Page 68 of The Ice Queen in the Corner Office

“Sure.” I doubted Jill would ever step foot in that house, but I could picture here there, laughing with my father and Willow. “Now, about that bag. We should get out of here quick.”

“I’m not going anywhere, boy. I’ve got my rifle and I’m dying for a chance to plug some of those fuckers full of holes. That twat Timothy Gerard held me down while they took your sister. Your momma used to watch little Timothy Gerard. He cried for his mama near about an hour every time he came over here. Now, he’s acting tough, running around with thugs and kidnapping my daughter? He deserves to say hello to the hot end of this rifle.”

“I agree, Dad. But I’d rather not be visiting you in prison or pouring whiskey on your grave once a year.”

“Once a year? Boy, you best be visiting my grave every week like a good son.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll visit every day if you let me pack you a bag and take you out of here.”

“You can pack the whole damn house, but you’re going to have to kill me to get me out of this chair.”

All I’d have to do was call Lee and he’d round up enough guys to drag my dad out of the house, but Dad would run back here the first chance I left him alone at my place and I couldn’t babysit him. I needed to come up with money.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” I said. “After I make the first drop.”

He nodded and rocked back in his recliner. “I’ll be here.”

“Have you eaten anything?”

“He’s eaten,” Lee said, stepping into the living room.

“How the hell’d you get in here without me hearing you?” Dad asked.

“Door was wide open,” Lee said.

Dad spun and glared at me.

I raised my hands, palms out. “I might have remembered to close the door if you hadn’t just about blown my head off.” I turned to Lee. “You hear back from Hunter?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “They’ll take the fifty, but they want the rest by Monday or…” He looked at my dad and sighed. “It ain’t gonna be good.”

I stood. “I’ll get it.” I had no idea how the hell I was going to get that much money by Monday, with it being the weekend the next day, but I’d figure it out. I’d either get them their money or I’d come up with a plan. “I’ve got to go. I’ll meet you back here tomorrow for the drop?”

Lee nodded. “I’ll see you here at eleven.”

I walked out of that house and to my car in a daze, my mind working over all the possible ways to get that money and about the days my sister would have to spend in captivity before I got it.

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