Page 95 of Diagnosis Attraction

Rachel swung toward the other women, exchanging silent messages before focusing on Jake. “You guys may not be coming, but we have to go to Houma.”

“If you think we’re letting the three of you go there alone, you’re crazy,” Jake said.

“Is that a sexist opinion?” she asked.

“It’s the opinion of a man who loves his wife and doesn’t want to send her into danger.”

“But we have to go,” Stephanie answered.

Jake knew when he was outvoted. “We’ll take the van. And we’ll make plans on the way. It’s almost a two-hour drive.”

“Will we be in time?” Stephanie asked.

“We can only pray it will be,” Rachel answered.

Rachel’s gaze turned inward as she tuned in on the scene in Houma.

He heard her gasp.

What?

Maybe it’s already too late,she blurted.

Matt stared in horror as one of the helmeted men reached for Elizabeth and pulled her against his body in a parody of an embrace.

“We’ve got your girlfriend,” he called out. “If you don’t want to see her get shot, you’d better come back here.”

Stay away. Don’t do it,he heard Elizabeth shouting in his mind. But how could he leave her with the men?

We’ll think of something.

But what? He tried sending a mental suggestion to the man who held Elizabeth.Let her go. You don’t want to hold her. Let her go.But the silent order had no effect.

Matt wanted to spit out a string of curses, but that wouldn’t do him any good. He understood the problem. The man knew what he and Elizabeth could do, and he was wearing that football helmet thing to block any messages Matt and Elizabeth might try to send him.

But the two of them could still communicate with each other. And although they knew a mental command wasn’t going to make her captor turn her loose, there might be another way.

“Why do you want us?” he called out.

“It’s just a job for me.”

“Then let us go.”

“No way. Turn yourself in if you don’t want something bad to happen to her.”

I’m going to look like I’m giving up,he said to Elizabeth.When I get about ten feet from you, act like you’ll faint.

Okay.

Matt’s gaze flicked to the left and right. At any moment, the other thug could show up, creating a problem he might be unable to overcome.

His heart was pounding so hard that he could barely breathe as he started back the way he’d come.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Matt saw the tension on Elizabeth’s face. He imagined that his expression was just as grim.

As he walked, he gathered his energy, and he felt Elizabeth preparing to aid him. He might be unable to reach the man’s mind, but that wasn’t his only option.

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