by Joyce
"Duke knows that,” Rae told Al. “He's betting on being long gone before that information is available."
Al agreed. “In the meantime, he's privy to everything we're doing so he can check every move we make."
Jeff frowned. “I know. Steve kept him up with everything while he's been out with his team looking for Bryce."
"Rae has a plan to lay a trap for Duke and let him lead us to Bryce,” Al explained briefly.
"But Steve was afraid if we do anything to Duke, he might kill Bryce,” Jeff reminded him.
"I know, I know. But if we don't make a move, we stand a better chance of losing her."
"What are we gonna do?” Jeff asked eagerly.
"We're going to use the GPS system that's built into all the security cars."
"Yeah?” Jeff's eyes gleamed. “You want me to try to hack into it and follow him on the computer?"
"Yes,” Rae agreed. “I might be able to follow him without it but we could give ourselves some back up insurance that way."
Steve burst into the room. “The FBI is two minutes behind me."
"Steve!” Al hurried to his side. “How did you get out?"
"There's no time for that right now."
Without waiting for admittance, Tomas yelled out. “Vans! Black vans with mucho people inside!"
Rae understood at once. “Dump your hard drive!"
"What?” Al backed away from her.
"It's the FBI! Get rid of everything that could screw this last chance up for us!"
"Do it!” Steve agreed, shutting the library door.
The closed door bought them one extra minute. It took that long for Lynn Wheeler and another agent to knock sharply, then walk into the room.
"Rae."
"Lynn."
Lynn's eyes were cold and distant. “I'm Agent Wheeler and this is Agent Morris. We're taking over this case. When Mr. Williams surrendered to authorities and told them about the kidnapping, the Atlanta PD asked for our help. It's our show now."
Rae shrugged. “Good luck."
Lynn addressed everyone in the room. “I'll need everything that's been recorded or put on the computer about the case. I'll also need to interview anyone who's had anything to do with the girl's disappearance."
"Well, that leaves me out,” Rae assured her smoothly.
"You were here to help solve the case,” Lynn accused. “We'll want to talk to you, too."
"I'm here as Steve's guest.” She sidled up close to him. “Anyone you talk to here will tell you that."
Lynn didn't look happy with that answer but she let it go. She turned to Al. “You're his bodyguard, aren't you? I saw you on television after the accident that killed David Williams."
"I am,” Al responded. “And I'll be happy to answer any of your questions, ma'am."
"Good. Thanks.” Lynn glanced at Jeff. “And who are you?"
Jeff didn't falter. “I'm part of the household staff."
"Which part is that?"
"I do maintenance around the estate.” He smiled broadly. “I'm here about a leaky faucet in the third bathroom on the second floor."
"Just take care of it,” Steve told him blankly. “You know what to do."
"Yes, sir. I'll take care of it. Nice to meet you-uh-detective."
"Agent,” Morris corrected him with a sour frown.
Lynn ignored him. She looked at the tapes Rae and Al were listening to earlier. “Are those the conversations between yourself and the kidnapper, Mr. Williams?"
"Yes,” Steve answered truthfully. “I'm going to sort a few things out but I'll be here in the house if you need me, Agent Wheeler."
"Thanks.” Lynn shook his hand while Agent Morris started to collect the tapes. She turned to Rae and lowered her voice. “I know what you're doing here."
"I'm not doing anything. I'm on vacation."
"I know better. But I can't prove it. Get out now, Rae! Go home. We'll pretend you weren't here at all."
"Thanks.” Rae smiled at her friend. “I appreciate it."
Lynn wasn't fooled. “I mean it, Rae!"
"Okay! I'm going to pack right now!"
"I'll want to speak to the child's mother,” Lynn told Steve.
"I'll get her for you."
Rae walked out of the library with Steve and Al. Dozens of FBI agents were combing the house.
"This could make Duke more nervous if he finds out,” Al confided to Rae.
"Let's make sure he doesn't find out."
