“It involves the case we’re working for Aidan.”
Ryan was instantly and totally awake. “I’m listening.”
“I thought you might be. This falls under the need-to-know. How fast can your counterfeiting guy make us a new passport?”
“If money is no object, probably a day, maybe two.”
“Not good enough. You know the kind of deadline we’re up against.” Marc frowned. “Would it help if I had a copy of the girl’s original passport and we want one that’s identical?”
“Hell yeah. We’re not setting up a new identity, we’re recreating an old one. Text me that photocopy and I’ll set the process in motion. A whole lot of cash and a little bit of arm-twisting—we’ll have what we need within hours.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Call me when it’s done. Oh, and hi, Claire.”
Claire had the urge to dive under the covers and pretend she wasn’t there. But who was she kidding? “Hi, Marc. Good night, Marc.”
“You heard the lady,” Ryan said. “Good night, Marc.”
8
Five days left…
Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
26 February
Monday, 7:05 a.m. local time
Susan Pennington stared out the window of their luxury suite, which overlooked the magnificent wonders of Lake Tahoe—the snow-covered mountains majestic enough to be the Alps and the water clear and blue enough to be Lake Geneva.
The exquisite scene was lost on her. She saw nothing but Lauren.
“Vance, I’m terrified.” She turned, tightening the sash on her dressing robe, her gaze fixed on her husband as he packed up the laptop case he’d be taking to Santa Clara for his morning commute to NanoUSA.
Vance stopped what he was doing and walked over to her, gently gripping her shoulders. “I’m terrified, too,” he admitted. “But I firmly believe we’re going to get Lauren back soon and unharmed. I refuse to contemplate any other alternative.”
Susan searched her husband’s expression, her own tight with worry. “You have that much faith in Aidan Devereaux?”
“In him and his team, yes, I do. I realize that most of that faith comes from the gut. This group of theirs doesn’t exactly have a website touting their skills and services. But I’ve been extremely impressed so far. Remember, they knew about Lauren’s kidnapping before I was even contacted. They already had a plan in place before Aidan showed up at my office door. Just meeting with him—it’s clear that he’s a brilliant thinker and an equally brilliant leader.”
“Not to mention a former Marine,” Susan added quietly, fully aware of what that fact meant to her husband.
“Yes. That, too.” Vance spoke with utter conviction. “I made a few phone calls to my guys in the Marines. They all came back with glowing reports on Aidan. So he’s the real deal. I’ve also met with Simone Martin. She’s insightful in ways that surprised even me. She’ll handle both her feigned job and her real job without missing a beat. In a few hours I’ll introduce her to my team. Then she’ll be off and running.”
“I’m sure you’re right. But, Vance, time is running out.” Susan gripped the lapels of his business suit, panic lacing her tone. “What if it takes Simone too much time to locate the mole at your company— assuming one even exists? And what if that discovery isn’t soon enough to protect Lauren? She’s somewhere in Europe—or God knows where. Aidan and Simone are here, thousands of miles away from our daughter and her kidnappers. What if—”
“Their European ground team must be in place by now,” he interjected. “They’ll be searching relentlessly for Lauren while Aidan runs the operation from our end. I’ll get an update from Simone as soon as I get to the office. They’ve already coordinated a comprehensive plan that will cover every tangible scenario in every location. Lauren will be home with us within the week. You’ll see.”
Susan blinked back her tears. “And you?”
“What about me? I’ll be wherever Aidan needs me to be.”
“I never doubted that. But will you do whatever you have to? Including compromising your work ethics? What if it comes down to that?”
Warring emotions slashed across Vance’s face. “According to Aidan, it won’t.”
“And if he’s wrong?”
“Then there’ll be no choice. As opposed as I am to disclosing details of Nano’s most groundbreaking and confidential project, if it comes down to that or saving our daughter’s life—there is no choice.”