Claire studied it. “This is a lovely town,” she said. “I can only imagine how they’re reeling from this tragedy.”
Garrett reached over and squeezed her hand. “Places like this feel safe until they don’t. But we’re going to catch Derek, and when we do, they’ll feel safe again.”
The station was a small, cinder-block building with a wide front entrance and a pitched roof. A flag flew proudly on a pole in the postage-stamp-sized yard. They parked, Garrett insisting Claire stay in the vehicle until he came to get her. Lynx and Grizzly joined him, and the three moved as a unit to surround her as they guided her inside.
Just as they crossed the threshold, Ian arrived. He jogged up the steps and nodded at Garrett. “Hope you don’t mind if I tag along.”
Detective Mills with Blackridge PD greeted them and took them into a conference room. “Special Agent Dawson, it’s nice to meet you. Wish it were under better circumstances.”
Claire shook the man’s hand, and Ian introduced himself, then Garrett and the others as simply the ‘Shadow Point Security Team.’ No real names, not even their call signs. “Dr. Montgomery will be here shortly,” he told the detective.
Coffee was offered, and the FBI team from Missoula showed up. More introductions. Once those were done, Special Agent Honoree Hendricks took charge. She gave all of them a quick briefing, then turned the floor over to Claire. “We’ve all read your reports, Agent Dawson. Now, we’d like to hear directly from you. Tell us what we need to know about Derek Sullivan in order to stop him.”
“Should we wait for Dr. Montgomery?” Claire asked Garrett.
He glanced at Ian. “Call her? She should be here by now, shouldn’t she?”
Ian took out his phone and dialed. After a minute, he frowned. “It keeps going to voicemail.”
Garrett’s blood ran cold. “Lynx, you got a tracker on her?”
Lynx’s fingers flew over his keyboard. “Her car’s still at the coffee shop.”
Ian stood. “I’ll check on her. She’s probably lost track of the time.”
As he left, Claire straightened her blazer and addressed the gathered group. “Derek Brands, aka Derek Sullivan, is coming afte me because i’s personal,” she said, and proceeded for the next few minutes to explain why.
Questions were asked and answered. Claire called on Garrett to share the plan they’d come up with to bait Derek and trap him. Standing beside her at the head of the conference table, he felt a renewed kinship with her. They were equals, partners, in more ways than one.
Just as Garrett was finishing up, Ian rushed in. “She’s gone,” he said without preamble.
The room fell quiet. Garrett’s eyes met Claire’s. She paled.
“Say that again,” Garrett said, his voice deadly calm.
A muscle in Ian’s jaw jumped. “Dr. Montgomery—my wife—is missing.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
The conference room erupted into chaos.
Ian stood frozen in the doorway, his face a mask of controlled fury. “Her car’s at the coffee shop. The driver’s door is open, and her purse is on the ground. No sign of struggle, but I just received this text.” He held up his phone. “‘You can’t hide from me, Claire.’”
Claire’s stomach dropped. Vivi.Derek had taken Vivi.
“Lynx, pull traffic cams,” Wolf barked. “Hawk, get to high ground, eyes on the town. Grizzly, secure the perimeter here. Everyone else, lock down this location.”
The team moved instantly, years of training overriding shock. Detective Mills was already on the radio, coordinating with his officers. Special Agent Hendricks grabbed her phone.
Claire couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. This was her fault. Derek had taken Vivi because of her. Another person in danger. Another person who might die because the Countdown Killer wanted to kill her.
“Claire.” Wolf’s hand was on her shoulder. “I need you to focus.”
“He has Vivi because of me.”
“He has Vivi because he’s a predator.” His voice was stern. “And we’re going to get her back.”
Ian crossed to Lynx’s laptop, looked over his shoulder at the feeds. “Anything?”