"What's going on?” Steve stopped the conversation between the two of them.
"Come upstairs,” Rae whispered. “We don't want to talk about it here."
Steve paced the floor in Rae's bedroom as she explained her plan. “We can't risk it."
Al disagreed. “We don't have any choice."
"I haven't gone through all of this for nothing. We wait until the kidnapers are ready to give her back."
Al slammed out of the room and left them there.
Rae sat down in the chair by the window. “It's the only way, Steve. Duke isn't going to let her live."
"Do you know that for sure? Have you had another vision?"
"No,” she admitted. “It's instinct. I told you before, everything I do isn't related to being psychic. I've worked this same kidnapping a dozen times. If we don't shake Duke up, you won't see Bryce alive again."
Steve sat down on the bed. “They didn't arrest me. I told them about the kidnapping. I think we've done everything we can to help Bryce. You were right. I should've called them in when it first happened."
"It's too late for that. There's not enough time. I know the FBI. They have procedures and guidelines. They can't find Bryce in time."
"So we rattle Duke's cage?” he asked in a weary tone.
Rae sat beside him on the bed. “You know what you were saying before the announcement about David? I feel the same every time I touch you. I try not to touch you. The emotions are too strong."
Steve didn't move. “What does it mean?"
"It means that when we touch,” she picked up his hand and laid it against her heart, “it's more than physical. I think you have a gift, too."
"I do. It's you." He leaned close and kissed her. “What a rush!"
Rae laughed. “I know. We can do this together. Are you ready?"
"Let's go."
Steve called Al on his cell phone. They met outside the house.
"I think this is the best thing,” Al told him.
"Is there some way we can be sure Duke doesn't know what's going on?” Rae asked both of them.
"I think the only people who communicate with Duke are Al and I."
Rae waved to Lynn who watched her from the window. “Then we should be okay."
"You two know each other or something?” Steve followed her line of vision.
"Yeah. We entered the Bureau together. We've been friends for years."
"Will she leave it alone long enough for us to get this done?"
"If she thinks I'm gone.” Rae got into a car.
Al, acting as her driver, drove the car just past the gates. The FBI concentrated their search routines on the house so they weren't watching the street. “Okay. I'll call Duke."
"Where is he going to meet us?"
"At the Starlight Mall.” He dialed the number. “What are the chances he'll have the girl there?"
"What am I doing?” Steve asked Rae.
"You're not here,” she reminded him. “He can't see you."
"So I hide out in the car while you and Al confront the man who took Bryce?"
"That's about it.” Rae didn't like desperation. It made people do stupid things. She hoped this wasn't one of them.
Al finished speaking to Duke and switched off the phone. “Cool as a cucumber. Man, he's really playing a role."
Rae shrugged. “Some people are made that way. Let's hope you sounded as cool to him."
The phone rang. Jeff was having trouble finding the specific signal from the satellite to Duke's v
ehicle. Al told him to keep trying and keep him posted. He switched off the phone again and put his dark hands on the steering wheel. “Okay. This is it."
"Wish I had a gun.” Rae felt a shiver slide down her back.
Steve sat back in the shadows created by the overhead streetlights. “In the glove box. I always keep a spare."
Al handed her a 9mm automatic. It felt good in her hand. “Thanks."
He glanced at her. “Ever kill a man?"
"Too many times,” she admitted to him. “That was one reason I quit."
"You know it's hard to believe you used to be an FBI agent."
"That's what I said."
"But she kicks like a mule. It must be the training."
Rae put the gun in her pocket. “Have you ever killed anyone?"
"No.” He waited for the red light to change. “It's never come up. But I think I could kill Duke for what he's done."
"Thanks, Al,” Steve said. “Let's hope it's not necessary."
Al parked the car outside the first mall entrance. He and Rae left Steve in the car.
"You were there, Al,” Rae couldn't resist asking when they were alone. “You knew both brothers. What happened? How did David die?"
