Target For Ransom

by Laura Scott

  Specifically, her cousin. Tariq Omar Haram Shekau.

  * * *

  September 9 – 9:22 p.m. – Baltimore, MD

  “Meira,” Bryn whispered.

  “I’m here.” Meira’s spicy scent grew stronger as the woman moved close to her mattress on the floor.

  Bryn tried to think of something, anything that would convince this woman they needed to escape. Soon.

  Tonight.

  “Rest now, they won’t be back for a while,” Meira whispered in English.

  “We need to escape. Tonight. Before they return.” Bryn kept her voice low but urgent. “I can help keep you safe. My mother can help you start over, the way she’s helped many others.”

  Meira put her hand on her stomach, then shook her head. “Too dangerous.”

  “Staying here is too dangerous. Do you really think they’re going to let me live? As soon as what’s-his-face has been set free, they’ll kill me. And maybe you too.”

  “No,” Meira whispered, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her tone.

  “Yes,” Bryn insisted, feeling desperate. “You know they will. Deep in your heart, you know they’ll kill us both. That’s what they do. Don’t you see? These men are killers.”

  There was a pause before Meira said, “I can’t leave without my husband, Elam.”

  Husband? This was the first Bryn had heard about Meira being married. “Are you sure you can trust him?” Bryn knew that many Muslim women were not valued by the men in their family. Often the males in charge would refuse to allow women to work, or teach, or do anything other than obey their husband’s every command.

  Bryn was so not getting married, ever.

  “Yes. He’s not like them.”

  Bryn’s hopes faded. If Meira really cared for her husband, then it would be impossible to convince her to escape. She’d be stuck here in this horrible room, with the stupid blindfold over her eyes, until she died.

  Uh-uh. No way. Bryn was not going to sit here and wait for the icky men to kill her.

  There had to be a way to escape. With or without Meira’s help.

  There just had to be!

  * * *

  September 9 – 9:51 p.m. – Washington, DC

  His phone rang as he left the restaurant meeting with his boss. The number on the screen indicated it was from one of his men. He frowned. “What?”

  “There’s a problem.”

  He scowled, ducking through the doorway and into the dark night. Instead of finding a rideshare, he walked quickly, moving as far from the restaurant as possible. No sense in being there when his boss left. The dinner had been excruciating, but he felt certain his boss remained clueless, which was the most important thing. “What kind of problem?”

  “Idiot hikers stumbled across Wallace’s body earlier today in the Smoky Mountains. They just pulled him out of the ravine and identified him, his name hit the US Marshal database. It’s only a matter of time before someone high up on the totem pole realizes that Diana Phillips has been compromised.”

  He swore beneath his breath. The Marshal had been dead less than a week; he’d been hoping he’d remain lost for much longer. “Implement Plan B.”

  “But—” the caller hesitated, then added, “Yes, sir.”

  He disconnected from the line without saying anything more, then scrolled through his apps to find the rideshare company he preferred. The fact that Wallace’s body had been found wasn’t the end of the world.

  But it was a complication he didn’t need at the moment. Especially since he’d wasted several hours with his boss without learning anything new.

  It had been all he could do not to reach over to choke the life out of Clarence Yates.

  He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Plan B needed to work, at least for the next thirty-six hours. After that, it wouldn’t much matter.

  Anyone who got in his way would be dead.

  And he’d be rich and powerful. Exactly the way he was meant to be.

  * * *

  September 9 – 10:10 p.m. – Washington, DC

  “I think I found Freedom Shoppes.”

  Sun’s statement had Jordan straightening in his chair, his heart thudding with excitement as he spoke with Sun via the phone. “What sort of building is it?”

  “A warehouse, just like American Lumber. And it’s near the water, not far from downtown Baltimore. I’m heading that way now.”

  “Wait.” He glanced from the phone at Diana who stared at him with desperate hope in her eyes. “Don’t go alone, we’ll meet you there.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Sun asked cautiously. “Why don’t you let me check things out first?”

  If there was the slightest chance Bryn was being held there, he fully intended to be the one to go in and get her. “I’m sure. Wait for us.”

  “It’s going to take you longer to get there,” Sun protested.

  “I don’t care. Please, Sun. I need you to wait for us.” He stood and began packing the satellite computer into its bag.

  “Okay, but at some point, you’re going to have to trust me, Jordan. You hired me for a reason, didn’t you?” Sun’s tone was testy through the phone connection.

  “I do trust you.” He trusted in Sun’s Mensa intelligence and her ability to speak in a multitude of languages. He trusted her with his secrets and those of his family. But he couldn’t bear to let anyone else put their life on the line to rescue his daughter. “In fact, I’m counting on your smart brain to help us crack this case.”

  “Fine.” Sun’s short tone indicated she didn’t believe him. “I’ll call you when I reach the warehouse.”

  “See you soon.” He disconnected from the call and hefted the computer bag over his shoulder. He jutted his chin toward the doorway connecting the house to the garage. “Let’s go.”

  Diana didn’t argue but moved toward the doorway leading to the single car garage. She let out a low moan when she saw the ancient Buick. “Are you kidding? This thing looks as if it will fall apart before we get to Annapolis.”

