Page 84 of Save Her Life

“The medical examiner took a closer look at Eaton. The round was a nine mil and fired at a range of between five and ten feet. There’s probably nothing much left of it that would provide us with lands and grooves.”

Also known as rifling, this was caused when a bullet traveled through the gun. They were unique to each gun, but there were also markers that were generic and could narrow down gun make and model. “Well, the picture’s still a scary one. Jennings has Olivia, and now we have proof he’s armed. What about Eaton’s phone? Did that get us anywhere?”

“No. I was just going to get to that. Considering the urgency of the situation, everything was rushed through, but the short of it is the last location for his phone showed in Brentwood on Friday at seven AM.”

“So much for that leading us to where Jennings is holding Olivia.”

“All isn’t necessarily lost though. There was some tar on the bottom of Dennis’s shoes. But not any regular tar. Wood tar. It’s used as a water repellant for boats.”

“Dennis works at a boat factory, though, so I’m not sure how that helps us.”

“I thought you might say that so I had a talk with them. There’s no way Dennis came into contact with it there.”

This finding piqued her interest, but she was still too tired to sit up. “Is wood tar used for anything else?”

“It can also be used in roofing construction, soaps, and in some medications for skin diseases.”

“Right. So that’s a lot. How can we narrow that down?”

“I’m just passing on what I’ve found out, Sandra.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just so exhausted, my eyes hurt, my back and neck hurt. Heck, even my nose hurts.”

“Get some rest. Love you.”

“Love you.” She hung up, or believed she did.

FORTY

The fact Lonnie slept in a sleeping bag with only it between him and the concrete floor hadn’t affected his rest one bit. He had the peaceful slumber of a baby with no concerns weighing him down. Though maybe he should have some reservations. Things could take a bad turn today. But if they did, he’d cut and run. Just not before killing the girl.

He got up and saw that she was staring at him from where he’d left her bound to the chair. Her sleeping arrangements were far more uncomfortable than his, and her mind would have kept her awake.

“Well, well. Good morning.” He made a show of stretching out his arms overhead.

She said something behind the gag that he took as “Go to hell.” That only made him smile.

“Someone’s feisty. I must say that’s far more entertaining than a lump resolved to their fate. Because you do know what your fate is, right?”

The girl’s eyes shadowed, but she stared defiantly back at him.

Can’t say she doesn’t have spunk…“If your mother doesn’t come through today, you’re dead. Heck, I might kill you anyway,just for the fun of it. Maybe your mother too.” Speaking of, he needed to get to work in case the day took an unwelcome turn. If somehow Special Agent Vos or other feds got to this warehouse, he was only wise to stand his ground. And if they were occupied scrambling to save their own or shaken by the tragedy, he’d at least be able to get away without company trailing him. He had the perfect thing in mind to cause the utmost damage with a high potential for casualties. Worst case he didn’t get the gold, but he’d have some fun. Really, any way he viewed the day ahead, it held a sunny prospect for him.

Lonnie kept looking at the girl, and his gaze must have been making her uncomfortable because she wasn’t holding eye contact. He heard Dennis’s voice in his head about killing her, that she was just a kid. But those words didn’t impact Lonnie at all. People moaned about premature death of the young as if it were some grand tragedy. He could flip that another way. Killing kids made for fewer whiny and controlling adults. And from their standpoint, should he care to consider it, the child wouldn’t have to grow up to live a boring existence of slogging off to work and trying to make a living. He would be doing everyone a favor.

He took out his gun and traced the muzzle along the girl’s jaw. She refused him all eye contact now, and Lonnie roared with laughter before putting his gun away again and getting to work. He didn’t have any experience with what he planned to do, but the internet was a glorious fount of information.

FORTY-ONE

Sandra didn’t even remember shutting her eyes when a ringing sound woke her.What time is it? How long have I been asleep?Where am I?

It felt like she was being ripped from another dimension. But as the ringing continued, it eventually penetrated her brain fog. It was her cell phone.Olivia!Had she overslept and it was noon? Was Jennings calling to tell her that Olivia was dead? She reached out to the nightstand, but her phone wasn’t there.

“Shit!” She threw the covers back and flicked on the tableside light. It blinded her for a second, but she bounded from bed, searching for her phone through squinted eyes. She found it across the floor. It must have fallen there during the night.

Caller ID told her it was Elwood. Her eyes couldn’t focus on the time on the top bar though. The font was too small. She sought out the alarm clock in the room.5:03 AM.“Vos,” she answered.

“Special Agent Little just called from the road. He got Natalie Roth out of bed, and she wasn’t in a cooperative mood. Sum it up to say that she’s not supportive of us deceiving her father.”

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