Page 91 of Delta
“Or maybe we handed over your photograph to every single person in town so they know to turn you in the moment they see you.”
“And just what am I being turned in for?”
“Kidnapping. Murder. Pick one.”
“I didn’t kidnap anyone. Your brother handled that.”
“Mattheus also has his own fan club here in town since no less than a dozen people in town saw me with him at the diner right before I was kidnapped. See, my town isn’t like your big city. People here care about one another, and they’ll stand on the side of what’s right. So go ahead, show up. It’ll be the last thing you do, and frankly, it’ll make my life a lot easier.”
“I will find you, little dove, and when I do, you will pay for every minute you made me wait.” The call ends, so she hands the phone back to me. I get out and walk around to the passenger side, then place it into a plastic bag, set it on the ground, and smash it with the heel of my boot.
As soon as I do, I toss it into the trash bin and get back inside, pulling out the burner phone I grabbed before leaving the house. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She runs both hands over her face. “Even his voice makes my skin crawl. I only met him once, but I can picture him clear as day. You know?”
“I know.”
She’s quiet for a moment as she gathers herself. “Do you think it worked?”
“I’ll be surprised if it didn’t. He’s too smart to risk getting caught trespassing.”
“What if he doesn’t think he’ll get caught?”
“You just let him know the entire Pine Creek police force is looking for him. He doesn’t have to know how small it is.” I smile at her, hoping it will disarm some of the nerves I see reflected on her face.
“Yeah, well, I’m going to pray anyway.”
“Then let’s pray.” I reach over and wait for her to take my offered hand.
Her eyes widen in surprise, but she slides her slender hand into mine and bows her head.
I take a deep breath. I haven’t prayed out loud in years. What if I mess it up?
You won’t. Two words. Clear as day in my mind. They ease the rest of my nerves.
I clear my throat. “Lord, please be with our family and friends. Please surround them with Your protection and keep them safe in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
“Amen.” Emma gently squeezes my hand; then I pull away. “Thank you,” she says.
I nod, feeling a bit lighter than I have in years. “We’re headed to a private airstrip in Tulsa; then Jesper is going to pick us up from there.”
“Where are we headed?”
I grin at her. “You’ll see.”
“We’ve arrived at your destination,” Jesper announces as soon as the plane touches down on the runway.
The nerves I’ve felt this entire plane ride were enough to have me craving the fresh sea air I’ll get the moment we step off this plane. I haven’t been able to have any contact with Tucker or the others, so I have no way of knowing whether or not Slater left them alone in our absence.
I’ve been praying, though. Pretty much constantly.
Which is new for me.
“You ready?” I ask her.
“To find out where you brought me? Absolutely.” She stands, using the crutches Lani brought her before we took off. Carefully, she makes her way down the aisle, right behind me.
“Hier, Delta,” I order, and my pup hops up and trots over toward the door.
