by Angi Morgan
The man holding Jackson started waving his handgun, then smashed it against his own forehead, proving that he was losing it. If he touched the kid, nothing would hold George inside the car.
Everyone on the team hated unpredictable kidnappers. The ones who began to panic. The ones who were sweating buckets, were probably high as a kite and who made everything about his job high risk.
“That’s a shame.” Oaks raised his voice to be heard over the Cessna’s engine. “We have a sweet private jet not too far away. We could have it here in ten minutes.”
“Call ’em!”
“Sorry, can’t do that until I have a hostage.”
“Man, I just want to be gone.” He pushed Jackson into Tracey’s arms and climbed back into the van.
“Ron, what are you— Hey! Hey!” he screamed into his phone as the door swung halfway shut. “We’re getting on that plane no matter what you say!”
He placed his gun at Tracey’s throat and started her moving, carrying Jackson toward the plane.
Whether it was their intention or not, they’d parked the van partially in the path of the Cessna. To reach the open door, they had to walk close to the sedan. The men now calling the shots, hidden on the east side of the buildings, sent instructions.
“Captain, if there’s an opportunity to rescue Jackson, McCaffrey wants us to take it.”
“Are they seeing what we’re seeing?” Oaks asked in a low voice. “The kidnappers are panicking. We can’t startle these guys.”
George wasn’t certain if McCaffrey had a good grasp on the situation or not. He could hear the chatter in the background. Hear the arguing over what the best move might be. When the best-case scenario came up, he thought they’d back up his plan.
Jackson looked unconscious and unaware that he was being carried to the plane. Tracey stumbled because the remaining captor’s gun was still at her throat and pushing her chin upward. George watched behind him with the help of the mirror. Feeling as helpless as Josh Parker.
The phone buzzed on his chest with another message from his partner. McCaffrey was about to blow a gasket because he hadn’t burst out of the car and done anything. George rolled to his side, hiding behind the dark-tinted windows for a better view.
The two men were met at the plane door with a machine pistol. “Send the boy up. Then the woman.”
“You dirty rotten son of a bitch! You ain’t leaving us here to go to jail.” The man holding Tracey turned in circles, always bringing her between him and any of the men who might have a shot.
“Take me.” Captain Oaks moved slowly from behind the car door with his hands in the air. “Leave the kid in the car and take me. They’ll let you on the plane if you bring me.”
George was ready to spring into action. “That is not the plan.”
* * *
JOSH LOOKED THROUGH the open door and saw Tracey stumble. Whatever was being said outside, he couldn’t hear because of the yelling in the small plane.
“Give me the gun so I can shoot him myself.” Tenoreno held out his hand, expecting Mack to drop his weapon into it. The older man climbed between the front seats and stuck his hand out again.
“Buckle in, Paul. Bart, get this plane in the air.”
“Oaks is standing right there, dammit.” Tenoreno pointed. “Shoot him.”
“So are the FBI and more Rangers. Even if you can’t see them, they have to be here. Oaks isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t come alone.”
Mack was right, but Josh wasn’t going to agree with him. He kept his head down and his mouth shut, continuing his search for something he could use to free himself. Unfortunately, the plane had been checked for that sort of material before transporting a prisoner.
“I want him dead. It’s the reason we’re here.”
“I could have taken care of this. I had men in Waco ready to do the job after they got rid of the hostages.” Mack explained. “But you had to detour and involve the kids again, making everybody on edge.”
“Those incompetent jerks.” Tenoreno pointed to the men holding Tracey.
“Someone has confused them.” Mack pointedly looked at Tenoreno. “Now they believe they’ve been double-crossed. Their position is kind of natural.”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Vince. I know where your kid lives.”
Vince, Mack, whatever the hell his name was, didn’t like Paul Tenoreno. His knuckles turned a bright white, fisted as they were around the machine pistol grip. The plane shifted slightly to the side as someone climbed up the steps.
