“Do you suppose you can stop harassing me so that I can take this call from Karl?” Lynch said dryly.
“Karl? I almost forgot about that transmission.”
“You had something else to think about.” He pressed the button. “But I think that you have time to analyze it now, don’t you? Lean back and listen.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. All of her attention was focused on that voice. It was incredibly clear in every detail. “Keep playing it.” She closed her eyes. “Over and over. There’s something…there.”
Lynch didn’t answer, he just put the message on repeat and remained silent. The voice was surrounding her, becoming part of her, the roughness, the sarcasm, the intonations…She inhaled sharply and then paused for a long moment. Her lids flew open. “Holy shit.”
“What is it? Is it a voice you recognize?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never heard it before in my life.”
“Then what—”
“Wait, don’t talk to me for a minute.” She rode in silence for a few moments, letting the thought percolate. It was possible and yet it was difficult to believe that it could be true. She didn’t want it to be true because it increased the deadliness that Dee and Jessie were facing. Yet could she be right?
Lynch leaned toward her. “Kendra?”
“Okay. Okay. But you’re probably not going to believe what I’m about to tell you.”
“What?”
She looked straight ahead and then just went for it. “I think I know who did this.”
* * *
“For God’s sake, I told you to play it cool,” Jessie said impatiently as she gazed at Dee’s bleeding lip. “What part of that didn’t you understand?”
“The part where that ape was groping you when he was supposedly checking your manacles.“ She scowled. “And I was pretty cool. I only bit his arm to distract him. It did the job. He left, didn’t he? You said Charlotte wouldn’t turn them loose on me. You didn’t mention that you might still be on their menu.” She met her eyes. “But you probably knew it might happen, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did,” she said curtly. “They probably guessed I was fair game or would be soon. Plus they were bored and eager to get their share of the money. Sexual dominance was bound to be the next move now that your dragon bitch was temporarily out of the picture. And it might not have gone any farther if I’d just let him feel me up and have a taste of fun.”
“And what if it had? Was I supposed to watch him rape you?” Dee emphatically shook her head. “No way. I got pretty tired of seeing them toss you around and half drown you after they got you here. I’m not going to let it go on. I’ll find a way to stop it.”
Jessie should have known that Dee would have that response, but it was too dangerous to ignore. She had to convince her that restraint was the way to handle this nightmare. No, that wasn’t all, she also had to give her a weapon to fight it if everything went to hell. “Look, bad things sometimes happen. It’s not only assholes like those guys. I’ve seen it in Afghanistan, in the slums of New Orleans…” She hesitated. “And it can seem terrible at the time. But no matter what they do, it doesn’t mean that they’ve beaten me. I just close out whatever bad has happened to me and go on. Because, in the end, that’s the only way to win.”
“That’s very inspiring. Are you finished?”
“Not unless you understand what I’m trying to tell you. I’ve often found situations don’t escalate if no overt action is taken. Will you trust me on this?”
“I always trust you.” Dee was smiling. “And I’m very touched that you’re trying to gently let me into the dark side of your world that you’ve struggled so hard to keep from me. But it’s not as if I didn’t know it was there. From the moment you came into my life, you were the most important person in it. You were the one who would always tell me the truth, the one who believed in me when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself. Did you think that I wouldn’t make sure I knew what was below the surface?”
Jessie stared at her for a long moment. Dee was smiling, but beneath it her expression held a kind of serenity. “What are you trying to tell me?”
“I’m trying to tell you that I hope you’ll be my friend forever, but I won’t keep you chained by pretending to be what I’m not.” She added quietly, “I don’t need you, Jessie. I can survive almost anything that comes my way these days and come out stronger. So don’t tell me not to help you when and if I choose.”
Jessie found her lips quirking. “I’ll try to keep my advice to myself.”
Dee frowned. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“You can’t shout out a declaration of emancipation like that and then apologize. It doesn’t work that way. It was a great declaration and you should keep it intact.”
“You’re being bossy. But you’re right, it was pretty awesome.”
“If I can offer a suggestion, would you wipe that blood on your lip on your shirtsleeve? It hurts me to see it.”
Dee immediately wiped away the blood. “You’re very manipulative.”
“Just to show you that need comes in many shapes and nuances.”
“I knew that.” Her voice was suddenly husky. “I just didn’t want you to feel that particular nuance was an obligation.”
“Exception noted.” She paused. “But if that situation occurs again, I want you to remember what I said.” She shrugged and then said slowly, “Though it might not occur. Perhaps the play is already in motion. I was just thinking of what Charlotte said before she left. It was half threat, but there was something…very ugly when she was talking about those assholes who delivered me here.”
“Ugly?” Dee was frowning as she mentally went over that conversation. “She said it would be amusing to give those assholes their last chance at screwing me.”
Jessie nodded. “And then she repeated something about it definitely would be their last chance. She thought it was funny.”
“I must have missed the humor.” Then Dee slowly nodded as she realized where Jessie was going. “It wasn’t entirely aimed at me. You believe there’s no way those bastards are going to get their share of the ransom.”
“They’re not needed any longer,” Jessie said simply. “It just depends what time and method is going to be chosen to get rid of them. I’d judge that Charlotte’s sudden exit and craving for privacy have something to do with that decision.”
She shuddered. “What did I say about a rattlesnake?”
“You always did have a way with imagery. That’s why your lyrics come out so well.” Her gaze shifted to the door. “The rattlesnake or the ape? Now all we have to do is wait and see which one comes through that door in the next hour. I’m betting on the reptile…”
CHAPTER
12
It was Charlotte who eventually threw open the door. “Here I am. Did you miss me?”
“Not really,” Jessie said. She could see that color was flushing Charlotte’s cheeks and her attitude was breathing defiance. She wondered what had occurred to cause that change. “We were only discussing what a liar you are. You said that those assholes were going to check on us every hour. Not that we missed them, but it just goes to show that you’re far from being as efficient as you bragged.”