“Check the hotel and see if any outdoor cameras are there,” Jerricho said.
“I’ll take a walk down the street in a little bit and see if there’s any sign of her.”
“Probably won’t be,” Jerricho said.
“I still don’t like anything about this,” Killian replied.
“Neither do I,” Jerricho said, “but we’re out of options. This is the hand we’re dealt, and this is the hand we’ll have to play.”
“Still doesn’t mean I have to like it,” he said.
“How’s your partner?”
“He’s perfect,” Killian said readily. “I’ve known Hatch since, well, since a long time ago. I just didn’t realize he was back in the game.”
“He asked to come back in. He was referred to the Mavericks.”
“Good choice,” he said. “I’m always happy to have him on my team.”
“Right, he’s got that innate sense of honor, which is just not there in so many guys. Let me know what you find when you take your walk. Find every camera on this block, on every block for a one-mile radius around there because, if something goes wrong, we’ll need to track those assholes.”
“Right.” As he went to log off, Killian quickly added, “Hey, let me know where the sewers and any underground tunnels are in this ungodly and beautiful place,” Killian requested.
Jerricho laughed.
“It’s a nice small town, and, so far, I have absolutely nothing against it,” Killian said. “Also lots of fresh air, so that’s a big plus. But, if anything is underground, with any potential hidden exits, I need to know.”
“Okay, I’ll check that for you. Go, take your walk outside, and make sure you’re not seen.”
He logged off and looked over at Hatch. “Want to go for a walk?”
Hatch nodded. “I so do.”
“Good, except you should look a little bit more homeless or unseen.”
“Yes, I agree. I did see a couple street people when wandering through town earlier,” Hatch said. “But not very many.”
“And that’s a huge plus for this place. They take care of their own.”
“Yeah, either they haven’t made it up here, there aren’t that many per capita, or they’re holed up in some other area.”
“Yes, you’d think by one of the waterways would be a likely spot for them to congregate,” he said.
“You’d think so. For me, I’ll stay in the shadows.”
Hatch left first, and Killian followed, locking up behind them, each going in a different direction. They would take completely different routes, checking out the neighborhood. Then they would reconvene and share notes.
As Killian wandered about town, he sent a message to Jerricho. We have ventured out, and the place is completely empty. Nobody on the streets at all.
Anybody watching you, like in the windows or the doorsteps? By the way, no underground tunnels.
Good. One thing to ignore. Nobody at all. Not even a parked car. He sent the messages as he walked. I mean, I’ve been in a lot of small towns, but a weird atmosphere hangs around this one. I can’t explain it.
And that’s probably you, he messaged back.
Maybe, and maybe it’s not. He walked on but still found no vehicles parked on the side streets or the main drag.
He knew it was a Monday and was well past dinnertime, but he hadn’t expected this level of deadness as he walked toward the rendezvous spot, which was a wooded area just off the town itself.
He checked his watch for the time frame to hook up with Hatch. He thought he caught sight of Hatch as he crossed a block and headed around the corner. But, as Killian kept looking, he found no sign of him again. Either Hatch was as good as he had always been or somebody else was out here, playing games. Considering the drop-off point was nearby, exchanging the woman for the money that had been delivered to his room, somebody working with the kidnapper must be out here, scouting the area at least.
Before coming here, Killian had dyed his hair, had shaved off his beard, wore colored contacts, and carried a hat to avoid street cams, so he didn’t look like his normal self anymore. Hatch was already in a disguise. It just blew Killian away how different the man looked. But then again, burns like that and skin grafts, they weren’t kind. Hatch still looked good, but, no doubt about it, he didn’t look the same. So trying to ID Killian or Hatch out here using facial recognition wouldn’t work. That was a huge bonus right now. Killian made a single pass again and headed back toward the hotel.
On his second pass, he felt that creepy sensation of being followed. He was still too early for their rendezvous, and he casually walked past the hotel. Then, as soon as he felt he was clear, he swept around the alleyway and came up on the other block and did a quick dash through until he came up on the other side of the hotel, where he raced up the front steps and then walked sedately through the entrance.
That was the problem with this hotel; it had one main exit. The back one was apparently closed off, and that had made him very suspicious when he had first arrived. But the hotel manager had said they were just doing some work on the locks. And, of course, that was always questionable.
When he got back to the room, he found Hatch already there. “See anything?” he asked Hatch.
“I wanted to, yet, no,” he said. “But I sure felt it.”
“Yeah, I did too. I couldn’t make out anyone, but they’re around.” Killian quickly opened his laptop and brought up the secure message screen in the Mavericks’ chat box. Did you confirm regarding the locks in the hotel?
Yes, they were damaged, early this morning. New locks installed.
Did you check out the lock installer?
Yes, he’s clean.
Still, it sounds suspicious.
I know. I don’t like anything about this.
Killian looked up and quickly explained the lock issue to Hatch.
Hatch said, “I don’t like anything about that.”
“I know, and it’s the back exit too. I’m thinking we should disable the lock.”
“Otherwise it’ll be locked to stop us from getting out,” Hatch said, nodding.
“That would be my take on it.”
With that, Hatch got up and quickly slipped out of the room.
Killian sent a message back to Jerricho. Hatch’s gone to take a look at the lock.
Good, he replied. Ready for the drop?
Yes. Killian retrieved the bag and picked up the small backpack with the $50,000 inside, then messaged Jerricho. Not a whole lot of money for a woman’s life.
And I’m not sure she’ll even be there. That’s the next problem.
Oh, she’ll likely be there, but they probably won’t give her to us. They could keep doing this. What’s to stop them?
You. And, with that, Jerricho logged off.
Stacey Edgewater groaned behind the blindfold and the mouth gag. Her hands were tied at her back, and her feet were scrunched up, also tied together. She was in the trunk of a car. At least, that was her best guess. When the lid opened, and she was roughly pulled into a sitting position, the gag was yanked off her mouth, and a bottle was held up to her lips. She drank thirstily, spilling half of it down her front. She didn’t care; it was water, and she was parched.