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“Shit,” Dominic said under his breath. “What’s the story, and how can I help? I know Quinn, and I know whoever he has on the job is doing everything possible. But sometimes I can manage to turn a couple corners that they didn’t see.”

“Your contacts that Celine was telling us about?” she asked wearily. “I’m in no position to question anything that will bring Michael back to me. I could tell that Celine believed in you and wanted to help me.”

“Yes, I did.” Celine took a step closer. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Eve. We all thought any danger was to you.”

“I only wish it had been,” Eve said. “So you’re still with Dominic? That must mean that you haven’t lost faith in him.”

“No, I trust him,” Celine said. “I believe he won’t stop until he catches Caldwell and his men.

He’s totally dedicated to that goal. As I told you, we all thought any danger was to you.

No one dreamed Michael would be a target…

” Then she remembered something and whirled toward Dominic.

“Except perhaps you. After we left the Lake Cottage, you mentioned something about going down another path.” She was gazing at him in horror.

“Did you realize that this might happen?”

“Do you expect me to deny that I thought Caldwell would go to any lengths to get what he wanted? No, of course I won’t.

But we both realized that we’d given the warning, and Quinn and the rest of Eve’s very capable family wanted us out of the mix and to leave it in their hands.

I even kept the guard unit I’d put in place on duty when Quinn sent his own team to watch over her.

Did I know they’d target an eleven-year-old child?

Of course not. But I probably should have.

” His lips twisted bitterly. “I saw the children who’d been butchered at that massacre at Karimu.

So if you want to blame someone, Eve, by all means, blame me. ”

“Don’t be foolish,” Eve said curtly. “I’m not blaming anyone but Caldwell.

And the only reason I’m calling you is to tell you that I’m going to get my Michael back and you have to help me, if you can think of any way in heaven or hell to do it.

Joe and I can’t do this by ourselves, so I’m calling in everyone who cares for us or him to make that happen.

” Her voice was suddenly fierce. “Do you understand?”

“Of course I do,” Dominic said quietly. “Celine is right, I was going to take Caldwell down anyway, but you’ve given me a reason to make sure that the emphasis is on urgency.

That should be no problem. Since I returned to Bon Jaka, things have been moving very quickly as far as information is concerned.

But I need to know what Caldwell said in his note. ”

Eve nodded. “It wasn’t much. He still wants me to do the death mask.

He said that he’d phone me very soon and I had to be ready to move when he did.

” She moistened her lips. “Other than that, it was just a threat about what they’d do to Michael if I didn’t cooperate.

He mentioned how talented his men were when they demonstrated their technique for the Boston Police Department. ”

“Barnaby,” Celine murmured. “Vicious bastard.”

“I thought that was who they were talking about,” Eve said. “But all I could think about was the threat to Michael and how sick it made me feel.”

“We won’t let that happen to him,” Celine said. “We’ll find a way to get him away from those butchers.”

“Tell Joe I’ll be in touch.” Dominic paused. “What are you going to do when Caldwell contacts you?”

“Whatever I have to do. Say whatever I have to say. Anything to keep Michael alive. Now you talk to me. Do you know where Caldwell might be keeping Michael?”

“I know that his principal hideout in Africa for the last few years has been in the mountains fairly close to the territory where I have an estate. That mountain country is a maze of trails and caves. Caldwell feels safe because he’s also been under the protection of Masini Zakira, a priest who’s almost as corrupt as himself.

Since Caldwell will know that he’ll have me on his trail, he’ll probably want to keep Michael there—he’ll believe it safer. That gives us a head start.”

Evidently that wasn’t enough for Eve. “But if you know so much about this hideout, surely you’ll be able to locate it quickly. Those people are murderers. Your damn head start may not keep Michael alive.”

He shook his head. “But they want something from you. They’re not going to be in a hurry to get rid of their ace in a hole if they can find a way to make this kidnapping pay dividends.

We’ll just have to find a way to work at super speed to get your Michael away from Caldwell before he gets impatient.

Is there risk? Yes, we’ll have to find a way to stall him.

There’s nothing sure about any of this except that we’ll get Caldwell eventually.

The rest is luck and how good we are about tracking through those caves and that damn jungle.

But I’ll start working on bringing him home safely the minute I hang up the phone.

I want you to call me as soon as you hear Caldwell’s terms. Will you do that? ”

“Of course. I told you, I have no choice but to get all the help I can. I’ll shout it from the rooftops.”

“I know you’ll call Joe as soon as you hang up,” Celine said. “Tell him that we’ll be doing everything we can to make certain everything goes well. We’re not going to let your son be hurt like Barnaby was hurt. You’re not alone in this, Eve.”

“Thank you. I know I’m not. But right now it feels like I am. It’s just me and Michael. I’m feeling very helpless. I’ll be back in touch.” She pressed DISCONNECT .

Celine closed her eyes. “I hate this for her. She’s going through hell, and there’s nothing we can do.

” Her eyes flicked open, shimmering with tears.

“But we’ve got to change that, don’t we?

Dominic? This is about a little boy who could die if we don’t stop them.

So start thinking and reaching out to all those contacts you have tucked away. ”

“I will,” he said gently. “But you know where we have to go first.”

Yes, she knew, and that was why the pain was so intense. “Kontara,” she whispered. “You’re going to try to persuade her to lead you to Shafira.”

“I’m not going to have to persuade her. She’s known it’s coming, and she’s been preparing herself for it.

You’ve been preparing her for it, too, whether you realized it or not.

All that’s left is the commitment. When she hears about Michael being held by those sons of bitches, the commitment will be there. ”

“And you can see it coming. You set the stage and the action happens.” Her lips twisted. “Don’t you get bored with always being right?”

“I’m not always right. It’s just a question of logic and knowing human nature.

And there are some things I don’t want to be right about.

” He paused. “I don’t want you to insist on going with the team to Shafira.

I find it’s killing me to think about it.

I’d like to lock you up somewhere on the estate to keep you safe and away from that blasted mountain.

But you’re going to go because you won’t let Kontara go back there and stay behind yourself. ”

“There are other reasons.”

“I know. Eve and her son.”

“Which is reason enough. But you’re right, regardless of the reason, I’ve got to go. And I’d advise you not to try to stop me.”

He shook his head. “You’d only find a way to get loose and follow us. I’m better off keeping an eye on you.” He was heading for the door. “And now I’d better go and talk to Kontara. I don’t believe you’d like to come with me?”

“No, I’ll talk to her later. I don’t want her to feel I’m putting pressure on her either way.

” She watched him walk out of the room before she headed out of the gym to go to her room to shower.

No, Dominic wasn’t always right. He hadn’t been right today when he’d gone through the reasons why she’d insist on going to Shafira.

Kontara.

Eve.

Eve’s son, Michael.

But he’d left out one very important name…

Alex Dominic.