Deadly Coincidence (Brantley Walker Off the Books #4) - Nicole Edwards Page 0,83
her rather than one of us, or even you, but we’re lookin’ into the matter.”
Gerard’s eyes had rounded like saucers while Katrina’s face was now ashen, fear glittering in hers.
“Are you telling me…?”
“What we’re tellin’ you, sir,” Brantley stated firmly yet sympathetically, “is that we’ve spent the past few hours lookin’ into this. We were about to come over to discuss with you when Katrina received that call.”
Brantley opted not to tell them that he believed Dante was involved in his own kidnapping. Probably would get him kicked out on his ear.
“You knew?” Gerard exclaimed. “You knew and you didn’t think it was urgent enough to come right here? Who the hell do you think you are, Walker? I have every right to know—”
“Gerard,” Katrina’s voice was soft yet powerful. “They’re doin’ their jobs. It’s not our place to question their methods.”
Governor Greenwood took a deep breath, stared Brantley down.
When no one else laid into him, Brantley decided to share what he could. He explained all that they knew for fact, how Dante had called, the amputated finger, the state of JJ’s house both before and after the explosion.
“An explosion?” The governor had the decency to look contrite. “Was anyone injured?”
“No, sir. Reese, Trey, and I were the only ones there at the time, and we’d gone outside to speak with my cousin Travis.”
“Someone was after him,” Trina said, clearly processing what she’d learned. “Someone was after my son, and he went to JJ for help.”
Brantley figured that was a logical conclusion. Likely incorrect, but still logical.
“Because JJ was unable to seek help until this mornin’, we assume whoever took Dante had enough time to take him somewhere safe until they can negotiate with you.”
“But they have to come out at some point,” Corinne noted, her tone pleading. “If they want a ransom, they’ll have to come get it, right?”
“Or they’ll have us take it somewhere, leave it,” he told them, watching all three of them. “That’s why we’re here. We want to help you negotiate Dante’s safe return.”
“You think this is only about money?” Gerard asked. “Or do you think it’s retaliation against me?”
“It could be the latter, but you have to consider there were likely many opportunities for someone to take Dante if they were simply lookin’ to get back at you. What we don’t understand is why he would go to JJ. She hasn’t spoken to him in months, and they didn’t end things on good terms.”
“You think he reached out to her because someone made him?”
More like he thought it was the best way to manipulate the situation. But Brantley kept that to himself and said, “It’s a good possibility.”
“Where’s JJ now?” Katrina asked, still looking shocked and stricken.
Thinking on his feet, Brantley said, “We have her lyin’ low, in the event this had somethin’ to do with her. She was attacked last night and possibly drugged, so there’s a chance she’s still in danger.”
Katrina’s hand went to her heart. “Oh, God.”
Her exclamation was cut off by the ringing of the telephone.
Trina instantly looked down at where the cordless receiver lay on the table, her hand shaking as she reached for it.
“Put it on speaker,” he instructed Katrina while at the same time he texted Luca to let him know the call was coming in.
“H-h-hello,” Katrina greeted, her voice thick with tears.
“Put the governor on the phone,” a deep, robotic voice demanded.
Brantley nodded at Gerard, approving him to answer.
“I’m here. Where’s my son?”
There was an almost demonic chuckle that sounded thanks to the voice synthesizer they were using. “I had a feeling you would follow instructions.”
“I’m here,” Gerard repeated. “Let me talk to my son.”
“Uh-uh-uh. Not until I get the money.”
Brantley glanced at Reese, wondering if they’d already discussed an amount and they simply weren’t privy to it.
“How much do you want?”
Well, that answered that question.
“I think one million will be good.”
Gerard looked up at him and Brantley mouthed, “Proof of life.”
“I need to speak to Dante first. I’ll get your money,” he tacked on quickly, “but I need to know Dante’s alive.”
“Oh, he’s alive. In a little bit of pain, but he’s alive.” Another demonic laugh.
Katrina sobbed in response and Corinne held her mother tighter.
“Let me talk to him.”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to make demands,” the caller countered.
Gerard’s eyes were pleading when he looked up at Brantley this time. He mouthed the words again. They had to have proof of life before they could agree to any demands.