Page 87

“I’m at home, Agent Vos. Immediately is a tall request. Lots of moving parts.”
Then get them moving!The thought passed through with such density, she was impressed she didn’t verbalize it.
“I’d need the meeting link,” he relented with a sigh.
“Should already be in your inbox.” She’d taken care of that from the parking lot before heading inside the office.
“I’ll make it happen. Give me ten minutes.”
“Thank—” The line went dead. Only now did she face Nolan. He looked good, he always did, but there were more creases around his eyes and gray peppered the hair at his temples. “Whereverandwhatever I’m doing is to get Olivia back.” She stiffened.
“I know that and didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I’m just…”
Emotionally compromised…“I know.”
Nolan scooped her into his arms, and she let herself sink into the embrace. She might not always like the guy, but he was Olivia’s father. If anyone could understand the hell she was going through right now, it was him. Only she’d never seen Nolan afraid of anything before. Uncomfortable, yes, and it usually emboldened him. She didn’t feel that energy from him now though. It was possible he’d calmed down in recent months.
She pulled out of the hug. “Smooth flight?”
“As much as possible. Felt like a lifetime though, not just because it wasn’t a straight shot.”
“I bet it did.”
“You’re looking a little… rough. You doing all right?”
“Our daughter is with a madman, so you know the answer to that. As for my appearance, some things are more important.” She set about logging on to the computer in the conference room and shutting the door. “You can stay but off camera, okay? I don’t want to apply any more pressure on Patton than necessary.”
“You saying I’m intimidating, Vos?”
“To some people you probably are.” And she wasn’t lying. Nolan was six four with a solid frame and all muscle. Part of the reason they never worked was his obsession with fitness. She was all for exercise and a healthy diet, but he had a grueling workout regimen. She sat in front of the computer, and Nolan sat across the table.
The video connected, and Patton was on screen. The warden had come through despite his protests.
“Mr. Patton,” she said to signal Nolan she was connected and for him to remain quiet.
“I thought we said all there was to say last night.”
“It seems I missed some things. Or namely one thing. You accused me of having no proof you were involved in the bank robbery. Well, you’re wrong.”
“This is just another attempt to incriminate me.”
“We found the bank’s blueprints among your things.”
Nolan angled his head.
Through the video, Patton sat up straighter and leaned in toward the camera. “You went through my stuff?”
“We got a warrant. I assure you it was all legal and aboveboard.”
“You said you’d give me immunity.”
“I did, in the past tense.” She was thinking with Patton not believing his daughter was in danger, concern over himself would win out.
“Well, if you put it back on the table, I’ll talk.”
She found it disheartening that his daughter’s welfare didn’t provide enough motivation. “I’m sure I can make my boss approve that.”
“Is that a yes?”