Page 82 of No More Lies

Her gut tightened, sick at the thought of having to speak to the partners. Especially not knowing how involved they were with Volkov. What would she do if they were involved? The firm would be destroyed. She’d be out of a job. That didn't bother her as much as the thought of how many people she would be letting down. Not to mention the financial burden it would put on her and Steve.

Her phone pinged and she wandered to the kitchen where it was charging. It was a relief to not have to go into the office today. Her headache had completely gone, but she still felt a little nauseous. Probably the stress and worry. She could pretty much do everything here and should Volkov call, at least Steve would be right here, supporting her.

Unplugging the phone, she glanced over her email, then she switched to her text messages. One from her mom, checking in. Another from Kelly, also making sure she was OK.

The next one had no identifiable name or number. She clicked on the message and her stomach dropped.

Three pictures.

She recognized Natasha and Anya, from photos in the case file. Natasha had clearly been crying. The second was of a woman she didn’t know. The woman was tied up with a gag in her mouth. The look of fear in her eyes made Diane’s stomach churn. The third picture was male, and he looked dead. Three little dots indicated another message was coming. Frozen in fear she waited. The text arrived.

Mrs. Williams. I have my daughter, she is safe and well, as is her mother. The second picture is Melanie Costas, Natasha’s lawyer. If you do not do as I ask, I will kill her. If you don’t believe me, the man in the third picture is your predecessor, Arnold Janssen. I do not tolerate people disobeying me.

She stared, rereading the words. With shaking hands, she moved toward the stairs. Another picture arrived.

Diane stopped. Megan. He had her baby.

I saved the best till last. You even think about telling your husband or any of his friends, I’ll send your daughter home in pieces. I know you are at home. Find a way out. Alone. Do not make a call, do not send a text. Be at the corner of West and Taywood in thirty minutes, or Ms. Costas dies.

Diane couldn't take her eyes off Megan’s face. Duct tape across her mouth. How did he have Megan? Steve had promised she would be safe. No one would get to her. Did they even know she was gone?

Placing a foot on the first step, she hesitated. Volkov knew she was home. Was he watching? She should tell Steve, but then he would never let her go and meet Volkov. Their daughter was in the hands of a monster. If she didn’t do as he said, Melanie Costas would die and then what? Start on Megan? There had to be another way.

Steve would be out of the shower any second. No time for doubt, Diane ran back to the kitchen, scribbled a note, and grabbed her purse off the counter. Next were her car keys, and then she slipped on her sneakers, thankful she had dressed in yoga pants and a T-shirt. Disarming the house alarm, she quietly left and got into her car, praying Steve hadn't heard above the shower. Before she could question her decision, she reversed off the driveway and sped down the road.

She reached the corner of West and Taywood with minutes to spare. Now what? Her body shivered, even though the sun shone hot and bright. Was she supposed to just wait? She had no idea. Her only goal was to get to Megan. If that meant going to Volkov, breaking the law, giving her own life, she would do it in an instant. She pulled up the picture of Megan, her stomach rolling. Her little girl must be terrified.

Hang on, baby, please hang on. Mommy’s coming.

Nothing else mattered except getting to her daughter. Steve had promised Megan would be safe, but Volkov had gotten to her. If he could fool Onyx, and the FBI, who knew what else he was capable of? What if one of Onyx or the FBI were in on it? God, she didn’t want to think that, but someone had told Volkov where Megan was.

A wave of nausea took her by surprise, and she opened her car door just in time to throw up on the curb. Steadying herself against the door, she breathed, taking in the fresh air, trying to quench the sickness. Goddamn, she needed to pull herself together. Megan needed her to be strong. The sound of a car approaching made her look up. A black Escalade parked behind her. Praying her stomach was empty, she straightened, wiping her mouth.

The back door of the Escalade opened, and she recognized one of the men who had regularly escorted Volkov at her office. The burly man stood aside and gestured for her to get in the back. Fear suddenly took over and her chest tightened in panic. Her feet wouldn’t cooperate, glued to the sidewalk.

“Mrs. Williams, get in. Mr. Volkov is waiting, and he is not a patient man. Think about your daughter.” The man’s accent was thick, but she understood the threat. She leaned into her car to grab her phone.

As she reached the Escalade, the man held out his hand.

“Phone,” the man commanded.

As she glanced at it, it rang. Steve’s name flashed across the screen.

“Phone,” The man repeated. She handed it to him. He dropped it on the road and stomped on it several times.

“Mrs. Williams. Get in, now.”

Diane swallowed. On shaky feet, she moved forward and entered the rear seat of the Escalade. The man climbed in beside her, slamming the door shut. Saying a silent prayer, she forced back tears, praying she’d done the right thing as a hood was pulled over her head.

***

STEVE HEARD THE ALARM beep as he turned off the water. Diane was probably getting something from her car. He stepped from the shower to dry off, startled when he heard an engine, then a car reversing at speed. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he moved to the window in time to see Diane’s car speeding down the street.

What. The. Fuck? Grabbing the Glock he kept in the nightstand, he ran downstairs and checked the house, quickly confirming it empty. Diane was gone. Snatched, right under his fucking nose. How the fuck had this happened? How had they gotten her to go outside? His heart pounding, he pulled on every ounce of training to stay focused and dialed Dex.

“I need Mackie to ping Diane’s phone.” He didn’t give his team leader a chance to speak. “He got her. The bastard took her.”

He heard Dex speaking to Mackie before coming back on the line.