King Maker (King Maker 3)

“Yeah,” Gormley said, looking at me like he wanted to say more.

He thoughtfully nodded at Matt before taking the tape and handing it off to one of his team without dismissing Matt’s find. I immediately liked him. He wasn’t a hothead or egomaniac. I made a mental note to tell Griffin he had a rising star on his hands.

“The good news is, about a mile and a half down the road there’s a national bank that thankfully uses modern technology. Although it’s a small branch, it has big city security. There are two cameras on the building, each pointing in opposite directions. We were able to get footage in a two-hour window of when we think Miss Glicks was taken.”

“And—” I pressed.

“We think we’ve got a location on the car.”

Matt sighed. “Should I even ask how you got access to that footage?”

My rising star shook his head and said, “Well, the bank manager did tell you they would be willing to help if they could.”

Matt frowned and held up a hand. “I don’t want to know.”

Gormley nodded and continued, “There wasn’t a lot of traffic early this morning. We were able to quickly analyze the license plates of the twenty or so vehicles that passed. Although there are a couple of crossroads between here and the bank, this is the main road that leads to the highway a few miles down.”

“You found something,” I said hopefully.

“Yes. One of the vehicles came back as a rental procured yesterday. Lucky for us, the rental companies have GPS tracking on their vehicles in case of theft.”

I was familiar as Griffin tirelessly explained what he was doing when he searched for Bailey’s rental.

Turner jumped in, looking optimistic, but this was what I paid the big money for. Results.

“You found the vehicle?” he asked Gormley.

“Yes.”

With that one word, a plan was formed.

Seven

I woke again to complete quiet. I took a moment to listen. When I heard nothing, not even slight breathing, I shifted my foot to draw attention to my captor if he was still in the room. Nothing. I turned my head slightly to the left and then right and surmised I was alone.

It was time to make my move. I scooted back in the bed so my hands could reach my hair. Once I could twist my fingers into my bun, I pulled out my secret weapon, a hairpin.

As a curious child, I was always interested in how things worked. Our community wasn’t immune to problems. As such, we did have what could be labeled as a jail. A small building with two holding cells.

I’d gone there once with my dad and came across some handcuffs. He’d been busy fixing something and I’d locked myself in them.

I almost smiled at the memory. Father had been amused and showed me how to get myself out of them using something I’d always have on me.

When it had been so easy to free myself, I’d asked why they bothered to use them to bind anyone. He’d said, Most don’t know the trick or wouldn’t have something on them to use to get them out of it.

It had been a good day.

As I worked myself free, ignoring the pain in my right hand, I unlocked the first and then the other. I thought about my father and if he would be proud if he saw me now.

Just as I was about to get up, I heard the doorknob rattle and I froze.

My car, probably the only one of its kind for miles, stood out like an albatross in the parking lot across the street from the shit motel in Virginia we’d tracked Bailey to. Nerves shot, I hoped like hell she was here and this wasn’t a wild goose chase.

Turner sat in my passenger seat and appeared just as frayed around the edges as I felt. We hadn’t spoken much during the four-hour drive.

I was grateful I’d made the choice to drive my own car from New York to Pennsylvania, giving me access to make the drive to Virginia. I didn’t think I could be stuck in the security company’s van the way I was currently feeling.

Plus, with the threat against her, I’d wanted to be able to get her out without being easily tracked.

Matt opted to ride with the team in case he could help further. He’d glanced between us when he announced his decision. It was like he wanted to create an intervention between us. I had nothing against Turner. Rationally, I knew he hadn’t known about Bailey and me. And I couldn’t blame him for wanting her.

“Do you think she’s in there?” Turner asked after clearing his throat.

I shifted in my seat to look at him while he stared ahead. “A part of me hopes not. The things the bastard could do to her in a hotel room…” I trailed off, not wanting to think about it.