Page 74 of Instinct & New Identity

OnceVincegot here, we wouldn’t have much time.Ineeded to find a way out now.Ilooked all around the room.Ibegan to come up with a plan so thatVinceandIcould get out of here alive.Ijust hoped it worked.

30

VINCE

It had been ninety-three minutes since she had been taken.Ninety-three of the longest minutes of my life.Andwe still had no better idea where she was or who had taken her than we did ninety-three and a half minutes ago.

TheFBIhad been called.Samewith theUSMarshals.Parkerwas surprised when we informed him thatCatandValhad been inWITSECand was very insistent that we move quickly before the other branches of law enforcement arrived.Hesaid when theFedsget involved it becomes harder to do any job quickly because of the extra red tape.Archerhad made similar comments back when he was a cop.

My phone buzzed, andIpulled it up quickly, hoping someone had found something.Anew text from an unknown number.WhenIopened it, it revealed an image ofCattied to a chair in some kind of industrial building.

“Fuck,”Iroared. “It’sher.”

Immediately,Archer,Wade, and several cops stood at my side.Ishowed them all the image.

“Call that number,”Archerprompted. “Onspeaker.”

I tried, but an automated voice announced the voicemail had not been set up for the number.Likelya burner phone.Ipulled the photo back up, hopingIcould see some kind of clue as to where she was.

The phone rang with another unknown number.

“Put it on speaker,”OfficerHesssaid beside me.

“Where is she,”Idemanded, praying this call would give me some insight as to whereCatwas and that she was still alive.

“Fletcher,” a voiceIhad never heard before said. “Youtook a few things of mine, so nowItook something of yours.”

He continued speaking, and my anger grew, but beforeIhad a chance to respond, the call ended.

“Let’s go,”Icommanded asIstarted to move to the door.

“Wait!”Archeryelled. “Thisisn’t about the sisters.There’sno ransom or anything he wants in return.Heonly wants you,Vince.”

I paused asArcher’swords sunk in before he spoke again. “Thisisn’t about theCrossStreetKingsmurdering their parents.It’sabout revenge against you.”

I turned to look at him, taking in everything he’d just said as my dad spoke up. “He’sright.Theyalready haveCat.Ifthat was all they were after they wouldn’t have bothered calling you.Theydon’t wantCat.Theyare using her to lure you there—it’s a trap.”

“Revenge for what?”Iasked, racking my brain trying to think of something.

“My guess?Bountyhunting,” my dad shared. “Familyor friend of some skip you put in prison seeking revenge.”

My phone buzzed again.Thistime a single text with an address.

“I’m going,”Iannounced. “Theyaren’t killingCatbecause of me.”

“Vince, wait,”Archeryelled. “Wedon’t even know ifCatis actually at that address.Ifyour dad andIare right, this could be a set-up to a different location.”

“I hear you,Archer, but it’s the only lead we have,”Parkerchimed in.

I understood whatArcherwas saying, butIwas withParker.Ihad to try.

“I have to go,”Itold them all.

“Then let us come up with a plan and a backup plan,”Wadespoke up.

“It’s at least a fifteen-minute drive, even with sirens on,”Parkersaid, pointing at a map on his phone. “Thesmart thing to do is to meet here two blocks over and finalize our plan before we go in.”

“I’ll call in theSWATteam,”Hessadded.

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