Page 48 of Savage Obsession

“What about?—?”

“We got lucky when she used her bank card in a kiosk at Innsbruck station to buy a bus ticket to Lyon.”

“Lyon? She’s in France?”

“Well, she looks to be headed there, and it makes sense if her ultimate destination is Tenerife. She’s trying to get to Spain, probably, then a ferry across to the African mainland.”

Baz and I exchange a look. It’s bad enough that she’s made her way across Europe by train, on her own, but North Africa is another thing entirely. After all, she only has two hundred euros on her, as far as we know.

“We need to catch up with her,” I whimper. “Anything could happen…”

Baz’s grim expression shows he agrees with me. “You say she’s still on her way? Not arrived in Lyon yet?”

“Based on the timetable, she’s due there in…” Frankie consults his watch, “…ninety-seven minutes.”

“Do you have eyes on that terminus?” Baz demands.

“Of course. It’s a major transport hub.”

“How soon can I get to Lyon?”

Frankie shrugs. “Not sure, you’d have to check with Magda. Not soon enough, I suspect.”

“What about the local police?” I blurt. “Surely if we alert them, they could?—”

Baz shakes his head. “No. No police.”

“But—”

“You’re right, though. We need someone to intercept her at Lyon and keep her there until I arrive.

“Until we arrive,” I correct him “Do you know anyone who might…?”

He shakes his head and rakes his fingers through his hair.

“Well, there’s always Gabriel,” Frankie muses. “Last I heard he was in Geneva. Some sort of conference; he’s representing his government. That’s not too far away.”

Baz whirls on him. “Gabriel? You mean Gabe Sawyer? He’s alive, then?”

“Last time I looked. On some sort of ‘light duties’ regime until he’s fully recovered from his injuries.” He illustrates his point by mimicking the invented commas in the air.

“Who’s Gabe Sawyer?” I demand, but Baz is already in action.

“He owes Kristian a favour or three. He’d need to drop everything… How do I get in touch with him?”

Casey enters and quickly picks up on the way the conversation is going. “Megan will know.” She has her phone in her hand and is dialling. “Megan, do you have a contact number for Gabe? It’s urgent. Yes, I’ll explain later. Do you have a number?”

She scribbles something on a scrap of paper then hands it to Baz. “This is his mobile. Good luck.”

Baz punches in the number. The dial tone reverberates around the room. Two rings, three. It’s answered on the fourth. Baz puts the call on speaker.

“Lieutenant Colonel Sawyer.” The tone is brisk and authoritative.

“Gabe? Baz Bartosz.”

A brief pause, then, “Do I know you, Mr Bartosz?”

“I’m second-in-command to Kristian Kaminski.”

---