Page 39 of John’s Yearning

He noticed her swallow hard, then she continued, “I think I know who’s behind this.”

Surprise shot through him. “You do?”

“Alexi, my employee. You read the note, you saw what it said—not to involve you, my private investigator. Alexi knew that I’d hired you. In fact, I think he’s the only one who knew. I hadn’t said anything to my neighbor or to Elysa or the teachers. Yet the kidnapper knew. It has to be Alexi. He would also have the technical knowledge to watch me constantly. That’s why I couldn’t contact you.” The words fairly tumbled over her lips, while her chest heaved. “We have to follow him. He’ll lead us to Buffy.”

John contemplated her words for a moment. He’d had the same suspicion. “I’ve got two men on his tail already. They’re under orders not to let him out of their sight. I spoke to them less than an hour ago. Alexi was in Glen Park at the time.”

She shifted in her seat. “That’s plenty of time to get to Stern Grove.”

“The kidnappers wore masks. Did they speak?”

She nodded, then her shoulders dropped. “Alexi has a strong accent. Both of those guys sounded American.” She let out a breath. “But that doesn’t mean anything. He could have hired them to do his dirty work, while he kept watch on Buffy.”

It was a possibility. John nodded, but decided not to tell Savannah that Damian had seen Alexi purchase duct tape and a rope. “Let me check in with my guys to see where Alexi is now.” He pulled out his cell, and instead of letting the call go via the hands-free speaker system in the car, he brought the cell phone to his ear and waited for Damian to pick up.

“Hey, John.”

“Damian, any news? Where’s Alexi now?”

“At home.”

“You sure?”

“I’m right outside his place. Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Did he stop off somewhere on his way home?”

“Actually, he went across the street from his place and knocked at a neighbor’s door.”

“Did he go in?”

“No. Just handed the old man the shopping bag.”

“With the stuff he bought in Glen Park?”

“Yep. The old dude thanked him and gave him the money for it.”

The rope and duct tape were a dead end. But that didn’t mean that Alexi was off the hook yet. He could still be involved. “Stay on him. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay.”

John disconnected the call and looked at Savannah. “Alexi is at home. No sign of Buffy or of him having contact with anybody that could lead us to her.” For a split-second he thought about the old man Alexi had given the rope and duct tape to. Could he be holding Buffy for him? It was a possibility, but Damian had mentioned that the old man had paid Alexi for the purchase, and he wouldn’t have done so if he was Buffy’s jailor.

Savannah turned her head and looked out the passenger side window. In the reflection of the glass he saw the effort with which she kept herself together, the energy it cost her to stay strong in the face of this setback.

He was glad that they were turning into her street now, and even more relieved when he saw somebody pull out of a parking spot outside Savannah’s condo. John took the spot and brought the car to a stop.

Before he opened the car door, he looked around using his mirrors. He’d done the same while they’d driven to her place, but hadn’t noticed anybody following them. And he was trained to notice. It was safe. For now.

John exited the car and walked around to the passenger side to help Savannah out. When they reached the front door, she stared at it for a moment then looked up at him. “I don’t know what happened to my handbag. I must have lost it in the struggle.”

“It’s okay.” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his lock pick again. Within seconds, the door was open. He ushered her inside.

“You do this a lot?”

He shrugged and closed the door behind them. “Comes with the job.”

She didn’t smile, her facial expression one of pain and resignation. When he followed her up the stairs into her flat, he noticed her favoring her left side, pressing a hand to the ribs on her right side. She was still hurting, though she put on a brave face.