“Yes, that’s what happened.”
She gave him a long look. “Some system.”
“You know, Molly, our legal system works well most of the time. Since people run it, sure there are screwups now and again. You need to be a bit more objective.”
Molly sighed, then rose and walked to the French windows that looked out over a small sloping lawn to Nathan’s Creek, full and rushing from melting mountain snow. The half-moon made the snow glisten. “This is a beautiful place. Aren’t you going to call Dillon Savich?”
“Yep. You got me sidetracked. I want to tell him what’s going on. I want to tell him who you are. He won’t do anything unless I ask him to. All right?”
Molly nodded.
He used the house phone and punched the speaker button. The phone was picked up on the third ring in Washington, D.C. Ramsey identified himself.
A very alert Savich said, “You know it’s one A.M. here? Never mind. Where are you? You’ve got the speaker on. Are you finally ready to tell me what’s going on?”
“You know about that kidnapping case in Denver? Emma Santera?”
“Yes. Wait, don’t tell me. You’re somehow involved in that?”
Ramsey gave him an unedited version of what had happened until they’d arrived in California. “We’re all right, hopefully, safely hidden. Mrs. Santera doesn’t want anyone to know exactly where we are.”
“Including the FBI? Including the cops? This is all very strange, Ramsey.”
“Yeah, I know. Bear with me. Can you tell me what’s happening there? Has an Agent Anchor said anything that’s filtered back?”
Savich laughed. “Has Bud said anything? He’s been yelling his head off, claiming he’s going to bring in Mrs. Santera for hampering his investigation. It’s going to be hard to keep my mouth shut, Ramsey, but I will until you give me the ‘go’ signal. Can you begin to imagine what folks here would say if they knew you were a part of this and you were getting inside information from me?”
“What about the owner of the truck? We gave the Denver PD and Agent Anchor the three names and license numbers you gave me.”
“The truck was reported stolen last month from a dairy farmer in Loveland, Colorado. The wife reported it. Then the husband said it hadn’t been stolen, he’d sold it, and hadn’t told his wife. Who knows? Did he sell it to the kidnappers? That plays for me.”
“Yeah, it does for me too.” Ramsey sighed.
“You might consider coming in now. Any more attempts to get the kid?”
“Not since we’ve come to our new location.”
“Come in, Ramsey. It sounds dicey. I agree that this isn’t just a simple kidnapping. You got any ideas?”
“Maybe. Look, Savich, let me keep us hidden awhile longer. I’ll check in on Friday unless something happens sooner. Listen, thanks. I owe you.”
“You can bet on it.”
“Is that Sherlock I hear? Give her a kiss for me.”
“Not on your life. You’re too much like the kind of man she likes, all hard and tough. Given your macho demonstration a while back in your courtroom, I’d be hard-pressed to keep her away from you, especially if she’s having a bad day and not thinking clearly. No, all kisses are from me. Take care of yourself, Ramsey, and call if there’s anything I can do.”
“Thanks, Savich.” Ramsey slowly hung up the phone. “You heard everything?”
She nodded.
“Now, no more procrastinating. It’s time. On to Daddy.”
She started shaking her head.
“Listen, Molly, your father is Mason Lord. It’s time we thought about him. I don’t think it’s possible he could be involved directly in any of this, but it’s very possible that from what we’ve seen, just maybe some of your father’s enemies had Emma kidnapped to use as leverage against your father.”
She didn’t turn, just ran her fingers over the thick fabric of the light tan drapes. “I think he would have warned me if someone he was dealing with might consider such a thing.”
“Yes, he probably would have, if he’d had warning. Do you agree that perhaps some of his enemies are involved up to their gum lines to get leverage on him, to milk him? You wondered about all the guys who seemed to be involved in this, so far. Well, that could be our answer.”