Page 74 of Long Past Deadly

Quaid didn’t like the slump of her shoulders, and she was rubbing her left ear. “This guy has gone a long time without getting caught. If it was easy to trace this stuff back, someone else would have done it long ago. Let’s focus on what we have.”

Frank scratched his ear. “Like what?”

“Whit. We have to find Whit. An answer to what happened between the two of them might define the last four things he tried and why he failed.” Alanna turned back to the boards.

Quaid went to her side. “Whether it’s because he’s devolving or he has a definite agenda doesn’t matter. He’s after you. It’s his main objective. Two out of the three tries in the last few days have been about getting to you.”

Alanna put her back to the board and stared at him. “Agreed, but this way is taking too long. He’s in a window where the failures are pricking at his ego, and it’s the time to push him.”

Frank’s eyes widened. “Push him, how?”

Quaid let out an exasperated breath. “By putting Alanna back out there for him to find.”

“Bait.”

He didn’t like the way Frank said the word.

“How? When? Where?” Frank rapid fire spit out the questions.

“To be determined.” Quaid’s phone beeped.

“I want in. So keep me in the loop.” Frank finished off his drink in a couple gulps while Quaid checked his phone.

“Mackey.” He hit the redial.

When he answered, Quaid kept it short. “What do you have?”

Mackey got right to the situation. “I have Whit. We found him. Our Lady of the Open Gate. We need Alanna. He’s being uncooperative.”

“Well, hell.” Quaid changed to speakerphone and turned to Alanna. “Mackey found Whit.”

She jerked and grabbed the phone from his hand. “Is he all right?”

Mac’s dry answer told Quaid nothing. “I wouldn’t describe him that way, but we need you.”

She handed the phone back. “Let’s go.”

He stopped her. “Get armed. We’re not taking a full team with us. We agreed we’d be prepared for this guy no matter what.”

Frank set the empty can aside. “I’ll tag along. Where?”

“Our Lady of the Open Gate.”

“I know where it is. I’ll meet you there.” Frank jogged to the entry and exited the front door. With his siren, he’d beat them to the scene.

He put the phone back to his ear. “Frank was here. He’s on his way. We’ll be right behind him.”

“Copy. Out.” Mackey signed off.

“Let’s go.”

He followed Alanna to the security room and issued instructions.

Locked and loaded, they went out the door in a rush.

What was it one of his Marine buddies used to say?

Lord willing and come what may.