When the Heart Lies - By Christina North Page 0,75
for him to continue.
“Until Wayde left Max at her friend Veda’s house this morning, we couldn’t do much other than watch. Jackson checked things out and found some evidence pointing to abduction. We had no indication anything like this was going to happen.”
Nick shot up from the sofa. “What the …!” His jaw clamped tight, and every inch of bone and muscle protruded. He didn’t speak. Instead, he went to the bar and poured himself a double. He swirled his drink, stared into the whirlpool he’d created, and then drank half of it down. Extending a stiff arm, he propped himself against the fireplace mantle. With his eyes fixed on the fire, he stood silent. His white-knuckled hand circled the highball glass. After pounding down the remainder of his drink, he hurled the glass into the fireplace. Instinctively, he jumped back from the flash of flames that resulted. Not yet expending all of his frustration, he swiveled and punched the wall beside him with every ounce of strength he had. The heavy walnut panel was unforgiving. He reeled his hand back, contorting in pain, and shook it out. “How did I let this happen? I begged her, but she wouldn’t even read my letters. I should have insisted she return.” He turned to Xavier. “What’s going to happen? What do we need to do?”
“Nick, this isn’t your fault. Everything that can be done is being done. Right now, the situation appears to be a kidnapping. The police have put taps on the phones, and I’m waiting for a call. I gave them the spare key to your house. They tapped yours, too. There’s no reason for them to kill her. They know they can get plenty of money from us.”
Nick crossed the room with intense determination. “Do you really believe that?”
“Ninety percent.”
Nick’s face dropped with Xavier’s sober statement. He fell, slumping down into the sofa, and focused on Xavier. “So we wait?”
Xavier slipped both hands into his side pockets and lowered his head. After a moment, he glanced back up at Nick.
“Yes.”
Chapter 16
The roar of Jackson’s bike busted through the quiet night air. He recklessly rounded the corner and entered his driveway much too fast, leaving Olivia, who had been waiting outside, with just enough time to jump back onto the lawn to safety. Dismounting the bike, he grabbed his helmet and went inside with no hello and no apology. She followed behind him. They were in the kitchen before he acknowledged her.
“Want something to drink?” he asked without turning to look at her and feeling slightly guilty, considering tonight was her first time there.
“Something I said?”
“I’m not in the mood Olivia.” He had gotten nowhere today, and with every passing minute his testiness worsened. He snapped his beer cap into the wastebasket and took a long drink. “Do you want something or not?” He slid the kitchen chair back from the table, slouched down into the seat, and threw his feet, boots and all, onto the table from the side as he told himself to relax and focus. “Let’s get started. Who will be in on the call?”
“Xavier, Nick, and the lead detective for missing persons. You’ll be working with him.”
He glared at her as he swung his feet back to the floor. Turning back to the table, he let his fist drop with a thump as he turned from her view.
“This is an official case now! You’re taking your anger out on the wrong person. I need to bring him in,” Olivia said.
“When we find her, I’m the first to make contact.”
“Sure Jackson, I’ll arrange everything, so you can be the hero. It won’t be hard, considering the entire brass bends over backwards for you. Look how fast they reinstated you. Did you consider the fact she only knows you from Lakeside? Your presence may confused her, and she might hesitate when she should be moving her ass toward you. You should step back, and let Detective Mills handle the first contact.”
“Like hell! She trusts me. Get the call started. I’ve got things to do tonight if I’m going to find her.”
“Take a few minutes to pull yourself together before the call.”
“Get on with it, Olivia. You’re wasting time.”
Her eyes flashed, conveying her annoyance. “This is what we’ve done so far,” she said. “All the technical is in place to intercept calls at Xavier’s and at Nick’s. Wayde’s house is being watched along with Remy Davis’s. Also, we’re monitoring all calls at both houses and on Savannah’s cell.