Delores Fossen - She's Positive

“What?” she said with a little whispered outrage.

“You still have that red underwear.” And he added a smile to ease the tension between them.

The corner of her mouth lifted, too. Almost a smile. Before she waved it off, as well. “Colin, I can’t.”

He didn’t want that clarified, but he had to wonder—was she talking about sex or something else? Since the best part of their marriage had been sex, he figured he had his answer.

The phone rang, and Colin actually welcomed the intrusion. Especially since it was Boyd. “This is Colin,” he answered.

“All settled in?”

“As much as we can be settled in. Now, it’s time for action, from you. We’ve cooperated with everything you’ve asked. I need your cooperation in return. What will it take to get you to release Luke?”

Boyd hesitated so long that Colin wasn’t sure he’d answer. “I want a helicopter when it comes time for me to leave.”

“A helicopter,” Colin repeated. He went to the other side of the room where there was a desk and wrote that down, hoping there’d be more details. “When and where?”

Again, he hesitated. “Noon tomorrow, I guess.”

“Don’t guess. Let’s nail down a time because I’ve got to run this past my boss.” It was a standard ploy not to give in too quickly. Always leave room for negotiation.

“All right, noon. You can have the pilot land in the open space at the back of the garden. No one else other than the pilot will be in the chopper, understand?”

“I understand.” Though the pilot would have some kind of backup. Colin didn’t know whom or what just yet. That was an issue to be worked out with the FBI office.

“I’m not finished,” Boyd let him know. “I also want fifty million dollars wired to an offshore account in the Caymans.”

“Fifty million.” The same amount that was supposedly hidden somewhere in the estate. Did that mean Boyd was giving up his quest to find it and settling for Vaughn’s money instead?

“When I confirm the money’s been transferred and the helicopter’s here,” Boyd continued, “I’ll tell you where and how you can find the kid.”

“I don’t know if Griffin Vaughn has access to that kind of money,” Colin bargained. Though he probably did. Thankfully, the man was rich and was willing to pay to get his son back. Once they had Luke safely out of there, they could work on apprehending Boyd and retrieving the ransom money.

“Then he’d better find access,” Boyd barked.

“I’ll let him know what you said. But before any funds are transferred, I’ll want proof that Luke is all right.”

“Oh, you’ll get proof. And remember, don’t do anything stupid. Because you might not be in that van, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know exactly what you’re doing. Got that?”

Boyd hung up before Colin could even respond.

Danielle checked her watch. “Will the Vaughns be able to come up with that much money so soon?” she whispered.

“Probably.” Heck, they might even have it ready.

And Boyd would have known that.

So, why the delay? Why not request the helicopter and the money immediately? Maybe because he hadn’t given up his search after all.

Because Colin wanted to save the cell battery, he used the house phone to make the next call. He didn’t have Agent Tom Ryan’s number, but he called the Durango office and had them do the transfer.

Tom answered on the first ring. “What happened?”

“Danielle and I are in the guesthouse, on the grounds. Boyd says he has visual, and who knows—he might even be listening. But we finally got some demands. Fifty million in an offshore account and a helicopter. He wants them by tomorrow at noon.”

Tom made a sound to indicate he was thinking about that. Colin understood that sound. Tom was wondering about the delay, as well. “Talk to Griffin Vaughn and work out the details,” Colin suggested. “See if this is even possible and get back to me.”

“I will. Are you and Danielle safe there?”

Colin glanced around, and his attention landed on Danielle. She looked pale and uneasy. “Yes, we’re safe.” But that was for her benefit. He had no idea if that was even true.

Colin hung up and made a note of the time of the call because when this was all said and done, he’d need to do a thorough report.

Danielle stood, her hand gripping the sofa. “I need to go to the bathroom. I won’t be long.”

“Wait. Let me check the place first.” He’d done a cursory, but if she was going in there, he wanted to be as sure as he could be.

Colin stepped in ahead of her. He looked in the medicine cabinet, the linen closet and around the toilet area. The shower was massive, built for two, and he examined the sprayer head and the knobs. Nothing dangerous there. It all looked clean.

Danielle was still in the doorway, but he didn’t miss it when her grip tightened on the frame. He also didn’t miss that she’d gotten even paler.

“What’s wrong?” And by God, this time he would get an answer.

He walked toward her but only made it one step. Before he heard the sound.

A thump.

Colin stopped. Listened. Danielle listened, too, turning in the direction of the sound. It’d come from the living area, and Colin brushed past her to see if he could find the source.

Another thump.

This one, louder than the first.

Even though it was a risk if Boyd had visual access, Colin drew his gun and positioned himself in front of Danielle.

The third thump was more of a bashing sound.

And that’s when Colin knew.

Someone was breaking in.

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