Page 66 of Operation: Unify

He felt control slipping from his grasp. Did he want to hold onto a building and lose Viceroy or potentially lose the building and catch the man responsible for all the trouble? He held outhis hand to Ross for his phone. “I’ll make the call. Brendon can do it.”

The shower had donewhat the hot coffee had not accomplished. Ferd’s clothes didn’t fit quite right, but well enough since Lacy’s own were still tumbling in the drier. She’d have to convince Connor to help her with Gloria’s electric bill if he didn’t already cover it.

Out in the living room, all the seats were taken, pillows were on the floor with people sitting on them, and everyone was talking together like they’d come for a party, not run for their lives. She headed for the kitchen to find Gloria.

By the sink, Gloria stood with Ferd, doing a mountain of dishes. She sang a tune Lacy didn’t know. Ferd joined in and she realized that there must be some history to the song. It was clear they’d both sang it together often.

“Oh, Lacy, you’re all finished. Feeling better?” Gloria dried her hands on a nearby towel.

“Yes, much. Thank you. I’m surprised everyone is still up. It’s almost one in the morning.”

Gloria peered around the corner. “Too worked up. Give them time. For a while, all they would talk about was their pasts, and how they were similar. Sometimes, it takes a situation like this to shake out all that ails you.”

Lacy nodded her agreement. It had taken getting captured by a trafficker herself to make her realize she loved Connor and wanted a second chance. She prayed that the conversations would be healing and not rip open old wounds.

“I did offer my room to Moira and Adam. He was looking pretty droopy. What a little trooper though.” Ferd grinned.

“Thank you for doing that. You’ve both gone so far above and beyond what we needed. Thank you.” She hid a yawn behind her hand.

As much as she wanted to find a corner to curl up and fall asleep, she had to find out what was going on at the ranch. When she knew everyone there was safe, she could get some rest.

“I put your phone on top of the fridge. It’s supposed to stay in the rice for a whole day. Don’t try to turn it on or you might wreck it,” Ferd said. “But you’re welcome to use either of ours.” Ferd pointed to the charger on the end of the counter where both devices were plugged in.

“Thanks. I tried calling Connor and left a message. I’m surprised he hasn’t called back.”

Ferd dried her hands and headed over to her phone. “I didn’t hear it but let me check.” She swiped up on the screen and frowned. “Nope, nothing. Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. I feel like I shouldn’t rest until I reach someone over there. Mind if I try Brendon’s office?”

Ferd handed her the phone. “I think we’ll all be up for a while, so there’s no rush. When those ladies nod off, Mom and I will use her room. She doesn’t think Teddy will be back tonight.”

She hadn’t considered Teddy. He’d been such a rare sight lately. “Has he called?”

Gloria shook her head. “No, if he had, I’d have told him you were here. He called early on and told me not to worry. He also said not to call him because he needed his line open in case of an emergency.”

“Well, this isn’t an emergency, but Connor might be worried that it is.” She decided to call Teddy if she couldn’t reach Brendon. Though she would guess that he would remain at his desk until everything was back to order.

She pressed in the numbers, glad she’d forced herself to always dial numbers instead of using the preprogrammedcontact list whenever possible. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t remember them in an emergency.

“Hello,” Brendon answered right away.

“Brendon! This is Lacy.” She headed down a hall for a little privacy. “What is going on over there?”

“I could ask you the same. Where are you? Connor was in here and when he found out you’d left, he turned as white as a sheet. I’ve never seen him look so scared.”

“I’m okay. I got Ferd, myself, and all the guests in the cabins over to Gloria’s. We’re all here, fine, and accounted for.”

She heard scratching on the other end like taking notes with a pencil. “That’s good to know. Right now, we’re still missing two of the six men who came up here looking for trouble.”

“Four have been captured? What about the one with a rifle?” The one who’d been after them.

“No, he’s one of the two that are missing. None of them men we captured will give their names. None have identification on them. Thankfully, the FBI is here to manage them.”

“Oh, wow. Is Connor with you?” She wanted to hear him and know everyone was fine.

“No, he’s out with the agents. I just had to turn off the heat to the chapel. They think the men are hiding in there.”

Lacy groaned. That chapel was one of her favorite places. It was quiet and out of the way. When she needed a place to think, that was the best place. Even in the wind, there was a calm there. “They’d better not wreck it.”

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