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“Istanbul. I know there’s a military transport heading back to the States later today. I’ll be on it. I should be in sometime tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t know if you need to do that. There’s nothing you can do, Nolan. I’m on it. The FBI here is on it.”
There was silence from his end. Her ex wasn’t the type to sit back and wait. He was suited for his job because he was a man of action, not words. But sinking into his perspective, she couldn’t imagine being on the other side of the world with Olivia in danger. “I understand your need to come home.”
“Thanks, because I am.” He ended the call, and she was left holding her phone and staring at it.
His words hung like a threat more than they glittered with hope. Sometimes too many hands didn’t lighten the workload but made it worse. But brooding over the conversation wasn’t going to change anything. She had to get up and get going. Elwood might not be happy as she’d just been down for a few hours, but it was all she could give him. She got ready to go into the field office, but before Eric would let her leave, he told her she should grab something to eat from the kitchen first. She made toast and ate half a piece smeared with peanut butter.
It was two minutes to nine when she got to the WFO. Agents should already be at Dennis’s place of employment, or she’d head right there.
She’d start with knocking back coffee though. Caffeine was the only hope she had if she was going to be awake when Lonnie Jennings called back. Because he would. He had to. He hadn’t made his demands clear.
Her phone rang, and she jolted like she’d been shocked. Then she took a few steadying breaths and looked at the caller’s ID. “Special Agent Vos,” she answered.
“Special Agent Hester, if we’re being formal.”
“You’re still in?”
“I wanted to see what I could find out on that number before heading home, and my work paid off. I was able to unblock it.” She rattled off the digits as Sandra hurried to scribble them on a notepad in front of her.
“That’s good news. Could you track it?”
“Unfortunately, no. It is a prepaid number serviced by Digitech. I opened a trace on it, but it’s currently inactive.”
“I don’t understand then. You tracked it but you didn’t…?”
“Jennings must be using a mobile VPN to throw off the tracking. The phone traced back to Antarctica.”
Panic rose in her chest. Had he taken Olivia there? Though for two guys without money, that was unlikely.
“Which is clearly a con,” Lakisha picked up, “because the coordinates lead to an old research station that’s only in use for five months of the year. Technically until next month, but I think we can agree he’s not there.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t have helped more.”
“You did all you could.”
“If anything changes, I’ll keep you posted.”
Sandra pinched her eyes shut for a moment. “Thanks.” But the relief only lasted until she opened her eyes, and Lakisha was off the line.
Brice came in holding a takeout tray with two coffees and laid his coat over the back of his chair.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him.
“I had a feeling you would be. Here, this is for you.” He walked over with a coffee extended to her.
“Ah, thanks.”
“Don’t get used to it.” He winked at her. “So how are you holding up? Stupid question I’m sure, but I’d look like an insensitive prick if I didn’t at least ask.”
“I’m holding up. That’s about it.” She filled him in on the tracking results.
“For one, Lakisha is gold. Two, does this Jennings fella think he’s a comedian?”
“If he does, I’m missing the punchline.”