He read the note to Wolf.
“It has to be Ahmet Orfali,” Trevor said.
“That was my thought,” Wolf said. “Have you called the CIA?”
“I have not,” Trevor said. “And I won’t. They said they’d be watching me. They will not hesitate to kill her if the CIA becomes involved.”
“Damn!” Wolf said. “You’re right. If the Syrian government is involved, this is well funded and they will know if the CIA or FBI get involved. Listen. I can get furlough. I’m in San Diego. It’s a quick flight to Seattle. I can be there in eight hours or less. Caroline will want to come.”
“You know, if revenge really is the motive, it’s likely they know I would call you,” Trevor said. “Killing both of us is probably part of their overall plan.”
“I considered that, already,” Wolf said.
“Maybe you should leave Caroline home?” Trevor added.
“No,” Wolf insisted. “She will want to come for one thing. If she stayed home, she’d be a sitting target without me. I can’t risk that. I want her with me. And we can use her help.”
“I knew I could count on both of you,” Trevor said.
“I know more guys would want to come but everyone else is deployed,” Wolf said.
“I know,” he said. “I thought of that. I can’t think of anyone I can ask who is not on active duty.”
“On my way,” Wolf said. “In the meantime, you go buy some burner phones and go see Chris Carpenter. The note is not specific about the time they would call. We have no idea if they have or will contact him directly.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Trevor admitted.
“You need to get to him now, let him know what’s going on, and convince him that calling the CIA is a bad thing. I agree with you. I think the Syrian Government is financing this operation, which means they will be well funded, well organized, well trained, and well weaponized. They will not make the same mistakes as last time. For Ahmet Orfali it’s probably more personal than it is professional. He’ll kill Honor in a second if he suspects the CIA is involved. You and I are going to have to handle this covertly.”
“Roger that,” Trevor said. “Get here when you can. I’ll get the burner phones and call you with the number. Let me know when your flight arrives.”
“On my way,” came the reply.
Trevor thanked the restaurant manager and bolted out the front door. He raced to his truck and headed to the nearest electronics store. He purchased three burner phones and headed to the offices of Blue Horizons, a Seattle-based technology company dedicated to developing commercial space flight. Honor's father, Chris Carpenter, was the engineer who had developed the proprietary fuel system that placed the United States light years ahead of the rest of the world in deep space flight. Blue Horizon's fuel technology allowed spacecraft the ability to achieve orbit and burn fuel up to ten times more efficiently than conventional rocket propellant. The potential for future use in interplanetary flights was limitless.
He called the offices and reached Mr. Carpenter before he arrived. He met Honor's father in the enormous high-tech lobby. Trevor went through everything that happened and showed him the note. The man was understandably terrified but knew that his future son-in-law was a decorated Navy SEAL. He also knew, that without Trevor Saunders, his daughter would have undoubtedly have been killed two years earlier and he would have been in the hands of the Syrian Government.
At first, Carpenter wanted to bring in the CIA against Trevor's wishes, but eventually understood the risks and agreed to wait until they were contacted to make a decision. Trevor and Wolf were Navy SEALS. They specialized in clandestine operations. They did this for a living. He trusted them.
"I'll go back in and wait for your call," Carpenter said. "In the meantime, I'll let my team know that I had a family emergency and will need some time off."
“Will they suspect anything?” Trevor asked.
“No, it will be fine.”
He handed Honor's father one of the three burner phones he had purchased, "If the Syrian Government is truly financing this activity, we have no idea how far their reach extends. Tell no one, and I mean no one, about this, no matter how much you trust them. Only call me using this phone. I've programmed my new burner phone number into this one. Keep the phone with you and I will call you as soon as I know something. Turn your own phone off and remove the battery."
Carpenter looked to the floor, "You have to save her," he said. "She's my only daughter. We've been through so much together. I can't lose her now. I'll do anything, even if it means going with them."
"We won't let that happen, Mr. Carpenter," Trevor said. "I love your daughter with all my heart. I will do whatever it takes to bring her home safely. I swear to you I will do so."
"I know you will," he said.
"Help is on the way, too," Trevor said.
"Wolf?" he replied.
Trevor nodded. Carpenter knew that Wolf had been instrumental in saving Honor from the kidnappers two years earlier. He liked Wolf nearly as much as Trevor and trusted him as much.
Carpenter managed a small smile. When he smiled, Trevor thought the expression reminded him of someone. He studied the man’s face for a moment, thinking back. Then, it hit him.
"Mr. Carpenter, how tall are you?"
"About 5-foot-8," he replied.
"And about how much do you weigh?"
"Maybe 165, why?"
Trevor didn't answer right away. He looked Chris Carpenter up and down. “Hold still,” he said, snapping a picture of Mr. Carpenter with the camera on his burner phone. “I have an idea. I have to go, now. I'll stay in touch. Please keep it together. Your daughter's life depends on it."
"You call me when you know anything."
"I will."
--end excerpt--
Elaine “Vandy” Vanderbilt was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Her business was under investigation and her was marriage falling apart, and all of it was headline news. Her business woes and marital difficulties were the subject of every network, cable news channel and talk show. An extended break in a secluded area of Montana area had been just the right therapy for her—that is, until four assassins showed up and tried to kill her.
Sam “Cowboy” Steele, a retired Ranger who had been badly injured during a mission in Iraq, had been assigned by the Brotherhood Protectors to watch over Vandy from a distance without her knowledge. He arrived just in time to foil the attempt on her life, but she had been injured and rendered unconscious during the rescue.
With a record-setting snow storm cutting off communication to the outside world Vandy wakes up in Sam’s cabin. She is in pain, confused and disoriented, nearly as afraid of Sam as she was of the assassins.
Sam Steele must nurse Vandy back to health, earn her trust and prepare for the return of the assassins who would be looking to finish the job they started.
As Sam and Vandy get to know each other, a bond begins to form and they attempt to solve the ultimate riddle. Who was trying to kill her and why? When the assassins finally return, Sam is faced with only one choice—he must sacrifice himself to save Vandy.
Steele Ranger is filled with edge-of-your-seat action and hot romance.
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