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Vance dropped his head into his hands. “I can’t give them what they want. But Lauren is my child, and I can’t sit still and do nothing.”
“I didn’t suggest doing nothing. I said that violating their instructions would be a huge mistake. The steps you need to take must be strategic and under the radar, taken with proper direction. My group and I will provide you with that direction while we’re simultaneously searching for Lauren. We’ll bring her home. As for who we are, I’ve told you what you need to know. We don’t exactly carry business cards. If you’re wondering about our skills, don’t. We’re all former military, former government agents, former specialists in more areas than I can enumerate. All exceptional. Trust me, we’re more than qualified. And unlike the FBI, CIA, and MI6, we have no limitations, rules, or hidden political agendas. We just resolve situations like Lauren’s.”
Vance blew out a breath. “I don’t see that I have a choice.”
“Yes you do. You can tell me to leave your office and then follow the conventional route.”
“Which you think will get Lauren killed.”
Aidan didn’t mince words. “I do. Any FBI involvement will be discovered. And while I think highly of our country’s law enforcement agencies, I think more of us. Your decision. One thing you should know up front. If you opt to work with us, we’ll be taking the lead and you’ll be following it. That’s unconditional.”
Per usual, Aidan’s certainty and confidence struck home, and Vance nodded.
“Okay.” His eyes were glazed and he was clearly still in shock. “Tell me what to do.”
Aidan sat back in his chair. “Your family is going to Lake Tahoe tomorrow for a family vacation.”
Vance didn’t even bother to ask how Aidan knew that. “Yes. But of course, we’ll cancel that now.”
“No. You won’t. As per the kidnappers’ conditions, you need to stick to business as usual, and that includes taking your family’s annual vacation. Any deviation in your behavior will be noted and acted upon.”
“How the hell am I supposed to go skiing with my kids when their sister is being held captive in some godforsaken place, enduring Lord knows what kind of hell?”
“Because, as I said, you and I are former Marines. Marines don’t quit. And we don’t leave team members or family behind.” Aidan plucked a Post-it from Vance’s desk and scribbled down a name and phone number. “With regard to Lauren’s physical condition, my experience tells me they’re not harming her,” he said as he wrote. “That would be contrary to their end goal. They need her alive and well to get what they want.” Aidan handed the Post-it to Vance.
“What is this?” Vance glanced down at it, seeing the name and the international dialing code +33. “Who is Simone Martin and why am I calling her in France?”
“Lyon,” Aidan clarified. “Simone works there as a managing partner for McKinsey. I want her out here ASAP. Use the guise that you need to reorganize your division, given all the pressures on growth. McKinsey will gladly send her to develop, explore, and implement ideas—for a healthy fee. She’s the best there is at recognizing and enhancing current talent and determining the criteria for hiring future superstars.”
“But you’re intimating that that’s not why she’ll really be here,” Vance deduced aloud. “She’s part of this team of yours.”
“She’s both, but yes. Simone is extraordinary at sniffing out friend from foe. She’ll be our inside person. We have to make sure there are no moles right here at NanoUSA who are being paid to find and leak information to whoever is trying to steal your technology—most probably the Chinese. An internal conspirator is always suspect in situations like this.” Aidan’s brows drew together. “I assume your relationship with your CEO, Robert Maxwell, is good?”
“Very good,” Vance confirmed.
Something in Vance’s tone told Aidan there was more to that answer. “What aren’t you telling me?”
The briefest of pauses. “This isn’t public information yet. It hasn’t even been released inside the company, and it won’t be until after the new technology has been rolled out. Seeing this achievement to completion is Robert’s dream. After that, he plans to retire.”
“After which you’ll be named NanoUSA’s new CEO,” Aidan concluded.
Vance had ceased looking surprised at Aidan’s perceptiveness. “Yes.”
“Congratulations.” Aidan tucked that tidbit away for later. Even though no announcements had been made, that didn’t mean someone didn’t know about this. There were no such things as secrets, not in corporate America. “Is Maxwell accessible today?” he asked.
“He’s in his office,” Vance replied. “I came from a meeting with him just before you arrived.”
“Good. Then, right after I leave, find a way to cut through corporate bullshit and hire Simone as a management consultant, scheduled to start on Monday. That’ll not only get her in place ASAP, it’ll explain the daily morning flights you’ll be taking from Tahoe to here during the week. You’ll be in meetings at NanoUSA until noon. Then, you’ll be making return trips to your family. It’ll satisfy the kidnappers and keep you in the loop.”
Vance gave a hard swallow. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Once Maxwell is on board, call Simone at that number.” Aidan gestured at the Post-it. “Fill her in on NanoUSA. As for the rest—I’ll have brought her up to speed by then.”
Vance was still staring at the Post-it. His head was obviously spinning and he looked like he was going to be sick. “What do I tell my family?”
“Tell your kids nothing,” Aidan replied. “They need to be kept completely in the dark for their own protection and for Lauren’s. As for your wife, it will be hard to keep this from her. I’m sure she’ll continue asking why Lauren’s communications are odd and/or absent. She’s her mother.” Aidan studied Vance carefully. “Tell me about Susan. Will she be able to hold it together and keep this between you? And will she accept the route you’ve chosen to take or will her emotions demand that you call the FBI?”
“She’ll do this.” Vance didn’t hesitate. “She’ll be a wreck. But she’ll pull herself together. She’d do anything for our kids. And in this case—it’s Lauren’s life we’re protecting. So she’ll accept and work with my decision.”
