Free 15 Seconds by Andrew Gross Page B

head was that I hadn’t come in through the front entrance, pulling up in my white Caddie, as they were clearly expecting me to do. They must not know about Mike yet. I figured there were several of them, stationed all around. My whole body went rigid with fear. I searched around for the best way out.
    And then my cell phone rang.
    I would never have even glanced at it in that moment—I was petrified it would draw attention to me—had I not thought that it could well be Liz, and I didn’t want to miss her. Slowly I melded into the crowd of boosters. I pulled out my phone and glanced at the screen. It wasn’t Liz.
    It was Hallie.
    I didn’t want to answer, but it rang two, then three times, and I felt as if the trill was echoing around the lobby, calling everyone’s attention to me. I just saw my daughter’s name on the screen— Hallie, Hallie . . . And I didn’t know if Liz had spoken with her and if she knew. Knew all that had happened.
    So I just pressed the green button before my voice recording came on and muttered softly, set to call her back. “Hallie . . .”
    But the voice I heard wasn’t hers. It was a man’s voice, both muffled and unrecognizable.
    And what he said on my daughter’s phone jarred me more than anything that had happened today.
    He kind of chuckled as he asked, “So how you liking it all so far, Doc?”

Chapter Twelve
    I froze.
    I realized right away who was on the other end. That I was speaking to the person who was responsible for all this. Who had killed Mike. Martinez.
    And he was calling on my daughter’s phone.
    â€œWho are you? Where’s Hallie? Where’s my daughter? ” I demanded, my body heaving with mounting dread.
    â€œOh, we’ll get to all that pretty soon. I promise,” the man said. “But if you ever want to see her again— alive, that is—I think there’s just one little thing you oughta know . . .”
    â€œGo on,” I said. I ducked behind two boosters introducing their wives.
    â€œIf I happen to hear that you get caught by the police, or even turn yourself in . . . Or if it comes out in the press that your little girl is missing, meaning if you tell ’em, Hallie here’s gonna end up with a bullet in that smart, pretty brain of hers. And that’s if I’m feeling generous. You hear? ”
    The crowd was loud and buzzing all around. I tried to think if I had ever heard the voice before, but it was Southern, slangy, and wasn’t clear.
    â€œYou hearing me, Doc?” he said again, like ice this time. Waiting.
    â€œYes.” I swallowed, razors in my throat. “I hear.”
    â€œSo here’s a little present for you—just so there’s no doubts, about our arrangement.”
    My heart started to race. Suddenly Hallie got on, her voice shaking with fear. “Daddy . . . Daddy, is that you?”
    â€œYes, hon, it is! It’s me.”
    â€œOh, Daddy, I’m so sorry . . . Please just listen to what he says. He’ll do it. I know he will. He’s crazy! Just do what he says. Please. He—I love you, Daddy,” she blurted as the phone was yanked away from her in midsentence.
    â€œJust wanted you to have a sense of what’s really at stake here, Doc. Pretty little thing, if I say so myself. And she surely can ride.”
    â€œYou touch a hair on her head and I’ll kill you myself, you son of a bitch! So help me God . . .” I shouted above the noise, my blood on fire.
    â€œNow don’t you be giving me orders,” the man said. “That wouldn’t go over well. Long as you heard exactly what I said, about if I hear the cops find you.”
    â€œWhat is it you want? Why are you doing this to me? I have money. I can pay you. Please . . .”
    â€œWe’ll get to what I want. In a while. First, go get yourself a new phone. One of those