Page 4 of Lone Star Hostage

Within an hour after she’d left his bed, and him, Billie had resigned from SAPD because, hey, sleeping with a subordinate was an unforgivable no-no in her book. A few weeks later,Presley had turned in his badge as well and had ended up leaving to work for Ruby.

Yeah, indeed a shitstorm.

Billie nodded a greeting to the two cops and then made her way to the evidence bags on the desk. Presley stepped back to clear the path for her, but he wasn’t fast enough. Her arm brushed against his. Just a brush.

He noticed.

So did she.

And while Billie didn’t mutter any profanity, he could sure see it in her gray eyes. Eyes that she quickly pinned on the top.

“The blood’s been tested?” Billie asked with her attention still on the evidence bag.

“It has been,” Ruby verified. “It’s Mrs. Wessington’s. Her DNA was on file because she was a bone marrow donor a few years back. Do you know any of the Wessingtons?” Ruby asked.

Billie nodded. “I met her stepson, Ari, when he came to Strike Force to have us try to retrieve some stolen merchandise. We didn’t take the assignment though because…” She stopped, her mouth tightening as if she’d just tasted something very sour. “Because Ari said he preferred to have a man on the job.”

The two women exchanged aheard that beforelook.

“My boss turned down the request and advised Ari to go elsewhere,” Billie tacked onto that.

Presley didn’t personally know her boss, Owen Striker, but the guy just went up a couple of notches in his book.

So, Ari Wessington had a problem with women. Did that include his stepmother? Again, that was something Presley would need to find out.

The landline on Ruby’s desk rang, the sound shooting through the room. “It’s the kidnappers,” she said, glancing at the screen where Unknown Caller was displayed. She gave theverbal command to record the call, and she put it on speaker before she answered.

Once again, Presley heard the same mechanical voice from the previous call. “It’s showtime,” the cocky asshole said.

“We require proof of life before any exchange is made,” Ruby interjected.

“Yes, I figured you’d want that. Scream for them, sweetheart.”

It didn’t take long. Seconds. Before Presley heard the shriek of what he was pretty sure was fueled by pain. It echoed through the room, and happened just as Ruby got a text.

Ruby muttered something he didn’t catch and ordered the photo she’d just gotten on the monitor. Even though the woman was gagged, her face bloodied and bruised, and her hair a tangled mess, Presley could see enough of the hostage’s features.

This was indeed Victoria.

Alive.

But nowhere near well.

The photo would be examined for any clues as to her location, but with what appeared to be a white sheet as a backdrop, Presley wasn’t holding out much hope for that.

“Mrs. Wessington is obviously having a bad day,” the kidnapper joked. “Come and get ’er, and don’t forget to come alone, just the two of you, and bring the goodies. Bring them to the Sanderson family park.”

“Sonofabitch,” Presley grumbled under his breath while Billie muttered a “Damn it.”

It was a sunny, warm October day, and that park would no doubt be jammed with families and kids. Added to that, it was in the city center, a good twenty minutes from where they were now, and they’d have to pick up the fake diamonds first. Along with working out a plan to keep bystanders from getting caught up in this.

“Presley and Billie,” the voice continued. “Tread carefully. Wouldn’t want another hostage dying on your watch, would you?”

Billie and he repeated their profanity and exchanged a look. No words passed between them, but Presley knew what she had to be thinking; this was somehow linked to that last case they’d worked together.

“Try to keep everybody alive this time,” the voice taunted.

The tone had changed. It was still that cartoony crap, but Presley heard the dangerous edge to it. Then, he heard the next to impossible condition for Billie and him to save Victoria Wessington.

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