Page 50 of Call Sign: King
“Helms,” he finally answered.
“I just heard. What do you need?”
How the hell had news of Khloe’s kidnapping made it to Santa Claus already?
“I wish I knew,” he answered truthfully feeling that profound sense of loss on his chest just talking about Khloe’s abduction.
“Well as soon as you figure it out, it’s yours. Money is no object.”
Ryder kinda already knew that, but it was nice hearing it.
“Thanks for that. We’re working the scene now and the entire organization is on high alert, fanning out so we’re ready to move in as soon as we get a hit on where they’re taking her.”
“You’ll get her back. You know how I know?” Chip asked, his voice cracking with emotion.
The men talked pretty regularly — always about business. Ryder had come to know Chip as a man of few words, something he actually admired about the eccentric billionaire. Hearing him so full of emotion was surreal.
“No,” Ryder choked out.
“Because I was in your shoes times three, four years ago. When Maggie and the girls were abducted in Moscow, I was sure it was game over for my family. I knew what atrocities happened to beautiful women and young girls at the hands of men like my enemies — the same enemies we have in common. I know what’s going through your head right now, but you need to set it aside. You need to approach this exactly as you did the night you saved my family. Cold. Calculating. Courageous. You have the skills and resources at your disposal to bring her home safely, just like you did my family.”
As honored as Ryder was, he had to call bullshit.
“I was in the right place at the right time for Maggie and the girls, and you know it. This time I could be half a world away from where I need to be.”
“You may be, but there is someone out there who is in the right place now. Hopefully it’s one of our own BSO family or a sanctioned contractor. If not, it’s someone who can be bought… hired… used. With your team’s skills and my money, there is nowhere they can hide her that you won’t find her.”
Ryder wanted to believe Chip more than he wanted his next breath.
“I’ve kept you long enough. Call me the second there is anything you need from me.”
The call ended without goodbyes. Ryder held the phone to his ear for a few seconds in an attempt to give himself time to think. He was grateful when MacGyver got called away to speak with the crime scene investigation team, leaving him alone on the perimeter of the room.
Think, Helms.
Ryder closed his eyes, blocking out the sounds of the room. He willed his brain to push aside the fog while welcoming the feeling of urgency. Things were going too slow. He didn’t have time to dick around here talking about what happened in the past. He needed to be focusing only on the plans for the future. Plans that included saving his wife and killing the assholes responsible for today’s attack.
He needed to call Axel and find out where the hell Khloe’s plane was headed so he could be following behind.
Opening his eyes, Ryder made a mental list of all the fires that needed to be put out before he could leave.
MacGyver was doing an excellent job of managing the police investigation here at the hotel. Hawkeye would stay at the hospital, keeping watch over the injured and notifying their families. Bing and Axel were on point remotely, directing the investigation from afar, and Torch, Ice, and Storm had their respective teams ready to move in as soon as they got a definitive target on Khloe’s location whether it be in the Americas, Europe, or Asia.
That left one major open issue no one had dealt with yet. He was the last person on the planet equipped to deal with the media frenzy Khloe’s abduction had already spurred.
He could call Angie, her agent. She’d have public relations gurus she could tap for help, but none of those people would maintain control over the public narrative he would want.
Thankfully, he knew someone who was tailor made for this shitty job.
Pulling his phone out again, Ryder hit SEND on a call.
“What the fuck is happening?” Jaxson answered.
“I need your help,” Ryder managed to get out. Asking for help wasn’t something he did a lot of.
Ryder could hear tires screeching and horns honking at the other end of the phone just before Jaxson shouted, “Get out of the way!” to some random driver.
“You aren’t going to help anyone if you get us in an accident. Slow down.” Madison’s voice surprised Ryder.
