“Not completely. No. It’s possible they could find out where you live and work. I don’t think you’ll be safe until I settle things with Torborg. But I’m not ready to deal with him yet. I need some time to look into some things. And I know if I show up at Omega right now, there’ll be an army there waiting for me. No, it’s better if he comes looking for me and I confront him when I’m ready.”
“But will he go looking for you? Or will he send Joe the Kidnapper?”
“I’m thinking he’ll come himself and try to talk me into returning to Anchorage with him. If he doesn’t, I’ll just have to improvise, find a way to make him come to me. I’ve been working for the man for years. I’ve always considered him a mentor. A friend. I’ll admit he’s harder to read than ancient Greek, but I think he’d want to keep this as quiet as possible. Sending a bunch of assassins to fill me with lead won’t accomplish what he’s after. For one thing, he’d risk someone finding proof of what he’s done.”
“Your body?”
“My DNA.”
“Oh.”
He motioned toward the kitchen. “We’d better take all the supplies we can, in case we’re forced to sleep in the truck. Blankets. Food. Cash. Clothes. Whatever we can find. We may be roughing it for a few days. I just hope my buddy does a better job stocking his pantry than some other person I know.” He winked.
Abby really wished she could get over her rescue complex.
Chapter Six
“They’re gone. We tracked down the cabin the woman was renting and there’s no sign she’ll be returning. No luggage. No food. I’ve been to Tarik’s place. He hasn’t been there in a while.” Security officer Raul Zant stood just inside Torborg’s office, stiff as a Marine on the first day of basic training.
Torborg forced himself to set the phone he’d been holding in the cradle, rather than slam it. Things were not going the way he’d planned. Not by a long shot, and he was fucking tired of hearing bad news. Didn’t anyone understand how important it was to get a handle on this situation? Had he failed to communicate that effectively? What the fuck would it take to make these morons understand? “Dammit, I need them in custody today. Now. Not later. Not tomorrow. Not next week. They must be stopped before something happens to complicate our situation further. I’m trusting you to find them and bring them back here without making a scene. You’re Evert’s friend. Hasn’t he called? Talk some sense into him.”
“No, he hasn’t called. But I have good news.”
“Good. I need some good news about now.”
“We’ve located the rental company Miss Clumm rented the car from, and she hasn’t returned it yet. We have license plate numbers and a make and model. We’ll find her.”
“Excellent. If they haven’t already headed into Canada, they won’t get across the border. I’ve had Evert’s identification tagged.”
“And they can’t fly.”
“Good.” The red call indicator light blinked on his phone. Knowing who was likely calling, he stared at it. His gut wound into a tight knot.
“Sir, we’ll have them here by tomorrow. I’d be willing to bet they’re driving to the border. We’ll catch them when they try to cross. I have agents heading to Eagle Ridge now.”
“Excellent,” he said, distracted by the light which was continuing to blink. Fuck, he’d have to take the call.
“It’s too bad it came to this. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’ve known Tarik for a long time. He’s an okay guy…I don’t believe he’d ever do anything illegal or immoral…”
Torborg heard the regret in the security guard’s voice and knew he had to reassure the man he meant Tarik no harm. If he failed, he knew he risked losing the guard’s loyalty. He needed everyone on his team right now, more than ever. “Let me make one thing clear. Tarik is like the son I never had, and I’m not intending on hurting him. But he’s ill and needs treatment. We need to get him into the hospital immediately…before it’s too late.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”
“I’m counting on it. Your friend’s life depends upon you.”
* * * * *
“My mother’s name was Maryanne. My father’s, Dave. At least, that was what I’ve believed all my life.” Tarik was staring straight ahead, one hand on the padded console between the front seats. The other arm was resting on the passenger’s side window.
Abby was driving. They’d both agreed it was probably best he didn’t drive, just in case he decided to do the bear-morphing thing again. He hadn’t changed into a bear in a while, since that time outside the hotel, but she wasn’t about to take her chances. Even though she was positive Tarik’s mind still operated like a human being when he was in bear form, despite what he had said to the contrary, she didn’t think he’d be able to drive. There were few things she feared more than being in a car accident, thanks to an unfortunate event that had happened when she was sixteen. A few weeks after getting her driver’s license, the car she’d been driving was hit head-on by a driver who’d had a seizure. Years later, the sound of metal colliding against metal still echoed in her head.