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Casey was dead asleep when her cell phone rang.
She reached across Hutch and groped at her nightstand, until her hand made contact with her BlackBerry.
“Casey Woods,” she mumbled into the phone.
“Casey?” It was Amanda’s voice. And it sounded high and shaky.
Casey was instantly awake. Her first and only thought was Justin. “Amanda? What’s wrong?”
“I got a phone call,” Amanda said, on the verge of hysteria. “It was a man. His voice was…weird.”
“Weird like he was using a voice scrambler? Like he wanted to disguise his identity?”
“I guess. It was as if he were in an echo chamber. But he knew me, Casey. He said my name. He told me what time I’d come outside the hospital for some air. He told me what I was wearing. And he told me to stop looking for Paul—to tell you to stop looking for Paul.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“Not in so many words. But he made it clear that he would be watching us to make sure. He didn’t say ‘or else.’ But his tone of voice did. And, Casey…” Amanda’s voice broke. “Right before he hung up, he said that he certainly hopes my son, Justin, gets well. Then he broke the connection. What does that mean? Does he plan on doing something to my baby?”
“It means he was going for your emotional Achilles’ heel.” Casey’s mind was racing. “The more personal he makes this, the more terrified you’ll be, and the more apt to listen to his demands. He’s trying to scare you, Amanda, but he’s the one who’s scared. We’re getting close. If anything, that’s good news, not bad.” She paused. “How long ago did he call?”
“Two minutes ago. I called you the instant he hung up. And there was no caller ID. It said Unavailable.”
“Check your phone again—but not for a caller ID. Do you have any missed calls? Messages?”
“I checked as soon as I got to the general waiting area where I was allowed to turn on my cell phone.” Amanda was holding herself together by a hair. “There were no missed calls. A few messages from friends and a couple of pushy ones from the press. No hang-ups. Why?”
“Did this man call you right then—as soon as you turned on your phone?”
“As I was checking my last message.”
“Then I’m guessing that either he or someone who’s working with him is inside the hospital. It’s the only way he’d know exactly when you were reachable.”
“Oh, my God.” Amanda lost it again. “That means he’s close to Justin.”
“Sloane Kettering is a big hospital.” Casey battled Amanda’s understandable panic. “He could be in any one of dozens of places and still keep you in his sight.” Casey dragged a hand through her tangled mane of hair. “But we won’t take any chances. I’ll call Patrick and have him stand guard outside the PICU.”
“Why Patrick? Why not Marc?”
“Because Patrick is the right person for this job. Before he joined Forensic Instincts, he was a security consultant for law enforcement and private companies—big ones. He’s consulted for the NYPD, the FBI and a long list of other entities. And, before that, he was an FBI agent for over thirty years. No one will get by him.”
“I’m sorry…” Amanda inhaled sharply. “It’s just that…”
“I know you trust Marc. But trust all of us. Trust me. When I say Patrick’s the one you want, he is.”
“You’re right. And I do trust you. I’m just a wreck.” Another attempt at a calming breath. “When can Patrick get here?”
“I’ll call him right now.” Casey remembered Claire saying that Patrick had gone home to spend time with his wife. And home for Patrick was in Hoboken, New Jersey, a short ride through the Holland Tunnel and into Manhattan. “He’ll be there within the hour. And I’m going to see what Ryan can get off your cell records. My guess is nothing, if this guy is a pro. But it can’t hurt to try. And, Amanda, remember, no one’s interested in hurting you or Justin. They just want to protect whatever secret it is they have—and that secret involves Paul. So keep a low profile. No more videos. No public statements. Let us take the lead and the risk.”
“I will.”
Casey disconnected the call and pressed Patrick’s speed dial number. By the time they hung up, he was halfway out the door, on his way to Sloane Kettering.
Casey flopped back against the pillows with a heavy sigh.
“You okay?” Hutch asked, rolling onto his side and propping himself on one elbow.
