Free Ransom by Terri Reed

He took Jillian and told me to come here for the necklace.”
    â€œAnd then what are you supposed to do?” Blake pressed.
    Travis hesitated.
    Obviously, he didn’t want to help the police. Anger swept through Liz, heating her chilled skin. Her fingers tightened around the bag. “If you love Jillian then you’ll help us.”
    Travis’s gaze darted between her and Blake. Indecision warred in his eyes. Finally, he nodded. “I want immunity.”
    Blake scoffed. “It doesn’t work like that. I don’t have the authority to agree to immunity. But I will say your helping us will go a long way to making a better deal for yourself. Less prison time.”
    Travis licked his lips as he contemplated Blake’s words. Liz held her breath, praying he’d make the right choice. The only choice that would help her sister.
    Finally Travis said, “I’m to wait at a diner in town. He’ll contact me there with further instructions.”
    Liz breathed out a small measure of relief. Okay, they were one step closer to finding her sister. Still, she wasn’t about to let Travis off the hook. “How could you let this happen? You’re supposed to protect her!”
    Travis swiped a hand through his brown hair. “It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. I do love Jillian. I only wanted to give her something tangible, something I thought she’d find interesting. I didn’t think Santini would miss the necklace. There were so many others, better ones, in the shipment. I thought it was just rocks strung together with some gold wire until he showed up in our hotel room. How was I supposed to know it was uncut diamonds? I’d never seen them before. If I’d known I never would have taken it. Especially if I’d thought for a second that Santini would come after Jillian for it. You have to believe me, I never meant to hurt Jillian.”
    â€œHurt? He hurt her?” she squeaked the words out. Oh, no. Please, Lord, no.
    Travis grimaced. “You know Jillian. She doesn’t take well to being told what to do.”
    Oh, Jillian. Liz did know. Her little sister had spent too many years getting her way as both Liz and their father tried to make up for the loss of their mother. It made Jillian unbearable at times. Tears pricked the backs of Liz’s eyes. “Please tell me she’s alive.”
    â€œYes, she is, but if I don’t bring that necklace back to Santini he’ll kill her.” Travis’s face twisted. “And then me.”
    Of course he was concerned about his own skin. Bitterness clogged Liz’s throat. “This is all your fault. If you weren’t working for a criminal, if you weren’t a thief, my sister would be safe at home with me.”
    â€œI know, I know.” He spread his hands wide. “I want to make this right.”
    â€œThe only way this will ever be right is when Jillian is set free,” she said. “But you and Santini both belong in jail.”
    Something hard flashed in Travis’s brown eyes before his shoulders slumped. “You’re right. I don’t deserve Jillian. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love her. I have to get her away from Santini.” He stepped toward Liz, holding out his hand. “Please, give me the necklace.”
    She stepped back. “You take me to my sister.”
    â€œI would if I could,” Travis said.
    â€œWhich mine did the necklace come from?” Blake asked, drawing their attention. He’d been quiet during her and Travis’s exchange, possibly taking Travis’s measure, or perhaps her own. What went on behind the implacable mask he wore?
    Turning his focus to Blake, Travis shrugged. “Hey, I don’t work the mines. I’ve never even seen one. All I do is transport the stuff I’m handed once I’m in the country.”
    He made it sound so easy and civil. She’d read and seen