  “Doesn’t matter what it looks like as long as it runs, right? Besides, it’s still registered in my grandmother’s name, which might work in our favor.” He shoved the computer bag behind the driver’s seat and slid in behind the wheel. Diana came around to join him on the passenger side.

  “How long will it take us to get there?” Diana asked as they hit the road, leaving his grandmother’s house behind.

  “This time of night? Around forty minutes.” He headed for the interstate, taking the southbound freeway.

  “Forty minutes.” Diana twisted her fingers in her lap. “Hang on, Bryn. We’re coming.”

  He didn’t mention the fact that this lead could turn out to be a bust, just like American Lumber had been. In fact, he’d be shocked if the stupid place wasn’t rigged to explode, just like the other warehouse.

  All he could do was hope and pray nothing bad happened, especially if Bryn was being held inside.

  * * *

  September 9 – 10:38 p.m. – Baltimore, MD

  Elam willed his hands not to shake as he approached Liberty. His mouth was dry with fear, and he couldn’t help performing a quick sign of the cross, praying for God to watch over him.

  Before he could lift his hand to knock, the door swung open. “Enter,” came the terse command.

  He bowed his head in a sign of deference and crossed the threshold. He continued to stare at the floor until he was addressed.

  “What happened to American Lumber?”

  He still didn’t look up, partially out of fear—he was unwilling to look directly in the wild evil eyes of the man standing before him and partially because he was expected to show respect for his superiors.

  “I happened to notice a couple of people examining the lock on the front of the warehouse.” He paused, licked his lips, and forced himself to continue. “When it appeared the structure might be breached, I detonated the device as previously ordered.”

&nbs
p; There was a long silence, but Elam still didn’t look up. He tried to control his breathing and waited.

  “There was one fatality, was that the man attempting to enter the building?”

  Elam’s heart hammered against his ribs. This was it, the moment he’d dreaded. Should he lie? Or tell the truth?

  Meira, love of my life, mother of my child. I’m sorry, so sorry.

  “Unfortunately, no. The man attempting to enter the building moved too quickly. By the time I detonated the device, he was only thrown to the ground from the blast but not killed.”

  “Al'abalah!” Idiot! While he’d braced himself, the blow to his back forced him down to his knees.

  Elam swallowed a cry, cowering on the floor at the Master’s feet.

  A second blow came, and a third. But when it was done, he was still breathing, his hands unmarred.

  He was alive.

  Long enough to be tortured for another day.

  * * *

  September 9 – 11:01 p.m. – Baltimore, MD

  “Sun? Where are you?” Jordan held his phone to his ear while sweeping his gaze over the row of warehouses not unlike those in Baltimore.

  “Behind you,” came her sarcastic reply.

  He whirled around, belatedly realizing she’d sneaked up on him. He lowered his phone, tucking it into his pocket. “Have you checked the place out?”

  “Yes.” Sun glanced between him and Diana. “No lights that I can see through the narrow windows, and no sounds from inside.” She paused, and his heart sank.

  “Let me guess, there’s a brand-new padlock on the front door of the building.”

  “Yes,” Sun confirmed. “It looks just like the one you mentioned at American Lumber.”

  He let out his breath in a low hiss. “Not good.”

  “Why?” Diana demanded. “There has to be another way inside.”

  “Not if it’s rigged to blow.” Jordan stared at the innocuous building located just across the street. It was so close, yet so far out of reach. In the distance, the sound of a foghorn went off sending chills down his spine.

  “We need to find a way to get eyes inside the place,” he told Sun. “There must be some sort of nook or cranny we can use to slide a camera in.”

  “I thought you might suggest that, so I came prepared.” Sun gestured for him and Diana to follow as she led the way to her car. “I had time, so I brought a mini wireless camera that connects to my phone. It’s small enough that we should hopefully find a way to peek inside.”

  “You’re brilliant.” He was grateful Sun was on top of things since he was a mess. He glanced at Diana. “We’ll find a way to prove Bryn is or isn’t inside.”

  Diana nodded, her expression hopeful.

  “Let’s go,” he said to Sun. When Diana followed, he hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at her. “It might be better for you to wait here.”

  “She’s my daughter.”

  His too, but he decided to let it go. “Diana, it’s dangerous. The last warehouse blew up in our face. Wait here. We won’t be long.”

  He could tell Diana didn’t want to, but she reluctantly nodded. “Please hurry.”

  He nodded and crossed the street with Sun. The shiny padlock looked exactly like the one on the door of American Lumber. Giving it a wide berth, he and Sun slipped around to the side of the building, the one where a single window was located.

  Maybe they wouldn’t need the camera. He held out his hands, weaving his fingers together to make a sling. “I’ll give you a boost. Check out the window.”

  Sun readily put her foot in his hands and rested a hand lightly against the side of the warehouse. He lifted her up as high as he could.

  “See anything?”

  “No, it’s completely dark. But there is a narrow opening in the frame where the wood has warped, so I’ll try the camera.”

  He held his breath, half expecting the building to blow up any second as Sun gently inserted the slim camera through the opening. “Well?”

