Page 103 of Rescued Faith

Penny reached the plane just as the stairs were rising. She grabbed the bottom step and used her weight to pull it back down. Penny and Bryce climbed in.

The governor sat on a plush leather seat, lifted his head off his hands. He closed the door of the plane and then plopped back in his seat. “No more delays, Gary. Take off.”

The cushy commuter plane moved, turning until its nose pointed to the long stretch of runway.

“Wait. Stop!” Bryce called toward the cockpit.

“I suggest you buckle up, Mr. Crawford. Gary is under explicit instructions to stop for nothing.”

The plane quickly picked up speed.

“Where are you going?” Penny fell into the seat across from the governor. “And where have you been? You left your security detail. No one has heard from you or seen you in hours.”

“You had the wrong address! They have my family. What did you expect me to do? Once I’m in the air, they’ll give me coordinates to their location.”

Bryce glanced at Penny, a question so clear in his eyes it was impossible for her to miss. How much should they tell Noble?

But they reallydidn’tknow how much to trust him. He’d been gone for hours. She wanted to believe him an innocent victim, but it could be an elaborate act. She gave Bryce a slight shake of the head.

He couldn’t stand straight in the cabin. Instead he leaned toward the governor. “You need to stop the plane. There’s probably a bomb on board. Alonzo Sosa is working with Jason Woods. They’re the ones responsible for kidnapping your family. You can’t believe anything they say.”

The engines grew louder.

The governor stared out the window, no expression. No acknowledgment that he’d heard anything.

“Tell the pilot to stop!” Bryce caught himself as the plane moved forward. He slid into the seat across the aisle.

“I won’t sacrifice them.” Noble didn’t bother to look at them. “If they want me to step down, I will.” His voice was hollow, sounding more like a bereaved husband and father. Maybe he truly was a victim in all this.

The plane lifted. They were airborne.

“Did you hear me? This is probably a trap.” Bryce couldn’t seem to get through to the man.

“Stop the plane!” Penny turned and yelled at the pilot behind her. “We need to go back.”

“He doesn’t want to do that.” A small door in the back of the plane opened. Sosa stepped into the tiny aisle, holding a Glock19. His windbreaker and backpack made him look like he was out for a casual hike rather than a hostage situation. “You are right, Crawford. This is a trap. And while this wasn’t part of the plan to have you two joining us, it will work out rather well.”

That low-down dirty weasel. Penny’s muscles coiled, ready to pounce.

Sosa swung the end of the gun to point at her. “Uh-uh, darling. One move and the governor or your boyfriend dies. I won’t be picky.”

Penny glared at him, hand curled into a fist on the armrest.

Sosa slapped papers down in front of the governor on the small tray. He held the gun against the governor’s temple. “Crawford was almost right. Thereisa bomb. But not on this plane. Your son is wearing it. And he’s sitting right next to your beautiful wife. And all you need to do to ensure that bomb doesn’t go off is to sign these papers releasing Emma Kemper and offering her a full pardon.”

Sosa didn’t know she was dead? Penny looked at Bryce.

That worked in their favor, right? An element of surprise they could use?

But should Penny tip their hand and tell the governor that his family was safe?

It was probably best that she stay quiet. Signing the paper would mean nothing since Emma was lying in the morgue. And if Sosa lost his only bargaining chip, he might be even more dangerous. She didn’t relish the thought of a gun going off in these tight quarters.

But if she had a clear shot, she’d take it.

“Pick up the pen and sign them.” Sosa stood over them, his finger on the trigger.

“I thought you wanted me to step down from office.” The governor looked up, genuine confusion in his expression.

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