Hard as You Can (40 page)

“Seneka Worldwide Security,” Nick said. “Why is that familiar?”

“To me, too,” Shane said. “Wait, wasn’t the founder prior SF?”

Marz smiled and pulled another sheet from the disorganized stacks on his desk. “Ding ding. John Seneka is prior Special Forces. Old school. Served back in the eighties and nineties. Started SWS right after 9/11.”

“One of a handful of security contractors employing a lot of SpecOp guys after retirement or discharge, right?” Beckett said. “Actually, SWS is known for being a bit aggressive on the recruitment.”

“I didn’t get recruited,” Easy said, bracing his hands on his hips.

“Me neither,” Beckett said, expression dark. Neither had Shane, Nick, or Marz.

“Not surprised to hear it,” Marz said with a sigh.

Something niggled at the back of Shane’s mind, then finally connected. “Whoa,” Shane said, eyes flashing to Marz. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Garza,” Marz said.

“Goddamn Garza,” Shane said, bracing his hands against the desk.

“Holy shit,” Nick bit out, sitting forward in his seat. “Did you make a definitive connection?”

“No,” Marz said. “Garza’s still a freaking ghost. Then again, I can’t find much on SWS’s personnel at all, except for Seneka himself and a few public-relations types. What I do know is that this company was one of four that the DoD Counter-Narcotics Technology Program Office contracted a few years back for equipment, materiel, and services in support of counternarcotics activities in Afghanistan.”

“Some of the same kind of work we were doing,” Shane said, his instinct demanding that something useful lay in the middle of all this.

“Exactly,” Marz said. “SWS also seems to have been pretty heavily involved in mentoring Afghan officials in drug interdiction and counternarcotics, as well as training the police in counternarcotics.”

“So they’re right in the thick of it,” Beckett said, pacing. “And now they’re here in Baltimore, too. Coincidence?”

Marz shook his head. “Need more research to know for sure.”

“The photographs offer any help at identifying the boatmen?” Shane asked, glancing at their makeshift most-wanted board.

“The search only found a few of the boatmen,” Jeremy said. “Not the leader.”

“Figures, right?” Marz asked. “But, I’ll keep digging.”

Nick nodded. “Good job tracking this down,” he said to Marz. “This could be an important lead. Anything else?”

“All I got until we have a location for tonight’s delivery,” Marz said, yawning.

“Did you stay up all night?” Becca asked.

“Maybe.”

Nick pointed at Marz. “Okay,
you
, go to bed for a few hours, or you’ll be wasted tonight. I’ll take Becca to the bank to get the down payment for Ike.”

“Can’t sleep,” Marz said, shaking his head. “Not until I pick the location up from the surveillance.”

Easy stepped to the side of the desk just as Shane was about to do the same. “Just show me how to operate mission control, and I’ll do it.”

Marz looked up at his friend. “Yeah? Well, the minute you hear, wake me. We’ll need to throw together a fast recon. We’re not going to have the prep time we did on Wednesday.”

“Roger that,” Easy said. “Now, what the hell do I do?”

“I’ll come with you, Nick,” Beckett said. “Between the situation and carrying that much cash, I’d feel better if you had some backup.” As the meeting started to break up, Shane returned to Sara’s side. The smile she gave him was like coming home again.

“Appreciate it,” Nick said. “Okay, let’s get anything off-site done this morning, so we’re ready to go as soon as we get that location. The Ravens will be here by four.”

“And then the shit hits the fan,” Shane said. A purchased alliance with a motorcycle gang, a rescue operation, and intercepting a delivery. So, pretty much, a normal Friday night for them now.

Nick nodded, clearly agreeing. “And then the shit hits the fan.”

S
ara sat on the edge of the bed, absolutely amazed at what this group of strangers was willing to do for her and Jenna. Part of her mind had wanted to reject what she’d heard them discuss as total fantasy, but then Shane would smile or nod or take her hand in his, and she’d know it was all real.

Still left her feeling like she’d stepped into a fairy tale, though.

Which was why she’d told Shane she’d join him for lunch with some of the guys in a few minutes. She’d just needed to sit in the quiet and wait for the ground to stop moving beneath her feet.

All she knew was, fairy tale or not, sitting in on that meeting gave her real hope that Jenna would be with her again soon. A matter of hours, now.

From her purse on the dresser, a cell phone rang.

