“I’ve also narrowed down the targets, and I don’t think it’s the federal building.”
“Then what?” Mack asked but dreaded hearing the answer.
“A regional meeting of several agencies starts tomorrow at the convention center in Portland. All the bigwigs will be there. A perfect target, as it has less security than the federal building. Plus they can attack the hotel where the attendees are staying.” Cam shared the nearby hotel’s information.
Mack’s stomach filled with acid, and it burned up his throat. He had one priority and only one priority now. Stop hundreds, maybe thousands of government leaders in the region from sure death. But could he do it? The clock was nearing zero, and the guns would be arriving sometime tomorrow.
He swallowed down the acid and the pain burning in his gut and set his sights on being the agent he’d grown to be. A tough and get-it-done kind of agent. One who didn’t let anything best him. “I’ll tell Eisenhower when I call him. Let me know if any of the guys posts anything that could lead us to him.”
Mack ended the call and got Eisenhower on the phone, first asking for him to put pressure on the cryptanalyst, then telling him about the convention center and hotel. He was met with silence at first. Not a good sign. Eisenhower was never at a loss for words.
“Then you should know,” he finally said, “your guys are on the move. All three of them. Heading toward Portland.”
Mack let the news register for a moment. “It’s a day’s drive from San Diego to Portland, so it’s too soon for them to be picking up the guns. They could be meeting to plan.”
“That’s what I was thinking. We’ll keep tailing them, and I’ll let you know where they settle.”
Mack felt like he was going to hurl. Time was running out, but the suspects were on the move, maybe planning to take control of the guns and put them into action. “Can you warn the convention center and hotel security?”
“We don’t have any concrete evidence that they’re the target. Once we get that, then yes. We’ll be all over both buildings.” Eisenhower fell silent. “Get me that proof, Jordan, and get it now.”
He hung up, and Mack felt like a man alone on a deserted island, trying to get off but not finding the way. At least the team should arrive soon, and they could put their heads together to find that elusive lead before time ran out.
Mack’s phone vibrated, reminding him of the earlier voicemail. He tapped the icon and was surprised to see Addy had made the call. He played her message.“Noble calledback. Had to go talk to him now at hisranch or he would be out of pocket. Will meetyou back at the hotel.”
Mack’s gut tightened as he tapped her phone number to return the call. It went straight to voicemail. He didn’t like her going out on her own. Didn’t like it one bit. She could be in danger, and that was why she couldn’t answer.
His heart started pounding, thumping wildly in his chest. He ran over to Ingersol. “Give me your keys. I need to leave now!”
Without question, Ingersol dug out his key ring, and Mack snatched it out of his hands. He ran for the SUV, praying as he went that Addy was simply interviewing the senator and her life wasn’t in danger.
Questions Addy wished she could’ve asked the senator burned in her mind as she drove toward the hotel, but the light on her phone kept flashing so she pulled over to answer it. Mack’s name appeared on the screen.
“What’s so urgent?” she asked.
“Thank God, you’re okay,” he said, his voice shooting through the phone like a piercing bullet.
She blinked, trying to figure out why he was so concerned. “I’m fine, why?”
“You went off on your own, and I—” anguish deepened his tone—“was worried.”
“Sorry. I had to go.” She explained about the senator leaving town. “Did you arrest Razo?”
“No.” He released a long breath of air. “It was some flunky who was looking for a driver for a tourist. At least that’s what he claims. Ingersol has him and another guy in custody until we can confirm his statement.”
Mack paused, and it sounded like he might be taking in big breaths but at the same time trying to hide it. “How did it go with the senator?”
“He was very cooperative.” She shared the highlights of her interview.
“Do you think he’s involved?”
Did she? “Honestly, I don’t know. He was cooperative, but there was this undercurrent. He could just be playing me. Heisa politician after all. He plays people for a living.”
“What about his ranch? Did it seem like the kind of place drugs or weapons could be staged?”
“I couldn’t really tell much in the dark, and he didn’t offer me a tour.”
Mack told her about Razo’s online message. “We don’t have any time to lose. We need to get a look around the ranch.”
