Page 4 of The Captive Missing

“To Gabe and Bee?” Val’s face filled with confusion.

“Yes, but more importantly, where there is no extradition to the States.”

“What have they charged you with?”

“When you get there, I want you to stay. Do not leave the islands under any circumstance unless I tell you it’s safe. Okay?”

“What are your charges?” Val’s question became a demand.

“Promise me that you will take Jace and stay there.”

“What are the charges?!” Her voice escalated along with her panic, causing both of them to glance towards the bed.

Jace shifted, but still slept.

“Harboring a captive,” Jason admitted finally.

“Jason.” Val’s insides flipped. “How is this not about our son?”

“Trust me,” Jason reached out, ran his thumb down the side of her cheek. “I’ll take care of it.”

* * *

There was no time to give her details. At least that’s what he said before gathering her to him. When he brushed his lips against hers, ran his fingers through her hair, the gesture left a lingering sweetness of which she could still feel.

It wasn’t until after he had gone, taking the policemen with their wine and their money with him, that Val wanted to collapse. She wanted to. And maybe for just a second, she let herself sag against his clothes hanging so still in their closet. But it was only a momentary slip.

Straightening her spine, she wiped the damp tears from her cheeks and quickly went to work. She had to get Jace out of the country and she had to do it now.

Victor was already in the hallway when she stepped out. They stood there staring at one another, Val’s fingers wrapping the wrought iron railing that stretched to the staircase. Without a word, he brushed by her and entered her bedroom. As she watched, he scooped up her son and carried him carefully back down the winding staircase.

Jace’s small legs dangled with each step, but thankfully he remained sleeping. Val followed close behind. His eyes fluttered briefly as he was lowered into the backseat of the town car. Quickly, Val wrapped him in a blanket and watched as her son succumbed to the heaviness of his eyelids once more.

With Val’s two small bags stuffed in the trunk, Victor slid into the front seat and drove the car out into the night.

Absently, Val stroked along Jace’s hair. Even though they were safely underway, a sick sort of dread filled her. She stuffed one hand into her oversized purse and clutched at the passports that lay inside. Running. They were running again. Tilting her head to the side, she felt the cold of the window glass soak into her hair. Would she ever be able to stop running?

* * *

The drive from Provence to the airport in Nice took a little over two hours but it felt like an eternity. Other headlights on the roadway were rare, but whenever they appeared, Val’s pulse jumped. As the city loomed in the distance, the flash of headlights became more frequent, increasing until she had to shut her eyes against the pervasive glare.

Entering the airport took Val to a whole new level of anxiety. Despite the odd hour, it bustled with activity. And with activity came people, and with people, eyes.

It wasn’t that she thought they were all looking at her, because they weren’t. Some stood in line, walked the terminals distractedly or slept hunched in the rows of fixed plastic chairs. But all it would take was the wrong person to notice her. To notice her son and snap a photo.

Cambric Agency had been disbanded, Sharon Baine was locked in a prison cell, but still, someone was pressing captive charges against Jason. And that someone was too close for comfort. Ducking her head, Val held Jace’s little hand tightly and walked close behind Victor. He led the way calmly, as if this were all normal, rolling her bags alongside him.

Together they navigated security and customs without incident. Victor did all the talking while Val soothed Jace’s groggy protests. In silence, she watched her driver pass a few discreet envelopes to certain people and the way ahead of them was cleared. Jason’s money. It was Jason’s money saving them all over again.

Not until the final boarding gate did Victor finally stop and dip his head in farewell. He would be staying behind in France; his life was here. Val thanked him and she hugged him and he smiled at her before he left. They didn’t have captives in France, so she didn’t think he knew anything about them. Fleetingly, she wondered what that was like.

By the time Val settled into the wide white leather seats of the jet, Jace had fallen back to sleep. His small figure was curled up beneath his blanket, the seat reclined to almost horizontal.

Pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes, Val exhaled shakily. She should use this time to rest, try to get some sleep herself. But the flight promised to be a long one. It would be almost fourteen hours before their landing gear reconnected with runway, and so she knew there would be time.

Out the window, she watched as the jet pulled back from the terminal. Its wing tips flashed in the dark. Rotating ever so slowly, they pivoted until the whir of engines had them inching forward. Her fingertips dug into the armrests. The thrust of propulsion pressed her back into the seat. Faster and faster they went.

She held her breath, panic tightening her chest, heart pumping painfully in protest. At any moment she felt it all would end. At any moment they would be called back to the airport, asked to disembark, brought into custody. It wasn’t until the plane lifted into the air, that Val was actually able to take in a fresh breath.

---