muttered, “Are you certain there’s a locator?”
“It’s the only way they could have picked up our trail on the highway.”
“They weren’t simply using her cell phone?”
“I disabled the GPS on her phone. My cell is encrypted and secure.” He circled the pile of luggage. “There’s still her purse, the backpack with her birthing equipment and her laptop.”
“Apparently, my daughter finds it necessary to travel with all her earthly belongings.” When he picked up the scruffy-looking backpack, her equipment rattled around like a toolbox. “What’s in here?”
“Stethoscope, fetal monitor, medical stuff.” Troy had already checked the assortment. “Also sheets, latex gloves, scrubs and a couple of teddy bears.”
Richard carefully felt along the seams. “When you first told me that someone was trying to kidnap Olivia, I found it difficult to believe.”
“Initially, I had the same reaction. Being chased down the highway from the mountains by two vehicles convinced me.”
“You never said how you extricated yourself.”
“We had a police escort into town.”
While he described Olivia’s faked labor and equally fake triplets, her dad listened with an expression of concern and amusement. “She did that? My sweet little Olivia lied to a police officer?”
“That’s right.”
Richard smoothed his white hair. “I’m proud of her for thinking fast. At the same time, it scares the hell out of me.”
“I know what you mean.”
“When I look at Olivia, I still see a little girl with a messy ponytail and freckles and scraped knees. She was a blur, always running from one thing to another with no consideration for her personal safety.”
Her fierce, energetic, adventurous spirit was how she’d gotten kidnapped as a child. According to her story, she’d thrown herself into the clutches of the kidnappers. “Protecting her isn’t going to be easy.”
“I’d like to lock her up in a bulletproof case. Being a father is the most difficult and dangerous mission I’ve ever undertaken.”
“Dangerous?”
“I’m quite sure you know what I mean.” When Richard focused, he had a ferocious intensity. In spite of the blazer with gold buttons and the polished loafers, he was a man of action. “A threat to someone you love is far more dangerous and terrifying than a bullet whizzing toward the center of your forehead.”
Troy acknowledged his logic with a quick nod. “You’ve done a good job with your girls. They’re both independent and strong.”
“Perhaps too much so.”
In her computer case, Richard found the GPS locator tucked into a corner. He removed the small device and studied it. “Standard issue. Nothing unusual about this equipment. It could belong to anyone.”
“It’s further proof of the threat.” Troy sat on the edge of one of the twin beds. “Before we go downstairs and join the women, we should come up with a plan of action.”
“Glad you think so.” Richard sat on the other bed, facing him. He crossed his legs and straightened the sharp crease in his trousers. “When you insisted that we share information, I feared that you were open to a free-for-all discussion.”
“I told Olivia that I’d keep her informed and listen to her opinion. But the decision when it comes to her safety is mine. You and I are the professionals. We decide what’s best.”
“And my wife,” he said. “To be quite honest, she’s probably a better spy than I am. Speaks seven languages fluently. And she remembers everything. She started with the CIA as an information analyst, but she’s not the sort of woman who is content with a desk job.”
“Much like her daughters.” Getting these women to agree to protective custody wouldn’t be easy. “I’ve analyzed the nature of the threat, and here’s what I’m thinking. The end goal isn’t to physically harm Olivia.”
Richard asked, “What’s your basis for that conclusion?”
“She said that she had the sense of being
“It’s the only way they could have picked up our trail on the highway.”
“They weren’t simply using her cell phone?”
“I disabled the GPS on her phone. My cell is encrypted and secure.” He circled the pile of luggage. “There’s still her purse, the backpack with her birthing equipment and her laptop.”
“Apparently, my daughter finds it necessary to travel with all her earthly belongings.” When he picked up the scruffy-looking backpack, her equipment rattled around like a toolbox. “What’s in here?”
“Stethoscope, fetal monitor, medical stuff.” Troy had already checked the assortment. “Also sheets, latex gloves, scrubs and a couple of teddy bears.”
Richard carefully felt along the seams. “When you first told me that someone was trying to kidnap Olivia, I found it difficult to believe.”
“Initially, I had the same reaction. Being chased down the highway from the mountains by two vehicles convinced me.”
“You never said how you extricated yourself.”
“We had a police escort into town.”
While he described Olivia’s faked labor and equally fake triplets, her dad listened with an expression of concern and amusement. “She did that? My sweet little Olivia lied to a police officer?”
“That’s right.”
Richard smoothed his white hair. “I’m proud of her for thinking fast. At the same time, it scares the hell out of me.”
“I know what you mean.”
“When I look at Olivia, I still see a little girl with a messy ponytail and freckles and scraped knees. She was a blur, always running from one thing to another with no consideration for her personal safety.”
Her fierce, energetic, adventurous spirit was how she’d gotten kidnapped as a child. According to her story, she’d thrown herself into the clutches of the kidnappers. “Protecting her isn’t going to be easy.”
“I’d like to lock her up in a bulletproof case. Being a father is the most difficult and dangerous mission I’ve ever undertaken.”
“Dangerous?”
“I’m quite sure you know what I mean.” When Richard focused, he had a ferocious intensity. In spite of the blazer with gold buttons and the polished loafers, he was a man of action. “A threat to someone you love is far more dangerous and terrifying than a bullet whizzing toward the center of your forehead.”
Troy acknowledged his logic with a quick nod. “You’ve done a good job with your girls. They’re both independent and strong.”
“Perhaps too much so.”
In her computer case, Richard found the GPS locator tucked into a corner. He removed the small device and studied it. “Standard issue. Nothing unusual about this equipment. It could belong to anyone.”
“It’s further proof of the threat.” Troy sat on the edge of one of the twin beds. “Before we go downstairs and join the women, we should come up with a plan of action.”
“Glad you think so.” Richard sat on the other bed, facing him. He crossed his legs and straightened the sharp crease in his trousers. “When you insisted that we share information, I feared that you were open to a free-for-all discussion.”
“I told Olivia that I’d keep her informed and listen to her opinion. But the decision when it comes to her safety is mine. You and I are the professionals. We decide what’s best.”
“And my wife,” he said. “To be quite honest, she’s probably a better spy than I am. Speaks seven languages fluently. And she remembers everything. She started with the CIA as an information analyst, but she’s not the sort of woman who is content with a desk job.”
“Much like her daughters.” Getting these women to agree to protective custody wouldn’t be easy. “I’ve analyzed the nature of the threat, and here’s what I’m thinking. The end goal isn’t to physically harm Olivia.”
Richard asked, “What’s your basis for that conclusion?”
“She said that she had the sense of being
Similar Books
