Jasmine was not in a good mood. The only time her captors had let her out of their sight was so she could use the bathroom, but not in any of the fast-food places they passed, only in small grimy gas stations where there were no windows she could climb out of or more than one stall to keep her from seeking aid from another woman who might be inside. They had fed her, but she was no closer to freedom than she’d been when this whole madness had begun. She’d managed to catch a few hours’ sleep, and according to the signs she’d seen on the highways, she knew they were now in Alabama and traveling southwest. It was a bit past seven in the morning, and they were rocking and bumping along an unpaved rural road out in the middle of nowhere. Although the scenery—with its green trees and open fields—was lovely, she’d much rather be home. She wondered how Torr was doing. He was probably worried sick, as were her parents. She hoped her dad hadn’t crushed him like a grape, because she needed someone to find her. It looked like she wasn’t going to be able to escape this awfulness on her own. So far neither Taylor nor his men had touched her or hurt her in any way, but she didn’t know how long that might last. She was tired, dirty, sleep deprived, and still in her sundress. She wanted this to end.
From her back seat, she had a good view of the road and was surprised to see a woman walking toward them. As the car neared her, Jasmine was so shocked by the familiar face, she cried out loud, “Aunt Loretta?”
Taylor, now riding shotgun, instantly turned her way. “You know her?”
“No. I’m just really tired and thought she looked like someone I know at home,” Jasmine lied.
They were now alongside the walking woman, who didn’t give the car a second look as it passed her. Seeing her blew Jasmine away, and she questioned where Loretta might be going and where her husband might be. But she kept quiet. Taylor quickly opened the glove box, pulled out a folder, and riffled through it—for what, Jasmine didn’t know until she saw the missing photo from the Vernons’ fireplace mantel.
“Stop the car!” He gave Jasmine a catbird kind of smile before opening the door and getting out. “Hello, Mrs. Vernon,” he called to her. “Would you like a ride?”
To her credit, Loretta took off running. He drew his gun and fired a shot over her head. She stopped instantly. “Back up,” he told the minion driving.
A few minutes later, Loretta and Jasmine were sharing the back seat and on their way to add Uncle Elliot to Taylor’s party.
Jasmine hugged her. “You okay?”
“Not really but glad to see you.”
“Where’s your husband?” Taylor demanded.
“He wrecked the car. He was still with it when I left.”
“Where?”
“Not too far up the road from here. So, who are you, and would someone please tell me what’s going on? Elliot has refused to say a word.”
“Your husband and his now-dead partner stole something from friends of mine, and they sent me to get it back.”
“Are you the one who cut off OB’s hands?” she asked.
He didn’t respond.
Jasmine nodded.
“Elliot’s an idiot,” Loretta stated dryly.
At this point, Jasmine had to agree, but now she had Aunt Loretta’s safety to worry about in addition to her own. This adventure was getting worse and worse.
They came upon Elliot a short while later. A smiling Taylor turned to his minion behind the wheel and told him to stop. “Come with me,” he said to the man. He told the other one in the back seat with Jas and Loretta, “Keep an eye on them.”
The skinny little man nodded.
As soon as Taylor and his companion stepped out, Taylor called to Elliot. “Need some help?”
With Taylor distracted, Jasmine knew it was now or never. “I need to pee.”
The man eyed her.
“I mean it. Either let me go behind the car, or I’m going to let go all over this seat and it’ll be reeking in here in an hour or less.”
Loretta chimed in. “I do too. Old women have small bladders.”
He looked between the two women, obviously unsure of what to do. Glancing over by the Caddy, Jas saw Taylor had a gun on Elliot while the other minion searched his car.
“Ask him if we can go pee. Please! I can’t hold this much longer.” Jasmine wiggled like a little kid to drive the point home. “Come on!”
Their keeper drew his lips tight and opened his door. Jasmine planned to make a break for it once he took a few more steps. Loretta, keeping one eye on him, began digging in her tote. As soon as he moved away from the door, she slapped her Taser in Jas’s hand.
“You’re probably a better shot.”
The stunned Jas looked down at the weapon and grinned. “I love you, Aunt Loretta. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
As their guy walked just far enough away for Taylor to hear what he was saying, Jas eased through the open door beside her. “When I fire, we run, okay?”
“Got it.”
She knew he had to be near enough for the Taser to reach him. Once he turned his back, she stepped out and fired. He fell.
“Run, Loretta!” Jas screamed.
After landing their small jet at a private airport near Birmingham, Torr, Mr. Ware, and two of his crew transferred to a helicopter and took flight. Torr could tell Ware was impressed by all he’d seen of the crew’s expertise since leaving Detroit but knew the man would never admit it. By tapping into the government’s network of security cameras, they’d picked up Gabriel/Taylor’s SUV a short while ago via satellite and were now on the way to intercept. Hang on, Jas. We’ll be there shortly.
He and the others were wearing helmets equipped with headsets so they could talk and be heard over the chopper’s engines and rotors.
Ware asked, “You do this kind of stuff often?”
Torr looked his way. “Not as much as I used to.”
“Haven’t been on a chopper like this before. Looks loaded for bear.”
“It’s an attack version. This one isn’t armored, but some of the others we use are. This one will deploy missiles, though.”
“Really?” he asked, sounding impressed.
Torr hid his smile and nodded.
Second-in-Command Green said, “Two women running up the road, Captain.”
Torr quickly turned on his camera and screen. Jasmine!
Her father said anxiously, “That’s Loretta with her!”
A fast-moving white SUV was about to catch them, but Jas and Loretta left the road and headed for the trees. Torr wanted to cheer. They were out of harm’s way for now.
“Give the brave ladies some cover, Lieutenant.”
“My pleasure.” She laid down a line of firepower in front of the SUV, which immediately U-turned and roared off in the opposite direction.
“Put a missile a good distance in front of them so they can’t run.”
“Got it.”
The armament exploded the road in a cloud of dirt and rocks, leaving a hole so large the vehicle had to stop. Taylor and his men abandoned ship like roaches caught in the light.
“Elliot’s with them,” Ware pointed out.
“I think we made our point. Thanks, Lieutenant.”
“You’re welcome.”