False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [80]
“Threatening? Did he say anything?”
Vanessa sighed. “No. This sounds pretty silly, now that I say it out loud. He just gave me the creeps, that’s all. I’m probably overreacting.”
“Don’t be so quick to blow off your instincts. Where are you?”
“Standing in front of Zoe B’s. I think I’ll walk around the building to my car so I don’t have to go back in.”
“Good. Make sure he doesn’t follow you. I’ll stay on the line until you’re inside your car.”
“All right. I’m walking. I can’t believe how hot it is already.”
“I know,” Ethan said. “I thought Tennessee summers were hot. But the humidity is something else.”
“I miss having a place to take Carter swimming.”
“Maybe we should consider buying a family pass to the pool at Roux River Park. I heard it’s nice.”
“I’d love that. It would give me something to do outside with Carter when it’s so hot.”
“Why don’t you find out what we need to do to buy a pass? It can’t be that expensive. Let’s just do it.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Vanessa stopped at the car and glanced over her shoulder. “Okay, I’m getting in my car now. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Let me know if you find out anything after you talk to Zoe.”
“I will.”
Vanessa slid in behind the wheel and locked the car. One quick stop at a pay phone to talk to Zoe—and then she would pick up Carter. She could hardly wait to see him.
She started the car and glanced in the rearview mirror, surprised to see the back door of the building left wide open. How did that happen? Weren’t she and Ethan the only two besides Zoe and Pierce who had keys to that door?
She heard a rustling sound in the backseat, then felt something tighten around her neck, closing off her windpipe. She tried to grab the cord or strap or whatever it was but it seemed to tighten like a vice as she screamed without a voice and clawed frantically at the hairy wrists and the hands of the attacker who held it there. She heard herself making choking sounds and wondered if she was about to be raped or killed—or both.
Lord, help me! Help me!
“Stop fighting!” he ordered. “And I’ll let go. Make any attempt to scream or call for help, and we’ll hurt your kid. You don’t want to test me on this. I’ve got a real mean streak and zero tolerance.”
Vanessa felt the pressure subside and began to gasp, desperately trying to inhale. After several tries, she sucked in air, then began to cough violently for what seemed an eternity, finally able to catch her breath—and a glimpse in the rearview mirror of those same creepy eyes she had seen in Zoe B’s.
“Don’t … hurt … my son,” she begged. “Please.”
“Well now, that’s entirely up to you—and whether or not you’re willing to tell me what I want to know.”
Jude listened to every word Zoe Broussard told him and then turned off the recorder and sat back in his chair.
“Did you get all that on tape?” she asked.
“I did. Is Pierce still there?”
“I’m here.”
“I don’t need to tell you two how serious this is. You were smart to hide.” Jude glanced at his watch. “I imagine this guy has already figured out you’ve pulled a fast one. He’s going to do everything he can to find out where you are. Does anyone know besides the Langleys?”
“No,” Zoe said. “And if he’s monitoring our phone calls, he won’t find any calls made to us by Vanessa or Ethan.”
“But if there isn’t any activity on your cells or your land line, that alone will be red flag.”
Zoe sighed. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Since he doesn’t know where you are, my guess is he’s going to try to force your whereabouts out of someone.”
“But that’s why we didn’t tell anyone!” Zoe said. “Not even our staff.”
“He doesn’t know that.” Jude shook his head. “The timing on this couldn’t be worse. With all that’s going on with the hanging and the shooting and Remy’s funeral tomorrow, I simply can’t spare the resources to protect you.”
“We understand,” Zoe said. “Vanessa told us you probably wouldn’t. That’s why Ethan thought we should hide before Shapiro got suspicious. We figured we’d be safe here for a few days.”
Jude raked his hands through his hair. Of all times