He'd experienced a healthy, measured amount of fear during life and death situations on past missions. But that feeling was nothing like this. The dread he felt about something happening to Allie . . . and to his future with Allie . . . He needed to tamp down those fears.Focus. Work the problem.His worry wasn't going to keep Allie safe.
"At least something's going right today." Jason's voice pulled his thoughts away from Allie. Mostly.
"You did it?"
Jason gave a thumbs up as he stepped down from the truck.
"Did you just cut the red wire? That's what they do in the movies. Or is it the blue wire?"
"Neither. I'll explain some other time." He pointed toward The Mandeville. "We need to—"
"Yeah." Knox didn't need Jason to finish his sentence. They both sprinted back toward the main entrance, headed for Drakos's office.
To keep from attracting unwanted attention, they slowed their pace as they neared the front doors, but walked with purpose as they reentered the lobby.
Knox angled toward Jason, keeping his voice low. "Those guys gave us one piece of good news."
"What's that?"
"The driver referred to Drakos as our 'boss.' I don't think Byron suspects we're working with the FBI or any other agency."
Jason gave a curt nod. "And we need to keep it that way." He tugged at his borrowed shirt. "We need to keep these uniforms on. They help sell that image."
They entered the elevator, and Knox pressed the button for the second floor. "I noticed you didn't text Drakos. You don't want to tell him we're on our way to him?"
"No. I have a feeling Kendall is already in his office. And I don't want Drakos saying anything in front of Kendall without us present. We need to get a good read on this guy. You told Allie what to look for?"
"Yeah, she knows." He scratched his jaw, wishing the elevator would move faster. "But I'm hoping Kendall will provide some clue about the location of the bombs."
The elevator doors opened. "Don't count on it, Knox."
A minute later, Knox and Jason stood in Drakos's office, staring at Kendall—looking far too much like Goliath—with a manila envelope clenched in his meaty hand.
Kendall hadn't looked surprised when they burst in a moment earlier. And the sneer on his face extinguished any hope of cooperation. He stared at them for a moment as if entertained by their sudden presence.
"I have a man watching the east parking area. He tells me you found our second team."
Neither Knox nor Jason felt the need to respond to that.
"No problem." The sneer twitched. "You missed spotting the first team, and the first three devices are in position." He lifted the manila envelope, opened it, and withdrew a small stack of papers. He eyed Drakos like a bug he was about to swat. "This is the contract. Mr. Drakos, all you need to do is sign, and all your problems go away."
Kendall turned his large head to Knox and Jason. "Lest you believe there's any benefit in attacking me, I do not know exactly where the devices are placed. I'm of no use to you,exceptthat one call to my boss can guarantee no one gets hurt. I'm the go-between. And your only hope for avoiding massive casualties."
Drakos was wringing his hands so hard that Knox feared the bushy-browed resort owner might break a finger. Beads of sweat popped up across his forehead, and he stared at Knox and Jason with wide eyes, looking desperate and terrified. "Now what?" he asked. "What do we do now?"
Knox was about to suggest Drakos calm down.
But Kendall spoke first. "Check your phone. The bomber should be texting three images—one of each device with the countdown illuminated." He glanced at his watch. "He should have sent them by now. The first device will detonate at 5:00, the second at 5:10, and the third at 5:20. They're set at different times in case you call our bluff. The one at 5:00 should convince you to sign before 5:10. If you need more convincing, the second one will go off, and so on."
Drakos fumbled with his phone, then tapped on the screen a few times. A moment later, whatever he saw on the screen elicited a sharp gasp.
Jason grabbed Drakos's phone from his hand, glanced at the images, and showed the screen to Knox, his face grim. "We have an hour and twenty minutes."
Knox nodded, but he wasn't convinced Kendall and the bomber would play by their stated rules. "What assurance do we have that your bomber will deactivate the bombs? He probably can't access them quickly. Maybe you're bluffing about his ability to turn them off."
Kendall's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not bluffing. The bomber is here at The Mandeville. You probably already assumed that. I don't know where he placed the devices, but he's close by and assures me he'll deactivate them when I tell him Drakos has signed the contract." He looked at Drakos. "I do have orders to carry out more personal threats if you haven't signed after 5:20, but you're a reasonable man. I don't believe I'll have to resort to that. Just know that one way or another, my boss will get those papers signed today."
Drakos paled.
