Snowbound - Blake Crouch [30]
Ate at the counter, talked out, worthless, Will thinking, All I want to do is finish this greasy meal and lie in bed in the motel room, watching something mindless on television.
Kalyn broke his daze. “It’s a little disconcerting we haven’t heard from Jav.”
“I know. What if we don’t before tomorrow night?”
“Things might get interesting.”
Will woke in the motel, the TV still on, barely dawn outside, and the interstate noise roaring through the thin walls. Devlin sat up in the other bed, and the first thing out of her mouth was, “Are we crazy for doing this, Dad?”
“Probably.”
The call came during breakfast the next morning at a diner in Brigham City—a strong buzz emanating from Kalyn’s purse.
She pulled out the BlackBerry and they all watched it vibrate across the table.
“What’s the name on the caller ID?” Will asked.
“Just a number. Phoenix area code.”
“Gonna answer it?”
“Yeah, I’ll put it on speaker.”
Kalyn pressed TALK. “Who’s this?”
A few seconds of silence elapsed, followed by a sigh. “You know who this is.”
Devlin mouthed “That’s him?”
Will nodded.
“Javier,” Kalyn said, smiling. “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to call. That was a nifty little move you pulled Saturday. What’d I miss? Handcuff key in your back pocket?”
“Where’s my family?”
Will glanced at the nearest occupied table, a good fifteen feet away—young couple sharing the same side of the booth, each in the other’s world.
Kalyn said, “Why do you think we would tell you that right now?”
There was an abrupt noise on Javier’s end—probably a snort—which emerged as static through the speaker. “Because when I find you, I will take into consideration this moment. It’s an opportunity, not for you to stop what’s coming, but perhaps to make things end faster than they otherwise would. I understand this is a concept difficult to fully grasp. I’m where I am, you’re where you are, and you don’t think we’ll ever see each other again. But I can promise you we will. And I will murder you both and take great joy and pleasure and time in doing it.”
Will wrapped his arm around Devlin, caught her eyes, shook his head.
“What you must now do is anticipate that moment when I have you. What I’m offering is death. Not immediate. But considerably faster than it is currently scheduled to arrive, in light of the offense you’ve both given me.”
Kalyn said, “Hello?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, you faded out there for about fifteen seconds. Look, I’ll make this very easy. Our concern is Jonathan. Have you warned him we’re coming?”
Three seconds of dead air, then: “No.”
“That’s good, Javier. As you know, our meeting with him is set for tonight. We’ll handle the finessing of why you couldn’t be there, but I just need to make something clear. You listening?”
“I am.”
“If it goes well, if it’s obvious Jonathan has not been forewarned, someone will call you tomorrow, tell you where you can find your family.”
“That’s unacceptable.”
Kalyn pulled the BlackBerry back from her face, pressed END, set the device on the table.
“What are you doing?” Will said.
“Let him sweat. What do we stand to lose? Our meeting. What does he stand to—” The BlackBerry buzzed. Kalyn pressed TALK, said, “I don’t know what third-grade textbook you learned your negotiation skills from, but you aren’t in any spot to say what is and is not acceptable. We’ll call you back on this number tomorrow if it goes well with Jonathan. If it doesn’t, you’ll never hear from us again, and your wife and son will die of thirst within the next few days.”
He made no reply, though Will could hear him breathing.
“Acknowledge that you heard me, Javier.”
“I heard you.”
Kalyn pressed END.
“We have to change the meeting place,” Will said. “I’m not cool with Javier knowing where we’ll be. He may not warn Jonathan, but I could see him coming after us.”
“All right. I’ll text Jonathan, ask him to pick another spot.”
I-84 west through Idaho. Twin Falls. Gooding. Mountain Home. When they were within the Boise city limits, Kalyn spotted a shopping mall from the interstate, made the exit just