Page 81 of Save Her Life

“Is that how you want to play this? If you don’t tell me where the gold is, your daughter willdie.” That impactful word had her slipping back to reality, and her voice cracked, betraying her again.

Patton sat back. “I’m a little lost here. Lonnie takes Natalie and gets a fed to find out the location of gold obtained in a bank robbery. Why would he implicate himself? And what do you care about Natalie?”

“It’s my job to care about people, Mr. Patton, and Lonnie doesn’t intend to get caught. He just wants the gold, and he’stired of waiting for you to get out of here.” She was surprised by her ability to hold it together.

Patton sat silently for a few beats. “I don’t know. You can’t even provide proof to back up your claim. Besides,ifI was involved in some robbery, why would I bare my soul to you? You’re the freaking FBI. I’d be lucky to see the light of day again before I die.”

“I can help you.”

“Youhelpme? That’s a joke. Days ago you stood in front of the parole committee and made it clear you think I’m shit.”

I still do…“Tell me to save your daughter, and if not for that, because you found God. Isn’t that what you told the parole committee? Don’t you want a clear conscience before Him?”Or Her…

“Nah, I’m out. Guard!”

She looked over her shoulder, and the man was alerted and turning toward the door. “Lonnie will kill Natalie if you don’t give up the location of the gold.”

The door handle turned.

Darrell shook his head. “Lonnie doesn’t even have Natalie. This is all some ruse to get me to confess to a crime I didn’t commit, so you can ensure I rot in here. Well, I’m not in the accommodating mood.”

“I can make you a deal,” she rushed out. She had wanted to reserve this as a last resort, but she was pinned against the wall.

“Really?”

The guard was in the room, looking between Sandra and Patton. “You finished in here, Patton?”

Patton held up his hand. “I’m listening,” he told Sandra.

“Just tell me where the gold is, and I’ll give you immunity regarding the bank robbery.”

Patton studied her eyes. “Nah, I don’t believe you.”

“I can have it put in writing before you tell me. Think of your daughter.”

“I’m quite sure we both know it’s not my daughter that he has. You’re trying to manipulate me, but I’d suggest you plan a funeral for whoever Lonnie does have. The guy has always had a short fuse.”

“I know. He killed Dennis.” She threw that out to shock him, jolt him to reality.

“He…Hekilled Dennis?” The question scraped from his throat, and the impact of this news played over his facial features.

“Shot him in the head.”

“Nah, I can’t accept that.” Patton looked at the guard, who started to release him from his restraints that bound him to the table and floor.

As Patton shuffled from the room with the guard, she remained frozen in her chair, numb. He’d already taken her brother from her, and now the same man just may claim her daughter. All because she’d messed up. She’d let emotion interfere. She smacked her palms against the table and roared at the empty walls.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Sandra must have been a fool to think Darrell Patton would take her word for it. But that, she realized, was her error right there. She hadn’t convinced herself. Her compromised emotions screwed everything up, but there was no time to sit around wallowing.

She stormed down the halls of the penitentiary and reclaimed her gun before heading out into the night. The air was cold and bit her nose, ears, and cheeks, but she did nothing to make herself more comfortable. She didn’t deserve comfort. She walked slowly to her vehicle and calculated a way out of the mess she’d created. If only there was some way of making Patton believe that Jennings had Natalie… Then it hit.

She called Lakisha through the Bluetooth system in the G-wagon, but it rang through to voicemail. She might not be working tonight. She hung up and called back, going through the back door of the phone system for the Science and Technology Branch and reached Special Agent Simon Pratt.

“It’s Special Agent Sandra Vos from the Washington Field Office. Is Lakisha in tonight?”

“No, but she’ll be back in tomorrow morning at seven. I heard about Olivia, by the way. I’m so sorry.”

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