Desiree Holt [Phoenix Agency 04] F Stop [EC Breathless] (pdf)

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frustration was growing and she didn t blame him. If Pelley had nothing to do with the
disappearance, why would he avoid them? Unless he d gotten word it was a full-blown
kidnapping and he was ducking them.
A shiver of dread skated over her as she tried to push the thought away. She
needed to try another remote session, this time using Mari s picture to see what she
could pick up. But Mike was right. She needed some nourishment in her first, along
with the extra something in her tea. Right now she was too shaky to try anything.
While Mike was still on the phone, she got up and fished hers out of her purse.
Scrolling through the messages, she saw another half dozen from Brent. If this didn t
stop she would have to tell Mike about it. The one thing she had to contribute to the
hunt for her sister and the Wrights was shaky because of the anxiety Brent was causing
her.
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She put the phone down on the coffee table and sat back down on the couch. Just as
Mike hung up on his call room service arrived. Giving her his crooked smile, he poured
bourbon from the minibar into her tea and made sure she drank every bit of it. She
dutifully ate a tuna sandwich while he worked on a hamburger and iced tea.
You know, she said, setting down the empty cup, I don t think Mari and the
Wrights are still in the San Diego area.
Mike raised his eyebrows. Honey, we don t know that. When Mark gets here we ll
find out what the local cops know but we have no clue as to who took them, much less
where they are.
She ran her finger around the edge of the cup. I know it doesn t make sense but I
just
The knock at the door interrupted her. Mike touched a finger to his lips, pulled his
gun from the small of his back and walked softly toward the door.
It s us, Mark called. You can put away the hardware.
Mike replaced the gun and opened the door to let the Hallorans in. Mark sat in the
big armchair while Faith went to sit beside Kat. Her eyes were full of questions but Kat
dredged up a weak smile and mouthed, It s okay.
Kat turned away from them, picked up her phone and without making a big deal
out of it, scrolled through the messages and missed calls again. Nothing from Mari. Too
much from Brent. She could feel the strain of dealing with it sapping her energy and she
couldn t afford to let that happen. Tamping down her anger, she systematically
highlighted and deleted every call from him. Then she snapped her phone shut.
Damn him, anyway. What would it take for him to get the message? If her gift
failed her because of the pressure of dealing with hi& No. She didn t even want to
think that way. Surely he d give up soon.
What did you find out? Mike asked.
I ll give you the short version. The Wrights and Mari left the airport in a car driven
by a young man who works for their San Diego office. The security team followed in
another vehicle. No problems at lunch, apparently. The last anyone saw of them, they d
retrieved their vehicles and pulled away from the restaurant.
Nothing suspicious? Kat pushed. Nothing that caught anyone s eye?
One of the two kids handling the valet parking thinks he remembers a black van
and another car pulling into line behind them as they pulled away. He shrugged. But
he can t give us any kind of description. He wasn t paying all that much attention.
My best guess, Mike said, is that the van and the car followed and waylaid
them. Someplace. Certainly not on the road where the SUVs were found but someplace
out of the way.
But then what? Faith asked. Don t tell me the trail just stops there.
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I told Mike I don t think Mari and the Wrights are in San Diego anymore. I know, I
know, she said as Mike started to argue with her again. It s just a& oh, call it a sense
of feeling. I can t be more specific than that.
Faith gave a little laugh. You won t get anyone in this room to argue about
unexplained feelings. But do you have any idea where they might be?
I told her we don t even know who has them, Mike repeated. So how could we
know where they are? And nobody I called is telling me anything. Damn, he banged a
fist on the table. It s almost as if they want us just to go away. Which doesn t make
sense. They know Kat s worried about her sister.
Nothing adds up here, Mark put in, unless it s a kidnap for ransom and
whoever got the message was told not to say anything.
Mike nodded. Or is involved. We need to call Andy and see if he s been able to
hack into that video email.
I ll do it. Mark flipped open his phone and pressed one speed dial number.
Yeah, Andy? You were? Good. Then I saved you the trouble. That must mean you
have something. Uh-huh. Uh-huh Yeah. Damn. All right. Now that you re in, I want to
know the minute the next one comes through. He disconnected the call.
He got something, Mark guessed.
Yes. Wait until I tell you what it was. We were right about this. It s definitely a
kidnapping.
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Chapter Eight [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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