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“So, you have no idea who would want to kidnap you?” she asked me.

“No. No idea.” It wasn’t exactly the truth, but how could I explain everything that was going on with my search for my father, especially when the police had never believed there was anything suspicious in regards to his disappearance? Plus, I didn’t want to have to explain any of the hacking I’d done to get the information.

Another thought occurred to me. What if this attempted kidnapping attempt didn’t have anything to do with my father? Maybe it was just a random snatch or another test to see how we handled ourselves under attack. That wasn’t the vibe I got, especially because the police were involved and people had been hurt. I didn’t think Mr. Donovan or UTOP would go that far. But how could I know for sure?

“We haven’t found the car or the accomplice yet, but we’ll question this guy,” the officer told me. “Hopefully, we’ll have them all behind bars soon.”

“I hope so,” I said with feeling.

The officer sighed and put away her tablet. “We may have to question you and your friends again, but we have enough for now,” she said. “The medic has cleared you, and we’ve contacted your boarding school. They’ll get in touch with your parents. They’ve sent a bus for the lot of you, so you’re free to go. Just be careful, okay?”

Everyone asked me a million times if I was okay. I was. I just wanted to get back to my room and far away from what had just happened.

When the bus arrived, we piled on. Frankie took a seat next to me, breathlessly recounting every detail of the incident. I hardly heard her. I kept looking out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elderly man who had saved me.

Where had he gone? Was he okay?

I shifted on the seat. “Frankie, you saw the old guy, right? The one who rammed his car into the back of the sedan.”

“Yes, of course I saw him. He saved you. Your own personal superhero.”

Relief flooded me. I hadn’t imagined him, and my mind hadn’t played any tricks as a result of the trauma. Thank God. “Did you see happen to see where he went?”

“No. I guess he went home.”

I looked out the window again, thinking. Finally Frankie fell silent, as did the rest of the group. We’d just arrived at the KIT compound and were getting off the bus when my phone vibrated in my pocket again.

I pulled it out, noting I had a text from an unknown number. I swiped to read it.

I warned you to be careful and that criminal elements were watching you. Stop looking for me. I’m fine. I want you to be careful. I may not be there every time to help. Good luck at UTOP. I’m proud of you.

I reread the message, my heart pounding.

“Dad?” I whispered.

Chapter Fifty-One

ISAAC REMINGTON

Isaac snatched his burner phone the second it rang. “Is it done?”

“We’ve got a problem. The engagement failed. Walter was detained.”

“What?” He closed his eyes at the incompetence of it. How hard could it be to snatch a sixteen-year-old girl? “How did they bungle this?”

“Judson got rear-ended by some geezer as Walter was getting her into the car. Her friends stormed the car, getting her out and bringing Walter down. Judson got away, ditched the car, and got rid of the plates.”

“Tell him to lie low for a while.”

“I will. No worries. Walter knows nothing. He’s hired muscle and disposable.”

“He better be.” Isaac hung up the phone and tossed it in the trash.

Damage control was in full effect. At this point, all he could do was play it by ear and hope Sinclair made a mistake. From this point on, the girl and her family would be further protected, making it even harder for him to get at them.

Still, not all was lost. While it was a setback, he’d survive. The core would survive. Then, when he was calling the shots as director, it would be easier to deal with minor annoyances like this. After all, at this point, things had gone about as badly as they could, and he was still firmly in control.

He stood and went to look out the living room window of the mansion where he lived alone. Not really alone, as he was watched 24-7 by the Secret Service. Protected by the government, as were all high-ranking CIA, NSA, and government officials. He could see the agents sitting in the white sedan, parked next to the curb on his street. In many ways, they were just hired muscle, too.