The FBI Thrillers Collection Books 1-5 - Catherine Coulter [344]
“Is there a special buddy?”
“Yes, his name is James Hicks and he’s with the Denver Post. Why?”
“No reason. I just like to gather information. Now, are you going to call your papa and tell him Emma’s safe?”
“Yes, I should. He’s been very worried. I called him right away when Emma was kidnapped. I knew he’d have some of his people on it right away, and he did. A man and two women came by six hours after I’d called. It drove the local cops nuts. Lots of suspicion. I ignored the cops’ bitching about outsiders. I told them everything I could, why not? They wanted to help; my father was paying them to find Emma. I don’t know what his people actually did. I saw them several more times. We discussed leads, possibilities. If they found out anything, I don’t know about it.”
“Did you tell them you were taking off to find Emma yourself?”
“No, I didn’t. I’ll call him right now. At least he won’t try to trace the call.” She paused a moment, then said, turning to face him, “I wonder if my father suspected Emma’s kidnapping had anything to do with him? I bet he has. I know one thing: If he found out who did this, he wouldn’t hesitate to sanction a kill.”
11
SANCTION A KILL. She’d said it so easily, so naturally.
How many times had she heard it said when she was a kid?
“All right, I’m going to call. Hey, wait a minute. What if those men were there to rescue Emma and they thought you were the kidnapper? Of course they’d try to get rid of you. Of course they’d follow you. Oh goodness, there’s no end to the possibilities. I’ve got a headache, Ramsey.”
“That goes really well with my leg ache. That theory could fly until you showed up. You think they haven’t at least seen a photo of you? You think that there’s any way they wouldn’t know you’re the boss’s daughter? Call, Molly. I want to hear what he has to say. Use your cell phone. Come over here so I can hear.”
She sat down on the arm of the recliner and began dialing. Area code 312. Chicago and outlying residential areas, like Oak Park. Sure, that was where Mason Lord lived, only the best. He saw her hand tighten around the phone.
Why hadn’t she seen her father for three years?
The phone rang twice, then a man answered, his voice deep and mellifluous.
“Miles? It’s me, Molly.”
“Yes, Molly. You’ve got news about Emma?”
“She’s fine, Miles. She’s back with me. Thank you for asking. I want to give Dad the news.”
“Just a moment. Goodness, this is a relief. Mr. Lord’s been on a real tear.”
“You heard that?” she asked Ramsey. Ramsey was three inches from the receiver.
“Yeah, I heard.”
There was a good twenty more seconds of silence, then, “Molly? Emma’s safe?”
“Hello, Dad. Yes, I’ve got her with me. I found her. She’s fine.”
“I don’t understand. I haven’t heard a word from my people. Do the Denver police know you’ve got Emma back?”
“Yes, they know. They don’t like the fact that I got her back without them.”
“Tell me.”
She took a deep breath. “You know I went looking when the cops and the FBI didn’t get anywhere. I would have thought your people would know. Well, I found her. A guy had saved her and I came upon both of them. She’s safe. We’re going to stay out of sight for a while.”
“There’s no reason to, Molly. Come home. You can bet I’ll protect the both of you.”
“No, not yet. There are a lot more people involved than just a single kidnapper. I don’t want to take any chances. I’m going to keep Emma hidden as long as those people are still out there and looking for her.” Her knuckles were white she was clutching the phone so tightly. “It’s not a simple kidnapping, Dad.”
“But they got a ransom note.”
“Yes, but that ransom note arrived after I already had Emma back. It was a lie. Do you understand any of this?”
“No, but I’ll speak to Buzz about it. We’ve already discussed the possibility of some enemy of mine being involved. But the important thing is you’ve got Emma back. I’m tremendously relieved.” He sighed.