“Given her history of running away, I thought you’d have kept better track of her.”
“Put her on the phone. On FaceTime.”
Barker tsked. “You know I won’t let you see her, John. Or even talk to her. Not unless I get something in return.”
“Like what? Exoneration?”
“For what?”
“Billy Oliver’s death.”
He laughed. “Your memory is rusty. That boy hanged himself. Everybody knows that.”
“Put Molly on the phone. Now, damn you!”
“John, if you’re negotiating a hostage release, you’ve got to come to the table thinking reasonably, not making demands.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Bowie’s heavy, frantic breathing soughed through the speaker. Music to Tom’s ears. He said, “I’ll let your kid go in exchange for bringing you in. See how simple? We make a swap. How fair is that?”
“You’ll turn her over?”
“You’re thinking more clearly already.”
“To who?” John asked.
“Pardon?”
“Who will you turn her over to? And if you say the ogre, you’ve got no deal.”
“How bad do you want your kid to be let go?”
“How bad do you want me in cuffs?”
Tom looked over at Frank to get his opinion. The blob just sat there, observing while chewing his gum like a cow with cud, offering no advice whatsoever.
Then Tom had a flash of brilliant inspiration. “Beth Collins. Bring her along. I’ll hand the girl over to her.”
“Negative.”
“You don’t trust her with your daughter?”
“I don’t trust you with Beth. No deal.”
“Look, Bowie, you’re being awfully high-handed. If you want your kid—”
“If you want me, I choose who Molly gets entrusted to. Take it or leave it. If you leave it, I’m calling the feds, and alleging kidnapping.”
“It would never stick.”
“But it would be bad publicity the night before your big television debut.”
Again, Tom silently consulted the ogre, who said in a low voice, “I’d prefer the babe, but…” He shrugged his massive shoulders. “Whatever.”
Tom gave him a dirty look and went back to Bowie. “All right. Who’re you bringing?”
“You’ll see. Where does this exchange take place?”
“Nowhere too public. I’d rather keep this just between us.”
“I’m sure you would. In fact, I counted on it.”
“How about your place? Frank tells me it’s out in the boonies. What say we meet there in two hours?”
“See you there.”
“Hold on, hotshot. I’m not finished negotiating the terms.”
“What else?”
“If you resist arrest, I won’t be responsible for what happens to either you or your girl. No tricks. And you had better be as meek as a fucking lamb. Frank’s a bit testy after sitting in his car all day outside the high school, said it gave him hemorrhoids. If I were you, I wouldn’t test his mood.”
“I’ll be there. But if I see that Molly’s been hurt—”
“She hasn’t been.”