Page 33 of Illusive
“We cannot have vigilantes ambushing random citizens whom they believe match the suspect’s photo!”
“That’s for you to tell the public,” Gideon countered implacably. “Law and order are your business. Getting Ireland back alive and well is mine.”
“You’ve gotta listen to the commish.” Vega’s foot tapped restlessly. His dress slacks and jacket were slightly differentshades of gray, and both garments were heavily wrinkled. “You’re going about this all wrong. Kidnapping is about establishing control. Challenging that will only make them unpredictable and desperate.”
Gideon looked at Hernandez, who sat on the couch. “You said they were taunting me. Toying with me. And you’re right, they are. Someone playing to win takes the game seriously. They’re not.”
Elizabeth barely stifled a raw sob.
“They know I’ll pay,” he went on, “and they’ve given proof they have her, yet they’re not making legitimate arrangements to receive the ransom. So, either Ireland is already gone?—”
His mother’s scream was bloodcurdling and rattled Eva to the core. Both Daniel and Chris moved toward her, but Chris stopped after one step, his jaw clenched tightly.
“—and they never had any intention of returning her,” Gideon continued, so self-contained he appeared emotionless, “or this entire ordeal is about torturing us. That’s not going to be as entertaining with a target on their backs. The only chance in hell they have of living without looking over their shoulders every minute is to get Ireland home.”
“You don’t know what they’ll do,” Elizabeth cried, her chest heaving with fractured sobs. “You don’t know!”
“We never knew what they were going to do,” Gideon said tightly. “I’ve narrowed their options.”
“I’ll talk to the press.” Elizabeth marched toward the front door. “I’ll tell them you’re distraught, you didn’t mean it.”
The phone rang, and everyone froze.
“Answering,” the tech at the laptop announced.
“Hold on.” Gideon caught and held his mother’s gaze. “You say anything that makes them think we don’t have our shit together, and you’ll do irreparable harm. You trust me to manage everything else. Trust me on this.”
The phone rang again.
“Answer,” he ordered, walking to the dining table with long, quick strides. “This is Cross.”
“You know… It feels like you’re not taking me seriously,” the sweetly innocuous female voice said.
Eva watched her husband’s fists clench at his sides.
“Tell me what you want,” he said. “Then tell me where to find Ireland.”
“You’ve made it very difficult for us to get around. How can we take her anywhere?”
“I simply agreed to your terms in the only way I could reach you.”
The laughter that piped through the speakers made Elizabeth collapse against Daniel’s chest.
“Bullshit,” the modulated voice chirped.
“Name a place,” he snapped. “You leave Ireland there unharmed, and once I have her, I’ll immediately transfer the funds wherever you want and in whatever form you prefer. You can take off to parts unknown with all the money you’ll need in a lifetime.”
“You want me to hand her over first and get paid later? How can I possibly trust you when you’ve put a bounty on our heads?” She tsked.
“Once Ireland’s home safe, something else will dominate the news, and the world will forget about you.”
“The world will,” she agreed merrily. “Your family won’t. Talk soon.”
The line went dead. The room, full of people, was eerily silent.
Eva walked over to him and took his hand in hers. He glanced down at her, and in his eyes, she saw the roiling emotions he kept hidden from everyone else.
There were no doubts about his choice, only despair.
