Fiona lowered her arms. Oh. God. No. Not Casey. Fiona wasn’t even aware there were tears on her cheeks until she felt wind cool the heated streams on her skin. “I don’t believe you.”
The man shrugged, then started toward the back of the second van. The truck Fiona had been waving down came near, slowed, then stopped.
“You need some help, miss?” the middle-aged cowboy in the driver seat asked.
Fiona wiped her cheeks. She looked back at the guys standing by the vans and in the median. Casey. They had Casey. Maybe it was a lie, but she had no doubt if she walked around the other side of the truck and got inside, they’d shoot the man and get her out anyway. She looked at her would-be rescuer, deciding there was still a way to pull some value out of this encounter. “Have you seen Kelan?”
“Who?”
“My boyfriend. Kelan. Have you seen him?” Of course the guy hadn’t. That wasn’t the point. The stranger she acted, the more likely this guy would be to report her erratic behavior to the cops. The team would get wind of it, and they would know it was her.
“No, I haven’t. I don’t know what you’re on, lady, but playing chicken in traffic like this is gonna get you and someone else killed.”
“I just need to find Kelan. I need Kelan. Please.”
“I’m gonna call the cops, miss.”
“Please do. And never mind. Kelan said you’d get it. It was just a stupid college prank. Tell Kelan you saw me, okay?”
She turned and walked toward the men in the median, trying to keep herself between them and the pickup driver. Her rescuer waved an angry hand at her as he started off down the highway. Other cars passed, each of them slowing.
“I want to see Casey,” she demanded when she reached the vans.
“Sure.” He took her behind the second van. Before she could say another thing, a big hand clamped a thick fabric to her nose and mouth. A sharp scent pierced her nostrils and stung her throat seconds before she dropped to the ground.
*
Rocco looked at the glass teacup Yusef’s wife had made him. He’d come down to their hotel in Cheyenne to see if his informant had heard anything about Fiona’s kidnapping.
He sipped the sweet blend and exchanged pleasantries with his host, both of them speaking in Pashto. Funny how clear his mind was when he was acting as anyone but himself.
When their cups were empty, both men set them on the brass tray between them. “I am grateful that you are visiting me this evening,” Yusef said, opening their business discussion.
“As am I. It has come to my firm’s attention that Abdul Baseer al Jahni’s representative, Jafaar Majid, may have made some commitments he cannot keep, ones which expose my client needlessly to the eyes of the American government.”
Yusef’s eyes widened. “What has he done?”
“One of the federal agents who has been tracking my client’s work too closely has had his girlfriend abducted. Was not a smart move. I like to watch them, but not stir them up. Abdul will not be happy with this turn of events.”
Yusef got to his feet and began pacing around the small living room, one hand tightly squeezing the other. “That is not good.”
“No, it is not. I am trying to ascertain Jafaar’s level of involvement. I don’t want it to come back on Abdul.”
“He has not spoken to me about this. Why would he do such a thing, Khalid?”
Rocco smiled benignly. “One of many questions that beg an answer. Is he still in the area?”
“Yes.” Yusef frowned as if trying to remember details Jafaar had told him. “He was going to be in Denver for a time. I do not know what he is doing there.”
Rocco stood and gave a slight bow as he prepared to take his leave. “Thank you for the tea. It was most excellent.” They exchanged the traditional farewells, then Rocco left.
*
Kelan glanced around at the unkempt facade of the motel Kit had selected as the base for their search for Fiona. The place was a dive, but had the benefit of being right off the highway where her security necklace had finally pinged. He and Angel had just come back from checking out that area. Another waste of time. No way of knowing if the people who’d taken her had sent a decoy out east for a long drive with her necklace just to throw them off. Max and Greer had been keeping an eye on the cameras along the border between Colorado and Kansas. So far, no white vans had left the state. Of course, they may well have ditched them by now and transferred her to a different vehicle.
Kit and Val pulled up next to them. He hoped the bossman had some news, anything. Kit shook his head. Angel stayed with the SUVs while the three of them checked in.
The motel owner sent them surreptitious looks as he checked them in. “You guys ball players?” he asked.
Yeah, like this was an obvious place for majors—or even minors—to kick back. Wasn’t anywhere near a ball field.
Val chuckled, answering for the group, which was good because his or Kit’s response would have alarmed the little man. “Well, yeah. How’d you know? Is it that obvious?”
“Your size kinda gave it away.”
Another deep chuckle from Val. “Right? It does its own advertising.”
Kelan knew the proprietor was not on Val’s wavelength.
“What team do you play for?” he asked as he handed them their key cards.
“Well, ours, of course.” Val laughed. “Too many benies to swap for the other side.” His inimitable vapid chatter caused the proprietor to fall silent as he unscrambled Val’s meaning, letting them leave the lobby without more questions.
Kelan dropped his bag on the first double bed in the room he and Val were sharing. Kit and Angel had the adjoining room. He sat on the bed and started unlacing his boots, craving a shower and some quiet so that he could think. He could hear the guys discussing their dinner order in the other room. Would have to be fast food—was the only thing open in the middle of the night.