Chapter 10

They drove the back roads for close to two hours before Jordan began to work them through city streets. Definitely the wrong side of the city, Jennifer thought as she watched run-down buildings pass.

Ryleigh began fidgeting in her seat. She moved her hands under her as if she was trying to get the blood flowing to her backside.

"Are you okay, Chérie?"

"Fine, Momma," she answered. "Just tired of sitting. These seats aren't comfortable. I'm gonna need help for my behind."

"Ryleigh…"

"I'm just saying it feels like it's asleep at the wheel."

"Ugh. Stop your griping, kid," Jordan sat forward in the seat. "Or I'll give you a reason to gripe." He looked away from her and out the window, "Turn left into up there."

"Here?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes, here."

In the middle of the run-down area, stood a tall building. From the outside, it looked complete, though the ground and stacks of material around it told Jennifer it was still a work in progress. Jordan had her turn the car into a fenced area with signs reading "Danger" and "Construction Zone" on them. Jennifer looked up at the building as she maneuvered the vehicle through the steel beams and concrete. "What is this place?"

"Just park over there," he pointed toward the middle of what looked to be a parking garage. "This was supposed to be the tallest building in Charleston. However, your husband and his damn business practices ruined that. Now I will use what is left of this building to destroy him."

Without much forethought, Jennifer asked, "What does Jonathan's business practices have to do with this building?"

Jordan ignored her question for the moment, "Out of the car." He was the first one out, his gun trained on the ladies as he moved them towards the stairwell. "We are headed for the tenth floor."

Ryleigh leaned in close to her Momma, "I guess he's too cheap for an elevator."

"Actually, the shaft is all there. But too many people want money. The money I no longer have because your father decided he could not be part of the buyout I wanted him to help me with."

"I'm sure it wasn't personal, Jordan," Jennifer fought to keep her frustration in check.

"Thank you for your time, Lieutenant Grey. This conversation has been an eye-opener for me. I'll take care of the Harts, personally. Uh-huh. Great. Bye." Detective Duncan ended the call and handed the phone back to Jonathan. "Well, Mr. Hart. It seems I owe you an apology. I had no idea what all y'all have been through." Jonathan didn't speak; instead, he only nodded. The detective pulled his phone from his pocket and pushed a few buttons. "Hey, George. I need you to pull some information from the phone company. Contact Judge Mack, get the warrants. I need to know where the cell phone belongin' to Jennifer Hart is." He looked at Jonathan, "Yeah, Hart. Hotel-Alfa-Romeo-Tango. Her number is…"

"310-555-5734."

"310-555-5734. Right. Okay."

"Detective…"

"Hang on, George…"

"My daughter has a phone as well."

"Hey, George. We need to check two phones. Yeah, the second is for Ryleigh Hart." He faced Jonathan, "Is it under her name?"

"No, it's still under my name. The number is 310-555-7564."

"The name on that one is probably Jonathan Hart, but it's the cell used by his daughter, Ryleigh. Yeah, Ryleigh…" he looked at Jonathan. "Could you spell that please?"

"Ryleigh is spelled R-Y-L-E-I-G-H."

"That's Romeo-Yankee-Lima-Echo-India-Golf-Hotel. Uh-huh. That number is 310-555-7564. Great. How soon? This needs to be ASAP, George. Okay. Let me know. The sooner, the better. Yes, tell him we need to know where these ladies are, and there is a strong reason to believe they are in imminent danger."

At the top of the stairwell, Jordan ushered them through the door and into a large unfinished space. "This is where our journey halts, Mrs. Hart."

"What are your plans, Jordan?"

"Plans? I plan to hit Jonathan Hart where it will hurt him the most. And that, unfortunately, is the two of you." He pushed them to the center of the open room. "There's a rope on the chair there, Mrs. Hart. Please, tie your little darling to it."

She began to move closer to Ryleigh, keeping herself between Jordan and the girl. At the same time, Jennifer slowed her walk until Jordan nearly walked into her. He reached out with his free hand to push her forward when Jennifer threw her elbow into his chest. Caught off guard, Jordan stumbled into a beam knocking the gun from his hand. In the same movement, Jennifer shouted, "Run, Ryleigh! Don't look back. Just run!"

Ryleigh spun around and sprinted for the door to the stairwell. By the time Jennifer also got to the door, Ryleigh was a flight ahead of her mother. Jordan was scrambling to his feet as Jennifer pulled open the door. A violent shaking rippled through her, throwing her body forward, right before an explosion ripped through Jennifer's ears, and everything went black.