Page 85 of Four Cards Exposed

Lorraine pulled out the dark gray smart phone James had carried in his pocket for months—a phone he knew almost as well as his own.

On the screen, a single image flickered. It was Susan, dressed in jeans and a dirty white blouse, lying unconscious in some kind of crate.

James’s hand shook so hard, Lorraine grabbed the phone from him.

“It arrived fifteen minutes ago,” she said quietly. “I’ve sent it to the technical team. If there’s anything to find in that picture, James, they’ll find it.”

“Is she … is she alive?” James croaked.

“She’s alive, James. If they’d wanted her dead, they wouldn’t have taken her.”

“You’re right. I’m not thinking clearly.” James ran a hand through his short, dark hair. Cutting his hair was one of the first things he’d done when becoming himself again.

“They put her in a dog crate,” Natalie whispered. Her skin had taken on a green sheen.

James’s vision clouded over. He knew how much Susan hated enclosed spaces.

He turned his head and retched, grateful that there wasn’t much in his stomach. When he was done, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and straightened to his full height.

“That’s what she was wearing last night, at the bar,” Natalie commented, looking green.

“That’s good to know,” Lorraine said.

“Is this Guerrero?” James asked. Anger twisted his features. “When I find him, I’m going to kill him.”

“Whoever it is, he sent this to Jay’s phone, James. There’s got to be a reason for that.”

Of course.

He had to start thinking.

He had to get her back.

“Give me the phone,” James said.

“Are you sure, James? I think we should follow—“

“Please, Lorraine,” he begged.

Susan handed over the phone and James typed in four simple words.

You have my attention.

He hit send and held his breath, praying he hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Less than twenty seconds later, the phone beeped again.

Is that you, Jay? Or should I say, Special Agent Ramsay?

James read the message, but didn’t reply.

Come on.

Keep talking to me.

Come on.

Three little dots appeared on the screen.