Wherever She Goes(77)

A growl of frustration. Footsteps. A door creaks.

“Mr. Finch, please tell your wife you are fine.”

“Aubrey?” Paul’s voice comes from the distance. “Call the police. I don’t care what he’s told you. Just call—”

The door slams shut. Orbec walks away, and Paul’s muffled voice falls to silence.

“I trust you will not take his advice,” Orbec says.

“Not unless I have to,” I say. “But I’ll be ready to. You give me the slightest reason to think you’re going to screw me over, and I have the cops on speed dial.”

I expect him to threaten me, but he only says, “Fine. I’m not going to cheat you, Aubrey. Like you said, you know who I am. This is a dangerous game we’re both playing, and we just want it over with. I’m going to give you an address and exactly enough time to get there. You’ll give me the drive. I’ll give you your husband. If you don’t do anything stupid, this will be painless. You have my word on that.”

I try not to snort. Then I say, “And Brandon?”

“We’ll discuss that.”

“Do you have Brandon?”

“He’s fine. Now, meet me—”

“If it’s a back alley in Chicago, the answer is no.”

“This isn’t a gangster movie, Aubrey. I have nothing to gain by hurting you or your husband. I just want the drive. Give me that, and everyone’s life gets a whole lot easier. Mine included. We’re going to meet in a park. You seem to like parks.”

I say nothing.

He tells me which park and which visitor lot, and then says, “It’s a public enough place. I’m not driving up with your hubby in a gag and cuffs. He’ll be riding shotgun. I’ll park. You’ll pull in beside me. We’ll do the exchange there, and for all anyone will know, it’s just a guy switching cars. No cloak-and-dagger crap. Okay?”

“Okay.”



I drive straight to the park. When I enter the visitors’ lot, I see Orbec’s Charger pull into a spot, as if he timed my arrival. He’s down at the end, under a huge oak, away from the other cars. There’s one couple tugging a jogging stroller from their SUV. Otherwise, while the lot is dotted with cars, there are no people. Relatively public, like he promised.

I pull in beside his car. Paul’s in the passenger seat. He tries to smile for me. It’s strained, but he looks fine.

Orbec lowers the passenger window. “See? He’s okay. Now, he’s going to reach out, and you’re going to put the drive in his hand. He passes it to me. Then he gets out.”

I look at Paul. He finds that weak smile again and mouths, “It’s okay.”

“Where’s Brandon?” I ask.

Orbec sighs. “You just don’t give up, do you? Brandon is fine. Hubby here has seen him, yes?”

Paul nods.

Orbec continues. “I have the number for his aunt Ellie, from Beth. As soon as I’ve verified the data on this drive, I’ll place that call, and Ellie can come and get him.”

“Not good enough.”

His brows arch. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t trust you, so here’s the new plan. I give you the drive, and you let Paul go. He leaves with this car. I go with you to verify the drive, and then I take Brandon for Ellie.”

Paul’s mouth opens, and I brace for him to object. But then he meets my gaze, and he nods. He knows I need to do this, and he will not interfere, and God, I love him for that.

Orbec is muttering under his breath. Uncomplimentary things, I’m sure, but he doesn’t object either. He just glares at me and says, “If you aren’t a friend of Kim’s, then you’re a crazy bitch, you know that?”

“No, I’m a mom. And since Brandon’s mother can’t help him get home, I will.”

He goes quiet at that and then nods. A moment of silence, before he sighs and looks past Paul to me. His voice is softer when he says, “Look, I know how this seems, but it’s not like that. You don’t need to come with me. I’ll get Brandon to his auntie. All I need is that USB drive, and everyone will be safe.”

“I don’t care. I can’t trust you.”

“Fine. Paul, get that drive from your wife, and then you two swap places.”

Paul shakes his head. “If Aubrey goes, I go.”

“What?” Orbec says.

“You heard me. If Aubrey goes with you, so do I.”

“Oh, hell, you two make a great pair. So I get the USB and an extra hostage? You do understand that’s not how ransom works, right?”

“If Paul stays, that’s his choice,” I say. “But I’m not handing over the drive. I’m getting into your backseat with it. You’ll take me to Brandon, where I will verify integrity of the drive while you watch. Then I walk away with Brandon.”

Orbec throws up his hands. “Fine. You’re both nuts, but fine. Let’s do this.”





Chapter Thirty-Seven





Paul insists on sitting in the backseat with me. He holds my hand, and I try to apologize, but he stops me.

“I’m all right,” he says, our voices quiet, muffled by the rumble of the car. “Everything’s all right. Brandon’s fine. I’ve seen him. Whatever’s going on here, he’s not in danger. He’s a bargaining chip. That’s all.”