Page 74 of Tango
“Good. They’re getting antsy. Threatened to arrest all of us if they discover we’re harboring Alice.”
“Where do they think I am?” Tucker questions.
“Out looking for her,” Dylan answers. “Though Kara did tell them that she was with us when we came to see her. So they’re likely not buying that story. At least, not for long.”
“This is such a mess.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“Agreed. Let me know when they’re wheels up,” Bradyn says then ends the call.
Dylan takes another turn. “What’s the plan now?”
“Since I can’t access their digital records, and Alice says that everything of any importance is stored directly on the server with no outside access, we’re going to have to go into Web Safe.”
“You’re going to break into a top-security company while also on the run and hiding from every law enforcement agency in the country?” Dylan whistles. “That’s a bit on the reckless side, Tucker. And that’s coming from me.”
He’s not wrong. It’s a major risk. But when all the cards are stacked against you, sometimes you have to break the house down and start all over again. Going back to the beginning is the best way to figure things out. And everything started in that server room when Ramiro Caine was shot.
That’s where we’ll find our answers—I’m sure of it.
“Did you happen to grab that patch you wrote?” I ask Alice as I turn around in my seat to look at her.
She nods and withdraws the thumb drive from her pocket. “It’s never far from me.”
“Good. Then we’ll install that while we’re at it. Make it impossible for them to steal anything.”
“I can come with you,” Dylan says. “Might be better if you’ve got backup.”
I shake my head. As much as I’d love my brother to come, we have to think about the ranch as well as the optics. If he suddenly disappears, then they’re going to really buckle down looking for me. They’ll likely go through on their promise and throw my entire family in jail just to lure me back.
And after what nearly happened to Alice’s parents, I won’t risk my family—or hers.
“My guess is they’re watching the ranch. If you don’t come back, then they’re going to start checking flight logs, which might end up leading them right to us.”
“Fair enough. But I’m a phone call away. If you get in over your head, I need you to promise you’ll call me, Tucker.” His tone is serious, his expression the same as he glances over at me.
Most of the missions I’m on, Dylan and I do together. I keep him grounded, and he’s the best one to have around when things go awry. This will be one of only about five missions we’ve ever done apart, but he needs to remain here to buy us time before the cops realize Alice and I aren’t on the ranch and come looking elsewhere for us.
“I will,” I promise, though I truly hope that’s not a call I have to make.
“This is your captain speaking, and I’m happy to report the weather is beautiful, sky is clear, and we’ll be making record time to your destination. So sit back, relax, and enjoy what peace you can find before we land.” Jesper’s tone is amused as he makes the callout over the private plane’s intercom.
Once a fighter pilot, he walked away from the military after his third tour. Now, he flies for both us and Find Me, helping us track down the lost and bringing them home. The guy is a genius pilot and a great man.
Alice has been quiet most of the flight, sitting in the seat across from me as she stares out the window.
What’s she thinking about?
Our kiss? The danger we’re walking into?
“How are you doing?”
She turns toward me and smiles. It doesn’t reach her eyes, but it takes my breath away all the same. “Not too bad. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“All the reasons this is a bad idea. What if I’m wrong? What if they’ve changed protocol? I mean, we’re literally walking right into a trap—willingly.”
“If things go wrong, then we pivot. This will hardly be the first mission where things have gone sideways. We always manage to pull through. I’ve got plans B-Z ready to go.”
