Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Darby braved the Christmas shoppers and went in search of replacement gifts for David while Clay returned to the police station to finish up paperwork regarding Rushton and her case.
She also wanted to get something for Clay, although she wasn’t sure what he liked.
She looked forward to learning his likes and dislikes and introducing him to David.
Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, so the multipurpose store was crowded. She picked up a new football and some Legos for David as well as an art kit, thankful that they had items still available at this late date. It wasn’t much, but it would do until they figured out their future and where they’d live.
Darby scoured the men’s section and held up a nice button-down shirt, wondering if Clay would like it. She replaced it on the rack and continuing to look. Someone bumped into her from behind, nearly knocked her down, then kept on walking without so much as a “sorry.”
“Well excuse me,” she muttered under her breath as the man wearing a hoodie disappeared into the sea of other last-minute shoppers.
She kept looking, finally settling on a nice flannel shirt and a pair of gloves for Clay.
As she was making her way to the checkout, her phone rang. She dug it from her purse only to see there was no call.
But she could still hear it ringing. Something vibrated against her hip, and she realized the noise came from her jacket pocket. She reached in and pulled out another, smaller phone. It wasn’t hers but had somehow ended up in her pocket.
The phone stopped ringing but a text message popped up along with an image David on the floor, his face streaked with tears and fear lining his eyes. He was holding a newspaper.
Shock rolled through her at the image and she quickly read the message.
Answer the phone when it rings.
It rang again. Her hands shook as she pressed it to her ear.
“We have your son,” a distorted voice on the other end told her. “Do exactly as we say, and he won’t be hurt.”
She didn’t recognize the voice and the caller had blocked the number. “Who is this?”
Instead of answering, the voice continued giving demands.
“Tell no one about this. Toss your other cell phone into the trash then go and buy the biggest suitcase you can find. Take it to your car. We’ll call back with further instructions.
Call the police and he’s dead. Call your boyfriend and he’s dead.
Do as we say and he’ll be returned to you. ”
“Please don’t hurt my son,” Darby begged the voice.
“Do as we say. You are being watched,” the voice claimed.
The call ended.
Her knees weakened and she clutched the shopping cart to steady her.
She couldn’t fall apart now. She had to be strong for David.
Darby scanned the aisles but saw no one no one watching her.
Then she remembered the man who’d bumped into her earlier.
That must have been when he’d dropped this phone in her pocket.
She seen nothing but the back of him with his hoodie up.
Without it, he could be anyone in the store, waiting and watching her.
She took out her phone to call Clay, then she remembered what the voice said.
She couldn’t risk David’s life by disobeying their directions.
She abandoned her shopping cart. A trash can sat at the end of an aisle, so she grabbed her personal cell, tossed it into the can, then headed for the luggage section of the store.
She picked out the largest suitcase she could find and hurried back up front to pay, agonizing during each minute she had to stand in line.
David was in trouble and she was going to do whatever she had to do to get him back.
After she paid, she hurried to her rental, tossed the suitcase into the backseat, and slid behind the wheel. The burner phone rang before she’d even closed the door—further proof she was being watched.
“Hello.” Her voice was shaky with fear, but she did her best to hold it together. “I did what you asked. Now what?”
“Go to the bank and withdraw all the money from your inheritance. Place it into the suitcase. You’ll be given instructions where to take it once that’s done. Remember, we’re watching you.”
She dropped the phone as the call ended and pressed her hand against her mouth.
So this was about that blasted inheritance money again?
She would gladly hand it over in exchange for David’s life.
She didn’t know who was behind this, since her uncle was in jail, but someone must be working on his behalf.
That didn’t matter anymore. She would do whatever it took to bring David home.
She drove to the bank then carried the suitcase inside.
She didn’t have to go to the teller. She’d converted her inheritance to cash not long after receiving it and housed it in a safety deposit box.
It was the only way she’d been able to ensure that Brent couldn’t figure out how to hack into her account and steal the money from her.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she stuffed the cash from her safety deposit box into the suitcase. If only she’d let him have this money, it would be long gone, and David would be safe. Holding onto it had placed her life and David’s in danger.
