Page 34 of Preying Game

She reached for the folder and started to open it.

“Save it until you get downstairs. I don’t want to have to sit here babysitting you.”

She answered with a small nod as she clenched her fingers around the edge of the folder.

“Everything you need is in there. Give yourself ample time to study the layout of the estate.”

Yeah, sure, she thought. Everything she needed except what would make it a fair fight—like he’d have weapons and she wouldn’t. But he was setting the rules, and this was going to be as good as she got.

“It’s all outdoors?”

“Yes.”

“What time are we doing it?” she asked.

“Around seven. It will be fully dark by then.” It was obvious he was enjoying this conversation. He was the mastermind who was finally going to reap the fruits of all his hard work. Or rather, her hard work.

She flipped quickly through the folder, just trying to get a general impression of the playing field. “And this is really what the grounds look like?”

His eyes flashed. “I’m not going to trick you. Like you did with that ghost crap last night.”

His anger and the words made her stomach knot. She wanted to say there might be a ghost to surprise him. But she couldn’t be sure Jonah would show up to help her.

“It wasn’t crap,” she answered, like they were having a discussion about a sporting match. Well, for him it probably was. For her, it was life and death.

“Where’s your ghost now?”

She shrugged. “I don’t control him. Ghosts come and go as they please.”

He laughed. “Right.”

She gestured toward her outfit, with the matches in the pants pocket. “This is what I’m wearing?” She held her breath as she waited for the answer.

“Yes.”

“Why black?”

“I like the challenge.”

“What if I just lie down in the woods and don’t move?”

“I’ll get you in the morning. And I’ll use a knife—not a gun.”

She fought a zing of sickness.

“You should go do your homework.”

oOo

While Jonah was looking up Hayward, Grant contacted Decorah and explained the situation. By the time they arrived back at headquarters, Frank and a group of agents were waiting for them.

“So your rescue mission is complicated by time travel,” Frank said when they were all seated in the conference room.

Apparently he’d filled everyone in on the situation because nobody looked shocked—only impressed that Jonah had made a connection with a kidnap victim across such a terrible divide.

“I’m driving down there in the car,” Jonah said. “It was the initial link between us.”

Frank nodded. “And you think of it as a good luck charm.”

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