"I don't know. David wanted out. I know that much. They argued about it for a while, then Steve agreed to let him go. It's not like David wanted any part of the company. He wanted to do his thing."
"Steve told me that he had an affair with Sharin before Bryce was born.” Rae judged his reaction.
"I didn't know about it until the night David died. Sharin and Steve always fought. I couldn't believe they would—"
"Was David the kind of man who would try to kill Steve because of it when he found out?"
"No way! David had those damned spider ladders in his tub! The man couldn't hurt anything! I believe he was angry. I believe he wanted to confront Steve about it. Steve and Sharin kept it a secret for a long time. I've always wondered why Sharin decided to tell him. I suppose it was one of those cathartic things from her shrink."
"You don't think Steve had anything to do with David finding out? Sharin told me that it happened because Steve wanted her to live with him."
"That's funny!” Al burst out laughing. “That woman has got a goose egg where her brains should be! Steve wanted her like a man wants the plague."
"But you didn't know they slept together either,” she reminded him.
"You're right. I didn't know. But I can tell you that Steve changed towards her after the night David was killed. He was nice to her but in a cold, distant way. He was always loving with Bryce."
"You think he felt like it was Sharin's fault?"
"Well, she told him what happened. You heard Steve. We were all convinced that David committed suicide on that curve. Steve hated the idea. But he thought he got so upset that he didn't want to live anymore."
Rae took it all in, trying to put it together with what she already knew. “Was he like that? Would he have committed suicide because of Steve and Sharin?"
"I don't know,” Al replied slowly. “He was a very emotional man. He was giving up Solutions to spend more time with Bryce and Sharin. They meant everything to him. Proudest day of his life was when Bryce was born. I agree with Steve that it was possible. That's why we shut the investigation down."
"When was it exactly that Sharin and Steve had their affair?"
He opened the door to the crowded mall. “I'm not sure exactly. I guess you have to ask Steve."
Rae made a mental note of it. “Where are we meeting Duke?"
"At this mall entrance. I think I see him now. God give me the strength to keep from knocking his head off when I talk to him!"
"We don't have time right now for punishment. Let's go."
Duke saw them, too. He waited for them to reach him. “Why is she here?"
"Steve told me to bring her. Maybe he wants someone here for the kid besides us."
Rae did her best to look innocuous.
Duke ignored her. “And what was this anonymous tip?"
"Someone said they saw a little girl matching Bryce's description wandering around the mall. We thought maybe the kidnappers let her go here. They said they'd let her go when their demands were met."
"Yeah. You buy it?"
"I don't know, Duke. Better to be running from a kidnapping charge than a murder charge."
"Well, let's get it over with. I have some men in the mall already. Let's see if we can find her."
They made a quick sweep of the mall but there was no sign of the missing girl anywhere. Duke and Al talked to mall security and explained the situation. The entire group walked through the mall again. The mall security chief called each store individually. There was no sign of Bryce or any other missing child.
"Looks like someone was messing with you, man,” Duke told Al. “How's Mr. Williams holding up?"
"Good, I think. He was pretty calm about the whole thing."
"I guess this time tomorrow, it'll all be over.” Duke sighed dramatically. “I hate to say it but it doesn't look good."
Rae saw Al's lips tighten. It was the only sign of the stress he was under. She knew what he was feeling. She wanted to hit Duke hard and beat the information out of him. The gun in her pocket made her finger itch to use it.
The phone on Al's belt rang. “Yeah?"
Rae didn't like the look on Al's face. She looked around at the shoppers like she wasn't paying any attention.
"Who is it?” Duke asked him finally.
Al handed the phone to Rae, his mouth a thin, taut line on his face. “It's Steve."
"Is he out already?” Duke showed his surprise.
"I guess,” Al answered harshly.
"And he called his squeeze first, huh?” Duke rested his arms on the rail overlooking the ice skating rink.
