The Worst Best Man(19)

Frankie was losing hope fast. Every minute felt like Chip was getting farther and farther away from them. He could be anywhere on the island by this point.

She saw the cop whistling on the corner and remembered Aiden’s warning. “Fuck it,” she whispered, ducking away from Aiden as he quizzed a couple of local fish fryers near the sidewalk.

“Excuse me, officer?”

He tore his eyes away from the in-progress argument that was happening over a parking space. “Yes, ma’am.”

“My friend is missing.”

“Um-hm.” His gaze was back on the two women and the parking space. He clearly wasn’t impressed by her story.

“I saw him get taken by someone in a van. He was kidnapped right here about an hour ago.”

The cop sighed. He lifted the brim of his hat and wiped his brow. “Miss, just because someone gets into a van doesn’t mean they’ve been kidnapped. They’re called ZRs, and they’re public transportation. Maybe your friend just went back to the hotel early.”

“No, you don’t understand. He’s getting married tomorrow, and he wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t leave his fiancée and not tell her where he was going.”

The shouting at the parking space got louder. Horns were honking in the street as the argument spilled into traffic. The yelling turned to shrieking as one woman grabbed a fistful of braids and yanked.

The cop sighed, swearing under his breath. He yanked a whistle out of his pocket and blew it furiously as he ran into the fray.

Frustrated, she turned and found Aiden standing much too close to her. He didn’t say a word, but his face did the talking for him.

“Yeah, yeah. You told me so. I get it.”

“They’re not going to take a disappearance seriously for at least twenty-four hours.”

“Fine, smarty pants. What do we do now? We lost the van. We have no idea where he could be or what they want with him or even who they are.”

Aiden’s phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket. “Unknown number,” he read from the screen.

“Maybe it has something to do with Chip,” Frankie said, eyes full of hope and dread.

“Kilbourn,” he answered. Frankie snatched the phone away from him and hit the speaker button.

A garbled voice on the other end of the call chuckled. “Well, well, Aiden. It looks like we have some business to do after all.”

“Who is this?” he demanded.

“That’s not important. What is important is the fact that we have a mutual acquaintance.”

“Where’s Chip? Why did you take him?”

The voice laughed. “I’m going to fuck him up when I meet him,” Frankie hissed.

“Patience. All will be revealed.”

“Who does he think he is? A Bond villain?” Frankie demanded.

Aiden rolled his eyes and mouthed the words “Shut up.”

“If you hurt him or so much as mess up his hair, I will hunt you down,” Aiden promised.

“Then let’s not let it come to that,” the robotic voice on the other end said amicably. “What I want is easily within your grasp of giving. You give me what I want, I give you your friend back, and we all go home happy.”

“What is it you want?” Aiden asked.

“I want you to be ready for a meeting tomorrow. I’ll contact you with the time and place.”

“A meeting?” Aiden repeated.

“It’s just business. Nothing personal. Oh, and don’t tell anyone. No cops, no security. Just you, me, and Chip.”

The call disconnected and Aiden swore.

“Christ. Now what the hell do we do?” Frankie asked. “They make contact and give us nothing? Why didn’t they ask for money?”

“Because they don’t want money,” Aiden said quietly.

Frankie stopped in her tracks. “It’s you isn’t it? This isn’t about Chip at all. They called you because you have what they want.”

Aiden wouldn’t meet her gaze.





Chapter Eleven


“Great. Just fucking great. You do something stupid or illegal or whatever, and innocent people have to pay the price. My best friend’s wedding is ruined, her fiancé is missing, and now we have to wait until tomorrow to find out who has him and what they want?”

Frankie ticked off the infractions on her fingers. And Aiden rubbed a hand over his forehead. He’d feel guilty if necessary later. Right now, he needed answers.

“Jesus, Franchesca. Will you shut up for two seconds so I can think?”

“Think? How about we do something? How about we find the driver with the stupid gold tooth and dirty red ball cap and beat the ever-living shit out of him until he talks?”

“By all means. Go ahead and find him. Call me when you do,” Aiden snapped back.

“Do you mean Papi, miss?”

Frankie and Aiden both whirled around. And then looked down. The boy couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen. Skinny with a big grin. He wore a white short-sleeved Oxford and neatly pressed khaki shorts. The ball cap he wore on his head was clean but rakishly askew.

“Papi?”

“Yeah, gold tooth.” The kid pointed to his own pristine front tooth. Gray hair. Greasy hat that looks like it was used to soak up motor oil? Calls all the ladies Mami?”