Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Using the burner phone, the twins had tried calling Dana’s brother repeatedly Saturday afternoon, but they got voicemail every time. The recording said he was available during office hours, so the twins decided to go home and try again tomorrow. “No way we’re leaving a message,” Pete had said.
Hunter had agreed with him, but then suggested they download some app that disguised voices. “Like they do in the movies!”
Pete thought that was a terrible idea, since the app must have some way of tracking whoever used it. “This isn’t a movie, dumbass.”
His brother had been offended and made yet another profanity-filled argument for using the app. They were still squabbling as they walked out the door. The last thing Nolan heard was that they were going to try calling again the next day, Sunday. Apparently, they weren’t aware that office hours only applied during the work week.
Nolan felt the pit in his stomach sink as he realized this whole plan was quickly unraveling and could only get worse. He’d always prided himself on being smart, and yet his two idiot cousins had gotten him trapped in an unwinnable situation.
He had to figure out a way to extricate himself from this disaster.
And that’s when it hit him—he could end this whole thing by letting her go. They were pretty much in the boonies, but if she walked long enough, she’d encounter something—a vehicle or a house. His own car was parked on the side of the motel, and he could cover the license plate with mud, just to be on the safe side. They’d been careful about wearing gloves, so if he packed up all their stuff and left immediately, there’d be no physical evidence to link them back to the motel. Sure, his cousins would be angry and think he was an idiot, but he could live with that.
Best of all, Dana didn’t seem traumatized by the experience. No harm, no foul.
He felt better about having a plan, so when the twins told him they were heading out for the day, saying he was in charge, he agreed to stay behind. He really couldn’t let her go without giving her something to eat, though. It seemed the least he could do.
He waited until his cousins had been gone for a good fifteen minutes, then got in his car and drove to the local grocery store in the nearby village. Giving Dana a nice meal was not going to undo the emotional damage, but it couldn’t hurt. As he put his items on the conveyer belt, the teenaged cashier, a young woman with pink hair, said, “Someone’s going all out. Got a hot date tonight?”
He looked down at the porterhouse steak, bottle of wine, plastic wine glasses, potatoes, and packaged salad and had to agree that it looked that way. He fished two fifty-dollar bills out of his wallet. “Something like that,” he said, handing the money over. If the police got involved, would this girl remember this exchange? Maybe, he realized with a sinking heart. He’d paid in cash, worn a baseball cap, and avoided looking up to thwart security cameras, but he hadn’t counted on another human being taking note of him.
Being a criminal was such hard work. You had to anticipate everything.
Back at the motel, he threw the steak in a frying pan, put the potatoes in the microwave, and arranged the salad in a ceramic bowl he’d found in the room’s kitchenette. When he was done, he arranged the finished meal, plastic wine glasses, and bottle of wine on a plastic tray he’d found in the cabinet. Looking at the monitor, he spotted Dana sitting cross-legged on the bed, watching TV. The twins had said they’d stocked the kitchenette with food, but it sounded like it wasn’t anything special. He hadn’t seen her eat anything all day. She had to be hungry.
He pulled on the ski mask. Carrying the tray, he left his own room and went next door to hers. Unlocking the door while balancing the tray was tricky, but he managed it. She was still sitting on the bed when he came in. Setting the tray on the floor, he realized that if she had rushed him when the door first opened, she’d be on the other side by now.
So stupid of him not to think of that, but it was of no consequence at this point.
Dana broke into his thoughts, saying, “It’s about time.” She aimed the remote at the TV and shut it off. “I almost broke down and ate that crap in the fridge.” She pointed. “You can put the tray on the table.” The way she spoke, he might as well have been room service.
Stunned speechless, he set the tray down, then set about putting the plate on the table along with a napkin and the silverware. He unscrewed the top of the wine bottle, then poured it into the plastic wine glass. Finally, he said, “I heard you wanted steak and a glass of wine.”
She came over and laughed, a pleasant sound. “I was thinking more of dinner at Gallaghers, not this, but I give you credit for trying.” She sat down and began delicately slicing thin bites of steak. She stabbed one and held it out to him.
“What?”
“You first.”
“I’m not hungry. I made it for you.”
“I’m not eating until you have a few bites.” Dana spoke firmly. Wow, what a woman. She had nerves of steel.
He took the fork from her hand and ate a bite and then, at her urging, did the same for a second piece. Silently he congratulated himself. The steak had turned out pretty good, especially considering his cooking limitations. He took the fork to the sink and washed it off, then handed it back to her.
Satisfied, she began leisurely eating, as if savoring each morsel. He stood nearby, anxiously waiting for a reaction.
As she continued, he felt awkward. Was this how it was supposed to be done? Didn’t kidnappers minimize the time they spent with the victim? Well, it didn’t really matter. Later this evening, he was going to let her go. He’d go to their room first and pack everything up and load it in the trunk of his car. Once it was dark, he’d unlock the door and set her free. As soon as she started walking down the road, he’d drive in the opposite direction, going as fast as the speed limit allowed. Soon he’d be home and all of this craziness would be behind him.
