I hardly noticed when my phone rang, and remembered turning it to silent when Lance and I napped. I fished it out of my purse, sitting beside me in the passenger seat. An unknown number. I would normally have ignored it, but with the state my life was in I didn’t think it wise to ignore any phone call. It might have been Lance, for all I knew.
“Hello?”
I heard breathing on the other end of the line. Then, “Is this Jamie Hollis?”
“Yes. Who is this?” I pulled over to the side of the road, my heart racing. I didn’t know the voice, but I couldn’t miss the menace in it. Whoever it was, they weren’t just calling to say hello.
“We have the girl.”
I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming. I looked around, my first instinct to get help. There wasn’t anyone around, of course.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, digging my nails into my palm to keep myself calm. I couldn’t lose it. If they did have Gigi, I had to be calm for her.
“We have the little girl. The one you’re so close with.”
“Who’s we? And if you have her, what’s her name?” My mind raced.
A chuckle. “Gigi.”
I closed my eyes, slamming my hand against the steering wheel.
I had to think. I couldn’t panic. I had to keep it together for her sake. I took a deep, shaky breath, willing myself to stay conscious and calm. “Why did you take her? Who are you? What do you want?”
“It’s pretty simple. You have to come and get her.”
“I don’t understand. Do you want money? I don’t have any money.”
“We both know that’s not true, don’t we? Not with the kind of house you live in.”
I shuddered. Who followed me? I looked around again, wondering if someone watched even then.
“Bullshit. You’re a fucking coward. Why don’t you show your face?”
“Now, no need to get excited. And stop with the words. I can tell how scared you are—you can’t fool me.” A laugh.
“You’re so smart, is that it? You think you know me? You don’t know anything about me, or what I would do to protect that girl.”
“Oh, I know exactly what you would do.” A man. His voice was raspy, but I couldn’t tell if it was because he whispered or if that was his actual voice.
The blood froze in my veins. “Is this The Scarecrow?”
A pause, then another laugh. “You’re a pretty smart girl, aren’t you? If you’re so smart, you know what I’ll do with the kid if you don’t get here soon. I know you’ve heard about me.”
I thought about everything Lance had told me, and when I remembered him talking about trafficking, I wanted to scream in fury and panic. “What is it you want? Do you want money? I’ll bring it with me, everything I have.”
“We’ll talk about that when you get here. But you do have to get here, and soon. Otherwise, you’ll never see her again—alive, anyway.”
I thought I might pass out. I dug my nails into my palm again, desperate to keep it together. “Where are you?”
“I’ll give you the address. I want you here as soon as possible, too. No detours. Don’t stop off anywhere. Especially not at the clubhouse. I don’t want Lance hearing anything about this. Understood?”
“Understood.” I thought hard. How the hell would somebody get their hands on her in the first place? I left her at the clubhouse, with a dozen people. How could anybody have gotten her out? Was this some trap for me?
“How do I know you have her?” I asked. “How do I know this isn’t all a trap?”
Silence. Then, “Jamie!” I closed my eyes, gasping. That was her. No doubt about it.
“Convincing enough?”
“Yes. I’m convinced.”
“Then you’ll hurry over here. I’ll give you the address. Ready?” It was a random motel in the middle of the highway going north. I entered the information into my phone as The Scarecrow rattled it off.
“Got it,” I muttered.
“Get here quick. I wouldn’t want you to miss the fun.”
“No way. Not unless you plan to let her go.”
“I’ll let her go.” He chuckled. “I promise.” With that, the line went dead.
I shivered uncontrollably. Gigi. I couldn’t let him hurt her, but I didn’t know how I could possibly save her. I could tell Lance, but what would happen if The Scarecrow found out I did? He’d already followed me, or had me followed. I couldn’t go back to the clubhouse, or else risk being found out. I punched the ceiling of the car, crying, screaming in frustration.