“Done. Y’all should get Oscars for your performances. I synched up Frank’s reactions to everyone else’s and added in some special effects. You got five minutes of feed for them to watch after that.”
“So, let’s figure thirteen minutes on the outside before they decide what to do with Sylvie.” Kyle looked at Brock and Shane, both native Coloradans. “How far away are we from where they had her last?”
“If Frank didn’t lie, it’s west of Loveland, an hour from here by the highways, and about forty-five minutes if you know the back roads really,reallywell,” Shane said, pointing to the screen. “It’s way the hell and gone, but I pulled it up on satellite.”
Tex’s voice came over the phone. “And not much in the way of traffic cameras close in, but we’re monitoring traffic along Highways 34 and 36.”
“Fuck. And either she’s still there or she’s already been turned over,” Alex said.
“Frank’s been working with the cartel. He’ll know who’s most likely to take her. Gina will know what Frank’s lying about and what’s the truth.”
“Iftheydidn’t lie to him,” Alex said.
“Don’t even go there, Chief,” Kyle warned.
Alex looked at Brock. “Hate to do this to you brother, but what did Brianna say about the men who took her?”
Brock grimaced. “She was blindfolded the entire time, so she never got a look at the guy who was questioning her, but he did have a verbal tic.”
Shane’s eyes narrowed. “Verbal tic?”
Before Brock could answer, they heard the back-office door open and two people walking down the hall. Gina appeared with Frank. He didn’t have a mark on him, but he looked like he’d seen a ghost. Now Alex understood a little more about Gina’s nickname—Spooky.
“Eleven minutes,” Gina said. “Frank has made a deal, but he’s going back in the cage while we talk, aren’t you, Frank?”
He nodded.
“Shane, can you take him?” she asked.
The big man shifted his weight. “I…need to be in on this conversation.”
Gina pursed her lips. She nodded once. “Fine.”
“I’ve got him,” Jake offered. He went to the door and started down the hall with Frank. Gina closed the door behind them.
“I cut a deal with Frank.” Gina ticked off points on her fingers. “One, I make him disappear after this. Two, my branch of Watchdog keeps an eye on his daughter in California.” She looked at Alex. “Three, Betty has a home here.”
“Done,” Alex said. “I’m more than happy to take care of Betty.” He glanced at Kyle, who nodded.
Jake came back into the room. “Frank’s secure.”
“Thanks, Jake,” Gina said. “I sent my friends the address and a photo of the map Frank drew. If it’s a Capitoline stronghold, they have a better chance of taking it than we do. They’re already en route to the site and should be there about the time they watch Frank get his head blown off. We’ll know soon if Sylvie is there.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “Already en route?”
Gina nodded. “I had a feeling we’d be tangling with Capitoline even before you found that package, so I gave them a heads up when I arrived in Colorado and they mobilized. They’re very eager to eradicate Capitoline, even if it’s just one branch, and this has been our best lead here.”
That wasn’t good enough for Alex. “So, what do we do if Sylvie’s already been handed off to the gang? Did Frank tell who it would be?”
Gina shook her head. “Frank said Capitoline’s plan is to set up Watchdog to take down the gang as well as get blamed for Tom’s death.” Her expression turned grimmer. “AndSylvie’s death or disappearance, whichever happens first. They figured we’d kill Frank too, and that would be three dead officers on Watchdog. Frank figured even if we didn’t kill him, Capitoline would, despite their promises to the contrary. He thought his only chance of getting out of this alive and keeping his daughter safe was to try and make a deal with us. Frank doesn’t know who they’re turning Sylvie over to, but he narrowed it down to three men.”
Alex pulled the hair on top of his head. “If Sylvie’s not there, we don’t have time to follow up on three people.”
“I think I can help with that,” Shane said.
Gina turned her golden-eyed gaze on him. “Talk,” she ordered Shane. “You have one minute.”
All eyes landed on him, and Alex felt sick. His thoughts were reflected in Kyle’s face—did they havetwomoles?Fuck. Alex remembered Shane texting on his phone the night before to a so-called buddy. Had he been telling Capitoline all their moves?
