I delay as long as I can, then, losing patience, I call Bullseye again.
“Has the tracker stopped moving?”
“Yeah.”
“Give me his position.”
“Freak, I know you’re fuckin’ out of your mind with worry. I know what you’ll do if I tell you. You’ll head straight there and take on the whole fuckin’ MDMC by yourself. And that will end with you dead, and them moving Ace deeper under cover. Wewillget your son home, but you’ve got to start thinking clearly.”
I don’t care what happens to me. “Just give me the fuckin’ coordinates.”
“No can do, Brother. It would destroy Ace if they capture you. You really want him to see you tortured and killed? Get your ass back here, and we’ll start planning.”
“Prez…”
“No, Freak. You know I’m right. There’s no reason to think otherwise than they’re treating him well and trying to persuade him to work for them.”
“They might hurt him…”
“Even the MDMC must know you’re more likely to catch flies with honey than piss. Toni’s there. They’ll more likely use her to persuade him. She’s had time to get to know him. She may well know his triggers, his thrill for the chase. Trixie reckons she really has feelings for him. Nothing about her relationship with her newfound nephew was faked.”
Fucking Trixie again. Why does her name keep coming up? Why are they listening to her?
“Get your ass back here, Freak. We’ll have church as soon as you arrive. And I’ve spoken to Bigfoot. He’s getting his guys organised. We will get Ace back, but without you going on a suicide mission and risking losing him forever. And, Freak?”
“What?” I snap, annoyed at Prez for not just giving me the coordinates so I can get to my son fast.
“Right now, Ace needs Freak the Delta operator more than he needs his dad.”
He ends the call.
Damn it. He’s got a point. If we show our hand but are unsuccessful, they could move Ace anywhere. They don’t know we’ve got a tracker on him. They think they’re safe, that we’ve no idea where they’ve taken him. Right now, that’s our best card, and it’s better to keep it hidden. Any rescue has to be perfectly planned and executed, and we must do nothing to start them looking for a tracker.
Prez is right. To have any chance of rescuing Ace, I’ve once again got to become Delta. Slowly, I force myself to loosen the hold on the steering wheel and let ice take over the blood in my veins as I allow the persona of a man I’d thought long forgotten to take me over. Uncle Sam created a monster. Now it’s time to retrieve that part of my soul and let it loose. All my emotions have to be put on the back burner until I’ve rescued Ace.
The MDMC is going to learn they’ve fucked with the wrong man.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
FREAK
At last, I arrive at the clubhouse. Dum/Dee opens the gate, and my wheels spin gravel as I race inside, hit the brakes, and jump out of the truck, not even bothering to turn off the engine. I burst into the clubroom. There are two people inside – the other identical prospect minding the bar, and fucking Trixie.
I stalk toward the club girl. For some insane reason I blame Ace’s disappearance on her, even though it was me who ignored her warnings. My blind rage overcomes me and she’s the closest target. Reaching her, I grab and shake her hard enough to make her teeth rattle. In a cold voice, I bark, “Where’s everyone?” The fear hits me that maybe deciding I’d be too volatile to accompany them, they already headed out, and I’m too late.
I realise with my hand around her neck, she’s finding it hard to answer. When I throw her from me in disgust, she doesn’t quake or quiver. Instead, she brushes herself off, haughtily meets my eyes, and states calmly, “Bullseye called everyone into church when they knew you were close. They’re in there waiting on you.”
“And how did they know I was fuckin’ close? You put a tracker on me as well?” I start to pat down my pockets.
Her eyes roll. “Pippa was tracking your phone. Are you going to assault her, too?”
I suddenly realise two things. First, I should have known either Pippa or Genie would be keeping tabs on me, and their method of doing it. And secondly, that I’d erratically parked in front of all their bikes. There’s no way they could have headed out.
“Get fuckin’ lost, Trixie.” I push past her.
My violent greeting of her hadn’t fazed her. My abrupt dismissal certainly has. Even in my hurry, out of the side of my eye, I can’t help but notice it looks like all the air’s gone out of her. She visibly shrinks as she turns away.
Wasting no more time on the club girl, I hurry to our meeting room. As I push the door open, I see, as she’d said, everyone seated and waiting for me. There had been a buzz of conversation as I’d entered. Now that all stops without Bullseye having to even pick up the gavel.
