“If someone is listening in, I don’t want them to know I’m having to communicate by a satellite phone. They’d be able to tell so we need to use the regular cell.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Nerves sat in my gut as I thought about talking to Frankie. Through all this, I’d somewhat stayed in a state of denial, mentally giving reasons why Frankie would get in their truck. He was forced. He was coerced. He was threatened. He was protecting me. This was what I hoped.
After this phone call, if Frankie picked up, I’d know the truth. Getting ready, I knew I was quieter than normal, but Bane gave me my space.
Heading to the car, I plowed through the fresh snow. If only people could spend all of their days making snow angels. I loved the isolation here at the cabin, but I missed the warmth of the Georgia sun. City life never suited me. Inside the garage shed, Bane’s car had chains added to the tires.
I blew out a breath as I got in the vehicle trying to relieve the anticipation of the phone call. Without a word, Bane got in, cranked the car and we made our way down the mountain.
“Maren, it’s okay to be nervous.”
My leg bounced a million miles an hour. “I know. I just … it’s just … I don’t want it to be true.”
“I don’t want it to be either, angel.”
“What am I going to say? How do I act?”
Bane looked pensively out on the road. “Don’t give any weather or geographic indicators. Talk to him like nothing is going on. Ask him if he got the money to pay hi
s loan shark.”
“Did you send him money? There’s no way my two days with Discrete Encounters covers the debt.”
Bane glanced at me for a second. “I would have, but didn’t since I’m pretty sure Eric and his crew have him. But, your brother is obsessed with money. It may knock him off guard enough to give something away.” More knots formed in my stomach. “Maren, if you’re uncomfortable with this, it’s okay.”
“No. I need a minute. Suspecting my brother of betraying me and confirming are two very different things. After all of this is said and done, I’ll have no one.” Bane went to say something, but locked his jaw. “I need to do it. I’ll be okay, I promise.”
Nodding, we continued to drive as I got my thoughts together.
At the edge of town, Bane parked the car in an old church parking lot. For the last hour he’d been prepping me for the phone call as he went through various scenarios. It must be tiring to be a secret government agent person. Bond was the only thing I could honestly relate to him. Except there was no M giving out orders or a Q giving us special spy equipment. It was us figuring this out—alone.
Bane pulled out a cell phone, cords, and a laptop. While he did techy-type things, I looked out the window and watched a few flakes fall. Snow was beautiful as it freely fell from the atmosphere to the ground. I went over the basics of how to act on the phone call.
Remain unemotional.
Don’t allow yourself to be surprised.
Think before each word you say.
Prepare for the worst.
The list went on and on. Bane’s hand touched my leg. “Angel, I promise there’s other ways if you don’t want to.”
There was no time to second-guess my decision. “Is the phone ready?”
Bane handed me the phone. “Just hit send.”
Hitting the button, the phone rang out in the car since it was on speaker phone. With each ring, I felt myself becoming more nauseous.
“Hello.” I missed my brother’s voice. I’d missed him more than I thought.
I cleared my throat. “Frankie.” The clock timer for five minutes counted down on the dash of the car.
“Sis, no one thought you’d call. Are you okay?”
No one thought I’d call? I didn’t have friends. This confirmed my worst thought. Bane nodded for me to continue. “Yes. I’m sorry I haven’t called since the incident in the hotel room. I’ve had to lay low.”
“I know. Where are you at?”