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Turning over her options, she ditched the idea of ordering a new computer. Nichols would likely intercept the shipment. Ruth used a laptop and it was most often with her at the Midnight Rooster. She could snoop through Carson’s gear, but she hadn’t seen any evidence he’d brought any tech beyond his smart phone.
Besides, she wasn’t supposed to be sneaking around. They expected her to cooperate and work in conjunction with the ghost in the FBI office.
Maybe it was time for the ghost to step up. Opening the chat window, she made her request, framed in pleasant, cooperative words. She even shared a valid, primary reason for her request.
When she was sure he was sufficiently distracted, she set off on a cyber journey to find the trail of breadcrumbs Abraham Morcos had left behind.
Chapter 9
Bakrreviewedthephotosonce more. The holding area and the staging of the hostage earned his full approval. The men hired for this task had carried out his instructions to the letter.
He wondered if her handlers would let her answer his invitation—if they would barter one brief conversation for another man’s life.
Probably not.
If the roles were reversed, he wouldn’t sacrifice his queen so early in the game.
He’d been told the email went out on schedule, but she had not answered him. Did she understand his proposal or had he overestimated her ability and influence?
How disappointing if their queen turned out to be nothing but an empty-headed poster child for equality in the American Army.
He’d thought of that angle—thought of every angle of course—before he’d made the first move.
If she didn’t have the information he needed, she was disposable immediately.
He drummed his fingers on the desk, growing impatient for his plans to bear fruit. He fought the urge to make the call and speed things up, to dispense with the game and simply take what was his sooner rather than later.
Closing his eyes, he envisioned the ideal outcome, knew it would not happen if he left any loose ends.
His brother, Abraham, was gone and the family in mourning. Already they looked to him for comfort as they dealt with the shock and despair of loss. Soon they would turn to him for guidance and grant him control of the company he coveted. He would steer them into a time of unprecedented prosperity.
But first, the queen… she was the last loose end.
Finally, the static images on his computer changed as a team stormed in to make their rescue. He watched, eager for a glimpse of the woman he knew only by voice and reputation.
There was no sign of her. He resigned himself to wait a bit longer. They identified one camera and disabled it quickly, but he watched the drama play out on the second camera.
Just as they’d done the night his nephew was killed, the team advanced. The first explosion knocked them back. The injuries would be minor, by design. The camera on the hostage showed the man’s agitation as he strained against his bonds and shouted warnings to his rescuers.
Perfect.
For a moment, rescue activity halted and Bakr filled in the predictable discussion. Surely they would ask the queen for her advice. He’d staged it so she would remember vividly the night his nephew had been sacrificed.
He sent the code for his next move, relishing the ripple of anticipation.
His ransom was an audience with the queen. If they would not bring her to him, he would take her. He watched the team change tactics and let them have the hostage. The exercise had served its purpose.
It was clear to him now how much her team cared for her and respected her opinion. And they would give him exactly what he needed to take her back.
Chapter 10
Pickinguptheradiohandset from the kitchen counter, Carson requested a status from the perimeter team. He confirmed windows were locked tight upstairs as each of the six men outside checked in with all clear signals.
Downstairs, he did the same circuit, skipping the den because he didn’t want to disturb Eva. She was so intent, he figured the last thing she’d bother with was opening a window.
He finished the breakfast cleanup, needing to do something while they waited for word on the Matheson rescue. The helpless, sitting duck feeling was already getting to him. Someone was making his town unsafe. Beyond taking a shot at Eva, the false alarms and staged accidents were unsettling for everyone in his community.
He poured the last of the coffee into his mug and stared out the window at the glassy lake.
