Free Retribution by Lynette Eason Page A

Did his best to squelch it, to push aside those statistics that taunted him. “So this is what it feels like to be on the other side,” he muttered.
    Dominic Allen used a pen to lift Meg’s keys from the ground and drop them into the open bag. “We’ll find her.”
    â€œWhat are you working on, Colton?”
    He turned to find Hunter Graham, a detective with the local police force, staring at him. “You know what I’m working on. We work on cases together, remember?”
    â€œYou’re not doing anything on the side?”
    â€œNo.” He placed his hands on his hips. “Nothing.” His throat tightened and his fingers curled into fists. “She’s just sixteen, Hunter.”
    â€œBut she’s not like any other sixteen-year-old I know. She’s a fighter and she’s got skills. You made sure of that.”
    Colton pointed to the car. “Doesn’t look like that did much good, does it?” He grabbed his head and paced to the front of the car, then back. His phone buzzed. He lifted it to his ear. “What?”
    â€œI just sent you a text. Be waiting for the next call. And don’t bother trying to trace this phone. I’m not that stupid.”
    Click.
    Tremors wanted to take over. Colton refused to let them. Jillian sat in the truck, her gaze vacant, staring at something he couldn’t see. When his phone buzzed again with the incoming text, his thumb hovered over the touch screen. And then pressed.
    A picture of Meg appeared. He sucked in a deep breath.
    â€œWhat is it?” Hunter asked.
    Colton flipped the phone around so he could see.
    â€œShe looks peaceful. Like she’s sleeping.”
    â€œYeah. It doesn’t look like he’s hurt her and her skin is normal color.”
    Meaning it wasn’t gray or blue to indicate she was dead.
    Colton swallowed. “Okay, she’s alive.”
    â€œWhat’s the number? We’ll trace it.”
    â€œIt’s blocked. He must have used *67.”
    â€œWe can get around that. Let me take your phone and have a tech examine it.”
    â€œNo way. This is how he’s going to communicate with me.” His fingers curled around the device. “It’s not going anywhere.”
    Hunter blew out a sigh. “All right.”
    â€œDominic’s the lead on this anyway. Let’s fill him in.”
    Colton led the way over to a very tight-faced Dominic. His fear for Megan tripled. “What is it?”
    â€œSerena called. She’s on her way to the mall. A teenage girl was found behind the dumpster.”

3
    Jillian had climbed out of the truck, feeling helpless and useless sitting there watching the action. She’d been heading toward her husband when she heard his words. She stopped and stared at Dominic. “Meg?” she whispered. Then turned and promptly lost what little she had in her stomach.
    Colton strode to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. “No. We don’t know that. Stop. It’s not her until—”
    â€œâ€”it’s her. I know. I know. You’re right.” She pulled away and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”
    â€œJillian, we can’t—”
    She spun on her heel and headed back to the truck. She was going straight to the crime scene and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it short of handcuffing her. She climbed into the passenger seat. He shut the door and slid behind the wheel. Without a word, Colton cranked the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
    â€œWhat if it’s her?” Jillian whispered.
    â€œIt’s not.”
    Tears slid down her cheeks as she begged God to spare her child, her only child. “It’s just like before.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œBefore! When that crazy man your aunt hired took her. I can’t do this again!” Another wave of nausea rolled over her. “Why her?” Colton’s jaw looked like granite. She didn’t