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“See?”
Oliver started to say something, but Remi cut in. “You must know something about these cars. After all, you got the Ghost up and running.”
“When my uncle was alive, collectors would b
ring their cars to his shop for repair. He taught me everything he knew. After he died, no one was willing to take a chance on me. So, when I read that article about the Paytons finding the Gray Ghost, I made up a website and called them. And, well, you know the rest.”
Sam moved next to Remi, hoping to get the conversation back on track. “About your mother. Was someone threatening her?”
“No. But I’m sure whoever it is means to.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Even after I told him I didn’t have the Gray Ghost, he said he wasn’t interested in my excuses. Deliver the car or face the consequences. The thing is, I don’t have it. The last I saw of it was here at my shop, when we were putting it on that lorry for delivery to the London Motor Show. That’s it. I swear.”
“Well, someone seems to think you have it,” Sam said.
“Yes. And whoever this man is, he’s sitting there drinking tea with my mother as though they were the best of friends.”
“At least she doesn’t know what’s going on.”
“Not helping, Sam,” Remi said under her breath. Louder, she asked, “How do we get her out of there?”
“Call the police,” Oliver said.
Something that Sam had already considered and dismissed. The last thing they wanted was a hostage situation. Or anyone getting shot. “One thing we’re sure of,” Sam said, “is that these guys have no problem pulling guns. I’m not sure I want to pit them against unarmed village constables.”
“What other choice do we have?” Chad asked.
“Storm the castle and get her out.”
30
The first thing they did was bring up a satellite map image of the village where Chad’s mother lived, about fifteen minutes to the north. Sam and Remi studied the map while Chad described the neighborhood, pointing to the middle of an S-shaped street. “The main problem,” Chad said, “is that her house is right at the center of the S. No matter which direction you approach from, her parlor window and front door have a view of the street. If this guy’s looking out the window to the right, he’ll see you coming before you see him. The only place that might work is on the west end of the street. My mum’s hedge runs the length of her driveway, and you have to move out past the hedge to the street to actually see the corner here at the top of the hill.”
“How’d you get a look without being seen?” Sam asked.
“Through the park behind her house.” He ran his finger along an expanse of green that paralleled the next street over. “There’s a gate that leads from the park to her backyard. It’s overgrown with ivy, so I went in through that, up the side yard, then looked in through the kitchen window. He was sitting in the front parlor, watching the street. There’s no way he even knows the gate’s there.”
“And there was only one man?”
“Just the one.”
Sam studied the map a bit longer. “It could work. Remi, you could hole up at the top of the hill. I come in through the back gate. Oliver, you’re at the park, with the car running. Chad makes the call, draws him out. Remi signals me that he’s past the hedge, I go in, get your mom, and we’re good to go.”
“What if he takes her out with him?” Chad asked. “Like a hostage?”
“The fact your mother doesn’t know she’s a hostage makes it clear he’s trying to keep it low-key. Last thing he’s going to want to do is draw attention to his presence.”
What he didn’t mention was that Remi’s presence at the top of the hill with her gun was in case of that very scenario. No sense in alarming either Chad or Oliver. For this to work, he needed them calm. “You good with that, Remi?”
“Definitely,” she said, giving a slight pat to the small of her back where her Sig was holstered.
“How are we going to draw him out?” Chad asked.
“All you need to do is tell him you’re parked at the top of the street. He has to walk out past the hedge. Get him out that far, we’re good. It’s all about the setup. We need him to believe you have the car.”
“How?”