Page 87 of Final Approach

They said their goodbyes, and Andrew hung up, wishing he could keep her on the phone longer or do something to help her, but for now, they were in different places with different things to do. He paused. There was one thing he could do. “Hey, Nathan, what’s Jesslyn doing?”

“Working, why?”

“Think she could take a couple of hours off?”

“Probably. Again, why?”

He explained the situation and Nathan called Jesslyn. She told him she had time to go pick up Kristine.

With that settled, he rose and walked to the window. At their elevation, a light snow had started to fall, but the Weather Channeldidn’t predict anything more than a couple of inches. Although if the temperature kept dropping, it could make the roads treacherous.

But for now, with all the security, it was the safest place Hank could be. He thought about asking Kristine to come too, but if the Serpentine Network decided to strike harder than they anticipated, the safe house might not be quite so safe. Though she was a trained federal agent—she knew how to fight back.

Time ticked by while they went back to their speculation and tossing out ideas for which way the hijacking investigation should go. About an hour later his phone buzzed with an incoming call. His father. He swiped the screen. “Hey, Dad, what’s up?”

“We’ve been robbed.”

“You’ve been what?” Surely he’d misheard.

“We’ve been robbed, Andrew.”

He stood, heart thudding. “Are you all right?”

Cole and the others stopped talking and looked at him, brows raised, silent questions in their eyes.

“I think so,” his father said. “I walked in and he shoved me as he rushed out. I hit my head on the doorframe, but I’m okay. Can you come?”

He wanted to say he’d be there as fast as possible, but...

No, his father was hurt. And he’d asked Andrew to come. He needed to go.

“Hold on one sec, Dad.” He told the others what had happened, and they voiced their concern.

“Go, man,” Cole said.

“Thanks. He wants me to come, but I feel like I should stay here.” So torn.

Cole shook his head. “Go. We’ll be right behind you as soon as we make sure the coverage here is taken care of.”

“Yeah. Okay.” Into the phone, he said, “I’ll be there as fast as I can, but I’m about an hour away.” It would take him at least forty-five minutes to wind down the mountain and another fifteen to twenty to get to the bookstore.

“It’s fine,” his father said. “The police are here and we’ll be okay, but I wanted to let you know. Take your time, please. Don’t rush.” A pause. “But I really am glad you’re coming. I think your mother needs to see you.”

“Right. Not rushing. I’ll be there soon.”

The others offered support and love as he hurried out of the house, and he waved his thanks.

His parents had been traumatized and he needed to find out why. And who needed to pay for it.

NINETEEN

Kristine made sure her father was settled at home while Ethan stayed with Emily. Their brother was going to have to return to New York early the next morning, so he wanted as much time as possible with his injured sister before he had to leave.

Her father lived an hour from Lake City, but she had felt like she should drive him home and make sure he was as okay as he insisted he was. She ordered groceries to be delivered just as he came out of the hall bathroom, scrubbing a hand down his face. “You gonna stay here tonight?”

“No. Just long enough to make sure you’re all right.”

“I’m fine. Wouldn’t mind the company, though.”