Chase grabbed a black canvas bag off the seat beside him and set it on top of the Formica table.
Reese took a sip of his coffee, needing it, glad it was black and strong.
“There’s a fingerprint kit in here,” Chase said. “Bags for any trace evidence you find. If Kenzie cut one of them, see if you can get a blood smear for DNA.”
Reese nodded. “Apparently, they were wearing gloves, but there’s definitely blood in the room that isn’t hers.”
“I brought you a couple of throwaway phones. I’ve already programmed my cell number into each of them. We can stay in touch and not have to worry about them tracking us.”
“Good idea.” He should have thought of that. At least he had disabled his cell. His worry for Kenzie and Griff had left his mind a little fuzzy, but his focus was returning. Soon he’d be able to proceed with his usual unshakable control.
“There’s no way to know where this is headed,” Chase said. “I assume you’ve got your own weapon, but there’s an S&W .380 in the bag you might want for backup.”
Reese pulled back the navy blue windbreaker he was wearing with jeans and a dark blue T-shirt, flashing the Nighthawk .45 holstered on his belt. “I’m armed, but a spare piece might come in handy.”
He was an extremely good shot. This wasn’t the first time he was glad he had taken the classes for a concealed-carry permit.
Chase took a drink of his coffee. “I’m going to say this right up front. Even if you give the kidnappers what they want, there’s still a chance they’ll kill the boy.”
His stomach clenched. He knew it. Didn’t want to believe it, but he knew it was true. “We have to find them, go in, and get Griff out ourselves.”
“That’s right. Once they call, you need to draw out the negotiations as long as possible, give us time to find out where they’ve got him stashed. Make sure you ask for proof of life and make sure they understand the boy can’t be harmed in any way or they don’t get the money.”
Reese nodded. His brother had to know the money would be coming from him. Chase didn’t mention it. A child’s life was at stake.
“You need to call Tabby,” Chase said, taking a drink of his coffee. “Have her set Kenzie’s phone up to track the ransom call when it comes in. Once you’re back at her house, enable your phone and do the same in case they contact you directly.”
He nodded, anxious to get back to the town house. He didn’t like leaving Kenzie alone. “Anything else?”
“I’ll put the word out. Hawk’s back in town. I’ll talk to him, see what he can find out. Lissa’s in Denver, but I’ll bring Jax and Wolfe up to speed, make sure they keep their eyes and ears open.” Detectives who worked at The Max. “If there’s word on the street of anything going down, we’ll know about it.”
Reese rose from the booth, tossed money on the table to pay for their coffee and a generous tip. “I’ll see what I can find in Griff’s bedroom.” It would take some time to get the results from the lab Chase used, but the information could be crucial.
“Keep in touch,” Chase said, also rising.
Worried about Kenzie, Reese grabbed the canvas satchel and headed out the door.
Kenzie sat at the breakfast table, holding a plastic bag of frozen peas against the side of her face. Her cell phone rested on the table in front of her. She had no idea when the men would call. She just prayed that they would. Prayed that wherever Griff was, he was okay and the men hadn’t hurt him.
The thought sent a shaft of pain straight into her heart. Griff was just a little boy. By now he was probably awake and terrified. Maybe afraid something horrible had happened to her and Gran. He had no way of knowing.
Silently, she willed him not to fight the men. Just hold on until she could bring him home. A sob caught in her throat but she forced it away. She couldn’t afford to break down. She had to be strong for Griff.
“Reese should be back soon,” Gran said, pulling Kenzie’s mind out of the dark place it had wandered.
She set the bag of frozen peas on the table. “Maybe Reese decided he doesn’t want to get any more deeply involved. Maybe he figured we’ve brought him enough trouble already.”
One of her grandmother’s silver eyebrows arched up. “You think he’d abandon you?”
Her throat tightened. She couldn’t believe she had said the words out loud. “No. Reese wouldn’t do that.”
“I know he wouldn’t. The man has real feelings for you, honey. It’s in his eyes every time he looks at you.”
Kenzie leaned back in her chair, her body aching, every muscle moving as if she were wrapped in chains. “Even if he cares for me, he’s not interested in a long-term relationship. A couple of months, then he’ll be looking for someone new and he’ll want us to just go back to being colleagues.”
Which his other women seemed able to do, but not Kenzie. She was in too deep. Her days as his assistant were limited. But she trusted him to help her get settled somewhere else. The thought sent fresh pain into her already battered heart.
“You don’t know that’s what’s going to happen,” her grandmother said.
