“How could he be? The mission is six months in the future.”
Thane’s mouth flattened to a grim line. He gripped Reid by the shoulders. “Could your memory be off about it? Are you sure you didn’t phase to this point in time for the mission?”
“Yes, I’m fucking sure. I arrived on mission two years, six months, and eight days from the present at zero four hundred hours. Do I need to break it down any further? What do you want? Minutes? Seconds? Do you really think I’d show up purposely on this timeline and possibly jeopardize you and Celine?” All the things Reid had said to Thane before he’d left rolled in. Could he blame Thane if he did?
“No. I don’t.” Thane gripped Reid’s shoulder. “But I had to eliminate the possibility. Do you have any idea why this guy may have fixated on you?”
“No. We have to go. We’re wasting—” Lauren will be there…angel. Disbelief backed him up. He grasped the sides of his head. “He fucking called me angel. The hospital. The girl I saved. The deputy said Jenny called me angel.”
Thane scowled. “You think he’s the one that took her?”
“He came to talk to us in the waiting room. He took down Lauren’s name, phone, and address.”
“Did it sound like him on the phone?”
“No, but if he is involved, he could have an accomplice. Wait a minute. There was also a guy sitting there reading. Suit and tie. Clean cut. A wealthy executive-looking type. He had weird eyes. One blue. One brown. He was already there when I found Lauren in the waiting room.”
“Okay. We have two possibles.” Thane unfastened an ankle holster with a subcompact. He handed it to Reid. “If it’s the deputy, he’s got training. Suit and tie is a wildcard. Either way, keep your head on a swivel.”
Reid checked out the pistol. He’d gotten too comfortable. With two weapons in the cabin, he should have had one on him. The risk of carrying without identification should not have outweighed Lauren’s safety. He secured the holster to his boot and covered it with his jeans. “What’s the ammo situation?”
“Enough to get us in and out.”
“You’re not coming.” He checked the knife sheathed on his other ankle. “This is on me. I caused this. I’ve already jeopardized Lauren. I’m not pulling you into it.” Reid breathed against a raw feeling in his chest. “You love Celine. You have to worry about taking care of her now. I get why you left the team. I want you to enjoy the life you planned.”
Thane pulled a Glock from a holster hidden by his shirt. “You must think being away has made me stupid. Otherwise, you wouldn’t try to feed me bullshit. Just because I couldn’t let anything happen to Celine doesn’t mean I’m okay with you dying.” He checked the magazine and slammed it back in. “You’re not just going in for a trade. You’re gearing up for a fight. Sure, phasing is your ace in the hole, but you don’t know how many are out there. You need me to watch your back. We’re putting the canisters back in the ground, and I’m going with you. What’s the plan?” The stubborn glint in Thane’s eyes matched the set of his shoulders.
Reid hunkered down and Thane joined him. Reid willed his erratic heartbeat to slow. Adrenaline during a fight gave him an edge, but too much of it would make him sloppy. Lauren’s life depended on him staying focused. Thane knew the drill. That’s why Thane had him working the plan. To help him stay centered on what he could control.
Reid drew a rough map in the dirt with a stick. “This point is south. The cabin is here. Pond is east. Main road to the north. He’ll expect us to come from that direction. If I was him and I had backup, I’d station a perimeter with a focus on the high ground here and here. We phase a little higher up from that. Get a peek at things.”
Thane pointed to the diagram of the cabin. “What’s the layout?”
Reid went through the details of the rooms. “My bet is the loft. From up there, he’ll have a bird’s eye view of both doors and the main room. I’ll phase sweep the loft and living room. You take care of the bedrooms and hallway. ”
“Agreed,” Thane said. “Once we get Lauren, rally point is the motel where Celine and I are staying. Lauren knows where. It’s outside of Mazree. Be there by sundown. If I’m not there by that time, get Lauren and Celine to a safe place. Celine won’t fight you.” Thane’s expression sobered as he studied the ground. “I’ll call her now and make sure she understands. Just make sure you finish the mission.”
Thane called Celine.
As Thane said his goodbye, Reid swallowed against tightness in his throat. They’d gone through situations like this too many times. The mission came first, but they took care of their own. He’d leave the present permanently to watch over Celine if something happened to Thane. Thane would complete the mission for Reid if he didn’t make it out. Even if it meant Thane had to phase to the present with the canisters.