Chapter 15 - The Bloodhound's Pursuit
"Lily!" I screamed, every ounce of judicial restraint disintegrating into primal, maternal terror. "Lily, stay on the phone! Where are you?!"
"I... I can't see, Mommy! They put a blanket over my head! Justice was barking at the door, and then there was a loud pop, and he stopped barking—"
A rough, gravelly voice cut in through the receiver, snatching the phone away from my daughter.
"Judge Vance," the man spoke, cold and methodical. "Sterling might be in a cage, but his retainer cleared forty-eight hours ago. My instructions were very simple: if Arthur goes down, your bloodline goes down with him."
"Listen to me!" I shouted, my voice shaking the walls of my chambers as David instantly drew his phone, dialing the State Police tactical command. "Whatever he is paying you, I will double it! Name your price! Just don't touch my daughter!"
"This isn't about money anymore, Your Honor," the voice sneered. "It's about fulfilling a contract. You have forty-five minutes. Interstate 87, Mile Marker 42, the abandoned gravel quarry. Come alone. No police. No backup. If we see a single flashing light or a helicopter in the sky, the little girl goes into the stone crusher."
The call terminated abruptly.
"Eleanor!" David yelled, grabbing my shoulders as I swayed on my feet. "What did they say?!"
"They have Lily," I choked out, tears of pure adrenaline and horror burning my eyes. "They shot Justice... they took her from the house. Mile Marker 42. Forty-five minutes. He said if the police follow, they'll kill her."
David didn't hesitate. His face hardened into an expression of lethal determination I had never seen on him before. "We aren't calling standard patrol. I’m calling Special Operations Director Hayes—my former commander from the JAG tactical unit. We will track your phone, but we go in silent. I am driving you."
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"David, he said alone—"
"I don't care what he said!" David roared fiercely, grabbing his coat. "Nobody touches Lily. *Nobody.* We move. NOW!"
