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"Lauren ith Paige," Joe continued

"No doubt the reason only Darcy was taken," the adroup had planned their kidnapping very well If they’d wanted Lauren, he didn’t doubt they could have taken her The fire had put everyone in a panic

"You’ve given your report to Captain Phillips?" the admiral asked

Joe nodded They’d reached the conference room He pointed out the maps of the area and the contact list, which included local law enforcement officials, the fire chief, and the main number of the house

Joe started to step into the room, but the admiral blocked his way

"That will be all," the lared at hi is my fault But I’m still the best tactical officer you have"

The adood tactical officer doesn’t let his subject get kidnapped You’re relieved of duty, sailor"

The door closed in his face

There was no lock Joe could have stepped inside and forced the to say Nothing useful, anyway Telling theless Letting theive his life for hers a hundred tiet in the way

He turned from the conference room and headed for Lorenzo’s office There he could stare at the maps on the wall and will them to reveal their secrets to him Where had Ian taken her? What would the little shithead do with her?

An hour later, he was no closer to a solution He slu no way to act Nearly as bad as ih was the reality of knowing that he had had Ian within his grasp and had never considered hier If he had, he would have cheerfully ripped him into a dozen pieces

But he hadn’t Instead he’d listened to Ian talk on and on about everything froly endless anecdotal stories about his studies, his various roommates, and the time he spent locally with his--

Joe stared at thearound here He’d talked about caves

He reached for the phone and called the main house "Marco," he barked, when Tessa answered

Marco caht now," he ordered "Hurry"

Joe slammed down the phone and raced to the conference roo around the table all looked at hi up here," he began, his voice cold

"I don’t give a good goddamn about that," Joe told him "I knohere Ian’s taken her"

Phillips stared at hiht hi to He’s already off the road He’s taken her to a boat so enough to hide in He’ll wait until dark, then use a boat to get her away"

Phillips and the ade nodded

"We’ve found the van," Phillips told him "It was abandoned on the beach Apparently there was a hole in the rear floor because we also found a trail of trash, rags, and one of Darcy’s shoes"

Joe felt a flash of pride As scared as she must have been, she hadn’t lost her head Good for her

The conference room door opened and Marco stepped in "My father," Joe said "Marco Marcelli" He crossed to the maps pinned to the walls "We think Ian took her by boat to a cave Which ones are big enough to hold a dozen or so people and equipment?"

Marco joined him at the map He studied it for a second, then pointed "Here There are three caves big enough I used to play in them when I was a kid A couple of these have several rooht Three caves, three teams "What’s the deadline?" he asked

Phillips shook his head "Joe, this isn’t your fight"

"Yes, it is This happened ondo we have?"

Phillips considered the question, then explained Ian’s demands for Misner’s release "The first deadline is seven-forty-three tonight"

Notthe travel tih "We’ll have three SEAL teams, one on each cave They can be here by one, and we’ll put together our plan"

Phillips looked at the admiral "It’s what he’s best at"

Ade of your SEALs Everything colanced at his watch "The president will be landing in a couple of hours, and he’ll want a full briefing"

"Can wein to his de him monitor that will provide a distraction and keep Darcy safe"

The admiral picked up a phone "Letand offering Darcy more water, she still felt nauseated and faint She wanted to cradle her left hand against her stoers She wanted to run screa out of the dark cave, into safety She wanted to be back at the Marcelli house, with Grand her into his bed She wanted to live, fingers and all

Fear grabbed at her and refused to let go The need to scream built until she had to press her hand to her mouth to hold it inside Focus, she told herself She had to focus Be calm Relax