If I'd Never Known Your Love Read Online Free Page B

critical for your husband's safe return. One, don't draw attention to yourself or to Evan by going to the media. Make sure your friends and family understand this, too. I know it goes against an instinctive belief—that attention will put pressure on our government and the Colombian government, which will result in quicker action. But all you'll succeed in doing is convincing the kidnappers that Evan is more important than I'm sure he's telling them that he is.
    "You'll also give them the idea that the company he works for is in a position to pay a lot of money to get him back."
    "They are. His boss has assured me that he will pay whatever it takes." Harold had told her this so many times that she'd come to believe he would sell the company, if necessary, to raise the money.
    "But once the idea is planted, it's almost impossible to remove. They will make impossible demands and think you're lying to them when you claim you can't fulfill them." He took a map out and spread it across his desk. "Are you familiar with the factions dividing this country?"
    She shook her head. Everything she knew about Colombia she'd learned in the past week, and none of it involved politics.
    He pointed to different-colored circles covering the map. "These represent various militant groups that are battling the current government and the territories they control."
    Very little land was left unclaimed. Julia looked at him to see if he could possibly be serious. If this was true, Colombia was involved in a massive civil war. "And they all finance themselves through kidnappings?"
    "Among other things. Illegal drugs also play a huge financial role. Your husband could be with a group that feels no need to hurry the negotiation, one that's willing and able to hold out forever to get what they want. You have to remember that they aren't on a deadline and don't have the emotional stake in this that you do. They've been at this a long time, Mrs. McDonald. As sick as it sounds, they're professionals. They know what they're doing.
    She found the news oddly comforting. Although, how did professionals make such a stupid mistake and kidnap the wrong man?
    "Another thing you must accept is that time is something you're going to have to learn to deal with. If you don't, it could destroy you. I know all you can think of right now is obtaining your husband's freedom as quickly as possible. That's simply not going to happen. At least not on your timeline. There is a process with these things. The kidnappers have to get your husband to a place where they feel safe before they begin negotiating. And even then they may not make contact for weeks. It's a psychological game. They are aware that the longer they make you wait, the more desperate you will feel and the more willing you will be to give them what they want."
    She couldn't imagine feeling any more desperate or scared than she did at that moment. She was hanging on by her fingertips and would do anything, pay anything, asked. What kind of men wanted her to suffer weeks, maybe months longer for a few more dollars? And if they would do this to her, what would they do to Evan?
    She'd come to Paul Erickson's office with an unfocused, wildly escalating fear. He had grounded her, supplying her answers and hope and direction. "But if Evan isn't the person they thought he was, why don't they just release him?"
    "He's American. He works for a large company.
    Even if he's not the man they were after, they have to figure he's worth something."
    At last someone was giving her information she could deal with. Her strongest coping mechanisms involved knowledge and planning. If she could just focus on these, she would make it. "Who are these people in these circles?"
    "The largest are FARC, which is the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and ELN, which is the National Liberation Army. Many of the groups operating without set boundaries are small bands of out-of-work drug traffickers who were caught in police crackdowns.