aren’t afraid of pistols.”
“We’re just a couple out walking. You don’t need a gun. If we’re noticed, we’re running. Right? You wouldn’t shoot at the cops.”
It wasn’t the cops he’d been thinking about. He nodded, wishing he had a piece of gum. Something to chew and work out the nervous tension in his gut. He didn’t like venturing into unknown situations. Exposed. Defenseless. He wanted well-thought-out plans to execute, and hated flying by the seat of his pants. That was exactly when things went wrong and someone got killed.
He put the pistol in the trunk and sent a text to Dev, also at Alicia’s insistence. His reply couldn’t be repeated in polite company.
Feeling naked without a weapon, he laced his fingers through Alicia’s. She took a step, but he spun her to face him, drawing her in close so he could lower his voice.
“I say run and you run. No discussion. We’ll meet back here at the car. Here’s the key.” He watched her stuff it into the back pocket of her jeans. “Run means run.”
“No debate,” she agreed, without convincing him she would follow any directions from him.
“Get the smile out of your eyes, woman. Think about Lauren. The objective is to find her. If we’re caught, it’ll be a whole lot harder to achieve that goal.”
“You’re worried?” She gripped his biceps, silently demanding an answer.
“Five days is a long time for kidnappers. They’re either feeling confident and getting cocky or they’re starting to lose their nerve. My gut tells me they’ll make a move soon. Probably tonight.”
“I guess I should have asked before now what it is that you do in the navy.”
The laugh escaped before he could hold it back. “Let’s just say I have experience and you can trust me.”
She cupped his cheek with her palm. “Thank you.”
He caught himself leaning into her caress and wanting to capture her lips. “Come on.”
No one was in sight. No cars parked on this street. People were in their air-conditioned homes with their vehicles locked in their garages. Patrick Weber shouldn’t be any different. All the news reports they’d seen had been with the couple standing in their empty driveway. The steps leading up their walk had made it inconvenient to tape them in front of the door.
John had memorized the local landscape this afternoon. Technology and the internet made espionage too easy. The Webers lived on the north side of the street, four houses from the end. At the entrance to the utility ally, John pulled Alicia into his arms again.
“Drop your head against my chest, hon. I need to see over you.”
She did as instructed and he verified they were still alone on the street. He grabbed her hand again and darted into the dying weeds. They ran, staying close to the fence. First yard. Second had a dog that barked once or twice. Third yard was behind them. Target yard. No gate. No lights. No noise.
He motioned for Alicia to stay down and close. His eyes were almost level with the top of the fence. He lifted himself to get a full view of the yard.
Professional landscaping and no pool. That would work in his favor. It was only nine o’clock, and yet no lights were on, with the exception of the television glow from the front room. He lowered himself back to Alicia.
“I need you to go back to the car quickly.” He placed the phone in her palm. “Pull around to the other end of the alley in six minutes. If I’m not there, go back to the cabin and tell Dev what happened. On the way, call Brian and tell him to get the hell out of Aubrey. When he’s sure no one’s following him, pick him up somewhere he can leave his truck.”
He saw the frightening questions in her expressive eyes and caught the slight shaking of her head. He took her shoulders and whispered, “Nothing’s going wrong. You just need to know what to do if it does. I’ve got this covered.”
He kissed her forehead and pointed for her to go.
“Be careful,” she said for his
“We’re just a couple out walking. You don’t need a gun. If we’re noticed, we’re running. Right? You wouldn’t shoot at the cops.”
It wasn’t the cops he’d been thinking about. He nodded, wishing he had a piece of gum. Something to chew and work out the nervous tension in his gut. He didn’t like venturing into unknown situations. Exposed. Defenseless. He wanted well-thought-out plans to execute, and hated flying by the seat of his pants. That was exactly when things went wrong and someone got killed.
He put the pistol in the trunk and sent a text to Dev, also at Alicia’s insistence. His reply couldn’t be repeated in polite company.
Feeling naked without a weapon, he laced his fingers through Alicia’s. She took a step, but he spun her to face him, drawing her in close so he could lower his voice.
“I say run and you run. No discussion. We’ll meet back here at the car. Here’s the key.” He watched her stuff it into the back pocket of her jeans. “Run means run.”
“No debate,” she agreed, without convincing him she would follow any directions from him.
“Get the smile out of your eyes, woman. Think about Lauren. The objective is to find her. If we’re caught, it’ll be a whole lot harder to achieve that goal.”
“You’re worried?” She gripped his biceps, silently demanding an answer.
“Five days is a long time for kidnappers. They’re either feeling confident and getting cocky or they’re starting to lose their nerve. My gut tells me they’ll make a move soon. Probably tonight.”
“I guess I should have asked before now what it is that you do in the navy.”
The laugh escaped before he could hold it back. “Let’s just say I have experience and you can trust me.”
She cupped his cheek with her palm. “Thank you.”
He caught himself leaning into her caress and wanting to capture her lips. “Come on.”
No one was in sight. No cars parked on this street. People were in their air-conditioned homes with their vehicles locked in their garages. Patrick Weber shouldn’t be any different. All the news reports they’d seen had been with the couple standing in their empty driveway. The steps leading up their walk had made it inconvenient to tape them in front of the door.
John had memorized the local landscape this afternoon. Technology and the internet made espionage too easy. The Webers lived on the north side of the street, four houses from the end. At the entrance to the utility ally, John pulled Alicia into his arms again.
“Drop your head against my chest, hon. I need to see over you.”
She did as instructed and he verified they were still alone on the street. He grabbed her hand again and darted into the dying weeds. They ran, staying close to the fence. First yard. Second had a dog that barked once or twice. Third yard was behind them. Target yard. No gate. No lights. No noise.
He motioned for Alicia to stay down and close. His eyes were almost level with the top of the fence. He lifted himself to get a full view of the yard.
Professional landscaping and no pool. That would work in his favor. It was only nine o’clock, and yet no lights were on, with the exception of the television glow from the front room. He lowered himself back to Alicia.
“I need you to go back to the car quickly.” He placed the phone in her palm. “Pull around to the other end of the alley in six minutes. If I’m not there, go back to the cabin and tell Dev what happened. On the way, call Brian and tell him to get the hell out of Aubrey. When he’s sure no one’s following him, pick him up somewhere he can leave his truck.”
He saw the frightening questions in her expressive eyes and caught the slight shaking of her head. He took her shoulders and whispered, “Nothing’s going wrong. You just need to know what to do if it does. I’ve got this covered.”
He kissed her forehead and pointed for her to go.
“Be careful,” she said for his
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