"Look at it my way. I'm on borrowed time. If I don't do it, they'll catch up with me and kill me. If I do it, the kid will be upset, but he won't die. You may even have a chance to get him away from Chavez after I pick up my money."

"It will make it a thousand times harder," Galen said.

"You always liked a challenge," Judd said. "Elena, I'm going into the next room so you can talk to Barry. I'll be listening on the extension, and if you ask him any questions I'll take the phone from him. I don't want to do that. I want to keep him calm and happy. Let him think that you know all about our little adventure and that you couldn't be more pleased about it."

"Go to hell."

"You're upset. Think about it. I don't want Barry scared and neither do you. It's up to you to save him from that."

Elena was so angry that she couldn't speak for a moment. "How do you think he's going to feel when you turn him over to Chavez? He'll be terrified."

"I know. I don't like it. So let's put it off for as long as possible. Will you talk to Barry?"

There was no other choice. But she would try to get as much as she could from Judd. "I'll talk to him. But not only today. I want you to call me every day and let me talk to him. I want to know he's safe."

"And try to find out from him where we are?" He suddenly chuckled. "Good idea. Okay, but it won't do you any good. We'll be moving around." She heard a door open. "Hey, scout, want to talk to your mama?"

Barry was laughing as he came on the line. "Mama, you should be here. I saw lions and tigers. And there were monkeys and funny men in skirts."

"I'm glad you're having a good time, baby."

"But when are you coming?"

"I'm a little busy right now. Are you okay?"

"Sure. Judd and I are going to go to a carnival tomorrow night. He said there are Ferris wheels and crack-the-whip and booths where you can win prizes. He's going to buy me cotton candy."

"That's nice. Don't eat too much." Dammit, she was starting to cry. "I love you, Barry."

"Mama?"

"Galen's on the line," she said hurriedly. "He wants to talk to you. Galen?"

"I'm here, Elena."

"Good-bye, Barry. I'll talk to you tomorrow." She hung up and closed her eyes. Damn Judd. Damn him to hell.

"Barry sounds okay," Galen said as he came back into the room. "Happy as a lark."

"Why shouldn't he? He thinks he's on this grand vacation. Which will end abruptly when Judd sells him to Chavez."

"Judd's a hard nut, but he's fighting for his life."

"Don't you defend him."

"I'm not defending him. I'm trying to explain his thinking. I'm mad as hell at him."

"Then let's go after him." She sank down into a kitchen chair. "If he's making a deal with Chavez, then he'll want to remain in the general area. Barry said he's going to a carnival tomorrow night. How can we find out where there are carnivals playing in the Southeast?"

"Local licensing bureaus? Internet? I'll try both."

"He talked about lions and tigers. Could they be near a wildlife park?"

"If they are, then it will narrow the field down."

"Is there a computer here at the cottage?"

"Yes, it's in our hostess's, Eve's, workroom. Can you use a computer?"

"I know the basics. Even guerrilla warfare depends on technology these days. I'll check out the wildlife parks on the Internet while you call the licensing boards."

He checked his watch. "They'll be closed now. We may have to wait until tomorrow."

"I don't want to wait until-" She was being unreasonable. It was just that she didn't know how long this was going to take. "You'll call them as soon as they open?"

"You know I will."

Yes, she knew he would be on top of everything. "Then I'll go to work on the Internet. Maybe there will be some carnivals listed there too."

"It probably depends on how small they are. We do have twenty-four hours. But you have to realize that we may miss him. Judd said he'd be moving around."

"It will at least give us a starting place. I can't just sit here."

"I know." He paused. "We do have another option if we don't find Judd. We can go and stake out Chavez."

She stiffened. "What?"

"He's on a yacht cruising the Florida coast."

"And how long have you known this?"

"Since just before we went to Orlando."

"And you didn't tell me?" She studied his expression. "You were going after him yourself."

He didn't answer.

"Dammit, I don't want you to protect me."

He nodded. "Suppose we skip past history and concentrate on finding Barry. I thought you'd be glad to know we have another possibility."

She was very glad, and her annoyance and indignation paled in comparison. "Don't do it again. Everything has to be open and aboveboard."

"It will be." He reached out a hand in comfort but dropped it before touching her. "But remember, I care about Barry too. I'll do everything I can, as quick as I can."

"Thank you, I know you will," she whispered. "I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. You've been through a lot in the last few days, and you sure as hell didn't need this." He turned and went back into the living room. "I have to go and talk to the security guys and tell them to be on the alert. I don't think we're in any danger of Judd selling our location to Chavez, since it's Barry who's the cash cow. But it doesn't hurt to take a few precautions. Then I'll get on the phone and call the newspapers and see if they have any listings or advertisements for carnivals."

She was glad he'd left her alone. She needed a moment to get herself together. She was just barely holding on to her composure. Galen was doing everything he could, and she shouldn't have spoken that harshly. It was just that-

Barry.

Oh, God, don't fall apart. Get busy. They had a chance of finding Judd.

Would it be in time?

"Chavez? This is Judd Morgan. You don't know me, but we're going to do some business."

"You're right, I don't know you from Adam, and I don't do business with people I don't know. How did you get my phone number?"

"Sean Galen."

There was a silence. "Let me talk to him."

"That's not possible. We've parted ways, but I took a goodbye present. Five years old, cute little tyke."

Another silence. "You're lying."

"I'm not lying. Do you know what the kid looks like?"

"I've seen pictures of him."

"Then you're going to receive another one by FedEx tomorrow. This one has Barry holding today's paper. Get out your magnifying glass and check the date."

"You're offering to sell him to me."

"If the price is right. If not, I'll send him back to Elena. I grew very fond of her in the past few weeks. It will take a good deal of money to soothe my conscience."

"Who are you?"

"You have my name. It's not a false one. I'm sure you'll have checked me out by the time you receive the photo." He paused. "You want other ID? I was the shooter at the Kissimmee Hotel. I took down two of your men besides Luis Kyler."

"Then why did you change sides and take the boy?"

"Because you're a man who knows that loyalties last only as long as there's a profit to be had."