“Anyway,” Jacob said into the silence.“I just thought you’d like an update on what’s going on over here.Let me know if you come up with any solutions,” he added, but then left it at that and they ended the call.It wasn’t Jacob’s place to tell Mårten to come back to America, but Mårten knew his partner well enough to understand that was the purpose of his call.
He sat in the car, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Jacob’s words echoing through his head.Was Summer still in danger?If that message on the dark web had been from Tyrone, was he planning a trip to Seattle?And for what reason?Some kind of stupid retribution?It wasn’t beyond the scope of plausibility; criminals often did things with very flimsy motives that most normal people wouldn’t understand.And Tyrone King definitely wasn’t most normal people.
He knew Summer wouldn’t appreciate him turning up on her doorstep.But what else was he to do?The FBI didn’t think the intel was strong enough to act on.And even though Jacob would offer to stand guard outside her house if Mårten asked him to, he couldn’t do it 24/7.He’d need backup.
Rydberg would be indignant if Mårten asked for more leave so soon after his last holidays.But then he had just solved a major case.He should be given brownie points for that.And he’d returned straight back to work without taking the few days sick leave the doctor had suggested.Maybe he could take that prescribed leave after all.
Dammit.Damn bloody Summer for being so contrary and not taking her own safety seriously.Damn bloody Tyrone King for holding some sort of personal grudge.But if there was even the slightest risk that Jacob’s intel was correct, he couldn’t leave Summer unprotected.
He knew he had to get on the next flight to Seattle.
His heart pounded painfully at the thought of seeing Summer again.But that wasn’t the reason he was going, he told himself.Things were over between them, if they’d ever really started.He needed to keep reminding himself of that.He was going there to protect her, that was all.He’d initiated this whole thing, and now he would finish it.
Mårten punched Rydberg’s number into his phone and waited for his supervisor to answer.Mårten was going whether or not Rydberg agreed, but it would be better to have a job to come back to, if he could wrangle it.
* * *
The road was deserted as Mårten strode down the quiet, leafy pathway.Saturday morning in this part of Seattle, and there was not much going on.As soon as his flight had landed, he’d gone straight to Nikki’s place and dropped off his luggage, hugged her hello, and then without even waiting to have a coffee, headed off to walk to Summer’s apartment.He was hoping to catch her before she left for the wedding.Otherwise, he might be stuck, because he had no idea where it was being held.He had no contact details for any of Summer’s friends, so he might well have to Google every marriage ceremony taking place in Seattle that day if he missed her, which wasn’t ideal.
Nikki hadn’t been surprised to see him, telling him that Jacob was expecting him, but had popped into work even though it was a Saturday to check on something, and would catch up with him this afternoon.
She also understood that Summer was Mårten’s priority.“Go and talk some sense into that woman,” she’d said, and then wished him luck.He was going to need it.
He rounded the corner onto Summer’s street, the entrance to her apartment now visible a few hundred meters away.
Wait.Was that her standing on the sidewalk?He couldn’t be sure.There was a lady in a shimmering, silvery, full-length dress with long dark hair hanging down her back struggling with a large duffle bag right at the edge of the curb.It had to be her.Yes, now he could see the cast on her left wrist.She must be waiting for a taxi or for someone to come and collect her.He’d just made it in time.Mårten lengthened his strides, wondering if he should call her name.But he was still too far away for her to hear unless he really shouted, and he didn’t want to scare her away when he was so close to seeing her again.
All of a sudden, a dark sedan pulled up beside her.Shit.Mårten ran.He was going to miss her after all.But then something happened that took Mårten a few seconds to comprehend.A tall man wearing a black balaclava got out of the car and grabbed her by the arm.Summer struggled against him, shouting incoherent words as her dress swirled around her ankles.But then the thug shoved a weapon in Summer’s face, and she stopped fighting, becoming compliant as he forced her into the backseat.
What the fuck was going on?
“Stop.Police,” Mårten yelled, sprinting down the street, but it was too late.Without a backward glance, the man got into the car, and it took off at high speed down the empty road, leaving the black duffel sitting alone on the side of the curb.
Mårten had his phone out of his pocket and was dialing Jacob’s number within seconds.He glanced about in a panic.What to do?He needed to follow that car, but how?To his utter relief, a taxi appeared around the corner, and he flagged it down, his cell still held to his ear as he kept one eye on the disappearing car.
“Follow that car,” he yelled as he jumped into the taxi.“I’m a police officer pursuing a felon,” he added, pulling his badge out of his shirt pocket.It was a Swedish police badge, which was gold instead of silver like the American badges, but that didn’t seem to deter this guy, as after one quick glance, he floored the gas pedal.
The driver was Black, in his mid-twenties, and he seemed to relish his role.“Cool, man.I ain’t never been involved in a police chase before.”
Mårten leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the black car ahead of them, which was no longer disappearing, as the driver kept up and they perhaps even gained on it.It had to be Tyrone in that car, didn’t it?No one else would have a reason to snatch her off the street.Or if it wasn’t him, could he have sent some of his cronies to do his dirty work?
Jacob finally answered his phone.
“I need you to track a car,” Mårten yelled.“I got a partial.It’s a black town car.A sedan—I’m not sure what make.The first three letters are BZN.”Mårten hadn’t been sufficiently close to get a good look at the full registration plate, and he knew his partial probably wouldn’t be enough.“I’m following the car in a taxi down Summer’s street.Someone just snatched her off the curb right in front of my eyes.”
Jacob had the wisdom not to ask stupid questions.Instead, he said, “Stay on the line.I’ll get someone on it right away.And I’ll send any available unit to your location.”
Mårten merely grunted.Then he pointed a finger at the windscreen.“He’s turning,” he said roughly.
“I see it,” the taxi driver replied.The dude was good.He wasn’t panicking, remaining calm and in control; in fact, he was enjoying it.
Mårten stayed on the line with Jacob as they followed the car, twisting and turning through the streets.They seemed to be heading out of town, and at one stage they drove over a long bridge, which took them off the main island where the city central was located, and began moving east through the suburbs and then into the mountains.They caught up with the car when it had to slow for the city traffic, and Mårten could give Jacob the full registration plate.He talked to the driver, making him stay well back, so they weren’t noticed.He exchanged names with the guy, who was called Rishi, and Mårten told him he was doing a great job.
“Where the hell is this guy going?”Mårten muttered to himself.He still didn't know if it was Tyrone driving, but he was feeling more and more confident that it had to be.
“Are you sure you want me to keep following him?”This was the first time the driver had shown any signs of nerves.
“Yes, yes.”Mårten ground his teeth together, then said more slowly.“Yes, please, you’re doing a great job.”But Mårten knew he needed a plan.These abductors could be driving all the way to Chicago for all he knew.
