Page 106 of Lion’s Den

“You’ll find her,” Owen said from his watch position at the back door.

Cam asked, “Think you can handle another search while you hunt for Sedona?”

“Depends. Who or what would I be looking for?”

“Eddie Ramirez.”

“Related to Julio, I assume.”

“Brother. He’s sixteen and just got his license.”

David took over. “He was staying at the Rocking M with his mother and ran off.”

“With the security you have, how did he manage that?”

“It’s easy when one of your deputies is taking kickbacks from The Collector.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I have a theory about that,” Cam said. “But I’ll wait until we’re not under the mission clock before I tell all.”

“Copy that. I’ll let you know when or if I find anything. Murphy out.”

“Cam.”

He turned toward Dario. “Give me some good news.”

“I think I’ve got it.”

“You think?”

“Nothing is a sure bet in this business.” He grinned. “But the odds are in our favor.”

“Tell me.”

“Simpson was telling the truth about the explosives. Every window and door is wired to blow. The second someone opens a door or raises a window, boom.”

Cam scowled. “That isn’t good news. We have to escape so we can get Sedona back.” The only good news in this situation was Julio wasn’t with Sedona. Bad news that he was still here. Good news that he wouldn’t be here for long. Neither would the teams.

“Agreed. When you’re ready to go, I’ll need two minutes.”

“Consider us ready,” David said. “The sooner, the better.”

Dario looked at Cam. “Sir?”

“Go.”

The EOD man loped down the hall again.

“Get ready,” Cam said, and he and Owen went back to watching the remaining guards. Why hadn’t Simpson said anything about the bodies littering the ground around the building? Perhaps because these guys were mercenaries for hire, and Simpson didn’t care if they lived or not. The Collector, after all, had his own contingent of guards who had taken over the watch. These were the men in danger now. Didn’t they realize Simpson planned to make them the scapegoats for the police?

In less than a minute, Dario returned. “Done.”

Cam pivoted on his heel, eyebrows raised. “I want an explanation later. Where’s the escape route?”

“The window on the back wall of the room where Julio was held.”

David said, “Elliot, where?”