She cleared out the box then closed it and zipped the suitcase. The cash was heavy but the luggage had wheels, making transporting it easier. She hefted it into the backseat of her rental then climbed behind the wheel and waited for further instructions.
She couldn’t do this alone. She needed Clay, no matter what the kidnapper stated.
She needed him to help her rescue her son.
She reached for her phone to call him then remembered she’d trashed it.
Would they know if she used the burner phone?
She didn’t have time to contemplate it. The car door opened and a man slid into the passenger’s seat.
He pointed a gun at her. She’d never seen him before but realized he could have been the man who’d bumped into her at the store.
“Where’s my son?”
“Drive,” he commanded. “Head out of town.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you to your son.” He leaned over the seat and unzipped the bag. His eyes widened at the sight of the money then a smile played on his lips. He turned back to her and his face hardened. “I said drive!”
She quickly started the engine and did as he instructed but her mind was whirling. If he was here, where was David? “Please, I just want to know if my son is safe.”
“He’s fine.” As she turned onto the highway, he took out his phone and placed a call. “We’re on our way,” he said then nodded at the caller’s response before ending the call. “Head toward Silver Lake.”
She gripped the steering wheel and did as instructed.
They hadn’t taken David far from the camp.
She longed to call Clay and let him know what was happening, but that wasn’t possible.
She didn’t know what was going to happen once they reached David and this unknown partner of the man sitting beside her. It couldn’t be good.
He wasn’t even bothering to hide his face from her, and she’d already faced multiple death threats. If they were answering her uncle’s call to eliminate her, it didn’t matter that he was in jail. They had plenty of money in the suitcase to make killing her and David worth their while.
Clay and Cooper finished the paperwork needed to make certain Grant Rushton and everyone who answered his ad spent all the time in prison they could get.
After a meeting with the local prosecutor, they also had a conference call with the US Attorney’s Office, who promised to bring federal charges if, for some reason, the state charges didn’t stick.
Clay was glad to hear it. Cooper’s evidence could be confusing, but he was able to clearly draw a line from Rushton to the ads he’d placed online and the money he’d paid multiple people to target Darby.
The case against Rushton was solid, and Clay doubted he would be able to buy his way out of this kind of trouble.
They’d just finished up with the US Attorney video conference when Chief Dean entered their conference room. He held a slip of paper in his hand, his face grim.
“This just came over the wire,” he told them both. “A missing child alert from Silver Lake Campground.”
All the blood drained from Clay as he waited for Dean to finish.
“It’s Darby’s son.”
Clay fell back into his chair, devastated at this new information.
“What happened?” Cooper asked him.
“I called the sheriff over there. The kids were outside playing, and when they went back inside, they noticed David was missing. They’ve initiated a search of the campground.”
Clay picked up his phone. “I need to call Darby and tell her. She’s out shopping.” He tried her cell phone but the call rang continuously before switching over to voicemail. “She’s not answering.” He pressed the key to call again, but she still didn’t pick up.
A string of what-ifs flooded his mind but Cooper remained the voice of reason.
“It’s the holidays and the store is probably loud. Maybe she can’t hear the phone.”
Sure, that made sense. But why didn’t it settle his fears?
“I can have an officer go and find her,” Dean suggested.
“Yeah, maybe.” He tried the phone again. At some point, she would have to realize it was ringing.
The ringing stopped and someone answered.
The wave of relief nearly doubled him over. “Darby, where are you? Why didn’t you answer?”
Only it wasn’t Darby who responded. “Sorry, man, but this phone was in the trashcan. I heard it ringing and picked it up.”
His heart sank and he leaned against the table, glancing at Cooper and Dean. “The phone was in the trash.” Then he spoke back to the voice on the line. “Did you see the woman who put it there?”
“No, man, I just heard it ringing and found it there.”
“Tell him to remain there with the phone,” Dean ordered. “I’m sending an officer to get it.” He opened the door and gave the order.