Vanished by Margaret Daley Page B

thesmall couch, her shoulders hunched, her head sagging forward, her hands twisting together, over and over, ripped a hole through his heart as though a bullet had pierced it.
    He took the empty seat next to Kim and pulled her into his arms. “Honey, you’ve been such a big help today. Just having you here has helped me.”
    â€œBut we haven’t been able to find Ashley.” Kim buried her face into his shoulder, her arms about him.
    He stroked her back and held her tight.
    â€œI don’t know what else to do.”
    â€œWe’ll go to prayer service for Ashley tonight. Colin plans to have one every evening until Ashley is home safely. We can’t have too many prayers. Until then go with Neil, Emma and Colin to Central City. You can put up some more posters. You never know when someone might see your poster and come forward with the piece of information we need to find Ashley.”
    Kim leaned back, her eyes red, her face ghostly white. “You’ll be all right until we get back?”
    â€œSo long as you’re with Colin, Emma and Neil, I’ll be okay. Promise me you won’t go anywhere by yourself until this is all over.”
    She nodded solemnly.
    He didn’t want to scare Kim, but he didn’t want her to be by herself until he knew where the threat to his family was coming from and had taken care of it.
    â€œLet’s pray.” J.T. held both her hands. “Lord, we need Your guidance. Show us what to do to find Ashley. Be a shield around her and protect her from any harm. Amen.”
    â€œDaddy, I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
    He framed her face, smoothing his hands through her hair. “Of course, you didn’t.”
    The tears returned to fill Kim’s eyes. “But you don’t understand. The other day I wished I didn’t have a sister. She was always following…” His daughter, with wet tracks streaking her cheeks, plastered herself against his chest and cried.
    J.T. closed his eyes. Her sobs wrenched him. He let her cry for a few minutes because it was important for her to release the emotions she’d been wrestling with the past two days. But it was one of the hardest things he had done to listen to his child pour out her agony. Each tear was like acid eroding his own composure.
    When Kim quieted, J.T. prayed for guidance, then pulled back and looked her in the eye. “You didn’t wish this to happen. You aren’t to blame. I’ll bring Ashley back.”
    â€œHow, Daddy?”
    He took her face between his hands and made sure he had her full attention. “Don’t you worry about that. Just know I will.”
    Madison came to a halt inside the room. A movement out of the corner of his eye caused J.T. to whip around. “The kidnapper is on the phone. You’ve got fifteen seconds to answer or he hangs up.”

SIX
    Day two, 1:00 p.m.: Ashley missing forty-two and a half hours
    J.T. hurried to the nearest phone in the large outer room.
    â€œLine one.” Madison stood to his side.
    â€œPut a trace on this call.” J.T. lifted the receiver, his hand tight about the cold plastic to keep it from trembling.
    â€œWe’re on it.” Madison placed a pad and pencil on the desk.
    Although the call would be recorded, J.T. appreciated the paper in case he wanted to take notes. Phone to ear, he said, “J. T. Logan here.”
    There was a pause of several seconds, then a mechanical voice, rough, deep sounding, came across the wire. “I’ll say this one time only. I want a hundred thousand dollars in small bills in exchange for your daughter. I’ll call you again in a couple of hours to tell you where to bring it. Just in case you’ve forgotten what’s at stake here. Listen.”
    J.T.’s grip tightened even more.
    Then he heard his youngest daughter’s voice. “Daddy, where are you?”
    Click.
    â€œNo!” The connection ended before he could