The other man gripped her arm tightly, stopping her, and patted her down with his free hand before she climbed into the vehicle. She hid her relief that she’d hidden the phone in time and prayed he didn’t go through the bag. A car seat was installed in the middle of the backseat, and she buckled Toby into it.
“May I get a toy out of the bag to give to him, please?”
“Of course, my dear. I’m glad to see you’ve chosen to be amenable. That makes this so much easier.”
Fuck you, asshole. Holding the bag in her lap, she unzipped the top compartment and reached inside.
With one hand she reached for a toy as she surreptitiously retrieved the phone with the other.
Dumbasses never even bothered to check the diaper bag.
* * * *
Seth tore in through the open front door, careful to touch nothing as he called out, “Jayne! Toby!”
The house was as silent as a tomb. He ran to the back door, disbelieving. Nobody in the backyard. There wouldn’t be. Jayne never would’ve left the front door wide open like that. His hands shook as he dialed nine-one-one. Moments later, with Hank Stinson himself on the way, Seth dialed Ace Webster’s cell phone number.
He waited on the front lawn as the law officers and Ace and Kemp converged on Bluestem Street at the end of his driveway. He showed Hank the last picture she’d sent, incongruously grateful for Jayne’s sake that he’d deleted the last three as a precaution to protect her. Phones got lost all the time and those images were private. In daylight, he recognized the build of the man in the hallway. Tamar’s “business associate” and lover, Henri Broussard.
A police officer came out of the house, calling out to Seth. “Your laptop is ringing, Mr. Carter!”
Loping back inside, he activated the mouse pad. The Skype video call continued with its distinctive ringtone as he recognized Mimi Durand’s profile picture on the screen. He accepted the call, and Mimi appeared on screen.
“Mimi, have you talked to Jayne today?”
“I was hoping Jayne would answer.” An edge of panic was in her voice as she brushed her hair back from her pale face with shaking hands. Her English had improved somewhat with practice on these calls, but it was still thickly accented. “Where is Jayne? Is she there? I must speak to you both.”
“She’s not here, Mimi. She’s gone. Do you know something?”
Her face crumbled, and between sobs, she spoke. “I’ve been out all day! I didn’t know he was gone until just now.”
“Who?”
“My employer, Henri Broussard! One of the other maids heard him talking with Phillipe in the salon. They’ve located Tobias. I didn’t know they were searching or I would’ve warned you. They’ve been searching for him, and for Tamar. He plans to kill Tamar if he finds her for risking this deal he has.”
“What deal?”
“To sell Tobias. To repay Tamar’s debt he claimed she owed to him. He plans to sell Tobias!”
Cold, vicious fear tore through his chest. “Jayne’s gone too.”
A conversation occurred outside of his line of sight, and a moment later an older woman appeared on screen next to Mimi. “Monsieur Carter. I am Mimi’s friend, Joy.” She swallowed nervously. “I am the one who overheard. Please forgive Mimi. She loves Toby, and…” She looked at Mimi, and Mimi whispered tearfully to her. “And Jayne very much. She speaks of you all constantly. We thought Tobias was finally settled where he would be safe. Monsieur Carter”—she glanced at Hank and Ace, who both hovered behind Seth—“Monsieur Broussard and his bodyguard, Phillipe, are involved in many things. Many bad things…go on in this house. We are paid help and, for the most part, ignored, but we have ears. Monsieur Broussard and Phillipe left on his private jet in the middle of the night and I couldn’t reach Mimi today, on her day off. I finally came, after work, and found her to tell her. He has dealings with…” She waved her hands as though searching for the right word. “Traffickers?”
Ace provided, “Human traffickers?”
“Yes. If he has taken Jayne, she is in very serious danger.”
Not while I’m still breathing. Just then his cell phone buzzed in his hand with an incoming text message. Looking at the screen, Seth wanted to hug his girl, hard. “‘Black Cadillac SUV. Lusty. Airport. Help us.’” He sighed in relief as he handed it to Hank. “It’s Jayne. She has her phone with her.”
Good girl!
Hank handed it to Ace. “I know who to call.” He pulled out his cell phone, searched for a number, and then put it to his ear. “Kendall? Hey, this is Hank Stinson. I have a situation and need your help.”