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“Seven am in Croatia, one am in Manhattan, and ten pm in Cali, respectively,” Aidan automatically translated aloud “Everyone on board with that?”

There was agreement from all screens

“On that topic, I’ve already overnighted secure iPhones to everyone,” Terri reported “They’re preprogrammed with everyone’s cell numbers I anticipated field operatives and included four extras for therammed They don’t need to know about the rest of us”

“And that’s a wrap” Aidan glanced at his watch “I’ve got to make a couple of calls—one to Danijel Horvat and one to find out how ers on her flight highly entertained After that, I’ over

to Hofbräuhaus to do a little recon ofoff for the States later this afternoon So I won’t be reachable until I land After that, I’ the operation Contact s as needed”

His ton will be getting new demands from the kidnappers soon”

Manhattan, New York

26 February

Monday, 4:25 am local time

Ryan answered the phone on the fourth ring “Shit, Marc, it’s four so And I’m busy”

“Then peel yourself off of Claire and get your head into work mode”

Marc was referring to Claire Hedgleigh, the Forensic Instincts teanizant, as she terned herself to being called that, since no one seemed to understand the difference She and Ryan had a heated personal and work relationship, a love-hate thing that neither of them understood and had no desire to It worked, it was hot, and it felt right

What didn’t feel right, at least to Claire, was the casual banter Ryan had with Marc when it came to her sex life Unlike Ryan, who had zero inhibitions, Claire was reserved and private by nature Just the thought of Marc knowing she was naked in Ryan’s bed made her blush

What didn’t feel right to Ryan was being interrupted when he had Claire in his bed In fact, it really pissed him off

“This had better be good,” he warned Marc