Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(77)

“What’s up? Has Shea heard anything from Grace?” Rio asked anxiously.

Nathan shook his head. “Look, I just wanted to tell you or rather explain something. When Shea was taken, it was hard. A lot harder because she can’t focus her ability like Grace can. Plus they’d drugged her with something that made trying to communicate telepathically unbearable and caused her unimaginable agony. We have an advantage here because Grace is smart. She’s tough as nails. She’s a fighter. And she can talk to you. She can talk to Shea. She can pretty much damn well talk to whomever she needs to talk to, so that gives us more to go on.

“She took charge of the situation and in a lot of ways she’s calling the shots because she knows they want her alive. As soon as she has information to pass on to us, I know you’ll hear from her. Shea has a hard time maintaining a link for a long period of time. It makes her weak, and she’s still recovering from what she went through at the hands of these bastards. But she’s ready and willing to do whatever Grace needs even if it means making herself vulnerable.”

Rio put his hand on Nathan’s arm. “Thanks, man. I appreciate that. Tell Shea that I appreciate her. I also want you to tell her that I’m going to get her sister back. I don’t give a f**k what it takes. And if she hears from Grace before I do, I want to know about it. I’m going with Sam and Garrett to run down a lead, but let me know the minute you hear anything and tell Shea I’ll do the same.”

Nathan nodded. “They’re special, Rio, but then you know that. Shea and Grace are very special and they don’t deserve what’s happened to them. They just want to have a normal life and I’m going to make that happen for Shea if it takes the rest of my life.”

“Sounds like we’re on the same page,” Rio murmured.

He caught Sam’s eye from across the room and Sam flung his thumb over his shoulder to let Rio know it was time to bug out.

“I’ll catch you later, Nathan.”

Nathan slapped Rio on the back as he walked away. “Good luck, man. You know we have your back.”

RIO hated hospitals. He hated the cold, sterile smell. He always thought that hospitals reeked of the stench of death. Sam took care of getting them into the ICU wing and whatever he said must have impressed the hell out of someone, because they let all three men pass with no argument.

When they got to the end where Resnick’s room was, Kyle Phillips was standing guard outside the door.

“Any change?” Sam asked the young Marine.

“Yes, sir. Some. He came around briefly. Kept saying your name. He was extremely agitated. Wanted to warn you.”

“I need to get in there to see him,” Sam said. “A woman’s life depends on it.”

Phillips hesitated only a moment and then opened the door, calling to one of his men who was stationed at Resnick’s bedside.

Once the other Marine took Phillips’s post, Phillips then motioned Sam, Garrett and Rio inside, following close behind.

The mechanical sounds of so much hospital equipment were loud in the otherwise silent room. It creeped Rio out. He wanted to get the hell out as soon as possible. He wanted to get to Grace. He wanted this over withhis over.

Sam stopped at the head of the bed and lowered himself so he could speak close to Resnick’s ear. “Adam, it’s me, Sam. I’m here. I need to talk to you. Grace’s life is on the line.”

For a moment there was no response from Resnick, and then he stirred lightly. His eyes fluttered open and he gave Sam a groggy look of half recognition.

“Titan,” he rasped.

Rio simmered with impatience. “We know it’s Titan.”

Sam shot Rio a scowl to silence him and then returned his attention to Resnick.

Resnick tried to raise his hand to grasp Sam’s shirt. Sam caught Resnick’s hand and held on so he wouldn’t overexert himself.

“Was looking up a lead I had when I was shot. Take a look at Gordon Farnsworth. He’s dirty but pays a lot of damn money for legitimacy. He’s got his fingers into damn near everything under the sun. Politics. Military. Funds other countries. Drugs. Gun running. There isn’t much he hasn’t done. He’s on everyone’s list but he’s slick as snot and no one’s been able to nail him on shit yet. He’s someone who would have had access to Titan and also the means to purchase their services.”

Sam frowned. “Why would he want Grace? Money? Sell her to the highest bidder?”

Resnick slowly shook his head then made a choking sound. He went gray, and for a minute, Rio thought they’d lost him. He leaned forward, desperate to know what Res-nick could tell them.

“Has a daughter,” Resnick rasped out. “Rumor is she’s very ill and he’s desperate to save her. All the money in the world can’t buy her a cure. He’s tried. She’s the only thing he loves. The only thing that makes him halfway human. She is his one weakness. The one thing that can be used against him.”

Rio straightened, his face going tight, his nostrils flaring. The bastard didn’t want Grace for any research program. He didn’t want her for the military and what she would mean for soldiers in battle. He wanted her to save his daughter.

“Find him,” Resnick whispered. “If he’s after Grace, I’d bet all I own that he wants her because she’s the only person who can save his daughter.”