Page 56 of River Justice

“He’s Holden McKenna. He stubbornly went to make the ransom drop by himself. If the sheriff hadn’t followed him against Holden’s orders, he would have bled out in the middle of that mountainside road.”

“And Holly Jo?”

Elaine shook her head. “No word on her.”

“You think the girl is still alive?”

Elaine took a long breath and let it out. “I’m praying so. Now Stuart is waiting for the kidnapper to contact him. If he doesn’t, then Holly Jo’s chances aren’t good.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Charlotte could see the toll this had taken on her friend. Elaine was the strongest woman she knew. She’d only seen her this upset one other time. Both times had involved loss. She reached over and took her hand.

“That girl is strong and smart,” Elaine said, as if trying to convince herself. “She won’t give up. She can’t. We can’t. We’re going to find her.”

“And Holden is going to pull through. It can’t end like this.”

Elaine nodded but didn’t look any more convinced than Charlotte felt. She couldn’t bear the thought of that girl being gone and what it would do to Holden. Nor could she bear Holden dying. Even if he never forgave her, never loved her again, she had to know that he was still with her, even if at the ranch next door.

Even if she never saw him again.

“Please, I need to see him,” she said. “I promise I’ll make it quick.”

THEGOODNEWS, the sheriff told himself, was that they didn’t find Holly Jo’s body at the abandoned milk barn or in the small old camper parked behind it or anywhere on the road on the way to Suicide Pass.

The coroner had come out and picked up Melanie Baker’s body after the crime techs had finished. Stuart had taken photos, searched the premises and found the room where it appeared Holly Jo had been held.

A plastic juice container had been bagged as evidence, along with the blanket, mat and bucket. He suspected they would find her fingerprints on the juice bottle and her DNA on the blanket. As he’d looked around the dark room, he’d thought about the hours she must have spent here, terrified that she wouldn’t be found, wouldn’t be saved. He tried to swallow the lump that formed in his throat as his cell rang.

Unknown caller. His pulse kicked up a beat.

Stuart stepped out into the beautiful Montana summer day and took the call, his heart a thunder in his chest.

“Hello, Sheriff.” The man’s voice was the same one Stuart had heard last night up on Suicide Pass. “I missed you last night.” The laugh was eerie, too high-pitched. “But at least I hit my target. Tell me he’s dead.”

“Sorry, I can’t do that. He’s going to pull through. Where’s Holly Jo?”

“I thought I was a better shot than that. As for Holly Jo, you still owe me money since I didn’t get the other million dollars.”

“I’m going to need proof that she’s still alive,” Stuart said.

“Sure.” He heard what sounded like the rustling of fabric, then “Say hello to the sheriff.”

“Sheriff—” That one word came out in a rush of emotion.

Stuart felt it knock the wind out of him. “Holly Jo—” But she was gone. The kidnapper was back.

“If you want her tostayalive, you will do exactly what I say,” Darius said.

Just hearing her voice had his heart pounding. She was alive! Scared. Still in trouble. But alive. No doubt she was wondering if she would ever be rescued. He wanted to bellow at the pain in his chest. She was alive! At least for the moment.

“Don’t hurt her.” The words came out between clenched teeth.

“Don’t threaten me. Just listen.”

Stuart took a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m listening.”

Once he disconnected, he checked to see if the call had been traced.

“Nothing. Maybe he’ll make another call closer to a cell tower. If he forgets to turn off his phone, we still might be able to at least get some idea where he is. That’s if there are cell towers nearby,” the tech told him. “We’ll keep trying.”

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