9:18:41 PM

This was insane. The ransom note demanded every asset Reeves had, including his stock investments. By 10 A.M.

Impossible. Even with the time difference between New York and California, even if Reeves put in the sell orders right at the opening bell, it would still take at least another day for the trades to settle and for him to cash out. By then it would be too late, by the kidnappers’ reckoning. They really had not thought this out at all.

Unless, Reeves realized, it wasn’t about the money. Unless someone had kidnapped Jason to get to him. Someone with an axe to grind.

Reeves resolved to figure out who that someone was. He was not going to give up any ransom.

But he had less than thirteen hours to do it and get Jason back. Reeves picked up the phone and began dialing.