Ch.4: Pierre Lontard's Threat
"WHAT! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN JAIL!" Trixie screamed nearly dropping the phone. The other bobwhites stared at her. Her sapphire blue eyes flashed with anger but there was fear and wariness sketched into them too.
"Oh… didn't you hear? I was released about a month ago." Lontard said.
"If you were let out a month ago why are you hear now?" Trixie asked.
"Oh come on, that's a dumb question." Lontard said laughing.
"If it's so dumb then why don't you answer?" Trixie said annoyed.
"I bet he's just trying to bamboozle you." Mart said.
"What?" said Diana looking confused.
"It means confuse. Don't you squaws know anything?" Mart said.
"Shut up Mart. This isn't the time to be all encyclopedia boy on us." Trixie said thoroughly annoyed.
"As I was saying Trixie, I didn't come get you until now because the police were watching my every move but now they aren't. I can go wherever I like without them following me." Lontard said gleefully.
"Oh. That's why. I have one more question. Why have you called?" Trixie asked perplexed.
"Oh, that. I just called you to let you know that I know where Jim is." Lontard said his face splitting into an evil smile.
Trixie couldn't see the smile so her heart gave a little leap. "You know where Jim is?" She said delighted. Maybe she thought he would bring Jim back to her. Of course her brain was forgetting that Lontard was a bad guy.
"Oh yes," Lontard said conceding, "Jim is in the back of my van tied up and bleeding as we speak."
Trixie's blood turned to ice as Lontard cruelly laughed.
"You leave Jim alone you big bully!" Honey shouted into the phone.
"Oh, hello dear little Honey. How are you? It's been awhile since I've seen you." Lontard said cruelly.
"Yes, it's been awhile. I see you hold a grudge." Honey said.
"Who wouldn't hold a grudge after what you did to me? Anyway I was wondering if you wanted Jim to live." Lontard said slowly dragging out every word as though he was only considering letting Jim live.
"Of course we want Jim to live!" Trixie said exaggerated.
"Good. Then Trixie you wouldn't mind trading yourself in for Jim right?" Lontard asked.
Jim couldn't believe what Lontard just said. That was crazy. Trixie would never do that. Or would she, a little voice inside his head said.
"Trixie don't do it!" Honey said her face drained of all color.
"But, Honey it saves Jim." Trixie argued. Her mind was set. She would do it.
What if it's a trap?" Mart said thoughtfully.
"How could it be a trap?" Trixie wondered.
"Maybe Lontard doesn't have Jim at all. Maybe he's trying to deceive you." Mart said knowingly, "Criminals do that you know."
"Of course I know that." Trixie said. Then turning back to the phone she said, "How do I know you aren't trying to trick me into thinking you have Jim?"
"Here I'll give the phone to Jim so you can know I have him." Lontard said. He gave the phone to Jim and said sneering, "Here talk to your girlfriend."
Jim's face flamed up but he took the phone since Lontard had finally decided to untie him incase Trixie asked the question she just asked. Jim said into the phone, "Trixie please don't give yourself up for me. I'll be fine."
At the sound of his voice Trixie sighed with relief. Jim was alive. "Jim I have to you have got to understand that." Trixie said.
"No, Trixie please don't do it." Jim begged.
"I'm going to do it you can't change my mind." Trixie said stubbornly.
"Okay Trixie. I see I can't persuade you. Just be careful okay?" Jim said defeated.
"I will be. Don't worry Jim." Trixie said sadly.
"Well what's your answer miss Trixie?" Lontard asked anxiously.
"I'll go instead of Jim." Trixie answered. At her answer Dianna and Honey both began to cry. They clung to Trixie begging her to change her mind. She refused. Mart, Dan, and Brian were stiff and silent.
"Good, Meet me at the clubhouse tomorrow." Lontard said then hung up certain that she would.
"Oh Trixie please don't go." Dan said.
"Yeah sis. It's going to be risky to go with him. Also who will I mock when you're gone?" Mart said sadly.
"I have to go guys and if something goes wrong like Lontard takes both me and Jim I'm counting on you to come find us. I know that if you look for us you will find us. So will you do it? Can I count on you?" Trixie asked.
"You can count on us, Trixie." Brian assured her.