Stolen Lives: A Detective Mystery Series SuperBoxset by Roger Hayden, James Hunt Page B

lawyer nodded and grabbed his briefcase. The Andersons stared ahead, stone-like and incongruously indifferent. Nettles stepped aside and let Miriam pass through. She wasn’t sure whom she was supposed to talk to or who had specifically requested her. She wondered about the lawyer. How much did he know? Was he aware of Philip’s whereabouts?
    He extended his arm and introduced himself as Michael Kershner, attorney at law. Miriam shook his clammy hand. He had on a gold watch, and his pin-striped suit looked like the real custom-made deal.
    Just as soon as he had introduced himself, Kershner picked up his briefcase and excused himself from the room, leaving Miriam looking perplexed and confused. Before he left, he pulled out a chair for her to sit on. Miriam looked at Nettles, who seemed to understand the situation. He left the room as well and closed the door.
    She was on her own—though she knew they were being watched. She turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She then turned back to the parents. They said nothing, and their faces gave nothing away as they stared at her with two unmistakable frowns. Only Boone moved, taking his wife’s hand in his, and giving her a faint smile.
    “You wanted to speak with me?” Miriam said.
    Their silence was followed by a tense awkwardness.
    “Is there something I can help you with?” she continued.
    Judith looked away, but Boone kept his serious eyes on her, not saying a word. Miriam continued with her questions. “Do you know where your son Phillip is?”
    Again, they didn’t answer. She felt anger resurfacing and leaned closer to them over the table. “Did you know that he kidnapped my daughter and murdered her father in cold blood? Did you know that?”
    Boone cleared his throat but didn’t speak. Miriam could feel tears welling in her eyes. However, the last thing she wanted was to let them see her upset.
    “Do you even care?” she asked. Her voice cracked. Their silence got to her, despite her best efforts to stay calm. “How about the children he kidnapped? Do you care about them?”
    If that was the case, and they did care, they didn’t show it.
    “Then what do you want from me?” she asked, pounding the table. She stopped and took a deep breath, trying to focus on the main goal: securing Ana’s release.
    She lowered her head, grimaced, and then whipped her hair back out of her face. “I see your high-priced lawyer is working diligently to release you. And I hope that happens. Just know that if anything happens to my daughter, I’m holding you and your entire family responsible.”
    At that moment, her cell phone rang, vibrating in her pocket. She pulled her phone out to see that the unidentified number was finally calling her back. Nervous, she answered, keeping her eyes on the parents.
    “Hello?”
    “Don’t say anything else. Just nod from now on,” the familiar, distorted voice told her. “Understand?”
    She nodded in response.
    “Good,” he said as though he were watching. “I know that you’re in a room with my parents now. And I want you to know that my parents are watching every move you make through the duration of this phone call. So that means you don’t speak, you don’t call the others in, you simply listen. Understand?”
    She nodded. Phillip chuckled to himself. “It is kind of weird to have a conversation like this. But rest assured, I know your rooms are miked, and I don’t want to take any chances.”
    Miriam looked up at his parents. They were watching her like hawks. The entire set-up seemed suspect. Were they all in it together? The lawyer? The parents? The brothers? How far did the conspiracy go? It would be foolish to let any of them out. But none of it mattered to her as long as she got Ana back. Thoughts of her daughter consumed her. She could sit in silence no longer.
    “Please. Let me say one thing.”
    “What did I tell you?” the voice growled.
    “I need to speak to her. Just one word!”
    “Talk again,