Dana took a sip from her wine glass. “This wine isn’t half bad, considering it’s a screw top and I’m drinking out of a plastic cup.” She held the cup aloft and gave the contents a practiced swirl.
“I’m glad you like it. I don’t know much about wine, but I recently read that you prefer red wine.”
“So you read my Vanity Fair interview?”
“I’ve read all of your interviews. And every single one of your books.” What he didn’t mention was the extent of his obsession with her and her books. He’d read all of them at least twice, and there were some passages he knew by heart.
“So you like my series?”
Nolan nodded. “I read a lot, but your books are my absolute favorites. Rebecca Cavanaugh is such a great character, and the way she solves crimes is so clever.”
Dana dabbed at her lips with the napkin and gave him a direct look. “What do you think Rebecca Cavanaugh would be doing right now, in this situation?”
Rebecca Cavanaugh always pulled off the unexpected, so Nolan couldn’t even begin to guess. “I don’t know. She always outsmarts me.”
Dana sat back in her chair. “I can tell you what she’d do. She’d be watching and thinking. And then she’d do something completely unexpected, and soon after the criminals would go straight to prison.” She leaned in his direction. “Word of advice? Enjoy your freedom while it lasts.”
“But I’m not a criminal,” Nolan said. “This wasn’t my idea. I tried to talk them out of it.”
“And failed, I see,” she said dryly.
Nolan couldn’t believe he was having an actual conversation with Dana Broderick. A back-and-forth with someone he’d idolized from afar. “I’m only here to make sure they don’t do anything rash. I wouldn’t want any harm to befall you.”
“You don’t want any harm to befall me?” Amused, she raised her eyebrows.
“No, I’d die first. I admire you and your work. Rebecca Cavanaugh...” He thought for a moment before he continued. “She’s the perfect woman. Brave, smart, beautiful, compassionate. I take off work whenever a new book comes out because I know I won’t be able to put it down. You’re such a clever writer.”
“So one of my kidnappers is a fanboy. I can work with that.” She turned back to her plate and speared another bite of steak. “Can I surmise that it was one of the other two who came up with this plan?”
Other two? How did she know there were two of them? The car windows were tinted, and she’d been in the trunk. After that she’d had a bag over her head. “Let’s just say it wasn’t me.”
“It wasn’t you and you don’t want harm to befall me. Do I have to worry about the other ones attacking or killing me? Or are you my bodyguard now?” Her voice had a teasing quality. Wasn’t she worried at all?
“You don’t need to worry about anything. This will be over soon.”
“My family paid the ransom?”
“What makes you think this is a kidnapping?”
She shrugged. “Because I’m fairly well known and affluent. Also, I referred to you as my kidnapper and you didn’t contradict me.”
“Oh.” So much to keep track of.
“So did they pay or not?”
“Not yet. We’re having some trouble reaching your brother. He’s not answering his phone.”
“Ian is completely inept,” she said with a sigh. “You should be calling my assistant, Courtney. She’s the one who’s on top of things. Give her a call.”
Courtney. Of course, her dependable sidekick Courtney, who’d been with Dana since college. The story of how they came up with the Rebecca Cavanaugh character was practically a publishing legend, with Dana defending the shy Courtney from the bullying mean girls in their dorm and coming up with a fictional revenge story that eventually became the first novel in the series. He didn’t mention that they didn’t have Courtney’s number, because it was a moot point.
Very soon he’d be letting Dana go.
“Why don’t you sit down,” she said, indicating the chair opposite. “Having someone stand over me is unnerving.”
He sat across the table, studying her. She didn’t look quite as glamorous as she did during appearances on TV, but still, she was stunning. Her dark hair was thick and glossy; arched eyebrows framed her hazel-green eyes. He was mesmerized by her movements, the tucking of a strand of hair behind one ear revealing her dangly silver earrings, the way she sipped her wine. Her voice, so distinct, was best of all. He could listen to her talk all day.
Breaking into his thoughts, she said, “How much am I worth?”
“Excuse me?”
“The ransom?” Her tone was impatient.
He hesitated, not sure if this was something he should divulge. “Don’t worry, you can afford it.”
That resulted in a glare that made him wince. In a much louder voice she said, “How. Much. Are. You. Asking?”
Why was he so tongue-tied in her presence? He took a deep breath and said, “A hundred grand. In cash.”
Her forehead furrowed in irritation. “You’re kidding me, right? Do you have any idea the extent of my wealth? A hundred thousand is an insult.”
“They picked the amount, not me,” he said, and then immediately realized he’d given away the fact that there were two others involved in this crime. Damn. She’d outwitted him so easily.
“Based on what?”
This he knew. “Based on the fact that you keep that amount of money in the house. Easy to access. No need to arouse suspicion at the bank.” The twins had been proud of this decision and had pointed out that a hundred grand in hundred-dollar bills was the right weight for the strategy they’d thought up for handing over the money as well. The perfect amount in every way.
