Redemption (17 page)

“We're not sure. His body was found in a cabin in Idaho. And your son wasn't with him.”

“Idaho? What was he doing there?”

“Isn't that where you live?”

“No, I live here. Well, in Moose.”

Enrique exchanged glances with Jamie. “A log cabin?”

He nodded.

“Does Andrew have a fire truck?”

He nodded. His eyes glistened. “I don't understand.”

“Why don't you explain what happened yesterday?” Enrique was frowning.

“Ryan showed up in the middle of the night. Told me he borrowed a friend's plane. He was pretty sure our location had been compromised and that it was time to move on. I couldn't just leave. I had obligations to take care of, so he and Andrew went to a motel to wait while I took care of things. That's the last time I saw them.” His words were choked, but he took a deep breath and continued. “I went to the motel like we planned, but they weren't there. I spent the night driving between my house and the motel looking for them. Ryan wasn't answering his phone. By morning, I was frantic. I didn't know what to do or where to go. When my neighbor called about you I showed up to see what you knew.”

“I told you that I was at a different cabin. Two different places.”

“You were with Ryan.” Michael's head whipped towards her. “Did you see Andrew?”

“I only saw Ryan.”

“Why did you kill Ryan?”

“I did not kill him. He kidnapped me and drugged me.” Her tone was firm. “I woke up in a ditch with no idea where I was or what happened to Ryan.”

“Where's my son?” His sorrowful wail was chilling.

Her heart broke again.

Michael Zinkleman was telling the truth. No one could fake that depth of grief.

 

****

 

Jamie jerked her head, motioning for them to go to Enrique's room for a private conference again.

Michael still sobbed, his grief hardly bearable.

“Look, Enrique. I think he's right. Whoever kidnapped Andrew wants their money. That means sooner or later they'll contact Michael. We have to make him accessible to them. It's the best way to find Andrew.”

“My boss knows we have him in custody. It was the only way to get the Amber Alert in place. I can't just tell him we suddenly don't have him.”

“We can't take him to jail. It's too dangerous for Andrew.”

“I can't do that. You've got to trust the FBI. They want to find Andrew as much as you do.”

“I doubt that very much.”

“I don't have a choice, Jamie.”

“We always have a choice.” She glared at him. “I thought you'd changed, but you still…never mind.” She walked away from him, not wanting him to see her tears.

“Zinkleman has his cell phone on him, so the kidnappers have a way to contact him.”

She sat on the bed, her heart breaking for all of them. But this would be the last time Enrique Rodriquez broke it. Never again would she trust him. He still didn't understand people were more important than rules and procedures. He wasn't the man she'd thought—he wasn't the man for her.

Enrique called his boss for instructions. After hanging up, he put a hand on her shoulder. “Jamie, trust me. This is the best way to find Andrew. We'll have a whole nation looking for him in a matter of hours. I'm sorry. Really I am. I don't want this to come between us.”

“There is no us.”

“Yes, there is. You can't deny our feelings.” His arms went around her and pulled her close. “You found Michael, and we'll find Andrew soon. I'm not abandoning him or you.”

“Not if you take Michael into custody. I'm not saying we'll set him free, but he can't be stuck in jail.”

“I don't have an option, Jamie. Why can't you see that?”

Before she could disagree, his lips moved towards hers. Jamie stepped out of Enrique's arms. “You won't change your mind?”

“I have to take Zinkleman to the police station. The kidnap team is en route. We're putting a trace on his phone and if the kidnappers call, we'll be ready. This is the best way.”

“So you say. I'm leaving.”

“Aren't you going to the station?”

She shook her head. “You don't need me there. You can handle it without me.”

His hand touched her shoulder. “Jamie, don't do this. We can work this out. Our jobs don't have to interfere with us.”

“It already has. You do what you have to do and I'll do what I have to do.”

 

****

 

Jamie drove out of Jackson Hole, her heart in shreds. The time she'd spent with Enrique had shown her she still loved him, but they were just too different. It would never work out for them.

Wiping away tears, she focused on the majestic view of the Tetons. The first time she'd laid eyes on the Rockies Jamie fell in love with them. The sheer magnitude of them inspired awe. So stark, so rugged, as they showed the power of the Lord. God never seemed closer to her than when she saw the snowcapped peaks.

Jamie decided nowhere was her destination. After her drive, she would go back to the motel, pick up her things, fly back to Ohio to see Zink, and then home. She was done with undercover work. Not only was it too dangerous for a mother, but she'd lost her mojo. She just wasn't good at it anymore.

In the distance, eagles were flying with the Tetons as the backdrop. The eagles reminded her of Ryan. He'd wanted to be an eagle, but felt like no one would let him fly.

Sadness filled her, but then she thought about their last few exchanges. He'd made his peace with God. He was free now. He didn't have to worry about other people accepting or not accepting him. Another tear trickled out.

She stared at the eagle in the sky.

An airplane flew up above.

The airplane.

Ryan's airplane.

Thoughts steamrolled in. What if they hadn't followed her, but had followed Ryan? He'd said he borrowed a friend's plane. What kind of people had planes? Drug dealers. The same kind of people who would want their money laundered.

Maybe Ryan hadn't been as convincing with his friends as he and Michael had thought. Maybe they'd been monitoring him and his movements all along—just waiting for Ryan to lead them to Michael. Maybe there was something in the plane that could lead her to the kidnappers.

Pulling off the road, she hit some buttons on her GPS and was glad to see she was headed in the right direction for the airport.

 

 

 

 

39

 

The phone call came after Jamie left.

Enrique hadn't even gotten Michael in the car yet.

“Why aren't you listening to me?” Zinkleman was screaming into the phone. “I don't have your money. Someone stole it, and I have no idea who it was.”

