***
After dropping off Herald’s Lincoln, Nick and Cora continued on foot. They decided to find somewhere out of the way where they could get lunch and make a plan of action. It was late afternoon, and they needed to eat.
They slipped in the back door of a bar and grill and sat in the back. She leaned back in her seat, looking at him and trying to pretend for a minute that it was a normal lunch date. He folded his hands on the table, looking back at her. She had to appreciate his tone arms, and his lean and sleek build.
His face warmed with a hint of a smile. “That was a lot of work for a first date.”
She quietly laughed while rolling her neck to work out some of the tension. “But we’re coming to the end of all this, aren’t we?”
He reached for her hand across the table. “Jerry’s safe, and we have the CD. Pretty soon we’ll know what’s on it.”
“It has to be good. Why else would Jerry hide it like that?”
The aroma traveling from the kitchen tickled her stomach, reminding her how much she liked to eat. When the waitress came, she ordered a seafood salad and Sprite, hoping the drink would help settle her stomach. She glanced around, nervous that someone would recognize her. People often did, if they watched the nightly news. She hoped she would still have a job after this. Just getting through it would be nice, too.
“So what’s Angela like?” Cora asked while they waited for their food.
His brow creased. “She is very obsessed with appearances. She has platinum blond hair that’s always done up, and wears lots of jewelry and perfume.”
Thinking of the note, she asked, “And what about her husband?”
“Michael. He’s the youngest brother; very ambitious, like Angela. Man, if he finds out she’s been sleeping with Alexander. . .”
“Possibly sleeping with him,” she said. “Do you think it’s more complicated than that between them? Alexander and Angela both sound ruthless to me. Maybe they stole the money together, and it’s not really about sex or love.”
Their food arrived, and both Nick and Cora forgot about talking while they ate. They needed to work on a plan but she pushed that thought away so she wouldn’t lose her appetite. Maybe Adam had found something useful on that CD.
“Adam hasn’t called or texted?”
Nick’s head tilted. He reached for his phone. “Damn it. The battery’s dead, and my charger is in my car.”
They both knew she didn’t have her phone. “We can buy another one or use a payphone.”
“I should check in with Herald from a payphone and then we can pick up a charger.” He rested an elbow on the table and rubbed his forehead. When he opened his eyes to look at her hand, she realized she was tapping her nails. He tilted his head toward the door and then they both rose.
The waitress walked by. “Are you ready for your check?”
“We have to run.” He opened his wallet. “Here’s forty.”
Outside it took a few seconds for their eyes to adjust to the brightness. They walked down the street, passing other businesses. Cora was looking in a window when she noticed the reflection of a vehicle behind them; it seemed to be moving at the same pace.
“Slow down just a little,” she said. “Look at the glass over here and check out that white SUV. It’s been rolling slowly behind us.”
Nick casually glanced at the shop windows to see the reflection. “You’re right. We’ve got a tag.”
Cora’s heart pounded. “But how could they find us that fast?”
He took her hand without answering. “Keep it slow, don’t act panicked.”
The mid-day heat suddenly felt twenty degrees hotter. It didn’t make any sense that Alexander had found her so easily before, and now they were being followed.
“An alley is coming up. Keep your pace. Maybe they’re following us to see where we’re headed.”
“At the alley, run?”
“Yup.” The alley grew closer...just a few feet ahead. She was already breathing like she was sprinting. Her heartbeat pounded clear into the tips of her fingers.
Hand in hand, they bolted into the alley while tires squealed behind them. After leaping over boxes, they reached the other end of the alley and quickly turned onto the next street.
At a store entrance, Nick pointed. “In here.”
“No, look!” Cora gestured to another fast moving SUV, coming from the opposite direction. “They’ll trap us.”
They sprinted across the street, dodging a honking car, and down another alley.
“Good thing you’re fast.” Nick jumped up on a box and pulled her up by both hands. They scaled the fence and started off at full speed on the other side.
“Okay, now let’s find somewhere to hide.” Nick slowed, scanning the shops up and down the street. Squealing brakes stopped them. The SUV barely missed a minivan as it came around the corner.
“Run!” With only one option, they backtracked toward the fence while the SUV closed in on them.
“Shit!”
Another SUV pulled up on the other side of the fence, blocking their way. Two men jumped out: Nick’s cousin Terrance and a stocky twenty something.
“Give up!” Terrance hollered from the other side as they reached the fence. “You’re blocked in.”
The only way out was straight up the buildings next to them.
“Nick?”
His hand held Cora’s so tightly her fingers went numb. “I’ll get you killed if I pull my gun. Don’t do anything.”
“But…” She looked into Nick’s usually warm eyes, and saw that they were blazing with rage.
“Don’t hide your weapon, they’ll find it anyway,” Nick whispered gruffly. “We’ll find another way out of this.”
The other SUV pulled up close and two older men stepped out while pointing handguns at them.
“Hold out your guns and drop them.”
Terrance and his partner were right up to the fence now. They had guns pointed at them from twenty feet away on both sides. Nick didn’t hesitate and Cora followed.
“I’m glad you’re going to do this the easy way.” The men took them to the SUV, waved to the other vehicle, and started off. “Don’t move or talk, or she gets it.”
She thought about trying to jump out the door, but that would put Nick in danger. And to think she had been worried about Herald and Adam.
Nick sat steel rigid next to her. She had no idea how they’d get out of this… but, with the CD, Adam and Herald could talk to the police and get help.
The men, followed by Terrance’s SUV, drove straight to Keith’s house and pulled into the multiple-car garage. Terrance got out of his vehicle first, opened Nick’s door while keeping his handgun pointed right at Nick. “Welcome home, Nicky. Come on in.”
They took Nick and Cora inside and down to the basement, never giving them any chance to escape. Terrance waved his gun at a couch.
Keith walked down the steps, smug as ever. He briefly paused at the bottom before he pulled a wooden chair over and sat down, facing them.
“Here’s my dilemma. Jerry couldn’t get my money back. Alexander’s plan failed, and Jerry’s out there to tell the world anything he wants about my family…” he paused to smile. “But now I have you here.”
“She can’t help you anymore. Let Cora go.”
In calm control of himself, Keith responded, “Hand over the key, and I will.”
“I would,” Cora said. “If I had it.”
Keith leaned back, staring at her with his eyebrows drawn tightly together. Luckily Nick didn’t react.
“Where is it then?”
Now Nick’s hand tightened on hers. Bless him; he was blindly trusting that she knew what she was doing. He was showing her a level of trust that reminded her of how she hadn’t trusted him before. Now she did. She kept her eyes on Keith. “I gave it to Alexander when I thought he was helping me.”
Keith stood up, stepping toward them with his hands on his hips, almost
leaning over them. “Then you’ll have to help bring him in.”
“That won’t work,” Nick said. “Why don’t you just let her go before the police get too suspicious? You can find Alexander on your own. You’ll probably be able to find him quicker than Cora.”
Keith laughed and sat down. “Maybe you don’t know how much time he put into watching her, but I do. So, Cora, your part will be easy. I’m going to book a flight for you, to the east coast. You’ll stay in a hotel tonight, under my name. That ought to get Alexander’s attention. You’ll stay here till we’re ready.”
Keith’s thugs followed him out the door, locking Nick and Cora alone in the basement. No windows and no other way to escape besides the one door.