Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 02 - Vacation is Murder by Carolyn Arnold

Catherine?” Sara asked.
    “She’s a strong woman.”
    “So you were just going to disappear?”
    “It would be a new start for me, a clean slate. Catherine would end up with the life insurance money. She would’ve been taken care of. She’d have more than she does now.”
    “Except for the one problem of her loving you.”
    Sean tugged softly on Sara’s arm, and she heeded his advice. They both stopped walking.
    “Why aren’t we still moving?” Earl asked.
    “We’re not going any farther.”
    “I’m the one with the gun.”
    “You don’t have a gun.” Sean stared blankly at him, calling his bluff—at least hoping it was.
    “I do.” He thrust out at the base of his jacket pocket again.
    “I don’t think you’re armed, Earl. I believe it was your fist in my lower back, not the end of a gun. Besides, there is no way you’d be getting past the gates with a weapon.”
    Sean sensed Sara’s eyes on his profile. He retained his attention on Earl. He’d sought some isolation in the jungle just in case Earl didn’t go down easily.
    “That’s where you’re wrong.” Earl pulled out a five-inch blade.
    Sara gasped and moved in tighter to Sean’s side.
    “Sara, why don’t you come over here with me?” Earl gestured for her to go to him. “See, plans change. Don’t be shy.”
    Sara gave Sean a look as her hand filtered out of his.
    When she was within a few feet of Earl, he wrapped his arm around her neck, the knife held inches away from her throat.
    “See, now I know who you guys really are, and there’s a lot more than fifty thousand, I realized I was thinking small. After all, the women were taken care of, but what about poor Earl? If you want your wife to live, Mr. McKinley, you’ll wire one million dollars to the account I will give you.”
    Sara bucked against Earl’s hold. “You’re never going to get away with this.”
    “Aw, but see, I already have.” He put his attention back to Sean. “I will forward the information to your phone. Now you’re going to watch us walk away, and if you follow us, I will kill her.”
    “You’re going to kill her in a sacred ruin site? You are insane,” Sean said.
    “Am I? I guess we’ll find out, but don’t test me, Sean. After all, we barely know each other.”
    Earl took a few steps back, dragging Sara with him. “You wait here for two minutes before leaving.” Earl rubbed his forehead against his upper arm.
    Sean caught a glimpse of movement in the long grass.
    “Here, Earl, you wanted fifty thousand. Take it. Let her go.” He tossed the money bag.
    Earl lost his grip on Sara as he struggled to fetch it.
    She went to run to Sean, but Daren caught her arm.

    “Now, now, what a little party we have going.”

 

     
    Four’s A Crowd
     
    DAREN KEPT HIS GUN AIMED on Sean and Earl, his hold tight on Sara. “We can’t fault Earl. He was being an opportunist.”
    “Surprised you know the word. Although, I suppose you are one as well,” Sean said, his thoughts on the fact that Daren had managed to get a gun past security.
    “ Tisk , Mr. McKinley. You should be kinder to the man who holds your wife’s life in his hands.”
    He pulled Sara to him, despite her struggle to retain distance, burrowing his face into the groove of her neck.
    In this time, Sean gestured toward Earl, directing him to do something, and then nodded toward Sara. He had a plan.
    “She even smells nice after spending the night in a motel. People like you wouldn’t be used to those types of accommodations.”
    “Let her go. You can have the fifty thousand.” Sean nodded his head toward the bag in Earl’s hands.
    Earl scowled.
    “That’s a great start, but I’ve realized I have more expenses to cover. The one million that Earl requested would work out perfectly for me.”
    He took a few steps back with Sara.
    Sean and Earl stepped in sync with them.
    “You should be more careful, Daren,” Sean said.
    “So impressed. You know who I am. I’m