“That's too bad. Your son is a real sweet boy. I would hate to have to hurt him, but I will. I want my money. I don't care how you get it, just give it to me, and then you can have your son back.”

“I don't have it.”

“I don't care. Get me back my million dollars or your son is dead.”

“Please don't kill him. He didn't do any—”

“We'll contact you tomorrow. In the meantime, you should get yourself back to Ohio. That's where I want you. The next time I call you better have good news about my money, or I'll be giving you some very bad news.”

“I want to talk to my son.”

No response.

He repeated his request.

Enrique put a hand on the man's shoulder. “They hung up.” He set the phone on the desk.

“Now do you believe me?'

“I do.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“Find your son.” He'd find that boy for Jamie, and for Suzanne Zinkleman, and even for Michael.

“I told you I wasn't lying.”

“So you did.”

The phone rang.

“Rodriquez.”

“We couldn't trace the call. They didn't stay on long enough.”

“Did you hear the conversation?”

“We did. So, get him back to Ohio pronto. The team has already changed their route and will meet you in Columbus. Sounds like that's where they have the kid.”

“It could be a ruse to throw us off their tracks.”

“Could be, but we can't take any chances. They told him to come to Columbus so that's what he's going to do. Finding Andrew Zinkleman is our top priority. That means we follow their instructions.”

But Jamie's instincts were usually on the mark.

“I think we need to stay in this area. They have to be here. They killed Ryan and kidnapped Andrew here. They're here. I'm sure of it.”

“Not your call. Get him back to Ohio. And no handcuffs or any other sign that he's under arrest. They probably have someone watching him. They need to think it's him working alone. No sign of the FBI.”

“I agree with that, but still I think we should stay here.” He was beginning to understand why Jamie disliked playing by the rules.

“Not going to happen.”

 

****

 

Jamie drove into the parking lot of the Jackson Hole Airport. Maybe she should call Enrique. Just so he'd know where she was—not because they had a relationship. Her mind rebelled. Dropping the phone back in her purse, she walked towards the main building. It looked more like a ski resort with its glass windows and beautiful wooden exterior.

She went to the customer service desk. “Is this where private planes land?'

“Yes and no. They land on the other side of the building, but they still exit through here. So if you're here to pick someone up they'll show sooner or later.”

“Who do I talk to about a private plane that landed here?”

“That would be the Chief of Operations Officer. His office is on the second floor.” He pointed at a wide staircase.

“Great.”

She headed away from the stairs.

“No, his office is that way.” The man pointed.

“I know. I just want to take a look around first. Thanks. I'll be back.” She waved and trotted off towards the private plane area.

The glass-encased building allowed her to see most of what was happening outside. There was a large hangar obviously for plane owners in the area. The planes were all sizes and few had commercial markings. Several stood near the building, but more planes were further down the tarmac.

Two men walked around one plane, one man holding a clipboard. Some sort of pre-flight check? Each time he looked at something he turned to the other man.

It was time to go find someone in authority who could tell her what plane Ryan flew in.

 

 

 

 

40

 

Jamie walked to the hangar. A man in a gray mechanic's jumpsuit drew her attention. He had walked out of the hangar moments before. Maybe he could answer a few questions.

“Excuse me, sir.”

He turned. His skin was brown and wrinkled from time spent outside, but he had incredibly bright blue eyes. “Howdy, ma'am.”

“Hi. One of my friends said he flew a plane in from Ohio. Do you have any idea which one that would be?”

“Sorry, I'm a luggage handler. Just sneaked over here for a smoke break. It's getting to the point you can't smoke anywhere anymore. Even outside. Losing our rights quicker than a dog chasing down a rabbit, if you ask me.”

“I suppose so.”

She weaved her way among the planes. Most were sitting empty. There were a few people in the area. A plane engine rumbled to life. It taxied down the runway and took off into the bright Wyoming sky.

Two hangers had planes inside, but no people. In the third, she heard voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying. She inched closer.

“Looking for something?”

Whirling around, Jamie smiled at the mechanic she'd spoken to earlier. “I'm still looking for a friend's plane. I'm not sure which one it is.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you looking for it? Are you supposed to be meeting your friend? If that was the case, he should be here. Otherwise you shouldn't be in the area without clearance.”

“Well, the guard let me through so it must be OK.”

He gave her the once over and nodded. He pointed at a crimson and gray plane. “That one might be from Ohio. I wasn't here when it landed, but one of the guys told me about it later.”

She gave him a sweet smile. “Well, thanks.”

He nodded and walked away.

She moved towards the plane. Hopefully, she would find something leading to Andrew.

“I want my daddy.” The voice was coming from the hangar area.

She jogged towards it. As she rounded the corner, a little boy ran down the steps of another plane. A hand popped out from the plane, but didn't catch the boy.

Andrew.

She ran towards him. “Andy, come here. Your daddy sent me to find you.”

The little boy stared, and then ran towards her.

Jamie ran faster.

A man charged out of the plane and scooped up the boy before he reached the ends of the steps. Andrew kicked and screamed as the man dragged him back to the plane's entrance. The man shook him. “Don't listen to her. Get in here, kid. Your daddy will be right back. I told you that already.”

He struggled against the man, but he was no match for an adult.

Jamie kept running. “I'm coming, Andy.” As she reached the steps, the man disappeared inside.

She heard the sound from behind too late to react.

 

 

 

 

41

 

Enrique needed to call Jamie to let her know about the new developments. Hitting the call button, he waited. After five rings, it went to voicemail. He explained the situation and told her to meet them at the airport and not to worry about her luggage. He would check her out of the hotel. “I love you, Jamie Jakowski. I'll talk to you in a little bit. Bye.” There was no way he was giving up on her—or on them.