"No you're not." Jake interrupts cheerfully. "I meant Mean Lady Jessica. But…you’re even dumber than her. At least she’s smart enough to wear a mask when k********g a kid. Why didn’t you think of that?”
“You—”
“Anyways, New Dad doesn't negotiate with bad guys. And bad guys who take people for money always lose.”
"Your 'New Dad' isn't here. And he'll pay whatever we ask to get you back safely."
"Maybe. Or maybe he'll just find us and call the police and you'll go to jail forever." Jake looks between us. "That seems more likely. Since you're both not very smart and not very good at crime."
I feel a vein starting to throb in my temple. "What makes you think we're not good at crime?"
"Well." Jake holds up one finger. "You brought me to a construction site that has cameras." He points to
