emails or texts, or calling. He’s trying to go old school, thinking he can stay under the radar that way.”
“Idiot,” Ryleigh muttered through the phone. “I’m gonna start searching for spots where Rook could stash Tex. I’ll be in touch. Oh, and by the way, we passed nine hundred million in donations.”
Melody gasped. “Holy shit.”
“You and Tex will have to figure out what to do with the money when he comes home,” Ryleigh told her.
“Give it back!” Melody said without hesitation. “We don’t need it.”
“Not so fast,” Baker said. “Think about what Tex could do with that kind of cash. Trackers, foundations for the missing, training for police departments…the possibilities are endless.”
He wasn’t wrong. “But won’t people want their money back, once they find out it wasn’t needed after all?” she asked.
“Some, maybe. But I’m thinking the people who donated money did so not thinking they’d see it again. They did so because of Tex’s legacy. Because of all the good he’s done in the world,” Jodelle said gently.
Maybe because it was Jodelle who’d said the words—a woman Melody had only recently met, someone she hadn’t even known existed until this fucked-up situation, who was with a man who reminded her a hell of a lot of John—but Melody seriously began to consider all the good a billion dollars could do for the missing and exploited of the world.
“I can help you figure out where to donate, if you go that route,” Ryleigh said from the phone speaker. “I’ve had lots of experience with that kind of thing myself.”
“There will be time for all of that later,” Matthew said. “We have until tomorrow at eleven to come up with a plan.”
Melody still had no idea if John was truly all right or not. That shot she’d heard on the tape had shaken her to the core. But now that they had some semblance of a plan, she felt a little lighter deep down. The possibility that she might soon be reunited with her husband had her wishing time would pass more quickly. She wanted it to be eleven o’clock tomorrow night, right now. So she could get John back.
Of course, she had a feeling it wouldn’t be as easy as she hoped. That whoever had John wanted to make them both suffer for as long as possible. But he’d underestimated the stubbornness of the SEALs, Deltas, Green Berets—Annie—and John’s friends. They’d never give up trying to find him and get him back alive.
“Hang in there, honey. We’re coming for you.”