Chapter 26
Jessica
If I don’t die, Charlie is going to kill me.
As I bump around on the floor, my vision blurs at the agony. I hold my breath, waiting for it to pass, anchoring myself to this moment so I don’t pass out again.
I have no idea where he’s going.
I’m on the floor, unable to see anything in the darkened cabin. The only clue to my whereabouts is that it’s someplace remote. The sky the kind of pitch black only found in the middle of nowhere.
From the front seat, I hear my captor muttering.
Wherever he’s taking me, please, please let it be somewhere Charlie can find me.
I can’t die on him.
I can’t be one more tragedy on his long list.
That’s not the plan.
The plan is to shower him in happiness, fun, and endless affection.
To show him the other side of life, one filled with love, security, and family.
To be the best thing that ever happened to him.
If I die, he’ll blame himself.
It will haunt him.
I love him too much for that.
More than anything in the world, I want him to be happy, and dying will not make him happy.
I’m so, so stupid. Why didn’t I tell someone where I was going? Or what I was doing? Instead of jumping the second I’d seen an opportunity.
When Shane Donovan told me Russ Decker owned one of the early construction companies associated with the project, a jolt of excitement at the prospect of finding an unexpected thread to follow shot through me.
I should have gone directly to Ryder, but instead, I decided not to bother him and conduct my own investigation. Russ had been on his way out the door, and I’d determined I’d lose him if I searched for my brother.
My plan had been to pop out there, charm him, ask for his information in hopes of contacting him for background information, and be back at the tables in ten minutes.
With his ill-fitting blazer, balding head, and beer belly, he’d seemed harmless enough. Sure, when he’d first talked to me in the drink line, he’d been jumpy, but I’d assumed by the way he hadn’t been able to stop looking at me that I made him nervous.
So I’d chased after him. I’d thought it was going well, but the second I’d mentioned the project, he’d freaked out. I hadn’t anticipated the reaction, but the behavior was one I’d recognized over the course of my career.
Whatever scheme Russ Decker is involved in is unraveling faster than he can keep up.
Since I’m not a total idiot, I’d backed away, but it had been too late. His suspicions had been raised. It was then I fumbled around and managed to press record on my voice memos and leave enough information for Charlie to know who to look at before Russ ditched my phone in the parking lot.
My heart races with regret and dread.
I refuse to die. I have too much left to do in this life.
I’m smart. I can stay alive until Charlie finds me.
My head throbs from the blow Decker delivered when he smashed my temple against the roofline as he pushed me into the truck, but now that my vision has stopped swimming, I don’t think I have a concussion.
I take a deep inhale, hoping to calm my overwrought nervous system. A huge mistake. Pain slices through me, stealing my breath.
My ribs are bruised, maybe broken.
I’m not sure of the damage, other than everything hurts. I do my best to adjust, but each move is like being stabbed.
I’m helpless.
My hands are restrained behind my back using one of those stretchy car rope things my dad is always telling me I need in my trunk for reasons I’ll apparently be thankful for later.
The sting of tears makes my eyes well up.
I’m guessing this isn’t what he had in mind.
I frantically blink away tears. I can’t cry.
Crying is something I’ll do later, when I’m safe with Charlie.
Right now, I need a clear head to figure out a plan.
First, I need to gauge Decker’s emotional state. It’s hard to tell from the floor because I can’t see him. All I can hear are his restless, jerky movements and occasional nonsensical muttering.
I clear the thickness from my voice. “Where are you taking me?”
He snorts. “You think I’m stupid enough to tell you?”
My heart is pounding out of my chest as adrenaline and fear coat the back of my throat. I close my eyes and do my best to regulate my breathing, shallow as it might be. I remind myself the best way to help this situation is to remain level-headed and calm.
I ask another question. “Why were you at Sam’s?”
Other than some agitated growling, he doesn’t respond.
I can’t imagine he went out tonight with the intention of kidnapping me. By doing so, he’s set off a chain reaction that’s out of his control. He must be desperate.
Yes, that makes him more dangerous, but it also makes him prone to mistakes.
He’s got to be spiraling. I can use that to my advantage.
I try again. “I’m assuming something I said spooked you and you didn’t mean to kidnap me, so let’s talk about it.”
The engine revs as he floors the truck. “If you think I’m stupid enough to start confessing to a bunch of crimes, you’re not half as smart as you think you are. I see right through you.”
He takes a curve without any brakes, sending the vehicle swerving.
I cry out as I roll. My left side radiates pain, and I hold my breath to keep from making it worse.
He regains control, and the ride smooths out again.
When the pain goes from blinding to throbbing, I attempt to appeal to his ego. “How did you figure it out?”
He laughs, harsh and bitter. “Women like you don’t follow men like me out of a bar. Plus, you’re fucking the sheriff—doesn’t take a genius to figure out you were up to something.”
If he knows I’m with Charlie, maybe I can convince him to see the advantage in pulling the truck over and leaving me on the side of the road. “Do you know Charlie?”
“I’ve heard of him. So what?”
“If you’ve heard of him, then I presume you understand if you kill me, there’s only one way this ends for you.
If I die, nothing will stop Charlie from taking you out.
You’ll be dead by morning. If you accept that truth, you’ll see it makes sense for the two of us to talk through our options and help each other.
I don’t want to die. Do you want to die, Russ? ”
“Shut up, bitch. You talk too much.” His voice is threaded with menace.
A chilling dread sends fear shuddering through me, turning my skin cold. Okay, that didn’t work.
I shut up.
And wait for my next move.