Page 72 of Fierce Hope
“Right?” Sarah repeated the word as if it was a mantra. “So all you have to do is go along with my plan, and we’re good.”
Jade didn’t have to be a seasoned con artist to know the woman was lying. But the more she kept the woman talking, the more time they gave any potential rescuers. Deke and his team were out of town, but someone might have seen Sarah acting strangely. Seen her clomp up the stairs to Jade’s place.
She prayed silently while trying to draw out the conversation. “Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“Yup.” Sarah shifted from foot to foot. “So here’s the thing. You can have a million cash if you disappear right now. I’ve got a plan to get you out of Hope Landing. As soon as we hit the bus station in Sacramento, you walk away with a million bucks. You’ll have to stay on the down low, for sure. Kent’s clients are gonna be on the lookout for their money, but it’s a million cash. You can put up with a little inconvenience for a while, right?”
No way even Sarah would be that stupid.
Even if her offer was legit, which of course, it wasn’t, as soon as Jade got caught, Sarah’s story would unravel. The woman was going to kill her.
And now DJ.
“So it’s great, huh?” Sarah continued. “No one will think little ol’ me was involved. I’ll hang around Hope Landing for a couple weeks. Teach pre-school and all that. Let the police chase you across the country. Then when the dust settles …” She gave a small shrug. “I slip away.”
The audacity was stunning, but Jade forced herself to concentrate on the moment, to use that old con-artist steadiness. “Where does DJ fit in?”
Sarah gave a dismissive wave of the gun. “Yeah. Not ideal. I wasn’t counting on him being here, but when I heard you guys talking at church, I figured it had to go this way. I can’t wait until his dad gets back from wherever. DJ’s in the wrong place, that’s all. You’re the main piece of this puzzle. But …”
A calculating gleam danced in her eyes. “I have a plan for that, too. I’ll kick in another mil for the kid. He’s not exactly thrilled with life here. Maybe it’s a blessing, escaping now. And let’s be honest, he’s had issues with his dad, right?”
She addressed DJ directly. “I bet you’d rather book with a million bucks than hang out in this hole. Once I drop you off, you and Miss Goodie Goodie can stick together. Or not.”
DJ swallowed, tension roping his shoulders. But when he spoke, his voice sounded almost bored. “Sweet. I can run with that. Dad’s never around anyway. Can’t stand this stupid town. I’m down with getting rich.”
Jade admired how quickly he adapted, playing up the natural bravado of a resentful teen. She prayed Sarah would buy the performance long enough for them to escape.
Sarah’s expression brightened with malicious satisfaction. “Cool. Glad we’re on the same page. So Jade, what’s your vote? A million each or I shoot you both now.”
Jade forced a carefully measured sigh, letting her body slump in feigned resignation. Sarah absolutely planned to kill them, but not here. Too risky by far. Plus, she needed Jade at least, not to be found.
“Fine,” she said. “We’re in. Just … keep the gun away from DJ, all right?”
Sarah’s gaze flickered toward DJ. “Not a hair on his head, if you both behave.”
Jade nodded slowly, a swirl of loathing and dread swirling beneath her calm exterior. “Got it.”
Sarah pointed toward the hallway.“Pack a small bag each. No phones. No IDs. Nothing traceable. Do it fast.”
They moved under her watchful eye. Jade walked down the short hall into her bedroom. She threw clothes into a backpack with methodical efficiency, the old muscle memory from nights she’d fled a con gone sour. The parallels sat uneasily in her mind.
She refused to think about the guilt she would face if she couldn’t protect DJ.
She emerged with her pack slung over one shoulder. In the living room, DJ held his backpack by one strap. While packing, she’d tried to think of a way to leave clues, or a way to sneak her phone into her pack, but in the end, she couldn’t risk putting DJ in more danger.
Something would present itself.
The Lord would provide.
Sarah kept the gun angled just enough to assert control. “All right,” she snapped. “We’re leaving now.”
Jade forced herself to nod compliantly, shoulders tense but face impassive. DJ’s expression mirrored her stoic front. The phone sat abandoned on the couch, the condo lights glowing in what felt like a mocking normalcy.
They filed outside, Sarah close behind them, gun hand in her coat pocket. The cold bit at Jade’s cheeks. Icy pavement crunched underfoot. Streetlamps cast elongated shadows across the empty parking lot. She glanced around, hoping in vain to spot a neighbor or bystander. No such luck—Hope Landing slumbered under its usual night hush.
They stopped at Jade’s compact sedan.
“Unlock it.” Sarah ordered.