She scoffed. Not the response he expected. “You think I keep a hundred thousand in my house? Where? In a big vault hidden behind a revolving bookcase? Or maybe under a trapdoor in the attic?” She began to laugh.
His heart sank. “Am I to presume you don’t keep that kind of money at home?”
“Do you know anyone who has that much money sitting around in cash?”
“No, but there was an article that said you did.”
“I know the article you’re referring to. What I actually said is that Rebecca Cavanaugh always kept a hundred grand on hand. The interviewer twisted it around to make it sound like I did as well. People are always getting me confused with Rebecca.”
Another complication. Another reason to end this whole disaster. “I see.”
“I’m finished now,” she said, pushing the plate away.
He noted that she hadn’t touched the potatoes or salad. Oh well, he would eat them himself when he was back in the other room. It would be like he’d shared a meal with Dana Broderick. How many people could say that?
“At least the wine wasn’t complete swill.”
He got up to stack everything back on the tray. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
Nolan smiled, finding her to be a challenge, but he was up to it. “At least you found the steak edible.”
“I’m going to need new clothes for tomorrow,” she said, waving a hand the length of her body. “These are wrinkled. I’m very particular about what I wear. You’ll need to shop, and the clothes will have to be of the best quality.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said.
“Oh believe me, it will. If you think I’m going to wear the scrubs in the bathroom, think again. I could barely touch that fabric. The idea of having it against my body is appalling.” She shuddered, making her earrings shake.
“I mean,” he said, clearing his throat, “that it’s not necessary because I’ll be letting you go.”
“Letting me go?” she asked, confused.
“Yes. This has been a huge mistake, the biggest mistake of my life.” The words tumbled out. “I mean, I was completely against it, but I didn’t have much say in the matter. Honestly, if you’d met me under different circumstances, you’d find me very likable. Everyone says so. I’m a good guy, really.” He took a deep breath. “And now that I’m the only one here, besides you of course, I want to make it right. I have a few things to do first, but I’ll be back in an hour or so. I’ll bring you your purse and unlock the door. You’ll be free to go then.” He pointed to the door. “If you walk down the road, you’ll eventually find a house or car, and I know that someone will help you. I wish I could make sure you get home safely, but I can’t. That part you’ll have to do on your own.”
“You have this all thought out, do you?” she said, her arms crossed.
“Yes.” He nodded, hoping she could sense the sincerity behind the knit mask. “I personally would like to apologize for what you went through. I am so, so sorry. If I could go back in time and not have this happen at all, I would, but since I can’t do that, I’ll just end this now. You might even be home by tonight, if all goes well.”
“Home by tonight? Gone less than a day?”
“Yes.”
“And my family hasn’t even been contacted yet?”
“As I said, we tried and couldn’t reach your brother. But look at it this way—you’ll go home and everything will be fine. If you want, you can tell them you just took some time for yourself.”
Dana shook her head. “No dice. That’s simply unacceptable. I won’t go.”
“I don’t think you understand. I’m going to unlock the door and leave it open. You’ll be free to go. I promise that you won’t be followed.”
She stood up and took a step closer to him. “Believe me, I do understand, and I’m insulted. I’m not going to be wandering off and knocking on random people’s doors. What kind of plot device is that? The kidnapper just lets her go and she meanders down a country road? If this was a book, it would be lazy writing.”
“It’s not a plot device at all,” he said, stunned. “Aren’t you afraid of the other kidnappers? They’re not as nice as I am, believe me. I wouldn’t put anything past them.”
“They won’t hurt me,” she said confidently. “You won’t let them.”
It was true, but how did she know that? “Leaving now is your best bet. I’d go for it if I were you.”
She jabbed a finger in his chest. “Listen to me and remember my words—you need to call Courtney and tell her you need the money pronto. Pronto. Use that word, pronto , and she’ll know it’s coming from me. It’s sort of my catchphrase when we’re writing. And I’ll need a new outfit tomorrow. I prefer high-end boutiques, but in a pinch you can shop at mall stores.” She rattled off the names of a few that were acceptable. “Size six. You say you’ve seen all my interviews, so you must have an idea of what kind of things I wear. When I return home, I want to look good.”
“You’re turning down the opportunity to leave?” he asked incredulously.
She harrumphed. “You obviously don’t know me.” Now she was so close he could smell her perfume. The scent was heavenly. “I could have left twice already. What I want is for you to see this thing through, the right way. Do you understand?”
He gulped. “I understand, but—”
“No buts.” Her eyes flashed with determination. “Just do it.”
He picked up the tray and made his way to the door. After he unlocked it, she held it open for him. “You’ve got your orders now, so get to work. I don’t want to hear any excuses.”
“I don’t know Courtney’s number,” he said, pausing in the doorway.
“Call the bookstore in the morning. They’ll have it.”
“Okay.”
“And one more thing?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t forget about my purse. I need a few things that are in there.”
He nodded, feeling beaten down. “After I drop off the dishes, I’ll bring it for you.”
“Very good. Don’t let me down.” And then she shut the door so quickly he had to jump out of the way.