  “I’ve got it. Let me check my phone.” Her weight shifted, straining his muscles as she pulled her phone from her pocket. “It’s a large space, no people from what I can see, but it’s full of boxes of some sort. I can’t quite make out what’s written on the label.”

  Boxes? “You’re sure there’s no people? Maybe a corner room where they might be holding Bryn?”

  “Not from what I can see, but I’ll take some pictures for you.” After about ten minutes, when his arms felt like they might pop out of their sockets, she said, “I’m finished.”

  He lowered her to the ground and reached for her phone. Scrolling through, he could see that the building was full of boxes but otherwise empty.

  No sign of their daughter.

  Chapter Eight

  September 9 – 11:36 p.m. – Baltimore, MD

  Diana twisted her fingers together, counting off the seconds in her head as she waited for Jordan and Sun to return to the ancient Buick.

  She wasn’t sure if she should pray that they found Bryn inside the booby-trapped building or not. So many things could go wrong, but she desperately needed to see her daughter. To hold her little girl in her arms.

  Dropping her chin to her chest, she struggled to maintain control. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing her daughter. They had to find her, soon.

  Before Mustaf landed on US soil.

  Please, Lord, show us the way!

  The sound of footsteps startled her, and she swung around in panic, relaxing when she recognized Jordan and Sun. She peered at their expressions. “Bryn?”

  “No sign of her.” Jordan’s voice held a note of resignation. He’d been her rock through this ordeal, she couldn’t stand the idea of him being dejected.

  “No sign of anyone being held there, but there were dozens of boxes stored inside,” Sun said, resetting the tone to a more positive approach. “Maybe we can find out more about what Freedom Shoppes is up to once I can play with the camera images a bit.”

  “Will that help us find Bryn?” Diana moved closer to Jordan.

  “Possibly,” Sun responded. “But no guarantee.”

  She glanced at Jordan. “What do you think? We don’t have time to spin our wheels, hoping for a break. We need a direction to go. A way to find her.”

  Jordan pulled himself together with a nod. “To do that, we need to investigate every single lead, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. And that includes finding the third location, Justice Textiles, Corp.”

  “Actually, I found two other possibilities as well,” Sun said. “As I was searching for more keywords, I came across United Secrets, Inc. and Liberty Bell, Corp. They both seem to be fronts for other businesses, so I’m trying to search for properties they might be linked to as well.”

  “Two more?” Diana suddenly felt light-headed, swaying a bit on her feet. Jordan stepped close and slid his arm around her waist. “But . . . there could be dozens of others we don’t know about.”

  Sun didn’t say anything but shot Jordan an apologetic look.

  “We still have time,” Jordan said. “Almost eight hours until Mustaf lands.”

  A flash of anger hit hard. “What good is that when we don’t even know where he’s going to be? And what if we don’t find Bryn by the morning, then what?”

  “We can’t play the what-if game.” Jordan tightened his hold around her waist. “I need you to trust me for a while longer, okay?”

  She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment. Truthfully, she did trust Jordan, and Sun. God most of all.

  But the hollow feeling in her chest remained. The emptiness would not be refilled until they’d found Bryn.

  * * *

  September 10 – 12:02 a.m. – Annapolis, MD

  Having Diana in his arms felt right, as if the twelve years between them had melted away. Her agony resonated deep within, but he knew he had to pull himself together and fast.

  She needed him to be strong and confident. He held
her for several moments before she straightened and pulled away. “What’s our next step?”

  He glanced at Sun. “Let’s find a hotel to set up a temporary office. We’ll need to dig into these other companies, see if we can determine those locations.”

  Sun nodded. “Sounds reasonable. Where do you want to go?”

  He thought about it. “I feel certain we need to be closer to DC. There’s a motel in Brookmont that will take cash without an ID if the price is right. Sloan and I used it in the past with good results.”

  “Too far,” Sun said, waving her hand. “Mitchellville is closer and more centrally located.” She named a motel he’d never heard of but had to agree the location was better, closer to DC, which was what he wanted.

  “Sounds good, we’ll meet up there.”

  Sun melted into the shadows, leaving him to steer Diana toward his grandmother’s Buick. The foghorn went off again, and she dug in her heels, balking at getting into the car. “Did you hear that? I don’t think heading to Mitchellville is a good idea. We need to stay here, along the coast.”

  “Diana, we’re not going far. Please, get in the car.”

  She hesitated. “How far?”

  “About twenty minutes, especially this time of night. No traffic jams to worry about.”

  She finally relented, sliding into the passenger seat. When he climbed in behind the wheel though, she continued to protest. “Twenty minutes seems a long way to go if one of those other businesses are located along the coast. All this driving back and forth is a waste of time.”

  “But DC is also on the coast.” There was a lot of coastline to consider if you thought about Maryland and Virginia, both close enough to DC to be a place they’d have stashed Bryn. He battled another wave of desperate frustration. “Besides, I feel certain Mustaf will be brought to DC.”

  “Why hasn’t your FBI contact told you more about that?”

  “Because that information is only provided to those who need to know. And since my former employer doesn’t know about Bryn, or the kidnappers’ demand, I can’t very well force him to provide me high security clearance type of information.”