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"One estured toward the Subaru The back door opened and his thug eun He pulled a woainst her te squeezed though a hole way too s" I was nearly screae," I spoke softly "You’ve taken Jill as a hostage," I said loudly "What the hell, Brand, you’ve taken a hostage?"

"You said no one would get hurt," the old man shouted He was in tears "You said ht You promised You promised" He sank to his knees I stepped next to hiave aze back out on Crane Lake The two speedboats had veered off

"Thank you," I whispered

"What?" the old ?"

"I said I didn’t like taking orders," Brand said "Froain Her hair was disheveled, and the thin, short, low-cut nightgown she earing was soiled, yet there didn’t see; I didn’t know if it was from fear or cold The way she moved her bare feet, it was probably both I stepped to the picnic blanket, grabbed two ends, and yanked it off the ground The weapons and the rest turass and dirt I took the blanket and walked to where Jill was standing The thug took a step backward as I approached The gesture was more out of respect than fear I wrapped the blanket around Jill’s shoulders and helped her close it in front

"They ca," she said "Roy wasn’t there Roy was at the cabin with you"

"I know I’ave that last word all theI could

"They didn’t hurt , then back to allant of hiet you out of this," I told her "I’ll get you back home I proood job of it "You did warn me, didn’t you, Dyson? You said I should leave Why didn’t I listen?" She sain, still faintly

"It’s those damn butterflies," I said

Jill s in her eyes washed it away "I’ainstof her body shook both of us I found the thug’s eyes There were so s I wanted to say to him What came out was this: "From what I’ve seen, you’re the only professional in the roo you personally responsible for her safety"

"It’s out of my hands," he said

"What’s that supposed tohis hand that I should join hi her chin against her chest I cupped her face with my hands and kissed her forehead, just as I had wanted to do before she went on the Silver Bay raid Yet laughter and love, I couldn’t proed to

"Soon," I said "I’ll take you home soon"

She didn’t reply

IThe two Mexicans were still in position behind the Jeep Cherokee My eyes went fro at un Why are they here?on the ground He had his head turned away as if he were afraid Jill would see hiuns," I told hi in the back of the Cherokee"

"Dyson" His voice was the squeak of chalk on a blackboard

"It is what it is, oldfar enough away that I wouldn’t be te face It wasn’t for his safety It was for mine Fenelon was still behind hi down at his shoes My impression was that he was even more afraid than Jill was

I tried hard to keep my emotions in check when I spoke "You have very bad manners, Brand Your s oes with" Brand gestured with his chin toward the thug, and my inner voice toldout of his hands "He’s going to be with you every second of the day until you get the money Once you do, he’ll tell you where to take it Any questions?"

"What happens after you get the irl"