No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [79]
“How many times do I have to tell you? You’re not alone. You’ll never be alone again. Trust me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m whining. I’ll be better in the morning. Good night.”
“Don’t close me out. Let me come in. I’ll warm you.”
He was warming her, but not enough to melt the ice. “Good night,” she said again.
He gave an exasperated sigh and his arms tightened around her. “Okay, but I’m here for you. Know that.”
She nodded. In some remote part of her mind she knew that as truth and it brought her comfort. She had to get over this deadly malaise. It made it difficult for her to function. It was an enemy. “I’ll be better. I have to be better. I have to get Barry.…”
“You’ll be tough as nails after you get some sleep.” He pressed his lips to her temple. “I promise you.”
Chavez called at four in the morning.
“He wants to talk to you,” Galen said. “You’re not in any shape. Let me handle him.”
She shook her head and took the phone. “We have nothing to talk about, Chavez.”
“I disagree. We have a good deal to discuss. You didn’t tell me that you no longer have my son.”
“I do have Barry.”
“I’ve had talks with a man who says that he has custody and is willing to give him to me for a price.”
“He’s lying. You’d be a fool to deal with him.”
“I never act the fool. He sent me a picture of Barry and demanded thirty million dollars.”
She didn’t respond.
“That’s a lot of money. Naturally, I told him that I wouldn’t pay it. Do you know what he said? He told me the next picture he sent me would be of a dead boy.”
She inhaled sharply as pain knifed through her.
“Oh, that got you. I hoped it would. So, you see, it’s up to me whether the boy lives or dies. I’m really tempted to let Morgan kill him just to see you suffer.”
“Morgan won’t kill him.”
“Wishful thinking. He’s capable of anything. He’s killed countless times. I researched him thoroughly, and his background is very nasty indeed.”
“He won’t … do it.”
“Oh, he will, if I don’t pay the money. Should I do it? Is it worth it to me? You’ll have to wonder, won’t you?”
“You want my son. It will be worth it to you.”
“Your voice is shaking. I feel quite stimulated by this conversation. It’s almost as satisfactory as having you here with me. If I do decide to ransom my son, I’ll be in total control of his life or death. If I decide that you’ve spoiled any potential he might have, then I’ll get rid of him.”
“To hurt me.”
“Oh, yes, that’s my prime goal.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re bluffing. It would be stupid of you to kill him. That would be a defeat for you.”
“But you have to have the tiniest doubt. In the meantime, I’ll leave you to wonder whether I’ll really pay Morgan. Maybe I’ll have him send that next picture to you.” He hung up.
“I told you I should talk to him. What is it?” Galen asked as he took the phone from her lifeless hand.
“Thirty million dollars or Judd threatened to kill Barry.”
Galen swore. “Chavez could be lying.”
“I don’t think so. He was getting too much satisfaction out of hurting me.”
“Is he going to pay?”
“He wouldn’t tell me.”
“He’ll pay.”
“I … think so.” She compressed her lips to keep them from trembling. “I have to think so.”
“Even if he doesn’t, Judd could be bluffing.”
“Judd never impressed me as a man who bluffs.” She got out of bed. “We have to find him.”
“He’ll call today. Where are you going? We can’t do anything right now.”
“I can’t stay in this bed. I have to do something, anything.”
He studied her for a moment and then slowly nodded. “You’re right. You have to do something.” He got out of the bed and headed for the bathroom. “Get dressed. I’ll meet you downstairs in five minutes.”
“Where are we going?”
“Outside. It’s not the barn, but it will have to do.”
“No holds barred.” Galen threw his shirt beneath a tree. “Come and get me.”
“I don’t want to fight you.”
“You won’t hurt me. I’m probably as good as you are.”
“What is this? Some kind of therapy? This is useless.”
He made a lightning step forward and swept her legs from under her.