Page 72 of Save Her Life

“It’s in her name.Nat-a-lie.” He smiled at her.

“Very funny.” She smiled back, despite herself.

“But in seriousness, she seemed genuine to me. If she had something to share that could help us find Olivia, she would have told us.”

“I think so too. I’d still like to check Patton’s visitor records from the prison just to make sure.”

“We could also check her phone records.”

Sandra shook her head. “I don’t think that would fly at this point, but at least it wasn’t a waste of time coming here. Our theory about the threesome doing the bank robbery gained more traction.”

“We also know who to talk to next. The grandmother. I assume now that Patton’s mother was the other living relative you were referring to?”

“Yep.”

“Well, she might even be able to give us more than access to that storage locker. She might be familiar with the haunts Patton had as a kid. There’s nothing saying he didn’t return there as an adult to hide the gold bars.”

“It’s worth a try, but from what I recall as part of Patton’s sob story, the woman loved the bottle back then. It’s hard to know what she might remember, if she was even paying attention to her son at all.” Her phone rang, and she rushed to pull it out. The screen showedBlocked Number. “Jennings.” She took a deep breath, answered on speaker, and said nothing. By doing so, she was making a move for control, but it was taking all her willpower to pull it off.

“How much does your daughter mean to you?” Lonnie’s voice came across the line, but Olivia’s muffled cries could be heard in the background. There was a garbled word that sounded likeMom.He must have her gagged.

The mother in her wanted to react and dole out threats, but the fed part knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with that tactic. Responding strongly would have the opposite of the desired result and weaken her position. She sidestepped his question with, “I told you that I’m willing to do what you want. Tell me what that is.”

“You’re a negotiator. Use those skills to get the verdict overturned.”

He had a lot of unfounded faith in her abilities. Even if she wanted to, this request was beyond her scope. But she didn’t need to come right out and tell him that. “I can work with that if you tell me what it is you want from him. We all want this to end peacefully, and there’s no reason why that can’t be the case. What are you after?” It was best that she played dumb because it would give Jennings the illusion of control.

“Just get him out of prison.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that. Just tell me what you’re after.”

Silence for a few beats, then, “Let’s just say that Patton owes me. But you do talk for a living, don’t you? Some hotshot negotiator with the FBI. If you can’t get him out, just get him to talk.”

“I can do that.” She impressed herself with the confidence she conveyed. Even putting her skills to work might not have any effect on Patton. She tamped down the anxiety that rose about facing him again. “What do you want to know?”

“There’s money he’s been holding on to. Half of it belongs to me.”

Hard to split nine bars evenly…She shared a look with Brice. There had been no mention of Dennis or his share. “Half of it belongs to you?” she parroted.

“That’s right. Darrell will know what I’m talking about. Gold bars, and he owes me half. Actually, never mind that, I want all of them. Tell him it’s interest for waiting so long.”

If it came down to talking with Patton, she’d be sure to hold that back. “And he knows where the gold bars are?”

The more he spoke, the more he implicated himself in the robbery. “Yes,” he hissed. “But I don’t think any of this is a surprise to you. So just get me the location of the gold, and you’ll get your daughter back.”

“I’ll get my daughter back if I just hand over the location of the gold?”

“As easy as that.” His smugness traveled the line, and she had to swallow down the rage it ignited. “That’s if you’re as good as your reputation makes out. But don’t be fooled. I’m not actually a patient person, but I’m also not completely unreasonable. I’ll give you until tomorrow at noon. When I call then, you better have the location of the money.”

Tomorrow at noon…Though it wasn’t the deadline playing on her mind. It was the fact that Olivia would remain with that madman for another twenty-four-plus hours. “I’ll do this, but in the meantime, promise me you will not touch one hair on her head.”

“Too late for that.”

Click.The line went dead.

She’d throw her phone if there was somewhere to toss it, but it was also her only link to Olivia. Her hands were quaking, and Brice put his hand on her forearm.

“Don’t let him into your head,” he said gently.

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