A Desperate Gambit

Chapter 112

James and Lily had gotten little sleep the night before. They had spent the night at the hospital, speaking with everyone who seemed to have an interest in their daughter, laboriously working out their plan to save Ave. By morning, they were exhausted but resolute.

"Okay, let's go over what we know," said James, taking a sip of his coffee in the hospital cafeteria.

She set the bag on her lap and nodded. "Elena has Ave. She wants your company and for you to divorce me. We have…" she checked her watch, "about 18 hours left before her deadline."

"Yeah," James nodded. "And she still has Jack and Sarah too. We haven't heard anything from Louis either."

At that mention of the missing friends, Lily's face fell. "God, I hope they're okay."

Over the table, James reached and grasped her hand in his. "We'll get them all back. I promise."

Then his secure phone buzzed. It was Mike.

"James, we might have something," Mike said when James answered. "We traced that call from Elena. It boun