Page 35 of The Angel and the Agent

“Of course I did. I went straight to the feds. They said the threat wasn’t legit, that there was no way they could get to her or take her out of the country.”

“Did Amelia know she was in danger?”

Piedmont shook his head, straightening. “I didn’t want to worry her. I hired private security to watch her. They were supposed to start tomorrow morning.” He bent over again. “What am I going to do, what am I going to do, what am I going to do?” He straightened again. “I have to call the feds.”

Ethan plucked him back. “Forget the feds, they’re useless. Tell me who these guys are, every detail.”

“The Russians are trying to start a new diamond trade in the CAR. They’ve been trying to goose step the conflict diamond laws, and that’s what my case is about. I represent the company that has the legitimate claim to the mines in the area, but in addition to trying to fight the war on the ground, they’re trying to fight it out in court here. They’re going to lose, obviously, and they’re getting desperate.”

“The CAR?” Ethan repeated. When he thought things couldn’t get worse, they did.

“The CAR is the Central African Republic,” Piedmont explained.

“I know what it is,” Ethan snapped. “Is that where they took her?”

“It’s where they threatened to take her,” Piedmont replied. “But the feds said they couldn’t get her out.”

“Would you forget the feds?” Ethan said. “They’re worse than useless now.” He crouched and put his hands over his face, breathing deep.

“What are you doing?” Piedmont asked.

“I’m making a mental list of everything I’m going to need,” Ethan said.

“What are you talking about?” Piedmont asked. “Why would you need anything? What do you have to do with this whole situation?”

“I’m the person who is going to go get her and bring her home. Shut up and let me think a minute.”

“Amelia said you work for an indexing company,” Piedmont said.

Ethan dropped his hands from his face to look at him with a wry smile. “Oh, so you do know who I am.”

Piedmont blew out a breath. “Can you tell me what’s going on without being so cryptic and condescending?”

“The CAR is a hot spot, off the charts crazy, a total no-go zone. In addition to the Russians and their diamond lust, there’s Boko Haram, Isil, and local gangs who look for any opportunity to kidnap and pillage. There is no way the government will consent to sending in a team for one civilian. But they’ll send a ghost, someone who can get in and out unseen. Someone who can go in and retrieve her with minimal noise and damage. That’s where I come in, but I’m going to need your help.”

Piedmont blinked at him, digesting the glut of surprising information. “I’ll help, whatever you need. Name it.”

“Give me a piece of paper,” Ethan demanded. Piedmont did so, and Ethan scribbled a small list. “I need money, twenty thousand cash, and I need you to call these congressmen to clear a path. I’m going to be breaking about a hundred international laws, and I need you to get them to make it all okay. Don’t get off the phone until you get them to agree, otherwise it’s all going to be useless and we won’t be able to get back out of Africa once I retrieve her.”

Piedmont took the list and read it. “This guy lives next door. I had dinner with him last night,” he noted.

Ethan rolled his eyes. “Okay, Richie Rich, get on it. Use those famous lawyer skills like you’ve never used them before.Amelia’s life depends on it. I’m going to get the ball rolling on my end, and I’ll be in contact when it’s set.”

They didn’t say goodbye. Ethan turned and sprinted to his bike. He wanted to hop a flight right now, to singlehandedly take on the entire country, if that was what it took. But that was emotion talking. He had to be rational, to use his training and think like an agent. First thing first, he needed to confirm Amelia had actually been taken out of the country. There was only one person who could help him do that as quickly as he needed it to be done. Pulling out his phone, he searched his contacts and sent a text.

Chapter 12

“Don’t you have a hacker on your team?”

“Yes, Blue, but he’s not as good as you; you’re the best,” Ethan said.

“Oh, Ethan, flattery will get you everywhere,” Blue replied. They were at his apartment, a shockingly nice loft with a view of downtown.

“How do you afford this place?”

“I could tell you, but then I’d have to hire someone like you to kill you,” Blue said. “Okay, here we go. The camera outside Amelia’s apartment caught a face.” Ethan leaned over his shoulder and watched grainy video of two men carrying a kicking and struggling Amelia out of her apartment and stuffing her into a trunk. One of the men turned, giving the camera enough of a glimpse to pan his face. Within seconds, Blue had his ID. “Must be an up-and-comer because we have nothing on him,” Blue added. “I’m going to scan for him at airports.”

“Private airports. There’s no way they’d be able to smuggle her out on a commercial plane.”

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