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toward them.
    â€œIt came! A ransom call came. It wasn’t long enough—they couldn’t trace it. You’ve got to come in quickly. Petty is on the phone for you now.”
    McCoy could move faster than lightning. He was already on the phone with Petty by the time she came inside. Sunglasses pushed back on his head, he watched her as he grunted to Petty. Then finally he hung up the phone.
    â€œThe kidnapper has called. He wants a hundred thousand by tonight, small, unmarked bills, et cetera.”
    Julie nodded, feeling a tightening in her stomach. They had all suspected that this might be the same criminal.
    Now they knew.
    â€œYou two seem to know something!” Louisa Nicholson said, fear rising in her voice.
    McCoy exhaled softly. He shook his head. “Not really. Petty played the recording for me. Our manor woman—is disguising his voice. But …”
    â€œBut what?” Julie said.
    â€œDon’t you know?” he taunted.
    She stared at him, gritting her teeth. McCoy, to his credit, changed his tone quickly. Neither wanted the Nicholsons to realize that he didn’t have faith in Julie.
    â€œOur kidnapper seems to have eyes in the back of his head.”
    â€œHe knows that the police are in on it already?” Julie asked softly.
    â€œOh, yes, he knows.” McCoy watched her curiously. “He asked specifically for me to be the one to deliver the money.”
    â€œWhere?” Julie asked.
    He shrugged. “There’s a phone booth by a gas station near the highway. I’ll get the first call there.”
    Martin Nicholson stepped forward. “You will do it, Mr. McCoy, won’t you?” he asked anxiously. “I’ll get the money, I’ll get it within an hour. There won’t be any problem. I’ll put the house up for what I don’t have. The banks here will help out. They’ll get the money for me by tonight. I don’t want to take any chances.”
    â€œMr. Nicholson—” McCoy began.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. The money doesn’t matter at all. The house, none of it matters. Not without Tracy,” he said.
    Julie felt his pain so intensely, she could scarcely breathe.
    â€œMr. Nicholson,” McCoy said quietly. “Of course, I’ll take the money. Please, don’t worry. The FBI likes to arrest kidnappers, too, especially the kind that travel over state lines. We don’t like them to go on kidnapping other people. But please, I swear to you, we have a policy, and I have a personal commitment here, too. I swear that I’ll not endanger your daughter’s life in any way. Do you trust me?”
    After a moment, Martin Nicholson nodded.
    â€œEspecially with Miss Hatfield along,” Louisa Nicholson said.
    McCoy looked at her, startled. “I should go alone. This might be dangerous—”
    â€œOh, Miss Hatfield!” Louisa’s eyes were starting to fill with tears again. “You have to go along, please!”
    â€œIt isn’t FBI policy—” McCoy began.
    â€œOn this case, it is,” Julie reminded him pleasantly. Damn him, he still didn’t quite seem to understand. The kidnapper could run them on a wild-goose chase. He could take the money, and fail to return Tracy Nicholson.
    Maybe McCoy did understand. Maybe he just didn’t believe she could do anything about it.
    â€œI’ve got to get down to the bank right away,” Mr. Nicholson said. “And get things in motion for the money.”
    There was a knock at the door. Tense, pale, Martin Nicholson threw open his front door. He seemed relieved. There were two uniformed officers there, a pretty young woman and a slender young man. “Is Lieutenant McCoy here?” the young man inquired.
    McCoy nodded. “I’m here.”
    â€œI’m Jenkins, and this is Officer Daniels. She’s going to stay with Mrs. Nicholson. I’ll escort Mr. Nicholson to his bank and back