"I know it's not a foolproof plan." Dom Shea watched Jed moving about frantically. "But Moran has promised us that the Feds will be all over the place within fifteen minutes of Grace's arrival at the warehouse. They'll be as thick as flies on sh-" He cleared his throat. "They're moving up their timetable by forty-eight hours in order to take advantage of this situation."
"To hell with their timetable!" Jed spun around, leaned down and grasped the arms of Grace's chair on either side. "Don't you understand that there is no way either the FBI or Dundee 's can guarantee your safety? I'm not willing to risk your life. Not to save Troy Leone or anybody else. And certainly not to catch Booth Fortier. A week ago you might have been willing to die to bring Booth to justice, but I thought… I thought you felt differently now."
Grace grasped both of Jed's wrists and looked up into his face, their gazes connecting. "I want to live now more than I've ever wanted to live. Everything in my life is different. You know that." Grace sensed a hush fall over the room and knew that Elsa and the three Dundee agents were all aware that Jed and she were lovers. "But neither of us could live with ourselves if we don't do all we can to save Troy and to put Booth Fortier behind bars for the rest of his life."
Jed pulled away from Grace and stood, then glanced from one Dundee agent to the other. Dom, Rafe and J.J. "I'm going with her."
A rumble of protests arose from the agents, then Rafe said, "You can't do that and you damn well know it. For this thing to work, it's got to look as if Elsa and Grace slipped away from all of us without telling us what had happened with Troy."
"I'm not letting her go in alone," Jed told them.
"She won't be alone," Dom reminded him. "Not for long. She'll be wearing the homing device and we'll know where she is at all times, even if they move her from the warehouse. Once everything is in place, Moran's people will move in. And we'll be with them. I told Moran you had to be part of the rescue mission.
Grace stood, walked over to Jed and slipped her arm around his waist. "See, in the end, you'll he my knight in shining armor."
"Some white knight I am." Jed pulled her into his arms and held her fiercely. "If anything happens to you…"
"Whatever happens…" She glanced around the room. One by one, Elsa and the Dundee agents made hasty exists, leaving Grace and Jed alone. "Whatever happens, I want you to know that the time we've had together has been wonderful. You've brought me back to life, given me a reason to-"
He kissed her with all the passion and frustration he felt. And she gave herself over to the moment, pushing aside her fear. Please, dear God, help us. I don't want to die. I want to live. I want a chance for a new life… with Jed.
Two hours later Elsa drove her Honda Civic to the Garland Industries warehouse and parked out front as she'd been told to do by the mystery voice over the phone. Grace adjusted her blouse and glanced down at the cameo attached to the gold necklace the FBI agent had brought to Sheffield Media and placed around her neck.
"There's a small homing device inside the cameo," Special Agent Taylor had explained.
"We'll be able to track you as long as you're wearing the necklace."
Elsa turned to Grace. "I'll never be able to thank you enough for doing this. You're risking your life for Troy."
Grace patted Elsa's hand where she clutched the steering wheel. "Jed and the Dundee agents aren't going to let us get hurt. And don't forget that the FBI knows what's happening and they're going to arrest Booth Fortier today. To add to all his other crimes, they'll now be able to prove that he was behind Troy 's kidnapping."
Elsa took a deep breath. "If only Troy hadn't gotten himself involved with these people, this wouldn't be happening."
"No time for worrying about all that," Grace said. "Now, come on. We're to go to the door over there-" Grace glanced in the direction "-and knock once, then they'll let us in."
Elsa nodded. "He said that they have Troy here and will make the exchange as soon as we arrive."
"Then let's get this over with."
Grace opened the passenger door, got out and waited for Elsa. They walked down the sidewalk and to the front door of the Garland Industries warehouse. Elsa knocked once. The door opened. They went inside the dark, dank, cavernous building, but didn't see anyone, not even whoever had unlocked the door for them. Grace's heartbeat thundered in her ears. Be brave. Show no fear, she told herself.
"You did a very good job, Ms. Leone," a man's voice said, but still they could see no one. "By now, Ms. Beaumont, you must know that your assistant has led you into a trap."
"What's going on here?" Grace asked. "Who are you? Elsa said Troy was in trouble and asked me to come here with her to get him. Where is Troy Leone?"
" Troy is safe," the voice replied. "For now."
Elsa called loudly, "You promised me that if I delivered Grace, you'd free Troy."
"Free Troy?" Grace went into her astonished act. "What do you mean, free Troy? What's going on here?"
"You may leave now, Ms. Leone. Your brother will be returned to you safely in a few hours."
"No, that wasn't the deal," Elsa said, the nervous strain in her voice all too real.
"I demand to know what's going on?" Grace planted her hands on her hips.
"Unless you want to die with Ms. Beaumont, then I suggest you leave, Ms. Leone."
"Die?" Grace gasped, then turned to Elsa and slapped her. "You ungrateful little bitch! After all I've done for you, you hand me over to-whoever you are, you're working for Booth Fortier, aren't you?" Grace stumbled around in the eerily dark building as she searched for the source of the voice; then she whirled around and glowered at Elsa. "Go ahead and leave. Do it now, unless you're having second thoughts and are willing to die with me."
Go, damn it, Elsa. Leave while you still can. Grace issued the silent warning. She didn't want Elsa to try to do anything heroic. If Troy Leone was still alive, these people could hardly let him go, not if he could identify them later. Elsa knew, as Grace did, that Troy 's only hope was being rescued when Grace was rescued. Hopefully, they were holding Troy here at the warehouse. Otherwise… Grace didn't want to think of the alternative.
"I want my brother!" Elsa held up her hand in a tight fist.
"Leave now and we'll send him to you. If you stay, you and he will both die with Ms. Beaumont."
Elsa spun around and hurried to the door. Once Elsa was outside, Grace sighed with relief. But before she could say a prayer of thanks, a tall, hawk-nosed man came from out of the shadows; a short, stocky man, with an acne-scarred face followed him. Instinctively Grace began backing up. Hawk-nose grabbed her by the arm. She thought about protesting, but knew it would be futile. Are they planning on killing me now? Grace wondered. Or will they wait for Booth Fortier to come and watch?
The man dragged her into motion, taking her through the warehouse, as the stocky guy guided their way with a flashlight. When they reached the rear entrance, Grace balked, realizing they were going to take her away. But where?
"Strip," Hawk-nose said.
"What?"
"Strip down to your slip," he told her.
"I'll do no such thing."
"Either you do it or I'll do it for you."
Reluctantly Grace removed her jacket, blouse and skirt, leaving her body covered by a beige silk slip. The cameo rested on her bosom, atop the heavy lace adorning the bodice of her slip. Oh, Jed, please be close by. I'm being as brave as I can be, but I don't know for how long. I'm scared. I'm really, really scared.