Back at the office, Lori, Rexs sister, was running through every possible avenue of computer research to locate Peter. She was also monitoring Nadias cell phone. Nadia had privately wondered about Loris qualifications, but Rex had assured her that in addition to being a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Lori was a skilled hacker. If anyone could trace a call or turn up an e-trail for their suspect, Lori could.
Now they had to wait, and hope that Peter made a slip.
When Nadias cell phone rang, she nearly upset her untouched soft drink. She fumbled with the phone, glancing to see whether Rex had noticed. He had. Though his gaze was never directly on her for more than half a second, she knew he was watching her.
Hello?
You are in no position to make demands, sweetheart.
Inwardly shaking, Nadia gave a casual hand signal, indicating to Rex that she had Peter on the line. The call was being recorded via a device hidden inside her jacket.
Oh, yes, I am, Nadia said. Everything inside her yearned to beg and grovel for Peter to return her child. But Rex had told her specifically not to do that. She had to pretend she was in perfect control. I will give you what you want. But not without complete assurance that I will get Lily back safe and sound. Let me talk with her.
You can talk with her after you
No, she said sharply. Once you deliver proof that Lily is safe, I will listen to your next demand. Not before. Then, though it was the hardest thing shed ever done, she hung up. She knew she had to prove to Peter she was serious.
A few feet away, Rex was shocked that their power play had produced results so quickly. Peter Danilov must be desperate for whatever Nadia had. He might even be here at the mall himself.
The Forest Ridge Mall had three levels. The food court was on the bottom; the other two levels looked down upon it. Rex had guessed that Peter had chosen this location so he or a coconspirator could observe from a high perch. Rex scanned the people near the railings above him.
There, said Gavin, pointing with his eyes. Two oclock to you. A blond guy in a black shirt, talking on a cell phone. His body language says hes angry.
Rex saw him. He could have been Peter Danilov, but Nadia had only been able to provide a grainy, outdated photo of her ex-husband. He had apparently taken all photos with him when theyd divorced, anticipating something like this. Lori was currently tracking down other photoshis employee ID picture, from when hed worked at JanCo as a low-level lab tech, or his mug shot from when hed been arrested for assaulting Nadia. But they hadnt arrived yet.
Lets go, Rex said. Their plan was to follow a suspect, if they found one, which was one of the reasons Rex had brought Gavin with him. Two people could tail someone easier than one could, and with less chance of being spotted.
He didnt like leaving Nadia unprotected, but shed been instructed to remain exactly where she was until she received a prearranged signal from him or someone on the team to return to her car.
As Rex and Gavin rode the escalator up to the second level where their suspect was, Rex spoke into his walkie-talkie headset, which resembled a cell phone accessory. Beau, you copy?
Im here.
Any action around the car?
Nope.
Rex tamped down his irritation at Beaus less-than-military lingo on the walkie-talkie. Beau was an ex-cop, the emphasis being on ex. He didnt care for anything that smacked of rules and regulations, including radio codes. But no one could argue with Beaus results. He got the job done, and Rex couldnt think of anyone hed rather have at his back.
Weve made a visual ID of a suspect. Ill need your help tailing him once he exits the mall. Blond guy in a black T-shirt, about six feet, one-eighty pounds
Hold on, Gavin interrupted.
As they reached the second level, their suspect turned around and smiled as a redheaded girl about ten years old approached him. They hugged, and Rex could see the relief evident in his face. I told you to wait for me at the bookstore, he scolded. You scared me to death.
Gavin and Rex looked at each other. No wonder the man had been agitated on the phonehed lost his daughter. They could also both see, now that theyd gotten a good look at the man, that he was closer to fifty than fortyway too old to be Peter.
Hell, Rex muttered. He spoke into the walkie-talkie again. Cancel the previous. Wrong guy.
Rex headed for the down escalator, which descended through a forest of carefully sculpted trees still sporting their Christmas lights, though it was January. He peered through the trees, searching for Nadias red jacket, feeling inexplicably anxious about having left her vulnerable, even for a couple of minutes.
Moments later, he realized his anxiety was perfectly well placed. Nadia was gone.
Whered she go? Gavin asked, sounding as bewildered as Rex felt.
Damn it! He scanned the crowd for any sign of a red shirt and a curly mop of black hair.