The blond guy who had been holding Tracey backed onto the plane—slowly, sticking his foot out behind him while he wrapped one arm around someone’s throat. Josh had to pull his legs and feet out of the way. He didn’t want the man to fall and choke... Aiden.
A shot of relief hit Josh. He didn’t want anyone else on the plane, but knowing Tracey wasn’t gave him a little hope she and Jackson might make it out of this situation alive.
“Good to see you alive, son,” Aiden said to Josh as the new guy shoved him onto the empty seat.
“Captain Oaks.” Tenoreno was halfway between the seats.
“Fancy meeting you here, Paul,” Aiden taunted. “You okay, kid?” he asked Josh in a lower voice.
Tenoreno’s fists hit both of the seat backs. “Shut up before I shoot you dead. Your blood would be splattered against this white leather in a heartbeat if we didn’t need to leave.”
“You don’t trust that they’ll let you?” Aiden taunted.
The result was another beet-red rise in Tenoreno’s color. The man definitely didn’t have control of his temper. And Aiden definitely knew what buttons to push. Tenoreno slammed Aiden forward.
To Josh it seemed that Aiden sort of threw himself forward, then he knew why. He dropped a handcuff key into his hand. His eyes must have grown wide with surprise because Aiden frowned and shook his head.
Josh recovered and tried to shrink into the seat. Let Aiden have all the attention and he could free his feet and hands pretty quickly. Or at least he thought he could.
The plane dipped slightly again as someone began climbing the steps. The second man was pushing Tracey up, and in her arms she held Jackson.
Escaping was complicated before. Now it was closer to impossible. Was he willing to risk a machine gun blast through the plane with two people he loved occupying seats?
Tenoreno continued to yell. “Get us out of here!”
Bart started the engine. Josh held out his arms to catch his son as Tracey handed him through the opening, before falling to her knees on the carpet as the plane jerked forward.
“Wait! No!” the man on the bottom step fell away.
“Pull the door shut, Tommy, so we can get going,” Mack ordered.
Tommy laughed at the man—his partner three minutes ago—being left behind on the runway. He reached for the rope to pull in the steps and the slam of Mack’s weapon firing hit Josh’s ears. Gunpowder filled his nostrils before he turned his head and caught a glimpse of Tommy falling through the door.
Mack leaned across, fired his weapon again—presumably at the man he’d left behind. Then he pulled the stairs up and secured the door.
“Damn. What now?” Bart yelled.
It seemed like Josh had constantly asked himself the same question again and again for the past forty hours...
Chapter Nineteen
Jackson had barely been noticed by anyone on the plane since they’d tossed him back to Tracey. The sudden firing of the gun had made him scream. She was certain he hadn’t seen any part of the cold-blooded murder. She’d had his face buried against her shoulder. His hands had already been over his ears.
“Just stay still and keep your eyes closed,” she whispered to him.
She desperately wanted to be next to Josh,
or better still not on the plane at all. But they were, and they’d survived another hour.
“Get us in the air, Bart, old buddy.” Mack grabbed a pair of handcuffs. He pointed to an older gentleman sitting across from Josh. “Put those on Captain Oaks. And loop the seat belt through them so you can’t get up and retrieve a gun.”
After he had Aiden’s hands locked into place, Mack took the open seat and buckled up. They kept taxiing to the end of the runway. The plane turned around and not only was the van still there, a row of patrol cars and SUVs were side by side, cutting off half the tarmac.
“Same question, second verse,” the pilot said. “What now?”
“Can’t you run them over with this thing?” the man sitting up front said, like a minion who didn’t really think.
After her time in the van, she realized these men were more like lost boys than criminals. Young men who got used by people like Mack. She couldn’t let herself have too much sympathy. If it came down to it, she’d choose the Parkers every time.
“Let’s try some diplomacy. Paul, get on the radio.” Mack raised his voice to be heard over the prop engine.
