Page 4 of Played

He laughs out loud. “Oh, Caleb. You are such a card.”

“I’m glad you think I’m so fucking funny, asshole. Why did you bring Gretchen into this, anyway.”

“Because I knew that the only way to get under your skin was through the girl.”

“Aye. So you didn’t know her at all, did you.”

“I’ll answer that for another two million, Caleb.”

“Fuck you. I’ve seen your sort many times, Wesley. I know your type. You keep taking and taking from people, well, this is one person that isn’t going to take this lying down. You will pay dearly for what you’ve done. You’ve barked up the wrong goddamn tree this time.”

“You’re making me sound like a broken record, Caleb. You don’t scare me. Not even slightly.”

“Fuck you. You think you scare me. I’d like to crush your fucking skull in right now, asshole.”

He laughs at me, as I see da’s text message. It reads, ‘Do not negotiate.’ Which I know is code for the fact that this guy is fucking toast. But I don’t let on that I’m one step ahead of him, with the team of people I have by my side, versus the few losers that he’s paid very dearly for.

“Yes, I know, Caleb. Frankly, you repeating yourself is boring me, and I don’t see the money in my account yet. Are your people still following Ned?” He teases.

I’m off the highway, as we pull off to the side, and I watch two cars force the Hyundai into an alley. Watching closely, I witness my two rented suits sandwich the Hyundai, almost until the vehicles touch, before he finally relents and comes to a stop. I sit in the car, far enough away that I can’t be seen. As much as I want to go and plough this guy driving the blue sedan, I know that it's in my best interest not to. I witness my suits pulling the guy from the vehicle, and I wait.

“Yes, they’re still following you, you asshole.” I say, trying to get a rise out of him.

“Oh, don’t be coy, Caleb. You and I both know that it isn’t me in that car, now, is it.”

“You can’t be that far from my office. And I’ve got suits looking for you, Higgins, so you better watch out.” I add, feeling a certain triumph, as I watch my men outnumber his lone guy, two to one. It’s not even a competition. The man is a twig by comparison. He raises his hands into the air in surrender, and I see my guys pat him down, discerning that he is unarmed. I shake my head. The son of a bitch sent an unarmed man on a wild goose chase, only to be beaten to a pulp, so we can garner information from him. Higgins is more heartless than I thought.

What happens next, I learn fast, that I don’t have the stomach for.

Chapter 2

Laney

As I watch the security footage, teeth grated together, I’m praying that something will help lead us to Peg. Mrs. Quinn is beside herself, blaming her care for the bairn as the reason for the disappearance.

“Margaret, they would have taken her either way, it’s okay.” Da reassures. “People like this are just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. If it’s not the bairn, it would be something else. There are likely cons just waiting for an opportunity to fall under our radar, and this is the first time we’ve had a bairn in the family.”

“Aye, just wait until our Laney has her bairn.” Mama nods her agreement. “We’ll have to double our security then.”

“I swear I left her for thirty seconds.” Mrs. Quinn assures, shaken. “How could they have gotten in that fast? Shouldn’t we call the police?”

“Dougall McAdams has already called the police, Margaret.” Da says. “And this was likely a job by one of our own. That’s the only explanation for it happening so fast.”

“Aye.” I nod. “Peg is friendly, but she wouldn’t have gone with someone with an American accent. She’s not familiar.”

“So, you’re saying it was an inside job?” Mrs. Quinn shrieks. “Where are the police?”

Mama pours her a tea and sits next to her. “Margaret, the police are already doing what they can. Caleb’s got the kidnapper on the phone and he’s following two of his people, who are following a suspect. Everyone is doing all that they can.”

I’m trying hard to focus on the footage, trying not to think about the fact that the bairn that I have grown to love so quickly recently is in harm’s way. It’s difficult to fathom that she was safe, at home in Scotland, with her mama, mere weeks ago. Then after Gretchen died, we brought her here to North Carolina, and now someone has taken her. The guilt is undeniable. And if it weren’t for the tiny bairn growing inside me, I’d be out there, with Caleb, searching for the son of a bitch that took Peg.

That’s when da’s phone rings. “It’s Dougall.” He says, before picking it up and putting it on speaker. “Dougall. What have you got. Laney’s just combing through the security footage.”

“Good, good. Caleb’s still got the man on the line, and police are in pursuit of the man that Caleb and two of our vehicles are following.”

“What do the police have to say, Dougall?” Mama asks.

“Not much yet. We’re just waiting on the ransom demands.”

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