Maybe she went to the bathroom, Gavin said uncertainly.
She wouldnt. I made myself pretty clear, didnt I? That she wasnt to move from that table? If she did, she must have had a good reason.
You hardly know her, Gavin argued. For her, maybe a call of nature is a good reason.
But Rex felt he did know her. Technically theyd met only four hours ago. But hed seen that haunted look in the eyes of other women, other mothers who feared they would never see their children again. He might not know exactly how Nadia felt, but he understood how a woman in her situation thought. And she wouldnt take an unnecessary risk.
Had she been lured here for a kidnapping? But if that had been her ex-husbands goal, why stage it here in a crowd? Why not a more remote location?
Hey, is that her? Gavin asked, pointing to a speck of red far down the mall concourse.
Rex pulled a tiny pair of binoculars from his jacket and peered toward the retreating woman who walked side by side with a dark-haired man. He couldnt see her face, but he could tell by her walk that it was Nadia. As a sniper, hed learned to identify people from a distance. Now it was second nature to catalog the way people walked, how they moved their hands when they talked, how they cocked their heads, how their hips swayed with He pulled his mind back to the present.
Its her, he confirmed. Lets move.
They hurried down the concourse, breaking into a sprint as Nadia and her companion neared the entrance of a department store. The shoppers they breezed past gave them strange stares.
Beau, you read? Rex said into the walkie-talkie.
Ten-four, good buddy.
Change of plans. Nadia is heading into JCPenney with an unknown person. Male, six feet, one-seventy, dark hair.
Dark hair?
Be ready to take over pursuit if they exit the store. Under no circumstances are you to allow Nadia to enter this guys vehicle.
IS SHE EATING? Nadia asked, hurrying to keep up with Peter as he strode toward JCPenney. Her heart pounded and her skin was awash in goose bumps, and she had to resist the urge to look behind her to see if Rex was following.
She had disobeyed one of Rexs direct orders. She wasnt supposed to have moved from her table at the food court until he gave her the signal. But Rex and Gavin had both disappeared, and then there was Peter, his blond hair dyed brown, whispering in her ear the most seductive of songs: You win. Come with me, and Ill let you see Lily.
She hadnt seen him coming. Peter always did have the ability to move quickly and silently, like a cat. When hed told her that her baby was close by, her body had moved almost of its own accord, her mothers instincts craving contact with her offspring.
Her Nana Tania had always emphasized the need for flexibility when it came to matters of intrigue. Peter suddenly appearing in person was an unforeseen event, she reasoned. Rex would approve of her impromptu response, she was almost sure. This might be their best chance of recovering Lily. Rex would follow, and he would have help from Beau and Gavin.
Provided Rex had seen her leave with Peter. Oh, God, what if he hadnt? She wasnt in danger, though, really, was she? In this public place, what could he do? He hadnt pulled a gun, hadnt shown her any sign of force at all. Hed merely told her that his girlfriend was with Lily in another part of the mall, and this would be Nadias one and only chance to see her daughter until after the Petro-Nano was delivered.
Peter set a zigzagging course through the department store, pausing often to see if anyone was following.
Im here alone, Nadia said, certain Rex wouldnt reveal his presence.
You double-crossed me once, Peter said. Youd do it again in a heartbeat if you thought you could get away with it. He paused long enough to look her in the eye in a way that made her shrivel inside. For a moment, all she could think about was the feel of his fist making contact with her face, the sickening thud-crunch, the explosion of pain and the keening scream that had sounded strange and alien, but which had come from her own throat. And she knew he would make her suffer for not meekly following his orders. If he knew shed gotten help, if he knew shed lied to him, his retribution would be that much worse.
Even if he had to exact it from a prison cell.
She shivered.
All right. Come on. Lily is in my car with Denise.
Nadia hadnt counted on Peter taking her outside. She was afraid of what he might do in the relative isolation of the parking lot. But surely Rex and his buddies were watching.
As they exited the store into a cold, gray day, Nadia zipped up her inadequate windbreaker. The parking lot wasnt all that isolated, she realized with some relief. It was a busy Saturday afternoon. People were coming and going.
Then she noticed a blond woman heading toward her, and she tensed. Lori, Rexs sister. Theyd left her back at the First Strike office doing computer searches. What was she doing here?
Lori was going to pass very close to them. But there was no reason to worry, Nadia thought. Peter wouldnt recognize her.