She recognized his voice. That was the man who had hit her Friday. It seemed a lifetime ago, but she would never forget. He was the In-Charge Mack, the man who’d given all the orders.
Sitting practically in the tail of the plane, she had a clear view of everyone except the pilot. The fidgets of the men in restraints. The toe tapping of Aiden Oaks. The cavalier words that didn’t match the tense, upright stiffness that Mack’s body shouted.
And Josh. His glances kept reassuring her that it would work out. He’d come up with a plan. Then he caught her eye and sharply looked at her lap. There was only one seat belt for both her and Jackson. As inconspicuous with her movements as she could be, she buckled the seat belt around her waist.
She’d use her last ounce of strength to hold on to Jackson if something happened with the plane. She was prepared. Tenoreno picked up the microphone to radio the FBI, who was certain to be listening.
“Tell them about our situation. We’re taking off or someone’s dying. Starting with Daddy Dearest.” Mack pointed the gun at the back of the copilot’s seat.
“What are you talking about? Is this a joke? You work for me. Or—” Realization hit Tenoreno. “Who hired you? My son will pay you double to escort me to safety.”
“Your son is the one who wants you gone. As in forever, never coming back. It would have simplified everything if I could have killed you in Huntsville. Or even right now. But Xander insists on seeing it happen.” He kicked the empty seat across from him. “You stupid old man. Did you really think he would forgive you for killing his mother?”
“You’ve got Special Agent in Charge McCaffrey.” A voice boomed through the radio.
“They’re threatening to kill me. You have to save me. It’s your job! Don’t move the vehicles! Don’t clear the runway.”
“Who is this? What’s going on in there? Stop the engine and exit the plane.”
Mack placed the barrel next to Tenoreno’s temple. The man in the orange jumpsuit tried to squirm aside, but there was no place for him to go. Tracey covered Jackson’s ears and eyes.
“Trace Trace, that’s too tight.”
“That’s unacceptable. Didn’t you see him shoot one of his own men? He’s not bluffing. He won’t negotiate.” Josh tried to shout loud enough for the agents to hear him.
“He’s not going to back down,” Aiden shouted at the same time.
Was Josh’s fellow ranger talking about Agent McCaffrey or Mack? Josh looked first at her, then in the direction of Mack. She could see the murderer’s jaw tighten. The muscles visibly popped.
“If you don’t do anything, then you’ve just killed us.” Tenoreno laughed like a crazy man.
“Do you think I’m going to fall for that? If you’re the one holding our people hostage, you won’t get far. We have helicopters in the air waiting to follow you to any destination. We know there’s not enough fuel on board to get you out of the country. Surrendering now is your only option.”
“I don’t think he’s joking.” Tenoreno sat forward looking out the windows.
Aiden seemed more uncomfortable. He’d moved his hands from above his head to closer to the top of his shoulder. “Why set up this elaborate prison break if you just wanted him dead?”
“He’s about to pull the trigger.” Tenoreno’s voice shook into the radio.
Was Mack about to shoot? Tracey couldn’t tell. One message had been crystal clear—Josh wanted her wearing the seat belt. And now it looked like they were going to take off.
“To hell with this standoff,” the pilot shouted.
He pushed what she assumed was the throttle because the engine roared louder and they moved forward. Fast.
As the plane gained speed, she looked out her window and saw men with guns pointing in their direction. But in a blink they had pointed toward another target. There was gunfire—tiny pops to her ears which drowned in the airplane engine’s hum.
The young man she’d dubbed as Simple Mack. The one left alive on the tarmac was firing his weapon. Not at the FBI, he was shooting at the plane. They were dangerously close to the SUVs before dramatically dashing into the air.
The bouncing up and down stopped, but the dipping didn’t. Tracey loved roller coasters, but now there were no rails connecting her seat to the earth. It was several seconds before they stabilized in the air. And several more before anyone released their breaths.
