Page 73 of Collateral Claim

I cut him a look. “Impulse is exactly what I should act on, because it’s unpredictable and keeps my enemies on their toes. They can’t plan what to do because they don’t know what’s coming at them. Impulse is deemed a flaw for that reason. People don’t like what they can’t predict. They love predictions and being right about them even more.” I turn to Scarlett. “Your father is gambling with your life.”

She swallows. “It looks that way, but it’s not. I’m sure he’s working to get your brother’s location as fast as possible.”

I lift my phone to make my point. “He’s not picking up my call even though, for all he knows, I’m holding a gun to your head. Do I need to do that? Do you think that’ll work?”

Scarlett shakes her head. “No.”

“What will work?”

“I don’t know.”

“We have to know. We should be less impulsive and more predictable. Right, Marquis?” At the top of the hour, my phone rings, and I open the line.

“Good morning, Dani.”

“Endo.”

“What do you have for me?”

A pause, then: “Wilfred’s contact was murdered last night after he relayed the location of your brother. The person who has the location is on the run as we speak. As soon as he’s safe, he’ll make contact.”

Connor types into his laptop.

“Where was the contact last located?” I ask.

“Is Scarlett there?” Daniel counters. “I want to speak with her.”

“You’re on the speaker.”

“Hi, Daddy,” she says. When tears well up in her eyes, my chest contracts. This better be a damn heart attack. I need my brother back.

“How are they treating you?” he asks.

“Well enough.”

“Has he hurt you?”

“No, but he’s agitated. He doesn’t want to wait anymore. Please, if you have anything, tell him so I can go home.”

I nod. Good. This is good. “Back to the informant. Which country?”

“We think he’s already fled.”

Keep calm.“Since you and yours betrayed a contact already, the person he told about the location will not contact you. In their minds, you can’t be trusted. I need a name and whatever you have on whoever is on the run. I’ll take over from here.”

“When Scarlett is returned, I’ll give you everything,” another voice says. Is that Wilfred?

Ah shit, I ran out of calm.I take out my weapon and point at my chin, tilting my head back.

“Endo,” Marquis says. “What are you doing?”

“Oh God,” Scarlett says. “Please put the gun away.”

“Is that you, Wilfred?”

“Don’t you dare touch her,” he snaps. “She’s to be returned in the same condition that you took her. Whole and unharmed.”

“You know what happens when people tell me I can’t touch something?”