Seth said, “I know someone in Lusty.”
Ace nodded. “So do we. Several folks. Your girl’s got smarts, Seth. I like that.”
Hank ended his call. “If they’re headed to Lusty, we’ve got your family covered on that end. They haven’t been gone that long and Lusty’s sheriff, Adam Kendall, will be waiting for them. It’s time to get on the road and tighten the noose. They’re letting them get to the airfield where it’ll be harder for them to escape. Adam Kendall and his deputies are already on the way over to detain the pilot.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jayne stared out the window at the oak trees and huisache bushes lining the edge of the state highway they sped down. Phillipe was behind the wheel, glancing at her in the rearview mirror every so often. Henri had spent most of the drive on his cell phone, carrying on a rapid, heated conversation in a French dialect that she recognized but had a hard time following. He might try to pass himself off as a metropolitan businessman but the foulness of his language gave away the other side of his slimy nature, even if she couldn’t understand every word. His mama must not have washed his mouth out with soap often enough.
Realizing they’d get suspicious if she showed too much confidence, like she had when she’d taken Toby from Phillipe without thought for the consequences, Jayne released the grip on her emotions enough to summon up waterworks. She needed them to believe she thought her situation was hopeless.
Toby’s chin wobbled as he watched her. She stroked his cheek and took his chubby little hand in hers. Praying that Seth had received her hastily sent message, she rested her forehead against his tousled black curls. Toby responded with tears and wailing of his own. Casting a venomous glance over his shoulder as he continued his phone conversation, Henri turned in his seat and raised the back of his hand to Toby. The baby froze like a rabbit staring at a hawk. Jayne recognized that expression and now she knew where he’d learned to respond that way.
He turned his black stare on Jayne. “If you don’t keep him quiet, I’ll drug him. Shut him up and keep him happy.”
Toby clung to her hand with both of his. She glanced at him, and the wariness and fear in his eyes made her heart ache. Seeing him blossom in the last two months and lose his hesitancy had been a triumph for her, and for those emotions to be present in his expression again stirred righteous anger in her gut. But she kept her emotions to herself as she wiped her eyes and reached in the diaper bag for a toy.
Phillipe’s right hand flew back, capturing hers in his hard grasp. “What are you doing?” The SUV swerved.
Jayne whimpered as his grasp tightened and nearly panicked when the cell phone slipped to the floorboard with the movement. “I’m just giving him a toy, you bastard! You’re hurting me!”
Henri lost it, slammed his phone down, turned in his seat, and made good on the earlier threat of violence. The back of his hand crashed across her left cheek. She froze as bells rang in her ears and her hair fell across her face from the strength of the blow. Henri didn’t look as though he worked out, but he was stronger than he seemed. Her breathing echoed in her ears, and she nearly started crying again when she heard Toby’s hysterical sobbing.
She threw her body over Toby when Henri prepared to give the baby the same punishment. “No! If he’s bruised they’ll wonder why! Don’t! I was just reaching for his toy!” She held up the stuffed teether toy with her free hand and grasped desperately with the other hand Henri couldn’t see, feeling for the phone.
If I get the chance, I’ll kill you myself, you inhuman bastard!
Her fingers settled on the rubber case of the phone, and she closed her eyes so they wouldn’t see the relief in them and give herself away as she slid the phone between her legs. Brutal they might be, but it was obvious these two weren’t well acquainted with Abductions 101: Make sure your victim doesn’t have a means to communicate.
Resolved to survive and save Toby, she held up the toy so Phillipe could see and then handed it to a sobbing Toby. “He’s teething. I didn’t do anything wrong. Please don’t hurt him.”
I plan to hurt you if I get the chance though.
Henri settled back in his seat as she shushed Toby and glared at Phillipe. “Just drive and calm the fuck down.”
A telltale vibration between her legs got her attention. Careful to not betray herself, she whispered soothingly to Toby and held her finger to her lips. Evidently overwhelmed by the fright, Toby’s eyes drooped even as he kept them glued to her face, fighting sleep but remaining quiet. When he dropped off finally, she slipped the cell phone from its hiding place. There was an incoming message.