Page 150 of Guarding Grace

My priority had to be Marci. “If you let her go, she won’t annoy you anymore.”

“I’m a businessman,” he countered. “And a pretty young thing like her is worth too much to just let slip through my fingers.”

“You’re no businessman.” Marku was a human trafficker, the worst kind of filth. I’d told Terry I didn’t like guns, but in this moment I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate than shooting this sick bastard between the eyes.

Marci looked horrified.

“I’ll buy her freedom then,” I blurted.

“You couldn’t afford her.” His grin said he was toying with me and enjoying it. “Besides, I already have a buyer who is interested in her.”

Marci slumped in the chair. This was becoming too much for her.

Marku lifted his chin toward me. “Turn her around.”

“Hands off.” I slapped at Goron when he tried to manhandle me and turned completely around for Mr. Evil under my own power.

“Oh, yes,” he said. “Pretty and spirited. A very good combination. You’ll fetch quite the price.”

Price? His words sent a shiver through me, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me afraid. “My boyfriend is going to make you wish we’d never met.”

“You Americans all think you are tough, but you are weak. How you Americans say? Bring it on.” He raised his arms high. “Chechens try to killme. I spit on their graves. Russians try to kill me, yet I live. I ate the livers of the Spetsnaz men they sent for me.”

“You’re wasting time,” Kim said. “Make the call. My boat leaves tomorrow.”

Marku pulled out a phone.

He did it without argument.Interesting.

Terry

“Hey,Terry, you want to check this out and tell me if you think it’s her?”

I rushed over.

Winston and I were back at the Hawk offices, waiting for Jordy to give us something useful from his traffic camera search. He didn’t have coverage at the intersection mentioned by the cabbie, so the area to be scanned was large.

I leaned closer and squinted at the screen. “Can you sharpen it any?” The still image he had was incredibly grainy.

“This is the real world, not the make-believe shit that happens on TV. This shot is from a block away, and I can’t just press a button and create detail where none exists. If the pixels aren’t there, they aren’t there. Try this.” He ran the video forward and back a few times. “What do you think?” We were looking for Grace getting into another car, taxi, or anything to track her movements further.

“Not her.” The clothing was close, but there was a problem. “This woman is opening the door with her left hand. Grace isn’t a lefty.”

My phone rang.

It was Constance. “I found Paul. The measuring visit was a setup. They were jumped right inside the door. They took Marci and left him tied up. And before you ask, no, he can’t describe them.”

“Why not?”

“They pepper-sprayed him. I’m washing out his eyes now.”

“Okay, thanks.” At least pepper-sprayed was a lot better than being shot.

“Jordy?” Lucas called. “Get a location on the call that just came in on my line?”

I rushed to the boss’s office, with Winston directly behind me.

“Marku just called. He has her and wants to trade her for Elliot and the case, plus fifty grand.”