The Devil's Triangle (A Brit in the FBI 4)

“Keep on them. Watch it closely. How much time do we have left on Kitsune’s tracker?”

“Just under twelve hours.”

“There’s no chance you can pick up the signal off that bug I planted on Cassandra’s clothing, is there?”

“Sorry, it only broadcasts to fifty yards.”

“All right. I’m going to need the plane. Get Clancy and Trident in the air and to the airport in Perugia. Tell them to gas up for a nice long trip. In the meantime, I need you to call Gray in New York, and the two of you lock down the financials. We need proof that the Kohaths have been manipulating the markets with their weather attacks.”

“The plane will be ready when you are,” Adam said. “Oh, Nicholas, I did some checking on Grant Thornton’s employer, Blue Mountain, identified myself as FBI and reported Grant was missing. They’d already run a kidnap-and-ransom assessment on him since he hadn’t checked in since his last operation. They’re smart and have a lot of resources. Do you want their help?”

“Normally I’d resist, but right now, honestly, the more the merrier. Call them, tell them we’re tracking Grant and his wife, and Adam, keep them in the loop. We need all the help we can get. Thankfully, we’re sure they’re not on the Kohaths’ payroll.”

“Will do. Take care of Mike, okay?”

“You can count on that. Thanks, Adam. You and Louisa hang tight, gather proof that will nail these two nutters.”

He punched off, started to call Zachery and Savich but decided against it. There was simply too much to explain, and too many questions, too many uncertainties. And too many ways for them to say no, no way, he’s in over his head, this is way above his pay grade. When he knew more, he’d fill them in.

Cassandra and Ajax had to know he’d be looking high and low for them, but they’d also think he’d have no way of knowing where to look.

They were in for a big surprise.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Over the Atlantic

Kitsune opened her eyes to darkness. Her first thought was Grant’s dead. And she couldn’t bear it, couldn’t accept it. Because of her, he was dead. Then she thought about killing Cassandra with her bare hands, and that made her realize she had to stay alive to do it. Oh yes, she’d get out of this, then she’d kill the crazy bitch.

She was cold, she was dying of thirst, and she had a splitting headache. Her whole body hurt and she realized she couldn’t move.

She was alive, though, and she would do anything to stay that way. Where was she? Focus, Kitsune, focus.

She was tied tightly, arms and legs, propped against something, hard and soft, and wasn’t that strange. It was a man’s leg—Grant’s leg. He was alive, he was right beside her. She listened to his every breath, and nearly wept. Together, they had a chance. She thought about strangling Cassandra and her palms itched.

She leaned close, smelled his own unique scent. Alive, he was alive, and he was here, with her.

“Grant?”

No answer. They’d drugged him again, as they had her. She supposed they’d given her less. Why? Because she wasn’t such a danger to them? Kitsune felt a moment of insult.

She was surrounded by a loud, intense roar, rhythmic and steady. They were on a plane. It wasn’t entirely dark—she saw a small red light blinking on the wall and in that blinking light, she saw the pulse beating in his neck. Why had they left them alive? Because they wanted something, but what?

Then she remembered the tracker. How much longer would it last? Still, she felt a bit of relief. Nicholas and Mike would follow, she was sure of it.

Grant moaned. She rested her chin against his thigh, more to comfort herself than to comfort him. At least they were finally together.

She needed to think, to plan. And once they’d survived this, she’d consider retiring. Well, maybe.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

The Kohath Letters

Lake Michigan

November 11, 1913

Dear Nikola,