Page 74 of Her Courage

"So we know where she is," Colby said. "What's the plan?"

Kaleb lifted his head, his eyes meeting Andrei's. Some wordless communication passed between them.

"We have two options," Andrei said finally. "Legal or... not legal."

My heart stuttered. "What does 'not legal' mean?"

"It means we go in ourselves," Kaleb explained, his voice flat. "Before the police can mobilize. Before Patrice has time to move Keeley or hurt her."

"That's insane," I breathed. "You could get killed. You could get arrested. You⁠—"

"We could also save my niece," Kaleb interrupted gently. "The legal route takes time, Lottie. Search warrants. Negotiations. Every second we wait is another second Keeley's in danger."

I looked between them, my mind racing. They were serious. Actually considering this.

"What if we do both?" I heard myself say.

Three pairs of eyes locked onto me.

"Both?" Colby prompted.

I slid off Kaleb's lap, my thoughts crystallizing. "You get Marshall involved. Start the legal process. But while that's happening..." I looked at Andrei. "You do what you do best. You get Keeley out."

Silence stretched for a long moment.

Then Kaleb's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening. "It's Marshall."

He answered, putting it on speaker. "Marshall."

"Kaleb." Our lawyer's voice was tight with controlled urgency. "I just got off the phone with the DA. They're filing emergency charges against Patrice for kidnapping. But⁠—"

"But what?" Kaleb demanded.

"But they can't move without solid evidence she has Keeley. The daycare's security footage shows a woman matching her description, but without a positive ID or a confession, their hands are tied."

Andrei's jaw tightened. I could see him calculating, planning.

"What if she calls again?" I asked suddenly. "Kaleb, what if she calls and you get her to confess? On a recorded line?"

Marshall's sharp inhale came through the speaker. "That could work. If we can get her admitting to the kidnapping on tape, the DA can move immediately."

"But she might not call for hours," Kaleb said. "Or at all. She might just wait out the twenty-four hours."

"Then we make her call," Andrei said quietly.

We all turned to him.

"How?" I asked.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips—cold, calculated. "We wire the money. Set up the transfer. But we put trackers on it. The moment she tries to access the funds, it pings our location. Police can move in, seize the money, arrest her."

Kaleb's eyes widened. "That's brilliant. But I don't have two million dollars liquid."

"I do," Andrei said simply.

Silence.

"Andrei, you can't—" Kaleb started.