Jenna!

Sara gasped, lunged across the room, and tore the phone free. Not recognizing the number, she swiped the button and loudly said hello before she’d even put it to her ear.

“Sara, it’s Howie.”

Hearing the older man’s voice was so unexpected, Sara wasn’t sure how to react. He’d always been kind and protective of her, and Marz had overheard that he was helping with Jenna, but Howie was still inside the Church organization. She couldn’t help but be suspicious, even as her gut said it was okay. “Howie?”

“You need to listen, honey. I don’t have long,” he said in a hushed whisper. “You know what’s happened?”

“Jenna,” she said cautiously, pacing in an almost dazed circle.

“She’s bad off, Crystal. And Bruno is not acting right. Erratic, flying off the handle at everyone—”

“What do you mean by ‘bad off,’ Howie?” God, there were so many ways to read his words. She shivered and hugged herself.

“Horrible seizure when they brought her in. The guys couldn’t even watch. Left the room. And I think he must’ve hit her because she has a black eye. What the hell happened?”

Tears clogged Sara’s throat, but she tried to keep a clear head. “Me,” she said simply.

“Well, he says he’s sending her away tonight, Crystal. If you don’t come. And you shouldn’t. I don’t know what to do.”

Sara’s mind raced. She needed Shane’s help with this. He might know something to suggest to Howie. “Hold on, Howie. I need to check something. Just don’t hang up.”

“Hurry. They think I’m taking a smoke break out back. I can’t be gone long.”

“Okay,” she said. Sara hit the mute button and tore out of Shane’s room. Racing up the hallway, she called, “Shane? Shane?”

He nearly jumped off a stool at the breakfast bar, his expression shifting from surprise to concerned. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Sara held up the phone and blurted out a fast stream of words. “Howie called me from Confessions. This is the old friend of my father’s I told you about before. He called about Jenna. Wants to know how to help. We have to hurry though, he doesn’t have much time.”

Shane crouched to look in her eyes. “Can we trust him, Sara? Do you?”

Sara’s heart beat faster. That was the question, wasn’t it? “Yes. I really think so. I’ll admit I was suspicious at first, but I’ve known this man since I was a kid, and I think he’s genuinely upset over what’s happened.”

Marz slid off the barstool and joined them. “Well, let’s see what he has to say, but no names, Sara. Don’t mention us yet.” He dashed to the counter by the phone and returned with a pad of paper and pen.

Sara turned off the mute and turned on the speakerphone. “Howie, are you still there?”

“Yeah, yeah. Thought I’d lost you.”

“You’re sure Jenna’s still there, Howie?”

“Yes. Seen her with my own eyes. But Bruno said if you weren’t here by seven, he’d initiate the sale and finalize it when he returned from a meeting.”

Sara shook her head, her mind rejecting the very idea. Suddenly, Marz and Shane started whispering back and forth. Sara got the gist, so she just asked the question outright. “Howie, I hate to ask because you’ve been there for me a lot. But I have to. How do I know Bruno didn’t put you up to this call?”

“Truth is, Crystal, you don’t. No real way for me to prove it to you, either. But as a man who held you in his arms as a baby, I’m telling you I’m on your side.” Sara nodded at the guys, letting them know she believed him. So many times Howie had covered for her or helped her out over the last four years. For crying out loud, he’d brought her flowers to her high-school graduation and had helped her pick out her father’s casket.

“Okay, Howie. I had to ask.”

“I know you did, honey. But what can I do?”

Sara’s thoughts reeled, but one main idea came to mind. “Well, after Bruno leaves at seven, can you just free her?”

Howie blew out a breath. “I’m the only other person who has access. If I do, he’ll know it was me. I may go down for this anyway, but someone else has to be the one to carry her out of that room.”

“Well . . . how about this,” Sara said, thinking on the fly. “Could you leave a key for me somewhere?” Marz’s pencil flew over the pad of paper. Sara read it and nodded. “Like maybe somewhere in the big party room?”

“Uh, oh, Jesus. Yeah. I could maybe duct tape it under the bathroom sink in there. But how will that help you?”

“It just will, Howie. Thank you so much,” Sara said, pressing her hand to her mouth.

“This whole thing is just wrong. Who your father was, you girls ought to be treated like princesses around here. I’ll keep an eye on her, Crystal. Don’t you worry.”

