Page 133 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

“Why the thumb drive?”

“It was easier, and I thought more secure than taking my laptop. I mean, I had it in an encrypted file on my computer as well, but I stashed the thumb drive at Finn’s, in one of her riding boots. Ah, shit, Croft, I not only exposed my sister, I might have signed her death warrant.”

“Take it easy, Reid. Finn could have gone to the authorities, too.”

“They told her they’d kill me.”

“Your sister has been around long enough to know better than that. Individuals can’t deal with these bastards. They would have killed her in the Grand Canyon, taken the drive, then killed you. She should have known that. She’s smart enough to have known.”

“She was protecting me, wasn’t she? She was afraid I might be more involved than just a schmuck who found out by accident.”

“Perhaps she was looking after the family firm.” The last thing Croft needed was for Reid to start down the guilt trail.

Reid laughed bitterly. “If you know Finn at all, you know better than that. No, this was Finn trying to protect me, but you’re right, she should have gone to someone she trusted for help.”

“She did, only she didn’t know it at first, and it blew up in our faces, anyway. My hope is Fariq knows enough about whoever this guy is to give us enough intel we can move against him and get her back sooner rather than later. Is there any chance she’ll just sit and wait to be rescued?”

Reid smiled at him. “I wish, and I suspect you know better. If she thinks she has a chance to escape, she’ll take it. Finn’s never been much on waiting for her knight in shining armor on a white steed to save her.”

“As I recall,” Junior drawled as he joined them. “Croft here was sitting atop a big ole black mule by the name of Sam. And last time I checked, no one accused Croft of being a knight in shining armor. Sorry it took me so long to join you, gents. The LVPD was none too happy with us, but I think I got them settled down with a reminder that nobody but bad guys got hurt, they’re getting the credit for putting a dent in Fariq’s organization, and I sweetened the pot with a generous donation to their widows and orphans fund.”

John and Noah joined them.

“Baez is taking first watch with Fariq. Do we have everything we need from Reid tonight?” John said.

Croft nodded. “And what he didn’t have a chance yet to say or doesn’t know may be on the thumb drive.” He nodded to Reid. “If you can give us the encryption code, our people can take a look to see if there’s anything useful.”

Reid wrote it down and passed the note to Croft.

“Good,” John said. “Junior, I want you to take Reid to the hospital in Mesa and get him checked out, then?—”

“Wait a minute,” Reid interrupted. “I’m fine, and I’m not going anywhere until I know my little sister is going to be okay.”

The three other men turned to Croft.

“I appreciate that, but when we get her, we need to be able to assure her you’re safe and well on the way to recovery. We have living quarters here in the building. If you want, we can bring you back here to use as a safe house until this is over, and you’ll be in the thick of things.”

“Good idea,” Noah added. “That way, if we have questions, Reid will be readily available.”

Reid nodded and stood to follow Junior out, then turned back to Croft.

“But you will get her back, right?”

“Or all die trying,” Croft reassured him.

They watched as Junior led Reid out to one of the firm’s armored SUVs and headed into town.

“What do we know?” Croft asked.

“The man holding Finn is Gerold Springer. His brother, Timon, is the one who started this whole mess and who Fariq killed. Fariq wanted you to know while he knew someone was staging a takeover, he had no idea it was Springer. In fact, he doubts Timon knew. He believes Timon planned to use the information as leverage for some kind of bonus.”

“Was Fariq’s organization ripe for a takeover?” Thom asked.

“According to Fariq,” John continued, “he was beginning to think of an internal transition. His plan was to engineer a peaceful retirement for himself and a passing of the baton to one of his lieutenants. Springer only had a marginal chance of Fariq’s choice. When Timon staged this fiasco, Fariq had him killed. Springer assured him his brother was a fool, and he shouldn’t have to pay for his foolishness. He must have been very convincing as Fariq said he never saw it coming.”

“Do you believe him?”

John nodded.

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