Cross Country (Alex Cross 14)

Finally, I called Metro and reported the possible kidnapping of my family.

Within minutes, three cruisers pulled up in front. Their roof lights were flashing ominously. I came outside just as Sampson arrived.

I explained to John what I knew so far. He stood with me on the porch, where I was holding Rosie, holding on to her for support, really. Everything felt unreal and I was numb from my head to my feet.

“It’s the Tiger, has to be him. Something about what happened in Africa,” I said to John. “I almost got shot on the way from the airport.” I pointed toward the taxi sitting on the street. “Cab driver pulled a gun on me.”

“They’re alive, Alex,” Sampson said and put an arm around me. “They have to be.”

“I hope you’re right. Otherwise, they would have killed them here, like Ellie and her family.”

“They must think you know something. Do you, Alex?”

“Not very much,” I told Sampson. But it was a white lie.

I heard a woman’s scream then. “Alex! . . . Alex!”

Bree! She was running down the block from where she’d had to leave her car. The police had completely blocked off Fifth Street now. It was starting to look like one of those gruesome crime scenes that I hated to be called in on. Only this time, it was my house, my family.

“What is it, Alex? I just got the call. Saw the address. What happened?”

“Somebody took Nana, Ali, and Jannie,” Sampson told Bree. “That’s what it looks like.”

Bree came into my arms and held me tight. “Oh, Alex, Alex, no.” She made no empty promises, just gave me the only comfort she could. Her embrace, a few whispered words.

“No note, no message?” she finally asked.

“I didn’t find anything. We should look again. I don’t think I was too clearheaded the first time I looked. I know I wasn’t.”

“You think you ought to go back in there right now?” she said and took my arm.

“I have to. Come with me. Both of you, come.”

We all went back into the house.

Chapter 129

WHILE BREE AND Sampson started looking around, I called Damon’s school and talked to the headmaster, then got Damon on the line. I told him to pack some things. We would be moving him soon. Sampson had already made the arrangements for him to be picked up. “Why do I have to come home?” Damon wanted to know.

“You’re not coming home right now. Not yet. It isn’t safe here. Not for any of us.”

I joined Bree and Sampson and we searched the house for several hours, but there was nothing for us to find. No message left anywhere. The only evidence of a struggle was the mess in the kitchen and a tangled runner in the foyer.

I thought to check my computer, but there was nothing there either. No messages had been left anywhere. No threats. No explanation of any kind. Was that the message?

I decided to place a call to Lagos next. It was eight a.m. there.

I reached Ian Flaherty’s office, but he didn’t pick up himself this time.

“Mr. Flaherty is not here at the moment,” said his assistant. She sounded nervous.

“Do you know where he is or when he’s expected back?” I asked her. “It’s important that I talk to him.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t. There is a lot going on here, sir. It’s a very bad situation.”

“Yes, I know. May I leave a message for him?”

“Of course.”