"Get back here,” Steve growled as soon as Rae put the phone to her ear. “What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"We're looking for Bryce.” She smiled nervously at the men standing close to her. “She doesn't seem to be at the mall."
"Is Duke there with you?"
"Yes.” She twirled a curl of her hair around her finger.
"What the hell's going on?” Steve grilled her. “You've been in there for an hour."
She thought quickly. “Where are you, honey?"
There was a slight pause before he answered, “You know where I am, sweetheart."
"Remember that hotel we stayed at? Let's meet there."
"What hotel? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Not The Plaza, silly. The Dorchester! I can be there in five minutes."
Steve's voice dropped a decibel. “Something's wrong? Do you need me to come in there?"
"Oh no, honey.” She whined as she smiled at Duke and Al. “Everything's fine. I'll meet you there."
"All right,” Steve finally agreed. “I'll wait. But I'm coming in if it takes more than five minutes."
Rae closed the phone and slipped it back to Al. “Well, if there's nothing else here, I'd like to go and meet Steve."
Al looked at Duke. “Guess we might as well wrap this up anyway. I think the call was just a hoax."
Duke grunted. “Or someone's idea of a joke."
"Either way. I guess we'll have to wait for the kidnappers to call again."
"I'm not giving up yet,” Duke promised harshly. “I'm still tracking those sons-of-bitches. Call me if you hear anything else."
"I will,” Al guaranteed him.
When Rae and Al reached the car, he climbed inside and slammed his fist into the dash. “Damn him! Can you believe the man?"
"What happened?” Steve asked them.
"He's good,” Rae admitted. “If I didn't know better—"
Steve exploded, “What the hell happened?"
Rae quickly outlined what happened in the mall. “If he was rattled at all, he hid it."
"What now?” Steve wasn't used to being left out of the loop.
"We call Jeff. See if
he got into the system."
Rae took out the man's glove she'd found at Mary's house.
"What's that?” Steve asked, watching her.
"I think it belongs to Duke. I found it in Mary's house. I'm hoping to get an impression from it."
"Jeff is in,” Al told them. “He can track him from the computer. We don't even have to maintain visual."
Rae didn't speak. She could feel Duke's essence. But there was something blocking her. She couldn't tell what it was. She couldn't get a firm lock on him. She didn't have a feeling of empathy with him like she did Bryce. When she reached out to find him, he slipped away. Was it her or was it him?
Al waited until Duke was a quarter mile ahead of them. He eased into traffic with the GPS telling him where to turn. “We shouldn't be too far behind him when he stops."
"That's a good thing.” Rae watched the traffic. Maybe it wouldn't matter that she couldn't find Duke. Maybe Jeff would keep them in contact with him.
Steve watched her hold the glove. “Are you getting anything?"
"Not yet. I can't feel anything from him. This might not be his glove."
"Let me try."
Rae opened her eyes. She handed him the glove.
"What do I do?"
"Hold on to it and try to clear your mind. Try not to think about Duke directly."
Steve did as she suggested. He held the glove for a few minutes then opened his eyes. “I don't see anything."
"Damn!” Al exploded and hit the GPS with the palm of his hand. He handed Rae the cell phone. “Call Jeff. Speed dial 23. Find out what the hell is going on!"
Rae dialed the number. She didn't have to ask the question.
Jeff frantically explained, “I'm trying to get him back. I think they caught me hacking in and unplugged me. I don't know."
"Get him back!” Steve yelled at the phone.
The line went dead in Rae's hand.
"Great.” Al pulled off the road into an abandoned parking lot. “I guess we wait here until Jeff can hack in again."
They waited silently. Rae's mind was as blank and empty as a clear sky. There was nothing there about Duke or Bryce. She had no idea where to look.
"It's been an hour.” Steve spoke to Jeff on the phone. “If you haven't connected, the chances are you aren't going to."
Rae couldn't hear what Jeff answered but Steve tossed the phone aside. “We might as well head back."
