Page 89 of Out of the Shadow

I STARE DOWNat my phone, unable to believe what Trevor just said. He’s ransoming Angie to me for one-hundred K. I’d pay triple that amount to get her back safely. But how can I put my hands on that kind of money in only four hours?

My finger hovers over the button to call Dad. I know he cut off my trust fund, but this is an emergency. I know he’d come through.

No.

Trevor wants the exact amount of money I was paid by Let’s Do It! I don’t need my father.

En route to the bank, I make one call—to Leo. Just in case things with Trevor go south, Angie’s brother needs to know.

“Hey, King.” His voice relays his surprise.

“Leo, I need your help. Your sister’s being held for ransom. I have the address. The guy wants one-hundred thousand dollars in exchange for Angie by eight tonight.”

“Shit. Do you know who has her?”

I wait for the traffic light to turn green and continue. My bank’s up ahead. “Yes. Trevor Stern. We’ve been friends my whole life, but he’s on drugs and he sounds desperate.” I turn into the parking lot. “I’m getting the money now. I’ll text you the address and meet you there.”

“Wait! I need to report this.”

My head shakes from side to side so hard that I can practically feel my brain rattling around. “No way, Leo. Trevor said no cops. Angie’s life is on the line.”

“Do you think he’d harm her?”

My stomach clenches. Trevor has something of an angry streak, usually when he’s high on something. From the way he sounded on the phone, my guess is he’s in that state of mind right now. “I’m not sure. He might.” Maybe to spite me.

“Send me the address. I’ll meet you at the closest shop so I can wire you up. I need to do a little of this by the book. And King, thank you for bringing me in.”

I don’t acknowledge his last sentence. Killing the call, I send the text and race into the bank to make my withdrawal. The teller looks at my check. “Excuse me.” She disappears into the back, and the minutes tick by. I strum the top of the counter, shifting my weight from foot to foot. I’m about ready to jump over the counter and take the money myself when she returns, trailed by a balding man with a paunch, wearing a brown suit.

“Mr. Hunte,” Baldie says.

Clasping my hands in an effort to prevent them from reaching around his neck, I nod.

“I see you’re making a rather large withdrawal. I’ll need you to follow me into my office to fill out some paperwork.”

Shit. This ismymoney. I’m about to yell that when he turns and walks toward the side gate and ushers me to follow him.

I do, and when we reach his office, I force myself to do the polite thing and sit. “I’m working on a tight deadline right now. I’d appreciate it if you could speed along the process.”

“Sure thing,” Baldie replies as he clicks on the computer. “Now, if you could please fill out these documents for the government and give me your identification, we’ll get you right out of here.” He smiles. I don’t.

A good forty-five minutes later, after signing enough paperwork to fill up one of Dad’s tour buses, I finally walk out of the bank holding the duffel bag I had in the car from the gym, now filled with cash. Baldie kept trying to get me to open up about why I need so much money, but I kept my mouth shut. I won’t risk Angie’s safety.

When I pull into a little strip mall near the address Trevor gave me, Leo’s standing next to a beater Honda. I park and shake his hand.

Leo holds up his cell. “I haven’t told anyone about this, against my better judgment. Do you really think this guy will step down if you give him the money?”

“I do.” I shove my hands into my pockets. “I’ve known Trevor my whole life. He has a temper, but it doesn’t stick around for too long. My guess is that he got in over his head with drugs and debt.”

He nods and points to his car. “Let’s get you all wired up so we can record him making the exchange.”

I follow him, taking my shirt off. With efficient movements, he applies the leads and wires to my body and we do a sound check.

“This is going to work, Leo.” I say this more to encourage me than him.

Even under these unimaginable circumstances, it’s comforting to be part of a team. Leo’s lip ticks upward, but he remains focused on getting me ready to head in. He makes a couple of adjustments and points at my shirt, which I put back on.

After a few tests, he says, “You’re good to go, King.”

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