Page 90 of Obsession

“You’re right.Wecan’t.” Novak smiled at his wife before looking back at Teddy. “I should have never doubted you or your friend.”

“You trusted us enough to let us do what needed to be done. That’s what’s important.” Teddy paused, then said, “There’s something my friend asked me to pass on.”

“Yes?” Novak said.

“He thinks it would be in everyone’s best interest if you kept what happened to Mrs. Novak to yourselves.”

“No worries there. We have no intentions of letting anyone know.”

“Perfect.” Teddy looked at Rebecca. “He also said it would help him if you were to avoid being seen in public for the next twenty-four hours. In fact, he said it would be best if you stayed in the house.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Rebecca said, hereyelids heavy. “I have no plans to get out of bed for at least that long.”

“Can we ask why?” Novak said.

“There are a few loose ends he needs to tie up. Nothing you need worry about.”

Novak looked curious but didn’t ask anything more.

Teddy and Stone left not long after. Before getting into their respective vehicles, Teddy gave Stone a quick recap of the evening’s events.

“What are you going to do with the kidnapper?” Stone asked.

“I’m going to have a talk with him.”

“And then?”

“And then I’ll need to borrow your jet.”

61

Janic checked the clock on his computer screen again and smiled.

The culmination of his long-awaited revenge was finally here.

While it was the middle of the night in Croatia, in Santa Barbara, California, it was nearing 6:07 p.m. At long last, Neno and his crew would end Rebecca Novak’s life and deliver Carl Novak the final blow of the payback he so richly deserved.

Janic’s computer dinged with an incoming email. It was from Neno and contained the expected link. WhenJanic clicked on it, a video window appeared that was currently filled with black. Any second now, Neno would activate the live feed that would let Janic witness the woman’s execution.

There had been no way he would miss it.

At six minutes after the hour, an image of Rebecca’s cell replaced the black screen. Only the woman wasn’t there.

Neno must be preparing her, Janic thought. He’d better hurry, though. Janic had beenveryclear on the timing. And if Neno screwed it up, Janic would not be pleased.

He grew more and more unsettled as the seconds passed without the woman appearing.

“Where is she?” he growled.

Then, right as the clock ticked over to seven minutes after the hour, the image changed again.

Janic’s brow furrowed. “What the hell is this?”

The shot started out as a blur of motion, slowing just enough for Janic to get the impression of bricks or cobblestones. When it tilted up, it revealed Carl Novak running to a sports car that was pulling to a stop on a cobblestoned road or driveway. Novak yanked the door open and helped a woman out of the passenger seat.

Janic stared in shock as they embraced each other. The woman was Rebecca Novak.

This had to be a mistake. The footage must have been from Neno’s stakeouts before the kidnapping.

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