Chapter 16
“I hate this,” BJ Carter stated loudly, “Why do they
have to make you guys seem like criminals for something Nick wanted to do? I think they’re just jealous because we can
pay ransom and they can’t!”
Jane was agreeing whole-heartedly with her daughter,
“They wouldn’t even take what we offered because of their stupid pride... and
made us feel slimey about our son’s generosity. We agreed to go along with
their plan, but they’re still giving us the cold shoulder.”
“I don’t even care about them,” Leslie said glaring
at the thought of the other parents, “I care about Nick, and the others.”
“Yeah,” BJ nodded, “I hope he’s ok. He didn’t sound too good last time I talked
to him.”
Jane felt her worry for her eldest intensify as BJ
voiced the thoughts she had been having aloud.
She wondered how he was being treated, and if those horrible people were
at least taking care of their precious cargo.
“Damn it,” Bob Carter slammed into the room, “The FBI
is here. They have been formulating
search parties ever since we told them to leave us alone. They want to help with the negotiations...
but they can’t get into the accounts immediately.”
“Damn it! We
can still pull out of this thing!” Jane said standing up, “We can wait til the
sob’s call back and tell them we’ll pay.”
“We promised...”
“Bob, those evil creeps have our Nicky, my baby, and
you’re worrying about STUPID BROKEN PROMISES!!!”
There was a knock at the door, Leslie and BJ who
stood in between their two sparking parents were grateful for the
distraction. BJ reached the door first
and opened it, Harold and Jackie Littrell. “Thinking about playing a double
cross Jane?”
“Double-cross?” BJ instantly rose to her parents’
defense, “How is it a double-cross for them to want to save their son, my brother
, instead of going through with your bullshit proposition a double-cross? What are you trying to do, get them all
killed. Take the damn money! Take the money and shut the hell up!
“BJ,” Jane said in a stiff voice, “please sit down.”
BJ threw a glare at her mother and pushed past the
Littrells into the hallway, “I’m going to go check on the twins.” Translation, if I stay in this room any
longer I will be seriously ill. Leslie followed suit after her sister.
“I see the manners you’ve taught your children,”
Harold sneered.
“What do you want?” Bob asked point blankly.
“Just to make sure you were still going to follow
through with the plan,” Harold said flatly, “Are you?”
“Of course we are, we gave you our word,” Bob said
curtly, he took a step back into the room and moved to close the door.
Harold stuck his foot in it, “This is about all our
children, not just yours.”
Jane sneered and pushed her way to the door nearly
bowling over her husband, “Do you not think we know that Harold? What kind of
cold blooded people do you think we are?
We want our son back, but we also are fully aware that you want yours
back too! So must you tread around us with your head stuck up your ass all the
time? This is a very trying time. I’m
scared out of my mind, and I don’t NEED this!! Nick is my first child, my
FIRST! Dammit!” She hadn’t meant to start crying, she hadn’t. But she did. She turned her back to them and
fled from the doorway into the bathroom locking the door behind her. Bob was enraged, he glared at Harold who
stood in the doorway in absolute shock, and maybe even a little regret.
“I hope you’re satisfied,”Bob said in a low voice, he
shut the door.
“Harold!” Jackie pushed him, “Did you really feel it
necessary to do that?”
Harold cringed, “I...I...was upset. I thought they
were going to back down... and dammit we need them. It sounds like those crooks want more money for Nick than anyone,
and they have to know Bob and Jane have it.
If Bob and Jane decide to move on their own and pay those...those demons
and get Nick back....They might assume that we can’t pay. Two-million is more
than enough... they might just give up and.. And kill our boy, kill all our
boys.”