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She squared her posture. “It’s in my car. I’ll take you to it once I see Olivia.”Get proof of life…
He reached into his jacket pocket, and she instinctively backed up.
Instead of pulling a gun, he took out a cell phone. “Say ‘hi’ to Mommy.” He spoke to it and turned the screen toward her.
It was a live feed, and it showed Olivia tied to a chair. Her long hair was matted to her face from sweat and…Blood?Rage ran through her.
“Mom,” Olivia cried out. “Help me. Please.”
“Olivia, Mommy’s coming for you, baby. I love you.”
“I love?—”
Jennings cut the feed and snatched his phone back to himself. “Reunion’s over. Where’s the gold?”
She was analyzing what she saw around Olivia. She’d guess an abandoned warehouse, wood trusses overhead. “You didn’t bring her here. The deal was Olivia for the gold.” She peacocked her stance despite how seeing Olivia had thrown her. Jennings’s tactic to shake her had worked, but it also backfired. Witnessing Olivia’s dilemma fueled her with more determination to see this through. This bastard in front of her was on borrowed time.
“Things change. You should know that by now. You hand over the gold, and I’ll tell you where to collect her.”
“I have no reason to believe a word you say,” she spat, temporarily losing her cool.
Jennings pulled a gun, just enough that she saw his hand on the grip. She was unarmed, part of the deal. “Take me to the gold. Now.” He prompted her to move with a nudge of the gun, with it still hidden in his pocket.
She started walking, not too thrilled about putting her back to him, but she didn’t have much choice. She took him to her Mercedes and popped the hatch. “It’s all there. We found it right where Darrell said it would be.”
Jennings hesitated. Just briefly. But telling. Something was wrong.
“I told you to come alone,” he hissed.
“I did. I swear I did.”
“You just saidwefound the gold.”
“I had help finding it, but I’m here alone.” Served in a level and calm tone.
He scanned her eyes and shook his head. “You’re lying to me, Special Agent Vos. Now it’s not just your daughter’s life at risk.”
She imagined him taking the gun from his pocket and shooting her right there and making off with her Mercedes and the gold. Thinking about her life coming to an end didn’t scare her. Failing Olivia did. “Please, don’t be rash. Just take the gold. It’s right there.” She pointed at it and heard the pleading in her voice.
“Nah. Get in the car.”
“What?”
“Get in the car,” he hissed.
She headed for the driver’s seat, catching the eye of an agent walking by with a stroller. Sandra subtly shook her head.
Jennings slammed the back shut and joined her in the vehicle. “Give me your phone.”
She couldn’t lie and say she didn’t have one when he’d just called her on it not long ago. She handed over her phone, and he tossed it out the door.
“Now drive,” he barked.
“Where do you want me to go?” She didn’t know the destination he had in mind but was also stalling for time.
“Why are you being difficult? Just drive.” He had his gun out now and was waving it around in the confines of the vehicle.
“Okay.” She turned on the car and put it in reverse but didn’t move.