Page 245 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Shite. Who have you told?”
“I called General Steinburg, and he said he would call Commissioner Kane. I’m sure O’Brien knows by now if Kane knows.”
“I’ve not heard from O’Brien, but we must act quickly.” Glenn’s voice had a worried edge to it. “Have you been contacted?”
Wyl’s phone beeped with an incoming second call. Wyl looked at the display. Rod’s phone. “It’s Rod. I’ll call you back.” He pressed to take the second call. “Where are you?” Wyl asked. “I am worried sick.”
“I have something you want, and you have something I want,” Ailbe said.
Shock coursed through Wyl’s body. He swallowed, emotions of rage and fear battling within his mind. He took a calming breath. “Is Rod safe?”
“That depends on you.” Ailbe had a confident sneer in his voice.
Wyl paused, stemming the anger boiling inside of him. “I swear, if you hurt him, I’ll hunt you down and make sure you don’t kill any more innocent men.”
“If you want to see yourprecioushusband again, you'd better change your attitude,Mr. Sterling.” The word emphasis caught Wyl’s attention.
Wyl swallowed, his torso trembling, his hands shaking, and his face hot. Through gritted teeth, but in as calm a voice as he could muster, he asked, “What do you want, Ailbe?”
“You and me and the world.” The words rolled off Ailbe’s tongue like fine verse.
Wyl thought long and hard.Game,he kept telling himself.Play the game. The only way he could win this was to let Ailbe believe he was in charge, leading the way, and winning.
“I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe we do make a good team. Maybe I purposely put a bug in the code so you would need me.” Wyl kept his voice soft, with a pleading edge.
Ailbe was silent.
“You still there, Ailbe?”
“You expect me to believe that?” Ailbe asked.
“Why else would I do it?”
* * *
“Who was that?” James asked. He stepped from the shower to prepare for his gig at Wilde’s on Saturday evening.
“Wyl,” Glenn said. “He said Ailbe and Declan kidnapped Rod.”
James paused. “You’re kidding.” He bent to dry his legs. “How?”
“They were horseback riding, and Rod disappeared.”
“Where?” James stepped into his boxers and reached for his trousers.
“Westport County.”
“Has he heard from them?” James pulled on his trousers, fastened them, zipped up, and reached for his belt.
“Another call beeped in while we were talking. He said it was Rod. I’m waiting for him to call back,” Glenn said.
Glenn’s phone rang. He touched the screen to accept the call. “Wyl? Was that Rod?”
“No. It was Ailbe using Rod’s phone. They have him, and they want me.”
“What are his demands?”
“I’m to make myself available, and they’ll pick me up.”
