Page 52 of Mountain Man Daddy

Someone pounding on his door made his reflexes kick in, and he grabbed the gun out of his waistband and aimed it at the door.

“Come in.”

“He wants to talk to you.” The muffled voice from behind the door was Alex’s. Alex pushed the door open, raised one hand, and reached the cell toward Mike with the other. Mike looked at it, biding his time, his thoughts erratic, and then he grabbed it. His stomach clenched as it had all those years before. It was a phone call just like this that had started everything. Prescott had called and asked for him by name, and every time he called after that there was another girl, another race against the clock to find her, and another family that had to be told. He wouldn’t fail again. His beautiful little girl would not become another of Prescott’s victims. He’d die before he let that happen.

“Prescott,” he said, barely containing his anger and fear. It wasn’t the way their conversations usually went. Mike had always been patient in the past. “Where’s Avery?”

“Hello, Michael. How are you this fine day?”

“Where the hell is she?”

“Now is that any way to speak with me, Michael?”

“No, but the things I want to say will only hurt Avery.” Prescott made a tsking sound. “You’re certainly right, Michael.” And to prove his point, Avery screamed in the background. Mike hollered in anguish at her pain. His whole body shook with rage and terror. “Stop! Okay, okay! I’m fine, Henry. How are you?”

“That’s better. I’m wonderful, Michael.”

“What have you done with her? She has nothing to do with me or you, so let her go back to her old life with her husband.”

“Nonsense, she lovesyou, Michael, not that ninny. I can see it in her eyes. This one’s a keeper.”

“Why are you doing this? I’m not a cop anymore. You win.”

“Aw, Michael, it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about the game!” He sounded excited as if he were discussing the strategy of chess. “You quit halfway through, and I don’t like quitters. I’m going to start killing again, Michael, and if you don’t resume your place on the board, I’ll step up my game starting with this pretty little thing.” His laugh chilled Mike deep to his core. How could someone sound so sane when speaking words so incredibly maniacal? His fist clenched at his side, and he closed his eyes. He felt so helpless. He’d promised to keep Avery safe. He’d told her over and over he’d protect her and now she was in the hands of a true psychopath.

“I’ll find every brunette slut I can, and rip ‘em from teeth to twat until you do what you’re supposed to. Think of Lydia, Michael.”

Mike gritted his teeth, his knuckles white from clutching the phone. He couldn’t trust himself to speak.

“Well? Are you going to go back and trade in the retirement badge for your old one?”

Mike gathered a breath.

“Don’t hurt her. I’ll do what you want, but you have to let her go.”

“That’s not how things work, Michael. I need some collateral. I’ll keep her safe, and I won’t hurt hertoo muchif you do what you’re supposed to. I’m due to pick my next victim any day now, aren’t I? I’m excited, Michael. I’ve been on hiatus for a long time waiting for you. I considered using Annie, years ago when I found you hiding here, but even I don’t have the stomach for elder abuse. Besides, this is so much bigger than you know. I need your head in the game. Now that I have Avery, I know I’ve got you.” He sighed happily as if they’d just struck a mutually beneficial business arrangement. “I’ll pick my girl, and we’ll resume our cat and mouse, and when I’m satisfied you’re fully invested again, I’ll let you know where you can retrieve yourlittle girl.”

Icy ghost fingers crawled up his spine. His little girl was in the hands of the worst killer in Canadian history, and he now knew Prescott had done his homework—he’d been watching them.

“Let me talk to her,” he demanded quickly. “I need to know she’s okay, and I need to tell her I’m going to do what you ask. She has major trust issues, Prescott. If she doesn’t think I’m going to bother, she’ll do something stupid. You have no idea how reckless this girl is. She drove off the road to save a moose because she thought her life was less valuable.” Mike glared at Alex, who still hovered by the door. He instantly looked around to avoid eye contact with Mike. Mike felt another pull in his gut to hurt the man responsible for Avery’s pain.

Prescott sighed, sounding annoyed, but Mike heard him moving. He could almost see him assessing Avery. There would be intrigue on his face. After hours and hours spent on the phone with this man, Mike knew Prescott had a thing for the out of the ordinary. People he couldn’t predict fascinated him, and God knew Avery was endlessly unpredictable. “My dear, I need you to take this call.”

“Avery?” Mike demanded, his heart in his throat.

“It’s so good to hear your voice.” She sounded lighthearted, not like she was in the most dangerous situation of her life. He felt pride for his strong lady.

“I’m going to get you out of this. Just cooperate with Prescott, and we’ll get you back in my arms where you belong, okay? Can you do that for me? Can you please just be my good girl and behave until he brings you home to me? I mean that, Avery, home with me. You’re mine.”

“Okay, but can you do something for me?”

“Tick tock, kids,” Prescott said ominously.

“Check on my Uncle Bernie. He’s sick, and since I’ve been away, I haven’t contacted him. I know he’ll be worried. Can you call him and tell him I’m okay?”

“You be good, and I’ll get ahold of Bernie and tell him not to watch too much Bugs Bunny.” He played along in case Prescott was listening, but he knew exactly what she was telling him. She was somewhere in the top of his mountain.

“Okay, enough.” Prescott was back on the line. “You’d better be in full action, my dear Michael or your girl will be next. I’m going hunting tonight. I think I’ve got the perfect girl in mind. This will end with you—with us.”

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