Draco removed his fingers from the base of the man’s throat. “He’s got a pulse. He was unconscious when we got to him. Still is. Might have a concussion. Looks like he was hit on the side of the head, and the fall couldn’t have helped.”
“He’d better live so I can kill him,” Crusher said through gritted teeth. “His so-called security team took Marta.”
A moan sounded from the man lying against the concrete sidewalk.
Crusher dropped to his haunches beside the man. “Devon Marsh, wake the fuck up.” When he reached for the man’s shoulders, Draco’s arm shot out, stopping him from grabbing the injured man.
“Give him a second,” Draco said. “He’s coming to.”
“We don’t have a second. Marta’s life might depend on whatever he has to say.” Crusher’s fists clenched and unclenched as he glared at the man who’d set him up to deliver Marta into enemy hands. “Wake up, Marsh.”
Marsh’s eyes blinked open, and he winced at the bright sunshine. “What happened?”
“That’s what the hell I’d like to know,” Crusher said. “Your security team took Marta and dumped you. Who the hell were they, some mercenaries you hired without vetting?”
Marsh’s eyes widened. “They took her, without me?”
“They damn sure did,” Crusher snarled.
Marsh closed his eyes, his head rocking back and forth. “No, no, no,” he moaned. “They were supposed to take me.”
Crusher reached past Draco, gripped Marsh’s shoulders and shook him. “Who are they? Do they work for Vasquez? Where are they taking her?”
Marsh pressed a hand to the bruise on the side of his head and winced. “They were supposed to take me to my daughter.”
Crusher frowned down at the man. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“My daughter.” Marsh struggled to rise.
Crusher helped him to a sitting position.
“Cate,” Marsh looked up at Crusher, his gaze shifting to Draco. “You know. Cate. My daughter.”
Draco moved closer, a frown creasing his forehead. “Cate’s in trouble?”
Marsh nodded, his focus on Draco, not Crusher. “They’ve been holding my daughter hostage to get me to bring Dr. Hale to them in exchange.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Crusher rose to his feet, ready to pound Devon Marsh into the ground. “This wasn’t about saving Dr. Hale? It was about saving your daughter?” Crusher grabbed the front of Marsh’s shirt and dragged him to his feet. “You feel good about trading one life for another?” He shoved the man away. “Bastard, I could kill you.”
Draco caught Marsh before he fell backward and steadied the man. “Crusher, let the man speak. He might be the only connection we have to finding Dr. Hale and Cate.”
Crusher glared at Marsh. “You were the only person in the government we still trusted. I should’ve known better. You got something to say, I suggest you start talking.”
Marsh scrubbed a hand down his face. “I got a call a week ago.”
“Who called you?” Crusher demanded. “I need names.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. He said he had my daughter, Cate. She was working in England.”
“How do you know they had Cate?” Draco asked, his gaze intense. “Did they give you some kind of proof of life?”
Marsh nodded. “They put her on the phone. She was alive as of a week ago.”
“But you don’t know if she’s alive now?” Draco moved in front of Marsh. “You have to know something. Anything. Who would take Cate?”
“Why would someone take her hostage to get to Dr. Hale?” Phantom added.
Marsh’s shoulders slumped. “They knew I’d find a way to get her out of Vasquez’s hands.”
