Page 65 of The Unknown Colton
“She’s not here,” Eli interjected. “Troy got backto the cabin and found the door open. Her SUV is here, but she isn’t.”
“And?” Will asked because he had to know there was more.
“Troy found a rag with chloroform on it,” Eli admitted. It was the only way someone could have taken Lakin without her managing to get away like she had the other night when someone accosted her outside the office. She hadn’t had to fight hard that night, though; she’d just had to run until Troy showed up.
But Troy hadn’t been fast enough to save her this time, and Eli could tell it was killing him. Troy paced, his limp all but forgotten, as he waited for the SAR team.
“Did you get to talk to her, Dad?” Eli asked.
“No.”
“Any proof that this person who called actually has her?”
“No,” his father admitted. “But I don’t care. I’m going to get the money together that they want, so I will be ready when they call back to tell me where to leave that money.”
“Dad…” Eli wanted to warn him that it wouldn’t guarantee her safe return. Nothing would. But his dad knew that as well as he did. “You have to make sure that you get to talk to her when the person calls back. What did the caller sound like?”
“A man. I couldn’t tell his age or anything by hisvoice, though, and the phone number was blocked,” his dad said.
“I’ll have your records checked,” Eli said. “We might be able to get it unblocked.” Montgomery might know a way. The crime-scene tech was very savvy.
“You do what you have to do to get our girl back,” Will said. “And so will I.”
Eli’s blood chilled. He’d never heard his dad sound so determined. But he knew why; he didn’t want to lose Lakin like he’d lost his younger sister. Aunt Caroline.
Before he could say anything else, Dad disconnected the call.
“What is it?” Troy asked.
“My dad just got a ransom call.”
Troy cursed.
“No, this could be good news,” Eli said. “There were no ransom calls when those other women were abducted.”
“So you don’t think it’s the Fiancée Killer who has her?” Troy asked. He sounded a little more hopeful now as he stopped pacing and studied Eli’s face.
Eli nodded. But just because it wasn’t the serial killer who had her didn’t mean she wasn’t still in danger. He knew that; he just wanted to assuage some of Troy’s fear and his own. But he wouldn’t be sure of anything until they found Lakin. They had to find her.
Eli had been in law enforcement long enough toknow how few kidnapping victims were ever recovered alive.
Lakin had to be the exception to that grim statistic, though. They had to be able to get her back safely. And soon.
CHAPTER 22
Lakin closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep when the shadow moved from the corner of the cave over to where she lay. She knew it was best to not see the face of her abductor. He was more likely to let her go if she couldn’t identify him.
That was her father’s voice she’d heard in her dream. It had been coming from this man’s cell phone. There was only one probable reason for that: a ransom call.
Dad had already loaned her so much money. She didn’t want him paying out more for her. She definitely didn’t want him to pay it only for her not to be released.
She intended to release herself, though. She’d managed to roll to her side and get one of those twigs near her wrists. She would be able to use the sharp end that had been jabbing into her back to fray the duct tape. If the man left her alone…
He stood for a long moment over her. Then he murmured, “Like looking at a damn ghost…”
Her skin chilled, goose bumps rising as she recognizedthe voice and simultaneously what he meant. Her birth mother was definitely dead. He wouldn’t have called Lakin a ghost if she wasn’t.
She schooled her features to remain relaxed, her breathing deep and easy. Finally he stepped over her. She lifted one lid just a fraction of an inch and watched as he exited the cave, which suddenly seemed brighter without Jasper Whitlaw inside it.
