Chapter Fourteen
Daniel
‘Who were you talking to?’
My voice comes out in tones that are sharp, accusing, and Gil flinches.
‘My friend. She knew I had a Tinder date tonight and was worried when I didn’t check in. Jesus, Danny, are you going to accuse me of calling the police every time I go near my phone?’
I exhale. ‘Sorry, I’m on edge.’
‘And you still don’t think calling the police is the best move? Two million is a hell of a lot of money, Danny.’
I grit my teeth. I feel like an elastic band that has been stretched too tight and is mere seconds from snapping. Why won’t she drop it? How many times do I have to tell her?
‘It’s worth it if we get Jo back. I’m not taking any chances.’
The landline rings. It’s Donald. ‘Heard anything?’
‘No,’ I say flatly.
‘Christ. How long are they going to take?’
I hear Julia sobbing in the background. The sound twists something in my gut.
‘I’ll call you the second I hear anything,’ I promise.
Gil steps outside for another cigarette. She does this every few minutes; it’s as though she can’t keep still. I tell her to go home, but she refuses. ‘I’ll never rest.’ By eleven o’clock, she’s wringing her hands, pleading with me. ‘He’s not going to call. Please, Danny, phone the police.’
She grabs her mobile, and I move to snatch it, but then mine buzzes. It’s an unknown number.
Gil’s eyes widen. ‘Put it on speaker.’
That’s the last thing I intend to do. Not with Gil in her current state. ‘No. What if he hears movement? He might think I’ve got the police here.’ I answer the call with my heart pounding. ‘Hello.’
‘Have you got the money?’
No greeting, no hesitation. Just cold, direct words. I swallow hard. ‘My in-laws will pay, but they want proof their daughter is still alive.’
There’s silence. I chew my lip, pulse hammering. Gil is staring at me, her fingers twitching. Finally, he speaks. ‘You’ll get proof tomorrow. Then I’ll tell you where to take the money.’
‘You won’t—’ I start to speak, but the line goes dead. I stare at the screen.
Gil grips my arm, her nails pressing into my skin. ‘What did he say?’
‘He’ll send proof tomorrow. Then he’ll tell me where to take the money.’
She exhales shakily. ‘Oh, thank God.’
I call Donald immediately. He tells me the money will be ready whenever I need it.
I turn to Gil. ‘Tomorrow, we act normal.’
She nods, but there’s doubt in her eyes.
‘Before we know it, Jo will be back,’ I say, trying to sound confident.
‘Yes,’ she murmurs, but the flicker of fear behind her gaze lingers.
I finally convince her to leave. Then, I check on Joel. He’s fast asleep, curled under his covers, safe for now.
Soon, this will be over.
It has to be.
It has to be because if it isn’t, I have no idea what I’ll do.
***
Joanna
I’m sitting on the couch when he walks in. It’s not meal time, and my heart starts to thud against my chest. Why is he here?
Oh my God, he’s going to rape me. I shrink back on the sofa. Why else would he come down at an unexpected time? With shaking hands, I pull my dress over my knees.
‘I just need to take a photo of you,’ he says. ‘I’m not going to hurt you.’
What kind of photo? ‘A photo?’ I repeat.
‘To prove…’ He stumbles, can’t finish the sentence.
‘I’m alive?’ I say.
He nods.
‘No,’ I say stubbornly, pulling my legs beneath me. Why should I make it fucking easy for him?
‘It won’t take long,’ he says, and I sense he is more uncomfortable than I am.
So I sit up straight, with one leg crossed over the other. ‘Take it,’ I say.
For a moment he stares at me, and then, as if remembering something, he pulls a newspaper from his back pocket.
‘You need to hold this.’
I snatch the newspaper, and he quickly takes the photos. Our eyes make contact, and he turns away.
The door closes behind him, and I let out a long breath of relief.