Page 144

He hung up and motioned to the flight attendant. “Tell the pilots to stand down.”
Lachlan was already moving to relay the message. By the time he returned to his seat, the plane had rolled to a stop.
“Lopez isn’t going to Phoenix.” Caleb’s leg bounced up and down, his fingers tapping the armrest on his chair.
Every minute that slipped away took Gia further from him.
“I know.” Cold anger radiated from Lucas. “But the head of the joint task force insists Lopez’s plane is sitting in a private hanger at Phoenix Sky Harbor and ATC monitored chatter has a civilian helicopter heading to Phoenix from this direction.”
He pulled a leather wallet from his suit jacket and stalked toward the cockpit.
Caleb rose, swallowing a groan as his body protested, and followed.
“Contact the tower.” The Assistant Director flashed the pilots his credentials. “I need the call sign and N-number of the plane that landed this morning from Miami. I also need the flight plan the pilots filed before the plane left Gallup.”
The captain checked Lucas’s ID, glanced at his co-pilot, and picked up the mic.
A moment later, the tower came back with the details. The plane’s N-number matched the flight that left Miami, but the flight plan—revised shortly before the plane’s departure—listed its destination as a small general aviation airport outside Albuquerque.
“I need to deplane. Immediately,” Lucas told the captain.
He returned to the group, Caleb on his heels. “The Phoenix task force has been compromised. If I loop them in, someone could tip off Lopez.”
Lucas scrubbed a hand over his face. “I can’t authorize a hostage rescue without proof that Doctor Barone is at the Albuquerque site—and that she’s being held against her will.”
“We have eyes on her,” Caleb gritted out. His fists clenched. “In real time with the tracker she’s wearing.”
“Using technology that technically doesn’t exist, Sergeant?” Lucas snapped, invoking Caleb's former Army rank. “I can’t get a warrant with that—especially when my own damn agents insist she’s headed to Phoenix.”
The flight attendant unlocked the cabin door and engaged the automatic air stairs.
Lucas clasped Lachlan’s shoulder. “Officially, I’m advising you to return to DC.”
He dropped his hand to grab the overcoat draped over his seat. “Unofficially, I’ll send a team as soon as I can. But it may be too late. Be careful. And good luck.”
“Where are you going?” Caleb asked.
“To charter a flight to Phoenix. Lopez’s mole expects me there. If I don’t show, they’ll know I’m onto them.” Lucas’s mouth set in a cruel line. “I need to unearth a traitor.”
Caleb watched the Assistant Director descend the stairs, then turned to Lachlan. “We need to leave for Albuquerque. Now.” Tension pulled his muscles taut, his temper balanced on a razor’s edge.
Lachlan met Nathan’s eyes.
A nod.
Then to Ryder.
Then Danny.
Two more nods.
“Go tell the pilots to change the flight plan,” he instructed Caleb. “To Albuquerque International Sunport, not the smaller airport—we don’t want to alert Lopez.”
The to Nathan, “Driving time between the Sunport and our target?”
More swipes on the tablet. “Twenty-six minutes,” Nathan told him.
Lachlan nodded. “Get us two SUVs for when we land.”