Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“But the bastards told you they would hurt him and the kid. Yeah, I get that.” He let his head fall back. “Well, we’re all in for it now. I think they’re planning on making the exchange sometime today.”
“Where’s Tucker?” Memories of the night before were coming back to her now.
He looked down at her, his confusion easy to read. “I would assume he’s back at the house. I left him there. He’s probably pissed at me for not bringing him back chips and lollies.”
She shook her head and then winced because that hurt like hell. “No, he was with me. He followed me.” There was more. There had been something that she’d found hard to believe. “He said he knew where the drive was and that he’d exchange it for cash.”
Alfi looked at her, his gaze incredulous. “Are we talking about the same bloke?”
He’d seemed different when he’d stood up to Fedor. Stronger. More sure of himself. “Yes. Tucker claims to know where it is and he wants cash for it.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Alfi replied. “How did it get from my Jeep in Africa all the way here and into Tucker’s hands? It makes no sense.”
Not a lot of what Tucker did made sense. Still, in this case, she couldn’t see another reason for him to have done what he did. It made far more sense for him to turn around and run back to get Brody. Or to have pretended nothing happened at all. He could have easily walked out and said nothing to Brody. It would have been the simplest thing to pretend like she’d stolen his key card and he hadn’t seen her at all.
Why follow her? Why put himself in danger? Unless he was telling the truth and he wanted to exchange the drive for cash.
“I don’t know how he would have gotten his hands on the drive, but somehow he did.” She forced herself to stand on wobbly legs. What time was it? When would de Vries call and set up the exchange?
Was Brody out there right now searching for her, or had he given up on her? It might be better for all of them if he took Nate back to England this minute and started their lives.
She missed her baby. It was an actual ache in her chest.
The door slammed open, jarring her.
Fedor strode into the room, the phone she’d brought with her in his hand. She could hear it ringing softly. “I believe you’re supposed to answer this. Explain to him where you are and then hand the phone back to me.”
Her hands shook as she opened the burner. “Hello?”
“Ah, Dr. Gibson,” de Vries said over the line. “I’m surprised they allowed you to answer. I suppose the entire team is listening in. I’ve been looking into Mr. Taggart. Formidable allies you have, but I have some pull of my own.”
“I’m not with the Taggarts anymore,” she admitted. “I’m with Anya’s brother. He wants to talk to you.”
There was a pause on the line. “I believe I said I would only deal with you.”
“He’s interested in getting his sister back. He’s got me under his control. I don’t even know where I am, so I’m afraid you’ll have to deal with him.” She pulled the phone away from her ear and handed it to Fedor. “I’ve done my part.”
He nodded. “You’ve done well, but until you hand yourself over to de Vries, it’s not over.” He held the phone to his ear. “Mr. de Vries, I believe I told you I would be coming here. Now I have everything you want and you have three hours to bring me my sister.”
He started walking out the door, but it didn’t close immediately. Steph watched as one of the other men hauled Tucker inside. His shirt was torn and they’d taken his shoes. He stumbled inside, dropping to his knees the instant his guard let go.
He was bleeding from a couple of places. His shirt was torn and Steph could see burn marks on his chest. Taser marks from where the darts had penetrated his skin.
He’d been tortured.
The guard shook his head, staring down at him. “He was right. He is professional when it comes to pain.”
“Told you, motherfucker,” Tucker managed.
Fedor looked back, the phone still in his hand. “We’ll do the exchange here in a few hours. Try to see that he lives. He wouldn’t tell us anything. I’m going to turn him over as well and let de Vries deal with him.”
She dropped back down to her knees and put a hand on Tucker. No matter what he’d done, he was a human being and she couldn’t leave him like this. “I need a first aid kit.”
“No, you don’t. He’ll live,” Fedor replied. “I wasn’t about to damage the merchandise. He’s fine. I didn’t even touch his face. I thought I would leave that to the next lucky man.” He frowned. “Despite what you might think of me, I don’t enjoy hurting others. I find it necessary. I had to try to get the drive, but turning him over will do. Be patient, Doctor. It will all be over in a while.”