20.59
Chapter 205
He was Jeannette Doyle’s brother, Pollock’s son.
“Let go of me.”
Blanche had no intention of answering any of his questions. “You’re wanted by the police right now. You’ve already kidnapped me–if you hurt me again, that’s another charge. You’ll be joining your parents behind bars soon enough.”
“Bitch!”
Kermit slapped her hard across the face, leaving a bright red mark. “If I dump your body at the bottom of the river, who’s ever going to know it was me?”
“My laptop will,” Blanche replied steadily. “It’s connected to a powerful network every single day, logging everything I say and do. If anything happens to me, that network is notified.” It was a system she’d designed herself, a security net for her team whenever they were sent into the field.
Every computer tracked their actions, constantly scanning for signs of danger in the environment.
“You’re lying! Nothing like that exists!” Kermit snatched the laptop bag off her shoulder and hurled it into the river. The current swallowed it in seconds.
“Even if you’re telling the truth, there’s no way it can track me now!” He yanked Blanche from the trunk, tying heavy rocks to her wrists and ankles.
Blanche realized they were at the Capitol City Canal.
“It’s a three–hour drive from here to Mr. Jordan’s office. Three hours is plenty of time…” Blanche gave a cold, mirthless laugh.
“What the hell are you laughing about? Plenty of time for what?” Kermit’s voice
wavered.
“Three hours ago, someone already flagged that I was in danger. They’ve definitely called the police by now. They’re probably on their way here as we speak. You’re about to be caught,” Blanche sneered. “I’m laughing at how stupid you
“Bullshit!” Kermit’s face twisted in rage and panic. “Even if that’s true, they won’t make it in time.”
He dragged Blanche right to the edge of the water, positioning her so a single push would send her in. He stood behind her, foot poised to shove.
09 50
“Who put you up to this? I’ll pay you double!”
“You’re not Mrs. Simmons anymore. Where are you going to get that kind of money?” Kermit pressed his foot into her back.
“I’m Gaylord McCarthy’s daughter–in–law–the future Mrs. McCarthy. Let me go, and I’ll pay you twice as much as anyone else.”
“Gaylord?”
Of course Kermit knew who that was. Gaylord McCarthy might have retired, but he’d held a cabinet position, and his former students now held powerful posts all over the country. His wife, Wilhelmina Lopez, was the beloved daughter of the Lopez family, a dynasty in both politics and business. Even Carney was wary of the McCarthys; he’d always wanted his own sister, Leda, to marry into their family.
Suddenly, it all made sense to Kermit.
But Carney–he was even more dangerous. A petty, spiteful man with no scruples at all.
“Yes!” Blanche felt Kermit’s foot tremble on her back–he was wavering.
She summoned every ounce of strength, lifting her rock–bound hands and hooking them around Kermit’s leg. With one desperate movement, she heaved him forward, not caring if she went in too.
He screamed as he tumbled into the rushing water.
Blanche lost her footing and rolled toward the edge, but managed to grab hold of a metal pole. Dangling above the river, she clung on for dear life and shouted for help.
Three hours. All she had to do was hold on a few more minutes–the police would be there any second.
The base’s security net would have detected her distress. Even if it only alerted her partner, the Director–General, he’d have called the police immediately. They were on their way. She just had to last a little longer.
Pain shot up her arms as her muscles threatened to give out. Images 1. ned through her mind: Mamie’s smile, the Director–General treating her like his own daughter.
Even if she died, she thought, the Director–General would still love her.
Her fingers slipped from the pole. The roar of water was the last thing she heard as the river swallowed her up.
09:59
And then, through the cold and darkness, a familiar voice screamed her name: “Laney-!”
