Page 94 of Tough as Steele

Nate took a breath and prayed that his eyes were deceiving him.

“Can you run facial recognition on these pictures?” Londyn asked.

“No need,” Nate said, surprised that his tone had come out normal and not at all flustered as he stared at the blond-haired, tall muscular man who fit Dolly’s description. “I know the guy.”

Londyn whipped her head around and stared at him.

“His name is Warren Holt. Former SEAL on my team—until he was dishonorably discharged.”

“Whoa.” Londyn blinked her long lashes.

Nate didn’t want to give details on Holt, but they deserved to know. “He was our team sniper, and I was the one responsible for getting him kicked out.”

Those lashes stopped, and Londyn stared at him. “You think the kidnapping is a revenge thing?”

Did he? Nah. “A lot of time has passed since that happened. Seems unlikely.”

Nick cocked an eyebrow. “But it would be a huge coincidence that you know him, and he kidnapped someone close to you.”

“Yeah.” Nate wouldn’t admit aloud that he didn’t believe in coincidences. Was it possible that Mimi’s abduction might be all about him? Could very well be.

“Could explain why we were shot at,” Londyn said. “He was trying to take you out.”

“Yeah,” Nate said, trying his best to process this news. “One thing’s for sure. He’ll be hard to find.”

Nick slid back to his computer. “Let me search for him. If he’s findable, I’ll locate him.”

As Nate paced, he thought through all the evidence they’d collected like physically flipping through documents in a murder book. His brain stopped at the letter they’d found in Jessica’s house. He got out his phone and stared at the picture he’d taken of the document.

Nate remembered Holt’s obsession with puzzles and acrostics and an idea lit in his brain. He looked at Nick. “You have paper and pen I can use?”

“Right here.” Nick pulled open a drawer but didn’t take his attention from the screen.

Nate grabbed the items, sat, and laid his phone next to the pad.

“What is it?” Londyn came up behind him. “What do you see?”

“The letter. It’s an acrostic. Holt was really into them and I’m thinking he used a secret code and sent it, not Gaskin.”

“No way.” Londyn leaned closer. “Where?”

“It’s a simple one. The last word in each sentence forms a message.” Nate wrote out the message then underlined the words.

Who knew a grocery store was a good place tomeet. You don’t know how much you mean tome. If I’d known I’d meet you there, I wouldn’t have hesitated to stop atone. I’m the happiest I’ve been since I turnedthirty. I get off work ateight. Be sure not to tellBenjamin. He’ll make you late, and I don’t want to spend too much time on theroad.

“Meet me. 1308 Benjamin Road,” Nate read aloud as he tapped the words.

“Cool,” Nick said. “I’ll pull up the address on my computer.”

He typed it in, and the maps program displayed a rural property about twenty minutes west of the lab. “Let me get the property owner’s information for you.”

He opened a property search program and entered the address.

“Bingo.” He shot up a fist. “Property is owned by one Warren Holt.”

“He likely has Mimi there.” Nate started for the door. “We need to get eyes on the place, and we need to get eyes on it now!”

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