“But that was the good news. Bad news is, word is out about the drowning cases.”
Bree turned back to her computer. “Actually, that was me that leaked it. Now that we have a little information about Rory Gresham, I’m using the press to play off the last two kidnappers. I’m talking to both of them separately, pretending with each to be the other one.”
“Are you sure they’re not going to kill the victims outright and just make a run for it?”
She let out a little sigh. “That’s my biggest concern. Right now, I’m in discussion with both of them on the pros and cons of keeping the women alive.”
He whistled through his teeth. Not that he didn’t trust her, but that was a lot of pressure and if it went wrong, could mean a lot of guilt for Bree. He didn’t want that for her. “What can I do to help?”
“I’m hoping the news report of Gresham’s arrest will spark some sort of panicked action. It’s the only play I have left. We’re down to the last forty-five minutes.”
Damn it.That was so little time. “Freckles, listen.”
She held up a hand. “No, don’t give me the consolation talk now. Not while we can still save them. I’m going to damn well try everything in my power to get them out.”
She was right. He should not be treating this as if they’d already lost these women. “I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t have faith in you...”
“I get it, hot lips. You’re you and want to protect me. And I love you for it. But right now...” Her eyes grew big. “I’ll be damned.”
“What?” She had diverted her attention from her main computer back over to the laptop.
“It worked. One of them just panicked and made a pretty rookie mistake. I set up a side channel attack on the very slim chance that someone would panic and one of them did and just triggered it.”
“English, freckles.”
She typed for a few seconds. “I know where victim number three is.”
Chapter Nineteen
Everybody flew into action the moment Bree had an address. Whitaker immediately got Penelope from where she was still interrogating Rory Gresham.
Nobody recognized the address because it was so far out of town. By the time Penelope came rushing into the room Leon had it pulled up on a map.
“What do we got?” Penelope asked.
“Looks like a damn farmhouse,” Leon answered. “Definitely not industrial like the warehouse or the empty hotel.”
“Perp doesn’t need that big of a space,” Tanner said. “Just somewhere where he could get the vic in without people noticing. A barn would definitely work.”
Whitaker looked over at Penelope. “It’s going to take every bit of thirty minutes just to get out there. And we’ve still got the fourth victim.”
“I’ve got our fourth kidnapper talking to me,” Bree said. “He’s a little more guarded. Prickly. He didn’t like finding out who Rory Gresham was. I think the fourth guy feels like he’s been used for someone else’s agenda.”
Whitaker rolled his eyes. “That’s what happens when you jump into bed with people you don’t even know. Might want to find out a little bit more about them before committing to their sick little experiments.”
Tanner couldn’t help but agree.
Bree shrugged. “I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not great at reading people, but it’s like this fourth kidnapper feelspersonally betrayed by Gresham. Scorned almost. Wait, I...” She faded off. “Let me try something.”
Bree sat down and began typing on her laptop. Penelope looked over her head at him.
“We’ve got to leave right now or we won’t make it to that farm in time to save the third victim. Whitaker and I will head to the farm, you and Leon keep working number four and move as soon as you’ve got actionable intel.”
Tanner nodded. “I’m not leaving Bree alone.”
Penelope let out a frustrated sigh. “Do you think she’s not safe here in the middle of the police department?”
“Nothing against any sort of security here, but Bree stays with me.”
