Twin Threat Christmas by Rachelle McCalla Page B

Pheasant restaurant chain. I put in a call to the FBI and explained everything. They’re sending out a team.”
    Vanessa felt almost nauseated, possibly from the sudden rush of sugar, but more than likely from the officer’s announcement. “What about me? Did you tell them—”
    “I explained everything. They’re glad to hear you’ve been found and are excited about the possibility that the evidence you’ve retained might help liberate other missing persons.”
    Vanessa hung her head, and tears welled up—tears of relief and hope that other girls who’d been taken might also see freedom.
    But they’d have to catch Arthur Sherman before any of that freedom would mean a thing.
    She already knew Eric wasn’t going to back her up on this one—he’d been quite clear that he didn’t want her to stay—so she stated her case as clearly as she could. “Arthur Sherman has to realize by now that we’re onto him, or soon will be. He’s not going to wait around to get caught. And assuming he’s sticking to the plan, he could be here any moment.”
    The deputy studied her face as she spoke. “But we’re not ready for him. The FBI guys won’t arrive for another half hour at the earliest.”
    Since Perez had been on the phone while Vanessa had discussed the issue with Eric and Abbott moments before, she now filled him in on what he’d missed—hoping he’d be more open to her plan than Eric had been. “Then we’ll have to stall him or catch him ourselves, if we can’t stall him.”
    “How are we going to stall him?”
    Vanessa couldn’t continue staring down the officer. She studied her soda instead. “He wants to get rid of me and whatever evidence I have. I can set a time to meet with him, after the feds arrive—”
    “What’s in it for you?” Deputy Perez asked.
    Confused, Vanessa explained what she thought was perfectly clear. “Until we capture him, my kids and I won’t be safe.”
    “Yes, I know that,” Perez stated. “But if that’s all you have, then he’ll know it, too. He’ll know it’s a trap. You have to have a reason—a reason he’ll understand, no catch, no strings attached—for why you want to meet with him. Or he won’t show his face.”
    Vanessa pinched her eyes shut. Even in her exhaustion, the officer’s words made sense. But what could they do, then?
    Eric cleared his throat behind her, and she braced herself for what he was about to say, probably reminding her that it was a foolish idea in the first place.
    “This guy killed Jeff, right? Or had him killed? So it stands to reason that Vanessa knows they’re coming after her and the kids. Why can’t she call him up and tell him she’ll turn in all the evidence if he’ll leave her alone? She’s trading safety for evidence.”
    Vanessa’s heart nearly burst with hope at Eric’s words. “Yes—that makes sense, doesn’t it? If I gave him all the evidence I have against him, I wouldn’t be a threat to him anymore. I call him with the understanding that I want to exchange evidence for my safety—and then we either stall him or catch him ourselves.”
    “You could offer him the CPU,” Perez admitted, “but you have no way of turning over your personal testimony.”
    “But if I gave him my word—he’s got to know I’d do anything to protect my kids, that I’m desperate.” Vanessa watched the officer weigh her words and feared he’d decide against her plan. “What other options do we have? If he leaves the country, you’ll have no way of getting him back. Don’t we have to act fast?”
    Perez put his open palms in the air. “The FBI is sending a team. Let me radio them and see what they think.”
    Vanessa nodded and leaned back against the kitchen countertop, chewing the sandwich that would have tasted delicious under any other circumstances. What else could she do? She hoped Virgil and Arthur didn’t show up until after the backup officers arrived, but at the same time, she wasn’t going to hide and wait