Retribution Read Free Page B

analyze that video. Please.” He cleared his throat, trying to rid himself of the lump that wouldn’t seem to dissolve.
    â€œRight now.” Dominic pressed the necessary buttons to send the video to someone he worked with. Someone who could help find Meg. Colton prayed it was so. Please, God!
    â€œWe checked bank accounts,” Hunter said.
    â€œWhat did you find?”
    â€œYour daughter’s friend, Tanner Brant? He made a deposit of five thousand dollars two days ago.”
    â€œA payoff?” Colton blinked, trying to rid his mind of the vision of the knife plunging toward Meg’s head. His body trembled and he wanted to simply break down, cry out his fear and fury. Instead, he poured every effort into focusing on what his friends were saying.
    â€œPossibly.”
    â€œProbably, I say,” Dominic said. “Where does a seventeen-year-old kid without a job get that kind of money?”
    â€œExactly,” Hunter said.
    Colton rose and paced to the fireplace where he picked up the latest family picture. He stared at Meg. Her bright, carefree smile sent his heart thudding, his mind spinning at the thought of never seeing her again. He cleared his throat again and replaced the picture. “Where did the money come from?”
    â€œWe don’t know. It was cash.”
    Colton snorted. “Of course it was.” He picked up his drink and sipped. His hand still shook.
    â€œWhat is it?” Jillian asked.
    Colton looked up at Jillian, who stood in the doorway, her coffee cup held to her lips, her gaze on his hand. She lowered the cup and moved her eyes to meet his. The terror there told him she recognized his own. “It’s, uh . . . we heard from the kidnapper.”
    â€œWhat?” she whispered, dread in the word.
    â€œIt was a video. The kidnapper threatened Meg.”
    â€œYou’re not telling me everything. Let me see the video.”
    â€œNo,” Colton’s refusal was too swift, too strong.
    Jillian’s chin lifted. “Let. Me. See. It.”
    Colton sighed. He couldn’t hide anything from her. An investigative reporter in her former years, she knew how to read people. Most especially her husband. Colton looked at Dominic and gave a slow nod.
    Dominic pressed the necessary keys to pull up the video and handed the phone to Jillian. “Just press Play.”
    With a shaky finger, she did.
    The video played in its entirety. Jillian’s face paled to a bleached white and she swayed. Colton rose from the couch and went to her. She shrugged him off, her breathing coming in fast pants. She played the video again. And again. Then she lifted her narrowed gaze. “She’s mad.”
    â€œWhat?”
    A hard smile curved his wife’s lips. “She’s scared, terrified. But she’s furious too. Did you see her expression right before the video cut off?”
    Colton blinked, her reaction definitely not what he’d been expecting. “No.” He cleared his throat. “I guess I didn’t.”
    â€œThe knife came down and the video cut off. This person wants to torment us.”
    â€œWell, he’s doing a pretty good job,” Colton muttered.
    â€œYes, but I don’t think Meg’s hurt. Yet.”
    â€œWhy?” Dominic asked, his expression intrigued, curious. Intent.
    Jillian lifted tear-soaked eyes. “Because if she were dead, the person wouldn’t have stopped the video. Whoever it is just wants to torture us awhile longer. Meg has to stay alive for that to happen.”
    Colton processed her words. “Yes,” he whispered. “You’re exactly right.” His respect for his wife just tripled.
    â€œWhich means we have to find her. Now.” Jillian’s voice trembled on the last word.
    Hunter cleared his throat and all attention focused on him. “We’ve asked to view the security footage at the bank. You want to go with us?”
    â€œOf course,”