Totally impossible, but she appreciated the sentiment and the protectiveness. “Okay,” she managed, as her eyes scanned over a note Marz had written. Sara nodded. “One last question, Howie. Do you know where Bruno’s meeting’s happening tonight?”

“Oh, lordy.” Howie’s sigh was troubled yet resigned, a sound she’d heard from him many times before when he’d learned about bad things going on around the club. “Parking garage at Wicomico and Ostend,” he said in an almost whisper. The line went dead.

“Holy shit,” Marz said. “You did great, Sara. And we’re in business. I’ll call Nick and Beckett and tell them to get their asses—”

“Tell us what?” Nick asked, walking in the door with a briefcase in his hand. Becca and Beckett joined them at the island.

Now that the urgency of the call was over, Sara’s body wouldn’t stop shaking. And though the news was mostly good—Jenna safe for now, the location of the delivery for the team—adrenaline left her feeling like she was going to cry. Not something she wanted to do in front of all these people. “I’m gonna . . . go,” she whispered to Shane, pointing back down the hall. She didn’t give him time to stop her. As she retreated, she heard Shane and Marz recount the conversation and the other men’s animated responses.

Back in Shane’s room, Sara sank onto the edge of Shane’s bed. God, Bruno was really serious about selling Jenna. Sara’s worst nightmare come true. A light knock against the door. “Um, come in?” she said.

“Hey,” Shane said, stepping into the room, a concerned expression on his handsome face “You okay? I’m sorry I didn’t come back right away.”

She smiled. “I’m okay. Actually, Howie’s call was kinda reassuring.” And it was true. If she could just forget what happened if they weren’t successful.

“Yeah,” Shane said, coming closer. He rubbed her arms. “I wish I could spend the day with you, but now that we have this location intel, we need to scout it.”

“Oh. Of course.”

“Becca will still be here, though. And Jeremy’s downstairs in the tattoo shop. Don’t hesitate to let either know if you need something. Okay?” He leaned in for a soft, slow kiss.

“Okay. I’ll be fine,” she said, even though she hated the thought of Shane’s leaving. Part of her yearned for the bubble of happiness and love they’d stepped into early this morning. Silly. And selfish. Jenna’s return and the team’s safety were the most important things here.

“Can I see your phone, please?” he asked. She handed it over and, while she watched, he programmed his number in, then called himself so he’d have her number, too. A buzz sounded from his pocket. “Call me if you need me for anything.”

“I will. But if you need to go, go. Don’t worry about me.”

“Okay,” he said, cupping her face and kissing her again. “I won’t be long.” He smiled as he left, shutting the door behind him.

For a few minutes, Sara stood there, staring at the door. The silence and solitude of the room closed in on her. Maybe there was something she could do, some way she could help. Determined, she left the room in search of something or someone who might need her, so she could avoid going crazy.

Sara found Becca sitting alone at the breakfast bar, a pile of stuffing and fabric in front of her. “Did they leave already?” she asked.

Becca looked up and smiled. “Yeah.”

Sara’s stomach growled. After skipping dinner last night, the bagel she’d had for breakfast wasn’t holding her. “Do you mind if I find something for lunch?”

“Of course not. There’s stuff for sandwiches and salads. Cans of soup in the cabinet. Maybe some leftover Chinese.” Becca shifted to slide off the stool.

“No, please. I can get it. Do you want something?” she asked, opening the fridge. All the fixings for sandwiches were right in front, so Sara grabbed those and brought them to the island.

“Actually, yeah. I would, thanks.” Becca matched two pieces of plush fake brown fur together.

Sara tried to figure out what Becca was doing as she made the sandwiches, asking Becca her preferences as she built them. Finally, she settled a plate with a sandwich and some chips in front of the other woman, careful not to mess up her project. “Something to drink?” Sara asked, grabbing a Sprite.

“I’ll have the same, thanks,” she said distractedly.

Sara brought the drinks and slid on to the seat next to Becca. “What are you working on?”

“This used to be a teddy bear, but it got dissected.”

Sara chuckled. “I’ll say. Are you trying to reassemble it?” she asked, wondering if she should offer to help. This was actually something she could be useful for. Sara took a bite of her sandwich and savored the crusty roll, savory ham and cheese, and crunch of the lettuce.

“It was from my dad, so . . .” Becca shrugged and pushed the fabric away as she pulled her plate closer.