Page 12 of The Ties That Bind

He opened his mouth to protest, but she silenced him with a finger against his lips. “Shush. You got to tell me what to do the last couple days. Now, it’s my turn.”

The meeting place was further inland, and the dilapidated buildings on either side of the street had been spared from most of the flooding. It was a good thing, Elle thought—they looked like a gentle stream would carry them away. She could smell rotted wood and neglect. Several houses had cardboard instead of glass in the windows, while others had gaping nothingness. Just eyeless sentinels in the dark.

She shivered despite the heat blasting inside Alec’s car. “You don’t have to do this,” he reminded her. She didn’t bother to respond. He’d already said something similar at least ten times on the drive over, and she’d met each quiet plea with a forceful rejection. Of course she was doing this. It was her family, and her responsibility.

Alec cut the lights as he rolled the car slowly toward the building at the end of the row. It was a warehouse, huge and ancient, clearly abandoned. It felt like the kind of place where terrible things happened without anyone ever being the wiser.No witnesses,it seemed to say. Elle wrapped Alec’s jacket more tightly around her, breathing in his scent. It calmed her. Somewhat.

“Let’s do this,” she said with forced enthusiasm, opening the car door.

Alec reached across her and pulled the handle shut. “We’re still early. Just one more minute.” His eyes pleaded with her, and she dropped a soft kiss on his nose.

“One minute,” she agreed. He took her hand, fingers intertwining with hers. Her head rested against his shoulder. She counted her breaths, focusing on inhaling and exhaling slowly. In one two three four, out one two three four.So this is your first hostage negotiation, no big. Calculus is way worse. You’ve got this.

He kissed her hand before letting go. “Let me get out first. Just in case.”

An argument sprang to her tongue, but she held it, giving him this small bit of control. He quickly circled around the back of the car and came to open her door. She took his proffered hand and allowed him to assist her as she stepped out into the cold. “Stay close to me.”

She walked in front of him, his roiling anxiety setting her teeth on edge. He hated letting her put herself between him and whatever they might face. But he’d promised. “It makes more sense,” she’d told him. “Always keep the leverage between you and the person who wishes you harm. Besides, he won’t risk letting something happen to me.”

They hesitated outside the warehouse doorway, unsure how to proceed. Could they be walking into an ambush? Elle steeled herself and pushed ahead, marching confidently across the threshold. “Dad?”

“Elle, sweetheart,” her father said, stepping out of the shadows. Two men flanked him, both in all black. She couldn’t be sure, but it looked like they were both armed. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. Where’s Caitlin?”

His eyebrows climbed up to his hairline. “Who’s Caitlin?”

Alec tensed behind her, growling. “Dad, don’t do this,” she pleaded. “Just let her go. Everything will be okay if you just let her go.”

“Honey, I truly don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She massaged her forehead in frustration. “I know everything, Dad. The drugs, the extortion. Dr. Keller. Please stop lying to me.”

His gaze hardened, and her stomach dropped. The man staring back at her wasn’t the doting dad she’d grown up with, or the kindly father figure that charmed the hospital staff. He was cold, calculating the distance between her and Alec, deciding his next move.

He suddenly dropped his head, shaking it in disappointment. “I thought you were smarter than this, Arielle.”

“It’s Elle,” she said reflexively. He’d never listened when she told him her preferred name. Or when she said she’s rather go to art camp instead of science camp. Or … she thought back, realizing how her father had always overruled her wishes, subtly molding her dreams into his. She was still taking a handful of pre-med classes that she absolutely hated, despite knowing herself well enough to recognize that medicine was not the profession for her. All because she couldn’t stand up to him. That ended tonight.

“Where. Is. She?” She enunciated each word clearly, slowly. Insistently.

He sighed. “Let me take you home, Arielle. You’re clearly suffering from some kind of stress-induced mental health crisis.”

“No.” She planted her feet firmly, feeling Alec’s warmth against her back.

One of the thugs in black stepped forward, a gun in his hand. “Should I take care of this, boss?”

Elle flinched. Would her father really force her at gunpoint?

“Put that away,” her dad barked out. Elle deflated in relief until her father continued, “There’s a smarter way to handle this.” He pulled out his phone and calmly dialed. “Officer? They’re here.”

****

For one confusing second, Alec thought Dr. Keller—Dr. Reid, technically,he corrected himself—was turning himself in. The doctor shooed his goons away, and they melted back into the shadows before disappearing out the back door. “Yes, officer. The man who kidnapped my daughter. Please hurry.” He let an edge of fear creep into his voice that didn’t match the patronizing look on his face. “Help is on the way, sweetie,” he called out. “I love you.”

Elle turned to Alec. “What’s happening?”

Understanding struck, freezing him in place. It was going to be Alec’s word against his. And from the smug look on the doctor’s face, he knew exactly who they were going to believe. Not only was he a doctor and a respected member of the community, whereas Alec was some poor dockworker moonlighting at a boat repair shop, but he also had the texts Alec sent from Elle’s phone. The photo of her tied up. Clearly a hostage.

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