Page 63 of Elusive Promise

Ben was starting to sweat, and there was more than a little terror in his eyes. "I can't trust you."

"Ben, if I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. I'm trying to save your sorry life. So, get up. And if you feel like shouting for help, remember that I'm not the one you're hiding from, the one who is threatening to kill you. That person is still out there, and right now I'm standing between him and you."

Ben looked unconvinced.

"If you can't trust me, trust Parisa. She used to babysit you. She taught you how to play spades. Your father saved her life. I'm not lying. She's next door. And your mother did send us."

"All right." Ben shoved his phone and earbuds into his pocket, grabbed his duffel and walked out of the shelter. Jared kept as close to him as he could, without looking suspicious.

When they hit the street, he grabbed Ben's arm just in case he decided to bolt and hauled him into the fast-food restaurant next door.

Parisa was waiting in a booth, facing the door. There were a dozen or so other people in the restaurant, but mostly families or men who looked like they'd come from the shelter next door. Relief filled her gaze when he shoved Ben into the seat across from her and then sat down next to him, so Ben was pinned in the booth.

"Ben," she said with relief. "What's going on? Tell me how you're involved in this."

"If I tell you, they'll kill me."

"I can protect you," Parisa said. "But you have to start talking now."

"I didn't know they were going to take Jasmine," Ben said. "I thought they just wanted the diamond."

"Who's they? Give me some names," she demanded.

Ben shifted as he looked around the restaurant. "Can you guys really protect me?"

"Jasmine's life is on the line, Ben," Parisa said. "You talk. I'll help. Do it now. Every second counts."

"I got into some trouble in Paris. I ran into a girl I used to know in Bezikstan, and we hooked up. I couldn't believe we were together again. I hadn't thought it would ever happen. But her stepbrother, he's not a good guy, and Sara told me that he was making her do things she didn't want to do."

"Like what?" Jared asked, unable to resist the question.

Parisa flashed him a quick look, then turned to Ben. "We'll get back to Paris, Ben. Let's talk about now. Was Jasmine taken by this group? Do you know where they're holding her?"

"Yes. They took her. I don't know where they are. All they wanted me to do was get two guys into the party. I just had to ask Jasmine to hire them as waitstaff. I told her they were friends of mine from Bezikstan and students at Everly, who needed to make some extra cash. I said I didn't know if they were really allowed to work because of their visa status, and she said as long as I vouched for them, she'd tell the kitchen manager to hire them for the party." Ben's gaze filled with anguish. "She trusted me."

"Have they been in touch with you since the kidnapping?" Parisa asked.

Ben shook his head. "No. And even though I don't know anything, I'm afraid they think I know too much."

Parisa tucked her hair behind her ear, her gaze intense as she looked across the table at Ben. "Who contacted you? Was it Sara? Her stepbrother? Someone else?"

"I don't know the person's name. The voice sounded like it was computer generated. He said they'd kill me and my family if I didn't do what they said. I was told that the waiters' names were Victor Salgetti and Ray Bateen, but I don't think those are their real names."

"Where would they stay here in New York?"

"I swear I don't know."

"But you know Sara is here, right?" Jared put in. "She arrived in New York Friday morning."

"No, she didn't. She couldn't get into the country. Everyone is looking for her."

"So, you know she's in hiding," Parisa said. "Where would she go if she came here? Does she have friends, family?"

"Her only family is her stepbrother. Everyone else is dead. But she's not here in the city. She can't be," Ben said in confusion.

"She is here. She used her roommate's passport, Melissa Holmes," Jared said.

"I don't know anything about that."

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