Diesel’s expression said he understood Raphael’s abilities. “Call if you need any help.”
Raphael nodded. “If I don’t find her, where will you be so I can catch up with you?”
Wyatt shrugged. “We can meet you at Critters. Do you think that’s where they are headed through that tunnel?”
Diesel said, “I’m not certain, but it’s my best guess. Raphael?”
Raphael pondered the question before answering. “Indigo Smith is the one with the connection to Daphne Charlene Dumont. He’s most likely on the hunt for his gold ingots. However, this mystery shifter is more likely the one behind Francine’s abduction. He changed her hair color, which makes me believe he’s not looking for a payoff from anyone for her return. He took her to keep her.” Saying the words out loud made acid boil in his belly.
“That makes sense. Why would the mystery shifter and Indigo Smith be working together?” Diesel asked.
“My best guess is the mystery shifter wants a portion of the gold ingots in payment for helping Indigo Smith escape the gulag and secure transport to Earth. They likely arrived on the transport last night together and enacted their plans. They knocked out Wheeler, possibly got him to give up the location of the gold ingots and used Wheeler’s face to lure Francine. Their next goal must be attaining the gold.”
A smile slid over Diesel’s features.
“What?” Raphael asked.
“The truth is, I’m one of only two people with the exact knowledge of where the gold ingots are. Cam’s the other one, and you can bet he’ll never tell what he knows.”
“I thought you said Wheeler knows,” Wyatt said.
“Well, he knows what Cam and I told everyone. But you know Cam and his security protocols. At the time, he said, ‘Two can keep a secret if one is dead’ or something equally disturbing. The end result is the two of us changed the location at the last minute, but didn’t tell anyone.”
Raphael nodded. The Grey brothers were a smart bunch. “Good. They will make arrangements to get the gold ingots from the wrong place. So where did Wheeler tell them the gold ingots are?”
“Cam would probably kill me for revealing it, but what the heck.” He told them the initial secret location in a voice so quiet it was as if he expected Cam to leap out of the forest and catch him tattling.
Wyatt said, “I smell a stakeout.”
“I’m still going to follow the tunnel toward the café and see if I can find Francine,” Raphael said. “If I don’t find her, I’ll meet you at the stakeout.”
Diesel, Wyatt and Lucy turned toward Diesel’s vehicle. Raphael was gone before they took their first steps.
He ran as fast as possible, dodging thick stands of trees as he raced toward Skeeter Bite and Daphne Charlene’s café. The first intersecting road was a narrow cut through the woods. Dust floated in the air above the dirt track, indicating someone had just driven by. He followed the road with his gaze, seeing more dust clouds further down the road. After a straight quarter-mile run, the road curved northwest and out of sight.
He raced in that direction, keeping hidden in the woods. No need to let the kidnapper know they hadn’t been fooled by the explosion.
Raphael traveled about a mile before he saw a vehicle parked by the side of the road. Abandoned. No one was inside that he could see from this distance, unless they were huddled in the footwell—or in the trunk. He approached cautiously, slowing his Ichor-Delta speed.
He went to the driver’s side door, pulled the handle and opened the door. Unlocked. Interesting. No one crouched on the floor. Raphael checked the back seat. He popped the trunk using the button by the steering wheel.
Raphael held his breath as he walked to the rear bumper, wanting desperately to find her alive inside, but almost afraid to look.
He counted to three silently before lifting the trunk lid.
Francine opened her eyes as the trunk popped open. Now what?
She slammed her eyes shut and pretended to be asleep. No sense in making her fate come faster, whatever her fate was.
“Francine? Is it really you?” Raphael’s voice eased past her fear. “Are you okay?” She felt a hand on her waist and cracked her eyes open. Raphael. She opened her eyes wide.
Raphael looked around the area as he spoke. “I can’t believe I found you.”
“Me either.”
He scooped her out of the trunk and set her on her feet while searching the road both ways as if he expected marauders to appear and slay them where they stood.