Nadia?
Lori had stopped squarely in front of them. Panicking, Nadia looked blankly at Lori. Was she going to just give away the game right here in front of Peter? Or, she thought giddily, had the team already recovered Lily?
Nadia Penn, it is you, right? Its Annette, from Michigan?
Annette! Nadia said, hoping she had inherited at least a smidgen of acting ability from Nana Tania. I havent seen you in a million years! You look different. Have you lost weight?
Only about fifty pounds. Lori came in for a hug and whispered in Nadias ear, Were getting you out of this. After releasing Nadia from the hug she said, bright and cheerful as could be, Is this your husband? I thought I heard you were getting married.
That must have been a while ago, Nadia said. Peter and I are divorced. But we, uh, have a daughter. Thats why were, uh She was blathering. She had to get control of this thing. Peter, whod looked merely annoyed by the interruption a moment ago, was starting to frown and turn red.
Come on, Nad, I do not have all day, he said. You can gossip with your girlfriend another time. Denise and Lily are waiting for us in the car.
Oh, that Russian accent is so cute, Lori simpered. You sound just like Boris Badenov from the Bullwinkle cartoon.
What in the hell was Lori doing? Nadia wondered wildly. Stalling, maybe, so the team could get into place? She was also making Peter angry. What if he took it out on Lily, or the hapless Denise, whoever she was?
We really have to go, Nadia said with as much conviction as she could muster. How far were they from Peters car? she wondered. How close was Lily?
Ill walk with you, Lori said, sounding ridiculously perky. Id love to see your daughter.
Peter turned on Lori, his temper erupting. Why dont you mind your own business, you stupid cow? This is a private matter.
Hey, nice manners. Loris chin jutted out, challenging Peter. God, Nadia, no wonder you divorced him.
Without warning, Peter took a swing at Lori and Nadia reflexively screamed. But Lori blocked the blow with amazing agility, Peters fist glancing harmlessly off her forearm. Realizing hed tangled with more than he bargained for, Peter took off running.
Lori started to follow, but Nadia grabbed onto her arm. No, she said insistently. If you chase him, hell know youre not just an old friend. Nadia watched in despair as her chance to see Lily vanished with Peter as he dodged in and out of the rows of cars.
Lori nodded, seeing the wisdom of Nadias logic. Beaus out here, too. Hes in his car. Hell be able to follow Peter. Even as the words left her mouth, a black Mustang sped past them.
Peter will know hes being tailed, Nadia said.
Not if we double-team him. Come on, my cars over here.
Certain Peter was focused on escape and no longer paying attention to them, Nadia sprinted beside Loris long-legged lope. Why did you do that? she demanded. Why did you confront me? He was taking me to see Lily.
It was too dangerous, letting Peter take you to his car. Strict orders from Rex not to let you go with him.
The burning in Nadias lungs was the only thing that prevented her from dissolving into tears. She wouldnt be able to breathe if she started crying, and she had to keep up with Lori. Lori was going to chase Peter, and Nadia couldnt slow her down.
When they reached Loris vehicle, an ancient gray van with mirrored windows, Nadia had her doubts that this old bucket of bolts could catch anything, but she climbed into the passenger seat.
Her doubts about the van melted when Lori started her up. Sounded like she had a souped-up V-8 under the hood. Batjushki, she murmured, borrowing one of Nana Tanias favorite curses. She quickly fastened her seat belt as Lori whipped out of her parking space with a roar and a screech of tires, driving the behemoth as if it were a sports car.
Lori grabbed the CB radio, driving with one hand. Beau, this is Lori, you read?
Ten-four, Blondie. You got Blue Dog here, runnin and
Shut up with that stuff. Whats your twenty? Over.
Beau sounded more serious when he answered. Heading south on the service road. The target just crossed Augustine Road. Over.
Whats he driving? Over.
Green Plymouth Reliant, older model. No license plates. You cant miss it. Over.
Nadia grabbed the mike out of Loris hand. Beau?
Push the button, hon, Lori said.
Right. Beau? she repeated. This is Nadia. Can you see whos in the car with him? Um, over.
There was a pause before he answered. Theres no one else in the car, just Peter. I got a good look when he almost bashed into me. Weve hit some traffic now. Hes about five car lengths ahead of me.