Changing the Rules (Richter Book 1)(89)

Claire tried to coax her friend. “It’s okay. We’ll get you out of here. C’mon. Shhh.”

He looked over at her, didn’t like how close she was. “Scoot back.”

She started to move.

“Wait.”

She froze.

“Get that shit out of your ear.”

Some of her optimism was fading. She’d yet to hear that anyone knew they were missing.

Claire removed the device, knew what to do when he rolled down the window.

“Who the fuck do you work for?” Tony took the corner hard and started weaving through traffic.

Claire didn’t answer.

“You’re a fucking fed, aren’t you?”

“No.”

Elsie looked over, each breath sucked in a cry.

“You fucking are.”

“No . . . I’m not.” They needed to get out of this car.

Tony poked the gun at Elsie again.

“I’m a private investigator!” Claire yelled, wishing it was her in the passenger seat so she could disarm the bastard without getting Elsie killed.

Tony hit the gas, slammed his driving hand on the steering wheel. “Fuck me. Just fuck me!”



Cooper felt panic in his knees and it started to rise.

“Report in now!” Neil yelled.

“What’s going on?” Eastman asked tensely.

Cooper patted his back pocket.

He left his keys, phone, and wallet back on the field.

He ran over to them, grabbed everything.

“Is everything okay, Coach?”

“Has anyone seen Claire?” he asked.

“I saw her in the locker room right after the bell rang.”

That was twenty minutes ago.

He scanned the field, knew she wasn’t there.

He ran across the lanes again, hopped the fence, and headed straight for the locker rooms.

Half the track team followed, along with Eastman.

A sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach started to spread.

He bolted in the locker room. “I’m coming in!” he yelled.

He ran through, looked down every aisle. No Claire.

“We’re sending backup,” Lars reported.

Cooper pushed past Eastman, back outside.

“Has anyone seen Claire?”

“I saw her jump in a car with Elsie and her boyfriend’s friend.”

Cooper marched up to the student talking. He was in one of his auto classes. “Which friend?”

“Tony, the guy that comes in the morning.”

“Which way did they go?”

The kid pointed.

“Son of a bitch!” Cooper heard Eastman yell.

Cooper jumped in his face, bumped into him. “What the hell do you know?”

“Stand down.”

Both hands reached for Eastman’s shirt. “Start talking.”

“Hey, hey!” Coach Bennett was pushing in. “What the hell is going on here?”

“You’ve been following Claire for weeks, planted a camera at her front door.”

Eastman’s nose flared.

Cooper pulled his fist back.

“Federal. I’ve been on Tony for a year. Waiting for him to fuck up.”

“Who does Tony work for?”

“Local PD.”

Cooper shoved him out of the way and screamed his frustration.

He pulled out his phone and ran to his car.

Neil answered.

“He has Claire. Tony has Claire.” Saying it out loud made it real. “Elsie is with them.”

Cooper popped the trunk of his car, pushed back the felt covering, and placed his hand on the biometric safe. It slid open and he grabbed his weapon.

The entire track team was standing there.

Cooper turned to Coach Bennett. “Get them out of here. Call the police.”

Eastman was on his phone, jumping in Cooper’s passenger seat. “Special Agent Leonardo Grant requesting backup.” He rattled off his badge number.

Cooper tossed his phone in a drink cup, started the car. Neil’s voice came through the speakers.

“Which way is she headed?”

“North.”

He punched the gas.





CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN


Tony pulled the car into an abandoned warehouse.

Claire was told to get out of the car first.

He dragged Elsie across the seats, waved his gun in the direction he wanted Claire to walk, and kept Elsie close to his side.

Outside, the brightness streaming in from the sun was a complete contrast to the darkness unfolding in front of her.

Tony pushed Elsie away from him, causing her to trip and fall.

She scrambled away on her hands and knees like a hand-shy dog looking for shelter.

Claire stayed standing, presented a calm she didn’t completely feel. “What do you want?”

He tossed a pair of handcuffs on the ground. They skittered to a stop at her feet. “Put those on her.”

Claire reached down.

“No.” He directed his gun at Elsie. “You, put them on her.”

Tony obviously knew Claire was the biggest threat.

Elsie scurried over to the handcuffs and picked them up. She slowly got to her feet.

Claire brought both hands out in front of her.