Jackson was in her arms. No seat belt. If they crashed, would she be able to hold on to him? No. The takeoff was just a couple of bumps and she’d nearly lost the death grip around his waist. She had no more illusions about keeping Jackson safe. He was kicking and crying out and hitting her with his small fists.
“Keep that kid quiet.”
“It’s the diabetes.” She knew that. He didn’t realize what he was doing and after his blood sugar stabilized he wouldn’t remember his actions. It hadn’t happened often, but since it had, the family recognized the signs.
There was a lot of tension surrounding them and a lot of noise, even though she could hear better after popping her ears. Josh and Aiden seemed to be communicating by looks. They were going to do something. She just didn’t know what or when.
She quickly rose a little and switched the seat belt from around her waist to tighten around Jackson’s. It was a close fit to sit on the edge of the seat next to him pressed against the side of the plane. He didn’t like it at all.
“Please, kidlet. We’ve got to do this to keep you safe,” she said next to his ear, scared to death that he’d lift the latch and not be safe at all. She worked with him to get his ears popped and relieve some of the pressure.
“What now, Mack?” Josh asked.
“Don’t you mean Vince Deegan?” Aiden smiled. “Yeah, I know who you are. Jobs like this aren’t normally your forte. You’re more of a...bully. Aren’t you?”
From her new position, she could barely see the front of the plane. She heard a jerk on Josh’s chains. She could imagine that he wanted to stop Aiden from antagonizing the man holding a machine gun. She hated not knowing what was going on. It made the fright level just that much higher.
“Bart, take us to the landing strip. Somebody’s waiting.” Mack’s attention was on the front of the plane. Maybe on the pilot or Tenoreno.
He seemed to have forgotten that she wasn’t tied up or restrained—with the exception that it was a tight fit between the seats. She reached forward, touching Josh’s arm. He didn’t whip around, but took a look at her slowly around the edge of the seat.
She leaned closer to him and said, “I can do something.”
“No,” Josh mouthed.
“Daddy! Daddy!” Jackson kicked the seat, and Tracey. “Take me hom
e.”
“It’s okay, Jack. Everything’s okay. I bet you’re tired. Maybe try to take a nap.” Josh said it loud enough for Jackson to hear. One sincere look from his father and he was leaning his head against the side of the plane.
But the outburst caught Mack’s attention, causing him to look and stare at her.
Did he realize she wasn’t secured? It was the first time that she hoped she appeared insignificant in someone’s mind. And maybe that’s how he saw her—insignificant or not a threat—because he turned his attention back to his phone.
Josh looked around the edge of his seat again. He winked. She smiled back in spite of the anxiety speeding up her heartbeat. She wasn’t alone. He was there and he was not helpless.
Jackson’s breathing evened out. She liked it better when he was awake. Even if the diabetes turned him into a tiny terror, she knew he was awake and not slipping into a deep sleep or diabetic coma. They didn’t have long before Jackson was going to be severely ill.
At the risk of Mack noticing her lack of binding, she called out, “Where are you taking us?”
“Yeah, Vince, where are you taking us?’ Tenoreno echoed.
“Not far.”
“That agent said they’re tracking us,” the criminal said from the front, his tenor-like voice carrying to the back of the plane.
“We got rid of the transponder. You!” Mack lunged across the short distance between seats.
Tracey heard his fist hit Aiden. She heard him searching through pockets and patting him down. She could see the ranger’s hands tighten on the seat belt, heard him release a moan of pain.
“How are they following us?” Tenoreno screamed.
“They don’t need much but their eyes. The FBI wasn’t bluffing about a helicopter.” The pilot pointed to the right side of the plane. All heads looked. Tracey’s view was blocked by a compartment of some sort but she could tell the pilot was telling the truth.
“If the FBI knows where we’re going and can tell when we land,” she said, leaning forward to be heard, “how did you plan on getting away?”