Page 68 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
“Where do you want us?” Giles asked.
Zac split them into teams of Daven and Giles, Ryder and Hank. He assured them he was okay by himself. He asked Barb, Emily, and Heather to guard the entrance to the woods to ensure no one else went in and to let themknow the hayride was closed. They were not to mention what had happened.
Giles asked Heather to call Jackie and get her to make sure the other kids and Charlotte were safely in the main lodge, then to call Priscilla and ask her to get ready to start getting the funds together.
They had less than four hours to comply with the kidnappers. Zac quickly typed a message back to the unknown number.I’m making arrangements. Let me have the account number.
The two groups split up and went the way Zac had directed them as he started to follow the direct path of the footsteps. He was cautiously making his way through the trees when he heard a soft rustle behind him and instinctively reached for his gun, which wasn’t there. He turned, his breath catching when he saw Barb standing behind him. Her face was pale, but her eyes were steely with determination.
“I told you to stay with Heather and Emily,” Zac said, trying to keep the frustration outof his voice.
“And I’m your number two,” Barb shot back, her voice firm. “Oscar is my son, Zac. I’m not just going to stand by.”
Zac sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with her. “Fine, but stay behind me. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”
They moved cautiously through the forest, the snow crunching softly under their boots. As they approached a clearing, Zac saw the outline of a campsite—a camper with a larger tent beside it. Smoke wafted from a small fire pit, and the sight made Zac’s heart race.This must be it.
"Stay low,” Zac whispered, motioning for Barb to crouch beside him as they moved closer. His eyes scanned the area, noting every detail—the makeshift clothesline strung between trees, the pile of firewood stacked neatly beside the camper, and the faint sound of voices coming from the tent.
Suddenly, the tent flap opened, and David emerged, followed closely by Sally. His eyes widened. “No way,” Zac whispered.
“Isn’t that David Bradley?” Barb asked in disbelief. “I thought he was behind bars?”
“So did I,” Zac whispered back.
Sally and David did not look like their usual tailored selves. They both looked disheveled, their expressions tense and anxious.
“This isn’t going to work!” Sally’s voice was laced with panic as she paced near David. “I don’t want any more deaths on my hands, David.”
“Neither do I,” David hissed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “What choice do we have? We’re in so thick with my horrible father.” He stopped and looked up at the sky. “He has always ruined everything in my life.”
“I know, baby,” Sally said sympathetically. “My father wasn’t much better. The world's biggest con man.”
“Theydidn’t want to do this,” Barb whispered, more to herself than to Zac. “They were trying to get ahead in life…”
Zac tightened his jaw. “There are other ways to get ahead,” he muttered under his breath. “Barb, they killed people, leaked information about cases…” He looked at her and saw the compassion in them. “There’s always another way.”
“I know how he feels having a sleazy relative,” Barb told Zac. “His father was my uncle.”
“I know, but now they’ve committed another felony by kidnapping Oscar and Paige,” Zac pointed out. “That’s a gun tucked into David's belt.” He glanced around. “Barb, I need you to stay here while I approach them, okay?”
Barb looked at him and nodded. Zac lifted his arms and stepped into the clearing.
“David, I’m unarmed,” Zac called, noting David grabbing the gun and pointing it at him.
“How did you find us?” Sally hissed.
“I told you we needed to cover the tracks,” David growled before turning his attention back to Zac. “We don’t want any more trouble. We just need the money so we can leave America and never come back.”
“You’re going to run forever?” Zac asked. “That’s not a life, David. In the age of technology, you’re not going to get very far.”
“Two million and Giles Holland’s private jet will get us where we want to go,” David told Zac. “Now get us the money, and we’ll set Paige and Oscar free in Frisco.”
“Where are Oscar and Paige?” Zac demanded, his tone firm. “Let me see them for proof of life.”
David hesitated, glancing at Sally. Before he could respond, a movement caught Zac’s eye. Herschel, his head bleeding from a deep gash, was sneaking up behind David, his face set in determination. Daven appeared on the other side, moving in on Sally, who Giles, Ryder, and Hankwere shadowing.
Zac knew they had to act quickly. “There’s a better way, David,” Zac said, trying to buy more time. “Just lower the gun, and we can figure this out together.”
