“Director Jackson and Harrison remain in the cabin. When I left, they remained under the influence of drugs given to knock them out. You must track this phone’s location. I only have half a battery left.”
“Hold on, Rhodes,” he ordered. She listened as he shouted instructions to the other agents.
“I have Dan working on it now. Keep your phone on,” he instructed. “Can you tell us what you see?”
“I’m under a bridge. The cabin’s remote. I’ve marked my trail to get back to them. They’re expecting Rahimi’s cousin Hasan to show up this morning. He came into the country from Vermont. They’re searching for Avie Rahimi’s location.”
“Good job, Rhodes,” Director Stills praised her. “Can you get to a safe place?”
Rebecca moved from the bridge and saw a truck stop not too far away. “Yeah,” she mumbled, already salivating for a cup of coffee.
“Call me back in half an hour,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” she replied before hanging up. Walking toward the busy restaurant, she shrugged out of her coat and turned it inside out. Rebecca reached into the pockets and pulled out the spare money she always kept in there after a long walk for her favorite coffee near her apartment.
“May I have a cup of coffee to go?” she asked the waitress.
“Honey, if he roughed you up this bad, you need more than a cup of Joe. Get you a bat and the next time he’s sleeping, whack him a couple of times and leave,” the waitress advised, leading her toward the back.
“I can’t stay,” she said, easily playing along with the ruse. “He might find me.”
“Don’t worry. Big Mike will keep him away from you. Stay in the kitchen and he’ll make sure you’re fed,” she promised as she opened the swinging door.
A giant of a man stood behind the stove and smiled at her as he flipped eggs and hash browns. “Have a seat, and I’ll get you fixed up in no time,” he said.
“Thanks,” she said as the waitress returned to the floor.
“Where are you from?” he asked as he flipped a couple of pancakes.
“Texas,” she lied. “I thought coming here might put distance between us. What’s the name of this town again?”
“Berlin,” he informed her as he set a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast before her with a side of two pancakes.
Rebecca smiled and said, “Thanks,” as she picked up her fork and shoveled the food in her mouth. The pounding in her ears grew louder as she mentally calculated the distance between Berlin, New Hampshire, and Greenville, Maine.
“Slow down,” Big Mike chuckled. “There’s plenty more where that came from.”
Rebecca chugged the hot coffee and stood. “Thanks, Big Mike.”
“Where are you going? It’s freezing outside and you look like hell,” he exclaimed.
“I can’t stay. He’ll find me,” she said, sticking with their assumption. “I appreciate the hot meal. One day, I’ll pay you back.”
“No need. Promise me, you won’t go back,” he insisted. “It’s too dangerous.”
She knew what he meant, but his words seemed to echo a warning about her current situation. “I know what I have to do,” she said, smiling at him. Rebecca left through the back entrance and waited until she saw three signature SUVS pull into the parking lot. Men climbed out, searching for her and her phone rang as she watched from the corner of the building.
“Yes?” she answered.
“I sent a team to fetch you. They’ll arrive any minute. Give them the location of the cabin where Harrison and Jackson are held,” Director Stills ordered.
“Yes, sir,” she said, heading toward the vehicles.
As she approached, one of the men stopped and waited for her.
“I’m Special Agent Hemming, and you must be Agent Rhodes. We heard you experienced a long night. Do you think you can lead us to the cabin where they held you?”
“Yes,” she said, climbing into the passenger seat. “Head west and I’ll tell you where to turn. How many men?” she asked.
