Page 85 of Legacy of Lies
“You’ll do a lot more of that before I’m done. I will please the Great One tonight.”
A wave of light-headedness grabbed her, and she put one hand on the dashboard and the other on the door handle.
“Ah, ah,” he said, waggling a finger. “If you leave, Zach dies.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
He dialed a number on his cell phone, never dropping his smile, and held it up to her ear. The sound of a boy’s frightened whimper stopped her heart.
“Zach?” she whispered. “It’s Ms. Lopez.”
A sniff. “I’m cold.”
“Oh, honey, I know. I’ll be there soon to help, okay?”
“Ms. Lopez?” His thin voice brought tears to her eyes. “I’m scared.”
“Me, too, Zach. Be brave and I’ll find you soon.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Before she could answer, Hank grabbed the phone back.
She faced all of the crazy, head on. What else could she do? “Fine. I believe you. Okay, I’m begging you. Now can you let him go?” Maybe she could distract Hank. Keep him talking while she thought of something.
“Not quite.”
“Why not?” She eased her cell phone out of her pocket and tried to thumb it on.
“Because I have work to do.”
There. The text box came up. She tried to type. “What kind of work?”
“The special kind.” Fast as lightning, he grabbed her wrist in a painful grip and yanked the phone away. “Ah, what’s going on here?” He peered at the screen. “A text to your lover? Sorry. Not going to happen, little traitor.”
He rolled down the window and made as if to throw the phone out. Then, with an eerie calm, checked himself. “On the other hand, this could come in handy.”
“Handy?”
“For a special surprise later.” He blinked and scrabbled under the seat until he pulled out duct tape. “This will work perfectly. Your hands, please.” So terribly calm.
Wincing as he taped her hands together, she darted glances around. Most of the teachers had left right after the kids. No cars remained here behind the school. Oh God, this situation had gone from bad to disaster.
“I don’t get it, Hank. Look, whatever beef you have with me, you need to let Zach go.”
“All depends on how nice you are to me.”
Acid rose in her throat. “All right.” She swallowed. “Where are we going?”
“To a special place.”
“Where—”
His hand reached her neck in record time, and as he squeezed, he said, “No more questions. It’s time to go.”
As he glanced at his watch, she read the time: 3:15. Cold fear wrapped a bony hand around her spine and squeezed. It would be tomorrow morning until someone realized she’d gone missing. Too much time. Hank could do anything.
As he pulled out of the nearly empty parking lot and casually drove toward the mountains and the national forest, it took all of her strength not to cry. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
