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Riggs sat in one of the porch rockers as Naomie went to work. Her fingers flew on the tablet's surface for three minutes, then she sat back. "The location is a beach house that's been held up in probate after the owner's death, Ralph Newsome."
She cut a glance at Gunner. "Someone sent you the information to cover their tracks. Josh never met Gunner, and the language is vague enough she could claim it was a patient file. I deleted the file, so if she's with Josh and he discovers she sent a text, at least she can concoct a tale, and he can't prove she's lying."
Naomie looked at Riggs. "I think you just got that call."
He hurried to look. "It could have been an error, sent to the wrong number."
"Or it could be Georgie. If she's been held against her will, she'd find a way to get a message. This is probably the location of the device she used to send the message. No," Naomie shook her head." I think this is Georgie."
"So, let's go get her." Riggs stood.
"Not so fast," Naomie argued. "Slow down."
"Give me one reason."
Gunner snorted. "Like we could give one you'd accept?"
"How about this?" Naomie suggested. "Let's send the flyers. They're being stored in Boston. They can pinpoint the location and perhaps capture a visual of a car or someone there."
"Fine. Then we go to Boston. You'll send the flyers and get a lay of the land, and then we move. Gun, you with me?"
"You know it," Gunner stood.
"Riggs, wait," Naomie protested. "What about Robby?"
"He comes with us. You'll care for him while I go after Georgie, won't you?"
"You know I will."
"Then let's get moving. If this is Georgie's save me call, I damn sure don't want to keep her waiting."
She stood and tucked her iPad under her arm. "I'll make the arrangements."
Riggs was aware of Gunner sitting silently, watching. It didn't bother him. Gun would listen to Riggs' plan, either add a suggestion Riggs hadn't considered or back the plan. Riggs knew he could count on Gunner.
Georgie needed to know she could count on him. He promised he would save her if she called.
Not even the devil himself would stop him from saving her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Fearful Josh would return before she was prepared, Georgie hurried to tidy up the cottage and change into one of his favorite outfits, a schoolgirl ensemble.
Was she doomed to dress and act this way for the rest of her life? Or had fate smiled on her when she found the old iPad in the linen closet, in a box with the charger, under a pile of old table cloths?
She had to wait three days for Josh to leave so she could charge the device. When he said he’d had to vet a new girl, she knew what that meant. He’d wine and dine some poor woman, make her think he was interested in her and if he didn’t take her then, he’d arrange a second date and at that time he’d drug and tie her, bring her to the cabin and they’d go to the playroom where Georgie would video the woman being tortured and killed.
He'd forced Georgie to do that with his last victim. She hadn't known what to expect. Now she did and she wasn't sure how much more of that she could take.The iPad was her only hope. If that didn’t work, she was out of options.
Even now, her heart raced when she thought about sending the message to Gunner. Georgie considered it a blessing that she remembered his phone number, and was able to text him. She hoped to receive a response but so far nothing had come through.
That only added to her despondency. Georgie believed she’d convinced Josh she was in love with him, and his brand of intimacy. But that hadn’t earned her any of his trust. He was clear about that.
“You’re going to have to earn my trust.” He said to her one night when she asked if he would just let her go outside by herself for ten minutes. Just to walk or stand in the sun and breathe the fresh air.
She agreed meekly, for that was the only behavior that earned her points. As far as Josh was concerned, he owned her and she should be happy and eager to please in whatever fashion he chose.
Georgie finished dressing and looked at herself in the mirror. Dear God, where was that girl who dove off cliffs and free climbed mountains with one prosthetic leg? Who was this pale shadow of a woman, with hair in high ponytails, face bare of any artifice except for bold red lips?