Free In Sheep's Clothing by David Archer

kids and get into the car, right now,” he said. “You won't be harmed if you do exactly what I say.”
    The woman looked to be in her late teens or very early 20s, and it was obvious that she was about to panic. Noah reached down and picked up the baby girl. “Get the other child and get into the car,” he said. “Please do not make me tell you again.”
    The girl swallowed, but she undid the buckle she had just fastened on the little boy and slid obediently into the backseat with him. Noah passed the baby in to her and shut the door. Sarah turned in the seat and kept the nanny covered with her own nine-millimeter Beretta while Noah opened the rear hatch, quickly folded down the stroller and put it inside, along with the big diaper bag the nanny had been carrying. He got back into the front seat and Sarah slipped her gun back into her purse as she drove calmly away.
    Noah leaned over the seat and took the nanny's purse, scanned through it briefly and found her cell phone. There were no other electronic devices in the purse, so he passed it back to her.
    “Please, Señor,” the girl said, with tears beginning to fall from her eyes. “Please, please do not hurt the children.”
    “I have no intention of harming the children or you,” Noah said to her. “It's simply necessary for me to remove the children from the situation they're in. You will be with us for a little while and then you will be released. You have my word on it.”
    “But, Señor, you do not understand,” the girl said, her eyes wide. “These children, they belong to some very powerful people, very bad people. If you let me go, they will kill me because this has happened.”
    Noah looked over the back of the seat at her. “I can promise you that won't happen,” he said. “Please be quiet until we get where we're going. As I said, you won't be harmed and we’ll do everything we can to make sure you're comfortable as long as you're with us.”
    He looked around the area as Sarah pulled out onto Stadium Boulevard again, but no one seemed to be paying any attention. He took out his phone and dialed Neil, who answered instantly.
    “Phase Two is in hand,” Noah said. “Try to get into the security video system at Columbia Mall, especially in front of the Dillard's store. I'm sure they got us on video as I made the snatch, so I'm counting on you to wipe it out. Tell Moose we need to trade cars again, and to meet us out at the East Broadway entrance to Stephens Lake Park.”

SIX
     
    S arah turned left on Broadway, and followed it across the city until she got to the park. The warehouse was actually closer to the park than they had been, so Moose was already waiting with the Chrysler. There were no other cars close by, and Noah had already scouted the area to be sure there were no security cameras. They transferred the nanny and children into the silver car, and Noah remembered to grab the stroller and diaper bag. Sarah drove away while Moose was switching the license plates back.
    It was only about a ten-minute ride to the warehouse, and Noah called ahead to tell Neil to open the overhead door. They pulled the car right inside and stayed in it until the overhead door was closed again.
    Noah got out and retrieved the stroller, then opened the driver side rear door. He reached in and took the little boy and put him in the stroller, while the nanny brought out the girl.
    “This young lady,” he said, indicating Sarah, “will show you where you will be staying for right now. Some people will be coming to pick you up and take you somewhere else before long, but until then just let us know if there's anything you need.” He handed her the diaper bag and walked alongside as she followed Sarah to the room that had been prepared for them.
    Sarah showed her the refrigerator with soft drinks and snacks, then gave her the remote for the little television they had set up. “If you need anything, knock on the door. Someone will be here all the time, you