Page 80 of Rescued

Breanna nodded. “Do you really think he’ll take that chance? We could just leave without ever landing. He needs those bonds, and Kimberly is his best leverage. He has to believe that if I see her there, in danger, I’ll be more likely to do whatever he says.”

Gunn said, “We’ll make contingency plans. But the best one is to make sure Moreno knows he has to produce the girl, alive, and you have to see her before Switch touches down.”

“Exactly,” Switch said. “If she’s not there, we fly away. Simple as that.”

One of the wall screens flickered to life with Thanatos’s image, and he began speaking. Everyone jumped except for Boomer’s brother, who was never surprised by anything. Probably because his usual stillness came from the fact that he was totally aware of all his surroundings at all times, and constantly expecting an attack.

Thanatos jumped right into the conversation. “I would prefer that we had other options. Gunn, please assign men to scanning satellite photos of western Connecticut, moving east from the New York State line. We’re looking for possible private airfields, within a short distance of any medium- to large-scale manufacturing or storage facilities.”

“Gee, sure, that’s not much,” Rex muttered. “Only about twelve hundred square miles. Maybe fifteen hundred.”

“Computer algorithms can help,” Switch said. “I’ll set you up. And I might have some contacts that could come up with possible locations.”

“Excellent,” Thanatos said. “Then we can cross-check them with ownership records and see where he’s working out of.”

Rex said, “And by ‘we’ he means ‘us.’” He gestured to the men in the room.

Thanatos ignored that. “At least now we’ve narrowed down the area from the entire northeastern United States, to twelve to fifteen hundred square miles. If we can take Moreno by surprise before the ransom drop, all the better.”

Breanna said, “But don’t forget, Kimberly is the main mission.”

Thanatos said, “Of course, Miss Carter. You have my word.”

To Breanna, it seemed like an eternity until noon the next day. She could hardly sleep, picturing Quentin watching while his men did terrible things to Kimberly.

They were all in the command center by eleven-thirty, where Switch had somehow wirelessly routed the special phone into the command center communication systems so they could record the call.

The guys drank coffee and sniped casually at each other as usual, but she could feel the tension in the air. Switch kept bringing her cups of coffee, even though she barely touched any of them.

She had six cups lined up in front of her when the phone rang.

Breanna reached for it, but Switch held up a finger and let it ring three times before he hit the button and handed it to her.

Lines appeared on one of the computer screens, showing it was recording. She knew they might get some clues to where Quentin was from the background noise. And they were also trying to backtrace the call and get his location that way.

“Hello? Yes? This is Breanna.” She knew her voice sounded shaky, but that was okay. It was good if Quentin thought she was scared. And alone.

But she wasn’t alone. Switch had his hand on her upper back, and the rest of the guys were on her side too. Dealer gave her a thumbs-up.

Quentin said, “I trust you found yourself a ride?”

She found herself nodding, like an idiot, because of course he couldn’t see her. She said, “I managed to reach the pilot. He agreed to the job, but you would not believe what he and his friends made me do for payment. I hope you’re happy.” She made it sound like Switch had made her perform unspeakable sexual acts.

That caused a ripple around the room, with half-smiles and amused snorts.

Quentin sounded pleased. “Maybe I’ll let you show me.”

The amusement turned to growls—again, from all around the room. Breanna covered the mic with her hand for a second so Quentin wouldn’t hear. Then she said, “So, where do we come?”

Quentin said, “I’ll send you coordinates on this phone. It’s an isolated airfield, so there should be no interference from outsiders. Be there at midnight tonight, with the envelope containing the documents. Be assured its contents will be checked before Kimberly is released.”

“I’ll be there,” she said.

“Alone,” Quentin added. “Just you and the pilot. No cops, no FBI, no friends. In fact,” he said smugly, “the FBI will be with me. If you deliver the goods, they won’t arrest you.”

That got more growls, and Boomer muttered, “Dirty cops. He’s paying off the feds.”

Breanna said, “I want to talk to Kimberly. Right now, so I can ask her questions and know it’s not a recording.”