Page 76 of Tough as Steele

“Jessica?” Helen said. “Jessica. Are you okay?”

“She’s alive,” Londyn said, making eye contact with Nate.

“I…please. No!” Jessica screamed. “No!”

Alive for how long?

Nate heard a scuffle in the background and then silence. He looked at the phone. The call had ended. He met Londyn’s gaze. A sense of urgency in finding Jessica blazed in Londyn’s eyes.

“We need to go.” She stood. “We’ll make sure Jessica is all right.”

Nate dropped a business card on the table and eyed Helen. “Call me immediately if she contacts you.”

Nate raced after Londyn to the door, yanking out his phone. The moment the door closed behind him, he dialed his lieutenant. “You have Jessica’s cell location yet?”

“Not yet.”

Nate filled him in on the interview. “Now that we know she’s in danger, can you push harder or even track the tower from Helen’s call?”

“I’ll do what I can and get back to you.” Bishop hung up.

Nate didn’t like the fact that Jessica had likely been part of the plot to abduct Mimi, but he offered a prayer that he would be in time to help Jessica out of whatever danger she was facing.

His phone rang, and seeing Clarice’s name, he answered quickly.

“I got the call for the ransom drop.” She named a public park not far from Mimi’s house. “I’m supposed to come alone at nine p.m. and drop the money in a garbage can by a bench, then leave. Once he has the money, he’ll release Mimi.”

“And I can’t persuade you not to do this?” he asked.

“I have to do it.”

“Then I’ll go with you.“

“No!” Clarice’s sharp tone pierced his ear. “He said he would kill her on the spot if he saw any police. He was vehement, and after he shot at you, I think we need to take his warning seriously.”

Aiden Byrd stepped out of the trees, giving Nate an idea. “We won’t send any police but I’ll have a private agency do a risk assessment before the drop.”

“Don’t you think the kidnapper will see them? What if he thinks they’re police?” Panic sent her voice rising high.

“We’ll have to take that risk,” Nate said, watching Aiden approach him and Londyn. “I’m not sending you into any area blind. You’re too important to me.”

Clarice sighed, her breath coming in spurts over his phone. “Just let me know what to do.”

“One more thing,” he said and hated to have to ask this. “Did you know Charles has a gambling problem?”

“Had, a problem, yes. He’s in recovery.”

Londyn said he was still actively gambling, but Nate wouldn’t tell Clarice that or that he was mismanaging the company money. Not now while she needed to be clearheaded for the drop. “Why didn’t you tell me about it? I might’ve been able to help.”

“Some things are too personal even to share with you.”

He let the conversation end there and promised to call when the plans were finalized. He shoved his phone into his pocket and looked at Aiden. “I have another mission for you if you’re game, but you have to act fast.”

“We’re always game if we’re free to help.” Aiden grinned.

“We’ve been given the time and location for the ransom drop.” He shared the details with Londyn and Aiden. “No police, of course. I’d like you to do a risk assessment for the park, but do your very best not to look like law enforcement while doing so.”

Aiden frowned. “We might not be sworn anymore, but it’s who we are to the core. I can’t guarantee anything, but we’ll do our best to look like civilians.”

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