Shane pivoted, half shielding his brother. “We need to talk. Alone.”
Malloy tilted his head. “Are either you or your… lawyer… armed?”
“No.” A knife in his boot didn’t count. Both Shane and Nathan had left all guns in the truck.
Malloy nodded, stepping back and holding the door open. He led them to the conference room where Shane had first been interviewed. Sitting down, the detective eyed Nathan. “If you’re an attorney, I’m a fucking ballet dancer.”
Shane leaned over the table, both hands flat. “He’s my brother. My wife has been taken by a military group you’ve never heard of, and if we don’t save her, she’s dead.”
Malloy lifted an eyebrow. “Is that so? She’s probably safe without you.”
“No. They’ll kill her.”
“Then why the hell are you here and not going after her?” Malloy’s expression gave nothing away.
Shane shoved panic down. “We need you to pull up the new traffic cams all over town so we can see where she is.”
Malloy frowned. “Excuse me?”
“We identified her location a short time ago. It’s a trap, of course. We need to see where they’ve taken her after allowing us to trace a cell phone call.” Shane tried to keep from grabbing the detective around the neck and shaking him. Time was running out for Josie. Who knew what the commander would do to her? Shane yanked his cell phone from his pocket and played the recorded conversation with the commander.
Malloy paled. “I watched her go with Marsh. Didn’t even think to stop her.”
“Then this is your fault, too.” Shane had no problem using guilt with Malloy. It beat shooting the cop.
The detective hitched out a breath. “Why the hell should I trust you? You’ve done nothing but lie to me since day one.”
“Instincts.” Nathan spoke low, calm. A hint of desperation broke through his charm. “You’ve got them. I can tell. While you might not like what’s going on here, you believe us. Now please help us.”
Shane stood to his full height. If Malloy refused, he’d go for the traffic cams himself.
*
Shane twisted the earpiece into his ear, his heartbeat slowing while his mind focused. He lay prone on the pebbled asphalt, his dark clothes blending with the night. Pain echoed through his gut from his surgery. The scent of sage mixed with the wild huckleberries skirting the forest and filled the air. “Do you think Malloy will be safe with Nate?”
“Sure. Stop worrying about Malloy. Cops get kidnapped at gunpoint all the time.”
“Funny.” Matt was such an asshole.
“I know.” Lying next to him, Matt lifted night-scope goggles to his eyes, focusing across the tarmac. The wind lifted his hair. “Besides, I checked out the cop. Combat experience. He might come in handy.”
Malloy had surprised the hell out of Shane, leading him right to the cams.
Using the traffic cam recordings, Malloy had zeroed in on Josie’s last known location, winding the recording back until two SUVs were seen leaving the area. Heading right for the airport. Once found, Shane had pressed his gun against Malloy’s side until they all quietly and serenely walked outside to the truck. Malloy had even chatted with two uniforms on the way. If Shane didn’t know better, he’d think the cop had wanted to come on the mission.
At least now, no other cops would show up—well, until all hell broke loose.
Nate and Malloy crab-crawled into place next to them.
Shane eyed Malloy. “I hope this doesn’t end your career.”
The cop shrugged. “I’m a cop trained to save the victim—Josie needs saving. If it ends my career, I don’t want it anymore.” He grinned. “Plus, I don’t mind having you owe me one.”
Nate clapped the cop on the back. “Ready?”
Malloy nodded. “On your mark.”
“Now.” Nate rolled out of sight and headed around the building, the cop quickly following.
Matt adjusted his goggles with one finger and pressed an earpiece into his ear. “Nathan, set the devices.”
Shane flashed back to another mission at a small airport, somewhere in the Middle East. Grisly images whipped through his brain. He shook his head to clear it; now wasn’t the time.
“Are you all right?” Matt whispered. “You haven’t started bleeding again, have you?”
“No. I’m fine.” Those bastards had his wife. No way was he sitting this out. Shane grabbed a thermal-sensing scope out of his bag, focusing on the metal building. “Two guards just inside the door, two working inside the planes, and three people in a room off to the side.” His wife. Probably with Tom and Dr. Madison. A chill slashed into his gut, and he tamped down any emotion. Cold focus would win the day, and he was one cold bastard.
“They’re waiting for us across town.” Satisfaction coated Matt’s voice.
“You’ve been better than the commander for years.” Shane shook his head. If not, they’d never have escaped.
“I know.” Matt rolled to his feet. “Though he’ll figure out our plan soon. We need to get the hell out of here.”