Free Red-Hot Vengeance by Sandrine Spycher Page B

everything, and the truth this time.”
    “Williams, a word?” Cowley said while getting up. She took Williams by the sleeve and both went outside.
    Carter got up slowly. He walked to the door as silently as he could. Leaning against the metal, he tried to hear what the cops were saying. He could hear Williams’ desperate tone and Cowley apparently trying—without much success—to calm him down, but he couldn’t make out the words. When he heard steps approach, he quickly got back to his chair.
    Williams and Cowley entered the room, but neither of them sat in front of Carter. They just stood and looked at him. Williams seemed worried to death. And Cowley was thinking so hard that Carter could almost see steam come out of her ears.
    “What’s up?” he asked casually.
    “Vaughn kidnapped Kyle,” Williams informed him. “She wants you and the ruby in exchange for his life.”
    Carter swallowed. “What’s your plan?” His tone had gone from nonchalant to wary. His muscles tensed as he dreaded Williams’ answer.
    “I won’t give you up to her,” Williams said, making Carter sigh with relief. “But you’re certainly gonna help.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Seek
     
    Williams and Cowley had left Carter with his pillow in the cold locked room, and were discussing outside. Carter didn’t bother trying to escape. He knew that they’d watch him even closer now that he was exchange money. Carter was getting more and more uncomfortable. The room felt hot and wet, the air was sticky. Carter took off his jacket. A look at his arm, still bruised under the bandages, made him realize why he was so dizzy.
    The door suddenly opened on Williams, closely followed by Cowley. Carter quickly hid his arms under the table before they could see that the wounds were bleeding again. He stared at them, waiting for an explanation. Williams had a suspicious look on his face.
    “What?” Carter asked.
    “What are you hiding?” Williams wanted to know.
    “Nothing.”
    “Carter, please, don’t make me lose my time,” Williams said with a tint of desperation in his voice.
    “It’s not important,” Carter said. “Really, it’s nothing.”
    Williams looked deep into his eyes and was almost surprised to see sincerity for once. “We might have sort of a plan,” he then said. “But you’ll have to find the ruby.”
    “Or just finally tell us where it is,” Cowley added.
    “I don’t fucking know where it is,” Carter said. That lady cop was really starting to get on his nerve.
    “Calm down, you two,” Williams intervened as if he was talking to children. “Do you have any way of finding it?”
    Carter thought for a minute. “Maybe,” he said with a wince.
    “How?”
    Carter looked at Williams in the eye, then at Cowley, but he didn’t answer. Williams turned toward Cowley as well. He knew Carter didn’t like her, and that he probably wouldn’t talk with her in the room. With no need of words, Cowley quickly got Williams’ message and got out.
    “Good,” Carter said. “Now we can talk, man to man.”
    “You know she’ll be standing behind that window, right?”
    “Yeah, but at least, I won’t see or hear her.”
    “You’re despicable,” Williams sighed. He pulled the chair and sat in front of Carter. “So, how do we find the ruby in less than a day?” he emphasized.
    “Timing is the real problem,” Carter thought out loud. “But I work well under pressure,” he added for Williams.
    “You didn’t answer the question.”
    “Do you have a phone,” Carter said, stretching his hand.
    “Carter…” Williams sighed.
    “Hey, I’m offering to help, here,” Carter’s tone was a mixture of self-defense and actual honesty.
    Williams got his mobile phone out of his pocket and handed it to Carter. As the latter took it, Williams noticed the blood stains on his bandages. “You’re bleeding again,” he noticed.
    “Not important,” Carter said while dialing.
    “I should have you looked at.”
    Once