Abandon - Carla Neggers [89]
“Aren’t you going to ask me how I know Harris?”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care. Just tell me what you want.”
Jesse pointed at her, almost with glee. “I know Harris because of you.”
“I don’t understand. I didn’t meet you until Cal introduced us—”
“I know. Complicated. But Cal and Harris are irrelevant right now.”
His stark words jolted Bernadette. “Jesse,” she said, her voice cracking, “where is Cal?”
Ignoring her question, he glanced at the shed, the brush, as if he hadn’t noticed them before. “I heard about the marshal attacked out here.”
It was you, you bastard.
Bernadette could see that he was enjoying manipulating her. As surreptitously as she could, she took another step back. She knew the lake, the woods around her house. If she could get away from him, she’d have at least a chance to run, elude him until she could get help.
But if she was right and he was the man who’d attacked Mackenzie last week, he could know the area as well as she did.
Get to your car. It’s your best hope. And keep him talking until you can make your move.
She tried to steady herself. “Jesse, why are you here?”
“I’m like you. I don’t want to get bit by what Cal’s into.”
She faked a laugh that sounded even more hollow and weak than she’d expected. “You’re a wealthy, respected businessman. How could anything in which Cal might be involved hurt you? And he and I are divorced. I’m not worried—”
“If you cooperate, he’ll live,” Jesse said abruptly. “If you don’t, it’s simple. He’ll die.”
Bernadette went still. She felt the blood draining out of her head, but tried to force herself to assess her situation objectively. She needed a weapon. There were tools in the shed. The sticks she used for toasting marshmallows near the fireplace. Rocks.
But before she could figure out what to do, Jesse produced an assault knife, pointing it at her in an obviously well-practiced move. “No one’s protecting you, Judge.” His tone was mild, even matter-of-fact. “No one can save you. You have to deal with me and only me.”
“All right.” She was surprised at how calm she suddenly sounded. “Tell me what you want.”
He ran his thumb along the smooth edge of the blade. “You’ve alienated a lot of people, haven’t you, Judge? Your pretty marshal friend, for one.”
His eyes flashed, and with a deep sense of revulsion, Bernadette realized he was attracted to Mackenzie. “Mackenzie knows I care about her.”
“You don’t give her enough credit,” Jesse continued, as if they were teachers discussing a student progress report. “She’s good at what she does. She’s still new, but she has sharp instincts. I’ve seen them at work. Hell, I almost got my ass kicked because of them.”
“What do you want? I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”
The matter-of-fact tone vanished. “I want what your ex-husband stole from me.”
What? Bernadette pushed back her confusion and shock. And her fear. This man thrived on his sense of power and control over others. Over her. She had to use that to keep him talking.
“I don’t know anything about that,” she said. “Cal and I live separate lives.”
“Think, Judge. Focus your mind. Your ex-husband’s in a tough situation.” Jesse paused, watching her reaction, relishing it. “If I’m not able to get back to him soon, he’ll die before anyone can find him. It’s a nice day, but he’s cold, wet, hungry and thirsty. He’s also scared. You don’t like that, do you? The idea that he’s scared?”
“I don’t know anything about your dealings with Cal. If you give me more to go on, perhaps I can help you.”
He nodded toward the open shed. “Let’s take a look in there. Okay, Judge?”
As if she had a choice in the matter. But she knew she had to do what she could to delay him. “Why?”
“Because I’ve been trying to think like Cal, and I figure he