Hidden Away (KGI #3)(55)

“Anyway, no luck on running Lattimer down. Resnick doesn’t have a clue, which isn’t making him happy, especially now that you’ve gone off the radar with Sarah. He’s seeing his chance to nail Lattimer sliding down the toilet, and he wants Lattimer at any cost.”

“That makes two of us,” Garrett muttered. Although he wasn’t as willing to throw Sarah to the wolves as Resnick was. Garrett wasn’t a half-measure kind of guy. He figured there was no good reason why he couldn’t nail Lattimer and also keep Sarah safe in the process.

“We’ve got an unknown in the equation here, Van. Lattimer wouldn’t have someone break into her cottage and scare the shit out of her. Neither would Resnick. Resnick’s going to sit back and bait the trap. Sarah was spooked enough that she hauled ass off the island. She had an escape route planned from the time she set foot there.”

“There’s two actually. Unless your guy on the island is the same lead I have.”

Garrett shook his head. Of course there was. Donovan did love to tell a good story. Garrett was more of a get-to-the-point sort of guy. Donovan liked to drag shit out for maximum effect.

“Who now?” he asked wearily.

“Stanley Cross. Allen’s brother. In my digging, I found out Resnick uncovered the fact that Cross has hired a private recovery firm to bring Sarah in. Interesting that Resnick didn’t see fit to share that little tidbit with us. Stanley is throwing a lot of money around. He seems pretty desperate.”

“Oh Jesus, that’s all I need. Some mercenary wannabe wading in to throw Sarah over his shoulder and haul her home like a Neanderthal. He’d probably get her killed inside of an hour.”

“And you’re not planning to go all Neanderthal on her?” Donovan asked mildly.

“I won’t get her killed.”

Donovan chuckled and then his laughter trailed off. “Resnick doesn’t know I know. And don’t ask how I found out. Let’s just say if I’m ever asked to donate a kidney, I won’t have a choice but to say yes. He’s holding out on us, which is why I haven’t busted your chops for holding out on him. I figure you’re in the situation, you know it better than anyone, so the call is yours.”

“Thanks for that,” Garrett said dryly. “I want to get the hell out of here with Sarah. What do you have for me? I don’t want to lure Lattimer on his own turf. I want him where we have the advantage.”

“I’ve got a place. I didn’t want to use any of the KGI usual haunts. Resnick would look there first. It’ll be a little tricky getting there, but you’ve got to ditch her current digs quick.”

“I hate when you use words like that. It’s usually a gross understatement. Just how bad am I going to hate this?”

“Afognak Island, off the coast of Alaska. Logging camp and an out-of-commission lodge are all that’s there and no one’s on the island right now. They shut down operations last year. I have a contact with the tribe that owns the island and the lodge. The best part is that it will be virtually impossible for Lattimer to get on that island without our team knowing.”

“Alaska? Could you have picked anywhere farther?”

“Yeah well, just wait until I tell you the roundabout way you’re getting there.”

“Fuck me. You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“No. I’m worried, Garrett. This is a complete clusterf*ck. I have Steele and part of his team en route. They’re going to completely secure the island before you and Sarah get there.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? You’re not going to argue and tell me to f**k off and give me a line about how you’re going out on your own?”

“Oh f**k you, Van.”

“I feel the love. You’re such a sensitive soul. I bet you read poetry to Sarah.”

Garrett scowled. He may not have read poetry but leaving a basket of wine, books and chocolate on her porch came damn close.

“Can we get back to the matter at hand? What arrangements have you made?”

“You’ll travel to Belize City. Guy at Pedro Air, a private charter service, fly-by-night operation, will take you to Jamaica. From there you’ll hook up with Rio, who has a friend with a jet who’ll fly you to Kodiak Island. From there you’ll take a sea plane to Afognak Island.”

“My eyes are crossing thinking about it. And what’s Rio doing in Jamaica?”

“I’ve called in everyone I can on this, Garrett. This seemingly innocuous mission is a hell of a lot more complicated than we thought. I have a bad feeling about this one. At no point are we going to let our guard down.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the backup.”

“I’m sending you GPS coordinates so you know exactly where you’re going, and I’m sending you all the contacts and their information. The charters are cargo based and there’ll be no passenger manifest, so that you and Sarah can’t easily be traced. Plus these guys aren’t exactly known for their up-and-up business practices.”

“I’ll be on the lookout. Sarah’s sleeping but as soon as I get everything, we’re heading out. Hey, what about Lattimer’s connection to Cross? Figured out that angle yet?”

Donovan sighed. “No, but more and more I think it has everything to do with Sarah.”