Page 35 of Kidnapping of a Myth

Griffin pulled out his phone to get the search rolling as he and Gold dispersed, but Bel grabbed Wendy’s arm again and guided her further down the hall. She threw Eamon a silent gaze, and he slipped into the shadows with them.

“I think you should leave,” Bel said once they were out of earshot. “You, Henry, and Michael need to get off this estate because if Dale Croke is behind this… or anyone else from your company, they won’t stop coming for you. The Tinker’s first attack failed, but he wasn’t upset about being caught, which leads me to believe that your family is still in grave danger. The safest thing is for you to escape beyond The Tinker’s reach. We could set you up at Eamon’s house?—”

“No,” Wendy interrupted. “I’m not leaving John.”

“I realize you want to help your brother, but you can’t help him if you’re dead,” Bel argued.

“Do you have siblings?” Wendy asked.

“Yes. I’m one of six girls.”

“And would you leave if you were in my shoes? If a murderer had your sisters, would you abandon them?”

Bel paused too long, wordlessly conveying her answer, and Wendy’s resolve hardened.

“Well, neither can I,” Wendy said. “You believe The Tinker’s first riddle was designed for me. Thankfully, you deciphered it instead, but what if we get another email about John, and only I can decode the new clue? I need to be here.”

Bel rubbed her face with the heels of her palms before glancing at Eamon for backup, but the giant man simply folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall.

“I can never convince you to stay out of trouble,” he said. “Why do you assume I could persuade her?”

Bel gritted her teeth at his answer, knowing full well he was right, but still wanting to smack him for it.

“I’ll be here, though,” he added. “And I texted Orso. He’s parked just outside the property.”

“Who’s Orso?” Wendy asked.

“Someone you want around when everything hits the fan,” he said.

“Then why is he parked outside?” Wendy asked.

“He’s not the police, and he’s dating Detective Gold,” Bel answered. “The sheriff wouldn’t allow him on an active crime scene.”

“But he can protect us?” Wendy asked, and Eamon nodded. “What if you smuggled him in? The house is big. He can hide on the upper levels because sitting on the main road is useless. He’ll never get here in time if there’s an emergency.”

“It’s your call.” Eamon looked at Bel. “If he’s spotted, it’ll bring up questions we don’t want to answer.”

“Can you sneak him in?” Bel asked, and he gave her a‘did you really just ask that’glare. “Okay, go get him.” She gripped his forearm, and he paused, covering her knuckles with his broad palm before slipping through the hallway unseen despite the chaos.

“Something tells me he isn’t your average millionaire,” Wendy said, watching him vanish. “My dad did business with him, and I always assumed that meant financial deals, but now I’m wondering if Eamon is some kind of fixer.”

“In his own way, he is, I guess,” Bel said. “But I doubt your father knew him in that capacity. I think your initial assumption was correct.”

“Either way, I’m glad I called him, but this other guy? You trust him?”

“Yes.”

“How can he protect us better than the police?”

“Because he isn’t tied to the law,” Bel answered. “I realize we’re coloring outside of the lines here, but with children, I’m not letting fate decide the outcome.”

“I’m glad you’re here. You went through something similar, and I feel horrible about it, but you understand us.”

“I do. Now, come on.” Bel put an arm around the woman and ushered her into the living room. “I don’t want you leaving this room. I’ll ask officers to drag mattresses downstairs so you can all sleep in one place because I want to know where your family is at all times. I know Henry is nervous about the dog, so where is he?”

“Dining room.” Wendy pointed. “Just on the other side of this wall.”

“Okay great,” Bel said. “I’ll let you remain on the property, but these are my rules. Stay in the living room, the hall bathroom, or the dining room, no exceptions.”

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