Page 83 of Trust No One

The pounding of her heart echoing in her ears, she watched people streaming down the concourse. A woman with a young child threw herself into a seat close to Mel and pulled out a book and gave it to the child. The little boy looked at several pages of the book, then tossed it onto the floor.

His mother picked up the book and stowed it in her backpack. Rummaging around, she pulled out a ball and handed it to the boy. He jumped up and down as he squeezed the ball, and Mel watched, amused, as a green mass oozed out of the mouth of the toy, then slid back in.

“Froggie is sticking his tongue out at you,” the boy crowed, shoving the toy into his mother’s face.

“Well, that’s rude,” his mother said, smiling as she ruffled his hair.

The boy stuck the frog in his mom’s face, right beneath her eye, and out came the green blob again.

His mother pushed the frog away gently. “Come sit on my lap,” she said. “Show me how Froggie works.”

Pulling the child onto her lap, she bent her head close to his and murmured something into his ear.

Mel looked away from the woman and her child and looked down the concourse again. No sign of Kingsley, Dev or Gideon.

A man with a porn star mustache and a big gut walked toward her carrying a briefcase. Too late she realized it looked exactly like the briefcase Kingsley had been carrying that morning. Before she could react, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him.

“Mel Melbourne,” Kingsley whispered into her ear. “Fancy seeing you here.”

She grabbed his arm and tried to pull it away from her waist, but Kingsley pulled out a syringe and stabbed it into her arm. Whatever he injected hurt like hell. Mel struggled against his hold, but her head began spinning. Her legs wobbled beneath her.

Fumbling in her pocket, she pulled out her phone and pressed Dev’s number. Whatever happened, there would be a record.

Kingsley grabbed for the phone, but after two tries, Mel managed to shove it back into her pocket. Kingsley flexed his fist, his face dark with anger.

Tightening his arm painfully around her waist, he swung her toward the jetway.

Her head whirling, everything around her faded into the background. She heard the sound of running feet on her left, but she didn’t turn to look. Instead, she kept her gaze on Kingsley and focused on moving one foot in front of the other. She had no doubt Kingsley had a gun, and she was sure he wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

As he dragged her toward the boarding area, she heard the sound of running feet on her right. The child she’d noticed earlier stopped in front of them and held up a green toy that looked like a frog.

“I got a frog,” the child’s voice said. “See?”

Kingsley reached for the kid, and Mel swung her body between Cliff and the boy. Kingsley’s arm cracked across her face, but Mel didn’t flinch. Screaming “Jesse,” a woman grabbed for the boy who was several steps away from her.

At the woman’s scream, the terminal went silent. Everyone froze in place.

Mel’s stomach clenched. She knew Kingsley wouldn’t hesitate to take the kid hostage. Or just shoot him. But if he did that, he wouldn’t be allowed on that plane.

He seemed to realize that at the same time as Mel did. Kingsley glanced at the woman. Back at Jesse. “Nice frog, kid,” he said. “Now get outta my way.”

As he reached to shove the kid to the side, his mother snatched him up. Wrapping her arms around him, she backed away. Fell into a seat and held the boy to her chest.

“Not so smart now, are you, Melbourne?” He curled his fingers into her side, and her ribs screamed with pain. “You always thought you were better than me, but nowI’min charge.” His mouth twisted in a smirk. “Now we do things my way.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Mel saw Dev running down the concourse. He stopped before he reached the gate, slowing to a walk. He didn’t look at her or Kingsley, but Mel was confident he had a plan. Dev always had a plan.

Far behind him, she saw Gideon racing toward them. He, too, stopped suddenly and began walking instead. It was as if both men could read Kingsley’s mind. Realized he’d be looking for people running toward him.

She and Kingsley were hidden by the pillar, but Dev stood with the rest of the passengers in the waiting area. They were all on their phones, craning their necks, trying to see what was happening behind the pillar. A few of them were speaking on their phones. Hopefully to the police.

Dev stood, too, his phone pressed to his ear. She could see his mouth moving, but she was very sure he wasn’t calling the police. He was talking to Gideon, plotting their next move.

Or maybe talking to the airline, trying to find out where Kingsley would be seated in the plane.

Some of the jittering fear inside her dissipated. Dev would have a plan. He always did when it came to dangerous situations. He’d figure out a way to stop Kingsley and free her.

He might have been shit as a boyfriend, but Mel knew she could always count on Dev when everything went to hell.

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