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circled the truck and climbed into the passenger seat.
    As soon as Burke slid behind the wheel, she started talking again. “Even if I could convince him to let me into his little kingdom, I don’t see what good it will do. Logan might be a jerk, but he isn’t stupid. If he’s involved in the kidnapping, he won’t lead us to Nicole. Not unless I have a million bucks in my back pocket.”
    “You can try.”
    Her cell phone rang again. She answered in a brisk tone, then inhaled a gasp. “How did you get this number?”
    She looked at him with terror in her eyes.
    “What is it?” he asked.
    “Please hold on,” she said into the phone. “I can’t hear you. Let me put you on speakerphone.”
    Pressing a button, she held the phone so he could hear.
    “Go ahead,” Carolyn said.
    “This is the kidnapper,” said a scratchy falsetto voice. “I bet you’re glad to hear from me.”
    What the hell? In his years of negotiating, Burke had never encountered a second introduction call. Last night, they’d heard his demands. Was this a second kidnapper?
    The voice continued, “Do what I say and Nicole won’t get hurt.”

Chapter Seven
    The last thing Carolyn expected was a call from the kidnapper. Corelli had all the equipment for this call set up at the house, and this squeaky voice was nothing like the whisper from last night. “Who is this?”
    “Nicole is wearing a plaid shirt, red and blue. Wrangler jeans. The inside of her wedding ring says My horizon. ”
    Carolyn felt the blood drain from her face. Very few people knew about the inscription on the wedding rings. “Is Nicole there? Let me talk to her.”
    “I want five hundred thousand in cash. By Monday night.”
    “Half a million?” Why had the amount dropped? Why was the deadline changed?
    “You’ll pay.”
    “Yes,” she said quickly. “Don’t hurt her. Please don’t hurt her.”
    “I’ll call again, Carolyn.”
    The phone went dead.
    What just happened? Staring through the windshield, her vision blurred. It felt like she was going to pass out.
    Gently, Burke took the phone from her hand. Her arm fell limp to the seat. All the strength left her body as she collapsed against the seat on the passenger side of the truck.
    “Carolyn.” Burke sounded like he was a million miles away instead of sitting beside her. “Carolyn, look at me.”
    She was too devastated to move, couldn’t even summon the will to turn her head. She mumbled, “I did all the wrong things. Didn’t ask for proof of life. Didn’t keep him on the phone. I messed up.”
    Burke flipped back the center partition and pulled her across the seat toward him. Weak as a rag doll, she rested against him. The warmth of his body did little to melt the chill she felt inside. As if her heart had frozen. Why is this happening to my family? Why?
    A sob tore from her lips. She fought desperately for control. I’m not the kind of woman who cries. She forced herself to hold back the storm of emotion that had been building inside her. Her hands clenched into fists and she held them against her mouth, pressing hard.
    “It’s okay.” Burke stroked her trembling shoulders. “Let it out.”
    Still she fought. If she turned all weepy, nobody would respect her. Hell, she wouldn’t respect herself.
    “Go ahead and cry,” he whispered. “I won’t tell a soul.”
    Another sob wrenched through her. Another agonizing gasp. Her body convulsed. The floodgates burst. Tears poured down her cheeks. She completely lost control. For a long moment, she clung to him, weeping and trembling.
    “It wasn’t the same guy,” she said between sobs. “Not the same as last night.”
    “Probably not.” He caressed her hair. “It wasn’t the same voice or phone number.”
    “But he knew about the wedding ring.” Her tears streamed. “How could he know?”
    “There were two men who abducted Nicole.” His calm,rational voice soothed her. “Maybe they had a falling out. Maybe they went their separate