Garrett sighed and waited for his brother to get his act together. Although he couldn’t say much because of all the Kellys, Donovan was the most organized. It bordered on some obsessive-compulsive disorder that the rest of them damn sure didn’t suffer from. Sam was probably the closest to being an anal bastard as Donovan.
“Okay, while I’m getting into this account, I’ll tell what else I’ve found. I’ve been doing some digging. I’ve called in some huge favors—the kind that could get people in some deep shit, if you know what I mean.”
Garrett perked up at that. “What kind of favors?”
“I wanted to know if Resnick has been feeding us a line of bullshit. I also wanted to see if I could figure out Lattimer’s last known location. And what his connection to Allen Cross was.
“Resnick’s already started squawking. He doesn’t buy for a minute that you bailed on the mission. He’s pissed and raising hell. Threatening Sam and KGI and making all sorts of threats against humanity.”
Garrett rolled his eyes. “I’m sure that breaks Sam’s heart.”
“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 clusterfuck. 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 fuck off and give me a line about how you’re going out on your own?”
“Oh fuck 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.”
Garrett had the exact same feeling. It settled deep into his belly like after eating bad Chinese food.
“Okay, I’m in. I was right. This is a secure email account. I’ll have to be damn careful to wipe my fingerprints.”
“What do they say? Is she emailing Lattimer? I just got through telling her he sent me. I need to know how long I’ve got before that busts wide open.”
“I might be able to help you out there,” Donovan murmured. “If you give me an hour or so, I can make it so her emails are rerouted to me. Then I can answer as if I were Lattimer and cover your ass in the process.”
“She won’t be emailing anyone for the next hour,” Garrett said. “She’s practically in a coma. What’s been said so far and how many emails have they exchanged? I need all the information I can get if I’m pretending an association with the asshole.”
“Not much. At first he was frantic wanting to know where she was. Then the tone changed once he seemed to know her location. She emailed him after she ditched you. Told him she was headed to Mexico and asked him for help. He told her where to go. His emails have been short and to the point. He’s a careful bastard. He only gives her what is absolutely necessary. She isn’t much better. She emailed him once she got there and told him she was fine and not to worry. Interestingly enough, all her emails have been about protecting him.”
“What the fuck? What can she possibly do to protect him?” It was on the tip of his tongue to ask why she’d want to protect Lattimer, but he already had his answer to that. No matter what, Sarah was loyal and goodhearted to the bone, and Lattimer was her brother. Hell, for all he knew, she didn’t know exactly what a bastard her brother was. He damn sure hadn’t done anything to alleviate the loneliness of her childhood.